We are all right, the committee on Workforce Development
will now come to order.
Good morning, everyone.
Thank.
Thank you today. We have to agenda items on the agenda
first approval, the September 7th meetings, rules, 45
report, s, an ordinance o20 23-00, 02995 and amendments of
the mystical code. Chapter 61 05 by modifying section. 6-10
5030 regarding the minimum hourly wage in occupations.
Before we begin, I am conducting roll call to establish
quorum.
All.
I'll
Alderperson Yancey.
I'll
Other person, Yancey presents. All the person hall
alderperson Hall is present, alderperson Beal.
All.
Alderperson, Chico alderperson, check Chico presents.
Alderwoman Ramirez.
All.
Older women Ramirez presents Alderman, Quinn.
All.
all the
Alderman Quinn is present, vice-chair. All the person
Gutierrez are presents Alderman, Coleman, Alderman. Curtis,
Jay Rodriguez. His presents Alderman, Taliaferro.
All.
Alderman Taliaferro presents ramirez-rosa.
All.
Ultimate ramirez-rosa is present Alderman's pesado.
All.
Alderman's pasado is President. President's alderperson
Vasquez?
All.
Alderperson Vasquez is presents.
We have.
we have 11 members present, we have a quorum
share.
Sharon.
Chairman, excuse me. At this time, we'd like to recognize
the presence of non committee members Lee Burnett's and
Cruz.
Am I missing anybody? Who is a non Committee Member Fuentes
as well? I guess that makes sense.
Alright, I'll bring that as well when you got it twice,
brother.
5 times. You got it.
Okay, by Ruel 59 alderwoman, clay alderwoman, Nugent's
alderwoman Alderman, Stephanie Coleman have requested to
attend. The meeting, by remote means, on the route, 59 on
related emergencies. All those in favor of Permitting
Alderman, alderwoman play Alderman, Nugent and aldermen
Coleman to attend remotely today. Please respond by saying,
I are there, any of Post Independent of the charity eyes
have its older woman, claimed Nugent's, and Coleman will be
allowed to attend this meeting Byram.
means and will be at
Means and will be added to the roll call, used to determine
a quorum.
At this time, we will begin public. Comment. The public
comment period will be limited to 30 minutes out of respect
for everyone's Time. Each speaker is limited to three
minutes since the majority of pink slips that we received
on the proponents side we will start with a phone inside
and go to the opponent's side and and and as we move
forward from that way, we will start with Sam Toya.
Turn.
German Rodriguez and members of the committee. Thank you
for the opportunity to speak to you this morning on behalf
of the Chicago restaurant industry for those who know me.
My name is Sam Toya. I'm the president and CEO of the
Illinois, Restaurant Association over the course of twelve
years. Working at the IRA, I have fought tirelessly to
provide the more than 7,000 restaurant operators and
suppliers. We represent with valuable Business Service,
networking opportunities, cost-saving program, and a vital
advocacy in recent weeks. The city is engaged our
organization in discussion about pursuing legislation. That
will they make the chip wage credit here in Chicago?
we disagree with the
We disagree with this decision. Before with them, they
should get credit. We do believe the mended 5-year, faizan
plan agreed by the council. And our association's board of
directors is a compromise. We can all live with and
represented Middle Ground between what are members want.
And the city legislative priorities change is always
difficult, but negotiating requires concessions on both
sides to find a solution again, I know it's not, it's not a
perfect solution. However, I believe the amended ordinance
reflects the best possible position between our members and
the city, giving the restaurant industry time to adjust to
the new Financial reality that operation wouldn't do her.
Once the tip credit is fully eliminated. Speaking of, I
want to thank our members and partners for the continued
support. If we have fought against original proposal in
recent weeks, the Restaurant Association looks forward to
an open dialogue with the mayor his team and a city council
on all issues affecting the hospitality industry in the
future. Also want to thank all the men Carlos work.
Rose.
Roadside Romeo.
Rosa Ramirez alderperson Fuentes for the communication and
time. They put into this ordinance, Mister chairman, thank
you and the committee. Thank you for your time today and
give us a Toya.
