CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- With the support of Mayor Johnson, Alderpersons have introduced an ordinance that will eliminate the less-than-minimum wage paid to restaurant workers and others who also earn tips.
Currently restaurant workers earn salaries below the current minimum wage with tips expected to make up the difference. 26th Ward Alderwoman Jessie Fuentes said what they end up with is less than a living wage and she and others have introduced an ordinance that would change raise their wage to the same as other employees in Chicago not counting tips.
The new wage would be phased in over two years. Mayor Johnson supports it, and so did some restaurant owners present at that news conference.
"These are the families that will have the ability to pay their rent or their mortgage. They can start their own businesses," Johnson said. "Here's the other thing: they can actually hire other people and pay them a livable wage."
Retaurant workers and their advocates say it's been wrong for tip workers to make less than the minimum wage with the assumption that tips would make up the difference.
Saru Jayaraman, National president of the One Fair Wage organization, said this movement is nation-wide. She named other cities and states that have moved to one wage for all such as Idaho, Washington D.C., Michigan, and Arizona.
"If all these other states can do it, Chicago can do it, but guess what...? Chicago's gonna lead everyone else," Jayaraman said.
Sam Toia, President of the Illinois Restaurant Association, has said the two-year phase-in is not enough time.
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