Per The People’s Lobby – Last fall, The People’s Lobby moved the Cook County Board of Commissioners to raise the minimum wage from $8.25 up to $13, starting with an increase to $10 just two weeks from now — on July 1, 2017. Unfortunately, some suburban municipalities are attempting to reverse this victory by passing ordinances to opt-out. In other words, they’re voting to decrease the minimum wage!
When voters in these municipalities took up the questions of paid sick leave and a higher minimum wage in non-binding ballot referendums in recent years, they voted overwhelmingly in favor of allowing workers to earn sick time and mandating a higher minimum wage. These elected officials are putting the interests of the Chamber of Commerce ahead of what the vast majority of local voters think is best for their communities!
We fought hard for this minimum wage increase, and we are organizing grassroots opposition to these votes to decrease the minimum wage. But despite our best efforts, we are losing some of these votes.
Although we wish we didn’t have to fight to preserve the higher minimum wage, every fight is an opportunity to identify people who share our values and grow our power in the suburbs so that we can win bigger and lasting victories in the future.
These are upcoming opt-out votes. If you know someone in (or on the border of) these municipalities, please forward this email and ask them to attend:
- Mon 6/19 6:30p – Des Plaines, 1420 Miner St. (to take a 2nd vote to try to opt out)
- Mon 6/19 7:00p – Oak Park, 123 Madison St. (OAK PARK HAS DECIDED TO NOT OPT-OUT!!! Press conference and then enter the meeting to thank the city council!)
- Tue 6/27 7:00p – Wilmette, 1200 Wilmette Ave.
Check back here for the latest updates regarding this struggle.