Elected officials, activists push to expand Chicago’s tipped wage hikes
statewide
[June 24, 2025]
By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
(The Center Square) – Activists are calling for Chicago’s tipped worker
raises to be expanded across Illinois, but a state senator from Chicago
says all voices need to be at the table.
One Fair Wage organizers held an event in Chicago Monday, marking a year
since the city began the five-year process of eliminating the
sub-minimum wage for tipped workers.
One Fair Wage National Policy Director Richard Rodriguez said tipped
workers have seen a 42% increase in income over the last four years.
“Chicago is showing that fair wages and strong businesses go hand in
hand,” Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez thanked more than a dozen labor unions and other coalition
partners that fought for the elimination of the tipped wage.
Supporters noted that tipped workers in the city will see their hourly
wage rise from $11.02 to $12.62 on July 1.
Mayor Brandon Johnson joined several elected officials from Chicago and
Cook County at Monday’s event on the city’s West Side.
State Sen. Lakesia Collins, D-Chicago, did not attend, although several
One Fair Wage press releases announcing the event included her name.
When asked about the increased tipped wage, Collins said she has heard
some mixed reviews from tipped workers.
“You know a lot of them are going without health insurance and they’re
struggling to make ends meet, and then I hear some who say they liked
things the old way, but the reality is that wages are just too low,”
Collins told The Center Square.
Collins represents active business districts in Chicago’s West Loop
area.
“I think what the city has done and the work they’ve done in partnering
with the businesses is a great attempt to promote more workers into the
industry,” Collins said.
Citing data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Illinois
Restaurant Association President Sam Toia said Chicago lost 5,200 jobs
from the beginning of the tipped credit elimination last July 1 through
Dec. 31, 2024.
“We also know that the beginning of the elimination of tipped credit
here in the city of Chicago has led to higher menu prices, reduced hours
for waiters and waitresses and bartenders, and business closures,” Toia
told The Center Square.
Toia said over a hundred restaurants have closed in Chicago since 2024,
adding that empty storefronts can be seen up and down Chicago’s
commercial streets.
[to top of second column]
|
Members of One Fair Wage hold a news conference in Springfield,
Illinois - BlueRoomStream
“So the more and more you mandate these independent restaurants, the
more closures you’re gonna see. As I mentioned earlier, over a
hundred have closed in the city of Chicago since 2024,” Toia said.
Toia said Washington, D.C. officials “put a pause” on raising the
tipped wage and Mayor Muriel Bowser called for the law’s repeal
after the city experienced restaurant closures and job losses. Toia
said he did not understand why “California activists” keep pushing
tipped wage elimination in Illinois.
One Fair Wage offered statistics from Johnson’s administration,
which said Chicago has issued 856 new retail food establishment
licenses. The group also said business license cancellations are
down by 50%.
When asked about a move to expand the measure statewide, Collins
said all voices need to be at the table.
“I am listening not only to the workers but I’m listening to the
business owners. I’m listening to the small business owners as well,
and then I’m listening to the community. I think when we’re making
decisions like this at the state level, we have to look at the whole
picture,” Collins explained.
The senator said some small business owners have said they can’t
afford the higher wages.
Collins noted there have been attempts to increase wages for tipped
workers across Illinois.
“There are different issues community by community statewide. I’ve
heard from different business owners and different workers who have
come down and talked about this issue,” Collins said. “It’s going to
take a longer conversation at the state level, to be honest with
you. I know that a lot of my colleagues, they all feel the same.”
State Rep. Lisa Hernandez, D-Cicero, filed House Bill 2982 to
eliminate the sub-minimum wage, but the measure was not called for a
floor vote before the end of session May 31.
Collins said legislators raised the minimum wage at the state level,
but she said there are too many mixed reviews regarding tipped
workers to pinpoint the direction lawmakers should take.
“The conversations are still happening,” Collins said. “We know that
businesses in our communities are the economic drivers.”
All contents © copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved
 |
