Chicago City Council Eliminates Subminimum Wage, Boosts Earnings for Tipped Workers

The Chicago City Council has voted to eliminate subminimum wages for tipped workers, requiring restaurants to pay the city's current minimum wage of $15.80 per hour. The One Fair Wage ordinance, supported by Mayor Brandon Johnson, will gradually increase the minimum wage for tipped workers by 8% annually until 2028. Advocates argue that this change will provide a living wage and address historical inequalities in the restaurant industry, while opponents claim it will reduce profits and worker income. Chicago now joins a growing list of states and cities that have abolished subminimum wages for tipped workers.