CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — A measure to eliminate the subminimum wage for restaurant workers and others has 26 co-sponsors — enough for City Council passage. Ald. David Moore (17th) is one of them. He said the issue is personal for him and dates back to his high school days.
“At Simeon, I worked at Ronny’s Pizza and Steakhouse,” he said. “At that time we were making $3.35/hour, and the bosses took 25 cents/hour out of our check for lunch whether we ate or not.”
Terri Evans, who owns Windy City Ribs and Whiskey, told media on Wednesday that an eatery can make money and pay the workers more. Evans said she’s worked out a way for her establishment to make money and still pay its workers a fair wage.
“There’s a way to get this done where the CEOs and the leadership are not the only ones that can feed their families, go on vacation and enjoy life,” she said. “Take care of your people.”
Sharmili Majmudar, executive vice president of the group Women Employed, said some opponents are trying to raise questions and confusion.
“I want to say very quickly and very clearly, ‘We are not eliminating tips,’” Majmudar said. “It is tips on top, and anyone that tells you otherwise is lying.”
Ald. Jessie Fuentes (26th), the lead sponsor, acknowledged that some industry people want a longer phase-in for the higher wage.
“It’s a two-year scale-up right now, as the ordinance stands today,” Fuentes said. “We have not been close to negotiations or to further conversations with folks like Sam Toia at the Illinois Restaurant Association. We are open if he is open.”
The City Council's Rules Committee sent the measure to the Workforce Development Committee for a hearing.
Fuentes said she hopes to have a hearing by the end of this month, and passage next month.
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