Arnett.
Our next speaker is and I will apologize ahead of time for
a name pronunciations. Michael Saltzman, I believe.
Thank.
Thank you. Good morning, Sharon Rodriguez members of the
committee. My name is Mike Salzman on the executive
director of the employment policies Institute, or a think
tank that works on this issue. Nationally. I'm here today
in protest of a process and a so-called compromised, it as
a mitad, the voices of Chicago servers and bartenders most
directly impacted by this issue. I presented to a net with
thousands of tip workers around the country, including
several packed rooms here in Chicago. And the perspective
of these workers is clear. They support and benefit from
the current temp waste system and they don't want to
change.
Survey.
a survey by the company officer found that 97% of tip
workers prefer, the Tipping status quo over a so-called one
Fair wage alternative where your base wage might be higher
but your tips most certainly are not
it's
This is not some big business, conspiracy infect, hip
workers and Progressive locals have been leaders in
defending the tip. Waste system in Portland. Maine is
passed ball. A tip waves, elimination ballot measures
supported by the same group. Now, Act of Chicago was
defeated by nearly 20 points, even Hillary Clinton cut a
video in support of that measure, but she couldn't over.
Do you know?
The unified boy.
The unified voice of servers and bartenders who were saying,
don't mess with my income simile in the state of Maryland.
This year one Fair wage, or one flat wages. Many workers
took to calling them failed to convince the Democratic
governor and legislature. The state should eliminate the
tip wage servers and bartenders waited four hours to
testify against them.
Earrings.
You're in Chicago, though. Unfortunately, these discussions
have largely occurred behind closed. Doors tipped workers
have not been consulted in a meaningful way or even
informed, outside of what they've read in the press and
press statements from some elected officials. Suggest that
the restaurant industry had better, keep his mouth shut
unless something even more harmful be past, I can tell you
that everyone in the city had met with his been angry. And
they've been confused, they want to know why they were not
consulted. They want to know who's behind a plan to fix a
system. It's not broken. And yet, here we are.
If?
If you pass this, there will be consequences for the city.
Yes, jobs will be lost studies from Harvard University
California, Congressional budget office, make that very
clear, but most concerning tip workers will earn less, and
it's not according to me, but to both Cornell in the
Census, Bureau that have studied this issue extensively and
other places that have done it and found it tips. Go down
after the tip wage Rises,
Let me.
Eliminating, the tip. Waiters
Eliminating, the tip wages a poorly conceived. The idea
that has been repeatedly rejected and red and blue, a cows
by the very workers were supposed to benefit from it.
With that. I'd encourage you to treat the idea. This idea
the same way, a restaurant guest May treat a Half Baked
dish and send it back to the kitchen. Thank you.
Connect speaker.
Is nataki Rhodes.
By the.
Hi, good morning. My name is Natasha, quiros on my national
league, organizer for one Fair wage and I am also a
formative worker I lived here in Chicago. 51 years of my
life. I was at work or for 15 years of my life. I started
with making $4.95 all the way up until it was $8.40 an hour
and as I made them low wages as a tip worker, I did
struggle, I did struggle to pay my bills. Pay my rent and I
work in high-end restaurants. Tips was never brought up
tips. My wages. My tips was never brought up to my wages. I
work through this with two Administration to fight to get
wages up for all of us to work.
We be.
We've been at this fight for over a decade now and this
fight started here in Chicago. It started at the corner of,
with the Pullman Porter workers. And so for me to stand
here right now and still saying that we demand higher
wages, it's time for a change. Yes. This is the day the
direction that Chicago needs to go through and Chicago is
not going to suffer and workers are not begging saying,
they're not going to make it work cuz I'm in fact then that
we want a higher wages and not just tips is not about tips,
it's about wages. Increasing one's wages to make a livable
wage. And so Chicago is at that point. We have so many
restaurants opening. We have so many restaurants coming in
and we are a world-class City. And so if we can't take care
of our workers
Here in Sioux.
