Chicago Minimum Wage Workers Earning $15 an Hour

More than 400,000 minimum wage workers in Chicago began the month earning US$15 an hour after a six-year fight, WTTW reports.

As of July 1, employees working at companies with more than 20 workers gained the hourly pay raise due to an ordinance that passed in November 2019, according to WMAQ-TV. For employers who have four to 20 employees, the minimum wage went up to $14 per hour and will increase $0.50 cents each year until hitting $15 an hour by 2023. All businesses and workers in Chicago will have the same minimum wage by 2025. Illinois’ minimum wage will also reach $15 at the beginning of 2025.

The nationwide Fight for $15 movement was backed by the Chicago Federation for Labor and was pushed to the top of the city’s agenda to benefit the lowest paid workers—who are predominately Black and Latino, according to WTTW.

“Our dedicated workforce deserves to be protected and treated with dignity and respect—especially after the devastating socioeconomic fallout caused by the pandemic,” said Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot in a news release statement.

Chicago businesses must post a notice in multiple languages with information for their employees about the Chicago Minimum Wage Ordinance. The Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) will also hold a series of webinars in the coming weeks to help workers and employers understand the new minimum wage.