Ken Chilton and Avi Poster

Guest Columnist

Ken Chilton is an associate professor at Tennessee State University.

Avi Poster is a founding member of A VOICE for a Reduction of Poverty.

Local and national media, including The Tennessean, have reported on issues of gentrification, affordable housing, and the rapid pace of development in the Nashville region. A common thread in all of these issues is income inequality.

As national data shows, the bottom 80 percent of the wage distribution has suffered from wage stagnation and declining shares of national wealth over the last three decades. These trends have serious implications for the future economic health of our city and nation.

On April 6 A Voice for a Reduction of Poverty, a group of local volunteers, is hosting a community forum titled “Work, Wages, and the Future of Nashville” (Learn more at: https://www.nashville-rising.com/).

The primary purpose of this event is to reinvigorate a community discussion about wages and the dignity of work in Nashville.

Inflation is often overlooked in sunny picture of wage growth data

Our goal is to convene business leaders, elected officials, community groups, concerned citizens, and local public and nonprofit sector leaders to develop pathways for all Nashville residents who work hard and play by the rules to attain livable wages. In addition, we invite religious leaders to join us in developing an ethical framework related to wages and the dignity of work.

The Nashville economy is hot and wages are purportedly growing at a rapid pace. Unfortunately, these numbers are not completely accurate.

Most government reports about wages fail to include the impact of inflation. In addition, most reports are based on average wages for all employees in the regional economy. That means there is no differentiation between wages for bartenders versus wages for software developers. Plus, the average wage is skewed upwards by high salaries.

The focus on the average wage also overlooks the quality of the jobs created. Do the jobs come with good health benefits? Do employers provide and fund 401Ks or pensions? Do employers provide adequate family leave provisions? Can workers easily use public transportation to commute from their homes to their jobs?

More:Nashville Mayor David Briley announces $500M affordable housing push

All work is dignified, but too many people can't afford to live in Nashville

The reality is that Nashville’s growth, like most cities in the U.S., creates high-paying jobs and low-paying jobs often related to a job seeker’s educational attainment.

For those with high demand skills and training, Nashville is a great place to live. For those who provide critical services that keep the downtown restaurant, entertainment, and hospitality industry humming, wages are low.

Similarly, teachers, police officers, construction workers, truck drivers, and others are struggling to afford Nashville’s housing prices despite economic growth in the region.

We firmly believe that all work and labor is dignified. From the person working the cash register at our local grocery store to the maid toiling in our gleaming new hotels, all workers should benefit from the forces driving Nashville’s rise.

Our goal is to transform Nashville’s economic development into economic opportunity for all residents. The problems of housing affordability and residential displacement are related to wages.

More:Affordable housing in Nashville: Not now, not never

Three things the April 6 event will address

Our event on April 6 will focus on three elements related to wages in the region.

First, we will provide a “state of the region” overview of trends in wages, employment, and livability.

Second, we will highlight the positive trends occurring in Nashville when it comes to wages and business practices.

Finally, we will focus on developing a new covenant between workers, employers and the city.

The gathering on April 6 will link to and build on conversations already underway. Numerous groups are working to create a shared vision and a community covenant that will serve as standards for what constitutes an ethical and fair workplace.

We invite interested Nashville residents to join us for our program on work, wages, and the future of Nashville on April 6. It starts at 9 AM at Tennessee State University’s Avon Williams campus, 330 10th Avenue North, Nashville. 37203

Ken Chilton is an associate professor in the Department of Public Administration at Tennessee State University. Avi Poster is a founding member of A VOICE for a Reduction of Poverty.