A DEMONSTRATION OUTSIDE A NOB HILL BUSINESS AT 11:30 TUESDAY MORNING. MEMBERS OF PROGRESS NOW NEW MEXICO HAVE A RALLY AND BOYCOTT PLANNED IN FRONT OF ROUTE 66 MALT SHOP ON CENTRAL TWO BLOCKS EAST OF CARLISLE. THE OWNER ... ERIC SZEMAN ... HAS REFUSED TO PAY HIS EMPLOYEES THE HIGHER MINIMUM WAGE APPROVED BY VOTERS LAST YEAR.

HE SAYS IF HE PAYS THE HIGHER WAGE, HE'D HAVE TO CLOSE AND PUT ALL HIS EMPLOYEES OUT OF WORK. HE HAD THEM SIGN A CONTRACT SAYING THEY'D TAKE THE LOWER WAGE TO KEEP THEIR JOBS, INSTEAD OF DEMANDING THE 3-83 AN HOUR IT WOULD GO UP TO.

AND SZEMAN ISN'T EXPECTED T HAVE TO OBEY THE MINIMUM WAGE LAW BECAUSE ...THE WAY IT'S WRITTEN ... THE CITY DOESN'T HAVE TO ENFORCE IT. IT'S UP TO EMPLOYEES TO FILE A LAWSUIT AGAINST A BUSINESS TO GET PAID THE HIGHER MINIMUM WAGE.