Here in Chicago, then what are we doing? It's time for
Chicago to move for, get tips on top and all workers will
have a livable wage. Thank you.
Nexus, because Destiny Fox.
Good morning, my name is destiny. Fox my work at Gene &
georgetti's Restaurant here, downtown Chicago. I want to
start off with, I didn't know anything until almost 23
weeks ago, about any of what was being discussed, my me.
And other co-workers, we weren't aware of what was being
discussed and I says the workers we should have a right to
speak to save what we believe is right for us as workers. I
don't agree with making a 1 flat wage and taking away my
tips. I live downtown. Thanks to the tips that I make. I
work hard for my tips. We create experiences for people.
I'm not, I'm not at a cashier. Register getting minimum
wage.
I don't work for me.
I don't work for minimum wage.
I were.
I work.
I work for the tips that I, that, I believe I deserve and
that my co-workers deserve and they earn
I mean, I I think this would highly affect my livelihood the
way I pay my rent. The savings that I put away to start a
family to go back to school.
I'm not going to be able to do those things if you take
away tips, which is how I round up as well. My money as a
second job, as well as it's been my job for years on and
off. But I also teach, I have a degree. I'm working on my
second degree. I speak multiple languages. I'm here from
Italy. My mom raised me as a server and immigrant.
An.
And I mean, I don't understand where we're going to fix
them. Put our hand somewhere, where the city has a lot of
other things that they need to worry about. I believe then
to put your hand somewhere where it doesn't need fixing.
This is a system that's worked for us for years. Like I
said, my mom raised me over 20 years ago. I'm 34 now so 30
years and she had probably $4 as well as her as her her pay
plus tips. And she raised me, she paid my schooling. She
provided me everything I needed. And so I don't understand
where we're going to put our hands and just
Give.
Give us.
Give us the minimum.
Give us the minimum wage or $18 or whatever it is. I don't
make that in an hour and I make way over that in an hour.
So,
So another thing that I also was is your driving people out
of the city, I mean servers going to end up going to the
suburbs so the restaurant that are opening. Thank you,
Dustin Fox, thanks so much.
Neck.
Next up, we have Angela Miller.
Angie.
Angela Miller.
Not.
Not being presents. We move on to Wendy.
On Deck just so we can be ready.
Will be Maurice, Caprice. Junior on Deck.
Good morning, everyone. How are you doing today? My name is
Angela Miller. I am also at work, I've been up for over 10
years now, and I are only strongly support one Fair wage
because I need more money than what I'm receiving. Now,
tips is not going to help me. I need my $15 an hour I
really do and I thought I had come to share what you off
today. I really support one Fairway. Thank you all.
with your
With you.
Lori.
Maurice Caprice, Junior. Followed by Wendy Pollock.
Thank.
Thank you committee listening to both sides. I can
understand having a fair wage in the wages. Go up. I do
have a question. I know it's not going to be answered now
but if the wages go up to the tips, go away. Is that smoke
important thing? Cuz the chips, some of that me that has a
full-time job. I use the few days that I do work, those
extra earnings that I make help pay for bills savings.
Everything.
Everything to just be so.
Everything to just be sustained and have a livable life are
in Chicago. So the most important thing but also the ways
do need to go off. So I'm kind of both sides here so that's
where I am. Thank you.
Nexus. Wendy Paula.
Nexus Wendy Pollock, followed, by Carolyn Harris and
members of the committee. My name is Wendy Pollock. I'm the
director of The Women's Law and policy initiative at the
Shriver Center on Poverty Law and we strongly support. And
one, Fair wage ordinance, the Shriver Center fights for
racial and economic Justice. And that is why we support
this ordinance. There's two important things for first. I
want to mention that we're tips. Don't go away with this
with the spell. It's tips on top.
Are.
and,
And most.
Remote.
