To the editor:
When I consider workers needing a living wage in Shawano, I remember my experience applying for work with Shawano County several years ago. I was offered a job at 40 hours per week here, but I chose a similar job in Green Bay working 32 hours per week for the same wages. I was fortunate to have those job offers, but where does that leave Shawano County?
Looks like things haven’t changed. In an April 8 Shawano Leader article, Supervisor Tess Serrano voiced her frustrations about wages and job retention to the county public safety committee, “Shawano County is losing so many good people to other counties.” She also noted some board members don’t realize the cost of living anymore.
A living wage is something that has been measured. The United Way’s ALICE (Asset Limited Income Constrained, Employed) Project does research to find how many families are living on the edge of financial insecurity. They identify the bare minimum cost of household basics necessary to live and work which include housing, child care, food, transportation, and health care. Thirty-four percent of the workers in Shawano County are below the ALICE threshold. These are our hard-working neighbors. Our decision makers have access to this information.
Because the pandemic left many Wisconsinites in need of unemployment insurance, Congress passed the CARES Act in 2020. The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 created temporary additional unemployment benefits. The extra money proved to be invaluable to cover housing and monthly expenses for many working families. We know that money has been spent in our local communities at grocery stores, restaurants and other small businesses. The workforce shortage should not be used as an excuse to end worker’s unemployment benefits prematurely.
Reported in the same Shawano Leader article, as the County Board started looking for cost-savings, they considered dropping a full-time position to part-time. Supervisor Jerry Erdmann said, “The county has been cutting positions and programs to the point there’s nothing else to cut.”
Our county’s budget should be all our concern and shortages won’t be solved if we continue to kick the can down the road. Pay attention that the people we put in Madison are invested in our priorities. Respect our people, but especially respect people’s labor. Workers should be paid a fair wage.
Julie McCain, Cecil
