Chicago is on track to end the subminimum wage for tipped workers and guarantee One Fair Wage for everyone. But now some city council members are trying to interfere with that progress and stop all pending wage increases.
An ordinance in front of City Council would freeze the phase-out of the subminimum wage, delaying raises for thousands of tipped workers across the city. If it passes, workers who rely on tips to survive could be stuck waiting even longer for the fair wage they were promised.
Chicago passed the One Fair Wage ordinance to gradually eliminate the tipped subminimum wage. At a time when Chicagoans are facing a deep affordability crisis, workers are already struggling to cover basic costs like rent, utilities and groceries. Rolling back the phase-out would only deepen that instability. Chicago should continue leading on workers rights, not diminish them.
Take action to Defend One Fair Wage before the City Council Meeting on March 18th. Email your Alderperson now and tell them to not cut our wages!
If you don’t know your alderperson, look it up at the City of Chicago website. Select your ward on the list to find an email address.
Use This Template to Send an Email:
Subject: VOTE NO to taking away wages
Dear Ald. [Add your alderperson’s name here],
I’m writing as a resident of your ward to urge you to oppose freezing the phase-out of the subminimum wage for tipped workers, currently scheduled for a vote in City Council on Wednesday March 18th.
Working families are facing a serious affordability crisis. Just as business expenses rise, so do costs for all families across the city. Rent, groceries, utilities, childcare, and other essentials are only getting more expensive. Workers are already struggling, and stopping wage increases would only intensify that instability.
Despite its challenges, the restaurant industry remains stable while tipped workers’ wages go up. According to the Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection, the One Fair Wage Ordinance has not negatively impacted the industry, and food licenses are being issued at rates similar to and even higher than the prior few years:
- Retail Food Establishment Licenses were newly issued or renewed at rates similar to or higher than they were issued or renewed in the immediately preceding years and canceled at much lower rates.
- Chicago added about 15,000 hospitality jobs between July 2024—after the first stage of the phase out of the tipped credit—and December 2025.
Chicago has been moving toward One Fair Wage so that all workers can earn a stable income that doesn’t depend entirely on tips. This progress should be protected, not undermined.
I urge you to stand with tipped workers and oppose any effort to freeze or weaken the phase-out of the subminimum wage for tipped workers. Chicago should continue leading on workers rights, not diminish them.
Thank you,
[Your Name]
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