(WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Opponents of the so-called subminimum wage came to Chicago City Hall on Monday to raise the profile of their fight to raise restaurant workers’ pay.
Currently, in most jurisdictions, people who work in restaurants and other tip-generating jobs can make salaries lower than the minimum wage, with the assumption that they’ll make up the difference with the tips.
But Saru Jayaraman, president of the national group One Fair Wage, says that’s often not the case. She said it’s making life hard for restaurant workers and driving many out of the business.
The group is asking local governments to support their efforts. Three Chicago Aldermen and U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Evanston, backed the effort.
Former restaurant worker Nataki Rhodes, lead organizer for One Fair Wage, says during the pandemic restaurants were struggling to find workers and had to raise wages to as high as $18 an hour.
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