And most customers right now, have no idea how much the
sub-minimum wage is and they won't be, knowing won't know
how much in terms of a full minimum wage that workers will
get. So they will learn their chips as they do today to
issues. I'd like to just touch on that really impacts the
restaurant industry and restaurant workers and particularly
workers of color. One is wage theft and the other is sexual
harrassment. I'm sure all of you are familiar with the
racial and gender wage gap for black women or only
sixty-seven cents to every dollar that white men earn. And
the wage Gap is exasperated by the fact that black women to
squash disproportionately work in the lowest-paid
Industries, on a rope and relegated to the lowest pay jobs
within those Industries. The restaurant industry
exemplifies this pattern.
Black.
black with
Black women in the restaurant industry earn between 5 and
$8 an hour less than white men were there, and they are
more likely not to earn enough chips to bring them to the
full minimum wage today.
this is,
This is further compounded by rampant wage theft over 50
billion dollars in wages are stolen from us workers every
day and year after year. The restaurant industry is one of
the top offenders in Illinois. There have been 194 million
dollars and wages, stolen claim to be stolen each year. But
the Department of Labor is only able to recapture 23
million of that, only 8% of stolen wages. So most
restaurant workers, and most workers lose out.
and,
in the
In the shop.
In the Chicago area, has estimated that 7.6 million dollars
each week to stolen from workers that, that money is not
being recaptured. Another significant problem within the
restaurant industry and one that keeps tips low as sexual
harassment workers dependents on tips, really suffer from
this over 70% of women restaurant workers report having
experienced the rasman and the preponderance of sexual
harassment. In the industry needs workers to leave the
industry.
And black women in particular experience, even a greater
amount of breast-milk than their counter point.
Thank.
Thank you.
Then.
Connect.
the next speaker is,
Are.
Carolyn that is followed by Seth Blumenthal. I have worked
in the restaurant industry for practically my entire life.
My dad is a chef and my parents were restaurant owners. All
throughout my childhood, as I've grown up and decided to
pursue a career in the Arts, I have also continued to work
in the service industry. This job is not for the faint of
heart but I have found it rewarding that through hard work
and truly providing the best service I can. But I'm
rewarded with tips that are more often than not, exceeding
minimum wage, I fear that this, but with this change, we
will all be working harder than ever. But we'll see a huge
pay cut. I fear a mass Exodus of service workers, including
myself, who no longer want to subject themselves, to the
difficulties of this work for Less pay. I fear many prices
going up in restaurants, being incredibly short staff and
potentially the quality of service will take a nosedive
beyond that restaurant will close. There is no way, my
family could have kept the restaurant doors open, if this
had taken effect back then,
The profit margin for restaurants is Slim compared to other
industry, and I suspect it would be difficult for owners to
keep their doors open. Chicago is a great city known for
its food. This will take away part of this wonderful City
and I just want to add. I love the idea of tips on top of
minimum wage, but I can almost guarantee that's not going
to happen. We're not going to get tipped extra.
They're going.
they're going to see minimum wage and that's
They're going to see minimum wage and that's going to be at
and that's a huge pay cut for me and my fellow workers.
Thank you so much.
Next.
Next speaker is Seth Blumenthal followed by a final speaker
Bryan Kowalski.
German.
German Rodriguez in committee on my name is Seth Blumenthal
on the corner of Lemmon a new neighborhood cocktail bar
with a stage in West Town at Grand and Ashland. We're very
excited to see this change. As we open our barn invest in
the future of hospitality and Chicago being able to open
with the knowledge. That they'll be a Level Playing Field
where all restaurant and bar owners are required to pay a
full minimum wage with tips. On top allows us to design a
business model that ensures. We pay our whole team
equitably and we can build in the true cost of Beverage
food and Hospitality into our prices. We can now do the
secure in the knowledge that we won't find ourselves at a
competitive disadvantage. The other restaurants and bars
that were previously allowed to pay. Stub minimum wage one
of our tenants that lemon is working for us, should be a
career not just a job.
They should be sassy.
They should be sustainable respectable careers versus, you
know, people starting young and and burning out as a
business owner, I'm willing to contribute a portion of my
profits as hard as its businesses to support this. Need to
change. And furthermore
A.
