Chicago – June 24, 2026
Monday, Mayor Brandon Johnson joined other elected leaders and members of the restaurant industry to celebrate the second phase of Chicago’s fair wage ordinance.
The celebration taking place at TNT Rooftop in the Austin neighborhood.
“This was a bold ordinance that reaffirms that right here in Chicago everyone gets to earn a fair wage and here in Chicago, all workers are heard, seen and valued.”
The law passed by City Council in 2023 has been gradually increasing the hourly wage for tipped workers.
Starting July 1, tipped workers will see a hike in their hourly wage, from $11.02 to $12.62 per hour.
Chicago’s One Fair Wage Ordinance phases out the subminimum wage over five years, so tipped works can earn a full minimum wage with tips on top.
“Here Chicago, leads,” Richard Rodriguez, national policy director for One Fair Wage, said. “Too many workers across Illinois are still left behind, stuck on sub minimum wages. Immigrants, women and people of color are the backbone of the service industry and they deserve better.”