And furthermore, tips tips will not go away, people. This
is a bar. People still going to tip, they're not going to
necessarily be aware of these kinds of details. So just to
Espresso for any workers that are afraid of change and then
losing tips. Let's not be afraid of progress. So in
closing,
I'm very thankful to those who work hard to make this
progress. Particular the mayor's office other people want
those in ramirez-rosa. And to one Fair wage and high road
restaurants. We're very excited for the future of bars and
restaurants in Chicago and we can't wait to welcome you to
Lemon. Thank you very much.
and our last,
And our last speaker is Bryan Kowalski.
I'm
Members of the council. Thank you for having me. My name is
Bryan, Kowalski by now. I'm sure you have heard of all the
data and evidence both supposed to and for the abolishment
of the tip credit system. I'm not going to stand here and
read a lot of data points in factual assumptions because
the data can be manipulated to match of a narrative. You
wish to create, I will simply give you my testimony.
In 2013.
In 2013, finding a good-paying job. Fresh out of college
with a bachelor's degree in biology prove to have many
hurdles. I wanted out of the house and I have my own money.
I started working as a security guard at a nightclub in St.
Louis.
Add.
That again to see the behind-the-scenes fast-paced workings
of our life would want to spend their days in the
Laboratory, Testing specimens. After that, I was drawn to
the service side of things. So I started training as a
barback eventually worked my way up to bartender. I was
just a cog in 2016, to Begin work at federales in the West
Loop and I'm still at the restaurant today.
I'm
I'd like to say that I my best times and my best moment I
exercise. Gratitude, I am thankful for the life at this job
has afforded me. I have forged relationships with people
who are wonderful and tenacious inside the industry, some
of which that will last a lifetime and specifically one
that will last me till death do us part. I'm in my fiance
working in the industry and we are getting married in May
I want.
along with the
Along with the blessings of the people in my life came the
blessings of time afforded to me to pursue, Artistic
Endeavors. I've been acting for over eleven years now doing
commercials movies and plays, just this past year. I start
my own Film Production Company and I'm currently in the
pre-production phases of a docu-series that will soon.
Hopefully, come to a streaming platform near you restaurant
industry has afforded me to Precious and limited resource
of time. Time to chase that small child's dream of working
on movies, the dream that I spent so long to time so much
time, attempting to quiet because it didn't
That's enough money. This job afforded me, the time to
continue to chase that dream. It provided me a livable wage
that I can not only put a roof over my head and food on the
table and my creaky Fort Story. No elevator walk up. It is
provided me. The opportunity to invest in my business and
it continues to be a platform and Foundation that I cherish
your decision whether to uphold her abolish, the tip credit
system directly implicates me, the thousands of other
workers that work, the service jobs. The people that chase
their dreams during the day and work their bodies to the
Bone, through the night, the workers, and grinders who need
this system to prosper so they can see better days ahead.
I'm going.
I'm going to be starting a family very soon and I would
like to be able to provide for them. I pray that you can
find and let him here to the part of your heart. That is
telling you the truth of the matter. Thank you.
Is the time. For public comment has expired. Thank you very
much. All those who have spoken our first order of business
is the approval of the rule, 45 report from September 8th
from September 7th 2023. Every member of the committee
should have received the copy in their email last week and
should have one of your package here today. Can I have a
motion to approve? The rule, 45 report, someone will buy
all their Vasquez. All those in favor signify by saying I
and you posed in the opinion of the chair.
you guys have a
The eyes have it.
The second.
The second item before the committee today. Oh,
202-300-0295 and amendments of the municipal code. Chapter
6, Dash 105 by modifying section, 6-10 5-0, 30 regarding
the minimum hourly wage and sip occupations. We have a
substitute ordinance as a result of negotiation between the
sponsors and members of Labor in the restaurant industry. I
believe all the all the premier stressed out moves to pass
or to acceptance of the substitute Orleans.
All the
All those in favor of accepting the substitute resolution
receptra. Please respond by saying I and you post in the
penny, the charity eyes, have it to substitute. Ordinance
is before I want to acknowledge, we have several written
communication sent to the committee. That should be in your
packet. Today, we have with us for experts to speak on the
ordinance, we will hear from siroo Ramon president of one
Fair wage Minneapolis 2nd. Ward council member Robin was
the owner of back of the coffee and bacp commissioner, Ken
Meyer. Once all four have offered their comments will open
questions to the floor as protocol. We will start with
committee members and move on to non committee members.
all the
Are all four of the speakers and supported us is there any.
But any expert speakers are opposed to this the, for our
proponents we did we did offer up to the restaurant
industry and they offer comments.
Thank.
Thank you. Thank you. Chairman first, we're going to start
actually if you're going to go out of order here and we're
going to start with with the commissioner Ken Meyer.
You hear me, okay, good morning Jefferson, Mike Rodriguez
and members of the committee on the Workforce Development.
My name is Ken Meier and I am the commissioner of the
Chicago Department of Business Affairs and consumer,
protection also known as bacp. I'm joined today by Miguel,
Campos acting director of The Office of Labor Standard.
Chicago has a long proud history of being an ally with
workers. And it's been a leader and worker protections.
This is demonstrated through. The gradual increase of the
minimum wage over the last nine years from $10 on July 1st
2015, to 1580 and 2023. The passing of the fair, workweek
ordinance in 2020 and the required requirement.
A written contract.
A written contracts.
A written contract for domestic workers in 2022 that the
home of worker protections is the office of labor
standards, which was created in 2019 to oversee Chicago's
labor laws through Community engagement and a robust
enforcement Authority prior to the offices creation. The
city of Chicago with actively evaluating its worker
protections
The dry socio-economic discrepancies, the city of Chicago
commissioned a study to assess the minimum wage of tipped
workers, the comprehensive City of Chicago tipped work
report, addresses. The critical need for tipped minimum
wage reform in the city of Chicago.
Aluma.
Eliminating. The tip, Wade, credit for tip workers will
improve working and living conditions for workers.
Empowering them to contribute more to local communities,
and Foster economic vitality.
Therefore I am in support of the amendment to the city's.
Minimum wage ordinance which would establish the phasing
out of the tip wage credit by July one 2028. This gradual
change is a compromise that allowed businesses
Jiffy.
Tipped workers and consumers to prepare and become
accustomed to the change. The proposed ordinance includes
input from restaurant. Tours interested groups, such as
Illinois, Restaurant Association, worker, advocacy groups
and workers themselves are all person, Jesse Fuentes care,
Mike, Rodriguez, and joao Carlos Ramirez. Rosa, as well as
mayor Brennan Johnson and his leadership team for all their
hard work on the soreness and reaching is compromised. This
legislation, that demonstrates the power of collaboration
tip workers will earn a wage business, will have time to
implement increase by 2028 and consumers will be able to
continue to tip at the discretion. As with any new
ordinance, bacp will create an integrated marketing and
Communications strategy to bring awareness to workers small
businesses.
Old.
Owners in.
Owners and consumers. Thank you again, chairperson and
other members of the committee for your time.
Neck.
Next step will have saru jayaraman. You have several
minutes true.
Hello, hello. Hello. Good morning everyone. Thank you so
much for having me on my name is Sarno Jr. Ramen I am both
the co-founder and president of one Fair wage and also the
director of the food labor Research Center at the
University of california-berkeley. I have distributed my
fifth book on this issue to all of you today. If you
haven't gotten a copy, we have more copies here today. I'm
so grateful to the number of people I want to thank first
before beginning comments. I want to thank course Mara
Brandon Johnson or his leadership on the issue and want to
thank Alderman. Carlos Ramirez, Rosa and other person Jesse
Fuentes for their incredible leadership on the issue. Thank
you so much older man. Mike Rodriguez and his committee for
hearing the issue and for your leadership on the issue. I
want to thank the incredible allies and frankly flown in
from all over the country and are here in Chicago. So here
in Chicago, that Worker Center for racial Justice, our
Revolution women employed
Schreiber said,
Shriver Center William heard from SEIU Unite Here. That
Federation of Labor. Also, the National Women's Law Center,
dining room Ramirez has flown in from Washington DC and,
and our Revolution, so, tons of organizations. But both
with in Chicago, that represent tipped workers and from all
over the country, I also want to thank the Sam Toya and
Illinois Restaurant Association for his leadership and
willing to sit down and willing to be willing to work out a
compromise being willing to work with the city and the
mayor and council members to find a solution to this issue.
And finally, I cannot talk without naming the incredible
worker leaders. Who have led this fight for the last 20
years. Here in Chicago, we have 30,000 tipped restaurant
workers here in Chicago. That have led this fight, 30,000
workers who signed petitions calling for Chicago and the
state of Illinois to pass. One Fair wage of full minimum
wage with tips on top, 30,000 workers who have delivered
petitions to every single District in the state calling for
this. And we can talk about pulling 99% of the 30,000
workers. Sign petition saying they need and want a full
minimum wage with tips on top and soda, understand why
these workers have been asking for this for so
Especially.
And I specially wanted.
And I specially want to name to talk.
And I specially want to name the Taki roads, who has been
leading this for so long in Chicago, as a tip to worker as
a single mother as a single grandmother fighting for this,
for her co-workers and understanding that this is a fight
that has been really led by women of color who have
suffered from the very beginning, on this issue. It's so
important to understand the history of the issue.
Hippie.
Dipping originated in Europe, it was not something that
originated in the United States. It was given by
Aristocrats Nobles Duke Searles to their servants, but
always on top of a wage in feudal Europe. When the idea
came to the states at first, Americans didn't like it. They
rejected it. They said that's feudalism. We're a democracy
and an 1853 waiters in Chicago and Boston and Philadelphia
who didn't get tips, they could. Wages, they went on strike
for higher wages and the restaurant industry started to
look for cheaper labor, to replace these waiters. And so
after emancipation, as black people started moving up from
the south to Industries sought to hire black people, not
pay them and force them to live on this new thing that had
just come from Europe. Call tips a company called the
podium train company, hard, black men, and restaurants,
hired black women. And you may know hopefully the history
that is so revered here in Chicago.
at the,
The black men in the Pullman train company, organized one,
the right, not only to Union call the Brotherhood of
sleeping car Porters. But also the right to one Fair wage a
full minimum wage with tips on top form and card borders.
Got tips from the baggage handling that they were doing for
customers on the train, but they fought for a full wage
with the tips on top that happened in 1925 and 1927, the
National Restaurant Association, which has found itself.
Just a few years earlier in Kansas City, move to Chicago in
response to the Pullman car. Porters. Organizing to ensure
that the black women in restaurants. We're not able to
achieve with the black men got in the Pullman train
company. And so they basically lay down their Roots, the
National Restaurant Association right here in Chicago 1927,
they fought to ensure tipped workers were mostly black.
Women did not get a wage.
Basic.
They succeeded in winning that in 1938 when the new deal
with past and everybody else in the country. Got the right
to federal minimum wage for tipped workers, who at the time
were mostly black, women were excluded and told you only
get tips no wages. And we went from $0 in 1938 all the way
up, to $2.13 an hour, the current federal minimum wage in
the United States of America. And of course, $9 here in
Chicago, $8 that must
Savella.
If Elena.
Illinois. Illinois continues to be one of 43 states that
follows this Legacy of slavery. And also follows the
federal minimum wage practice that has been in place argued
and fought for by the National Restaurant Association,
which ones our friend here. Michael, Saltzman from the
employee's employment policies Institute and has lobbied
and spot to maintain a sub minimum wage for tipped workers
is an entity that's led by the chains that IHOP's the
Denny's. The Applebee's it's been around for 100 years
fighting to maintain the sub-minimum wage System since
1865. And I do ask Chicago, we Revere the history of the
Pullman car Porters. There's a national monument that
President Biden came here to uplift and honor. The legacy
of the Pullman car Porters, who fought and won. For one
Fair wage, a full minimum wage with tips on top and yet we
have allowed the mostly female
I worked.
I work for.
Workforce of tipped, restaurant workers to continue with
that same process for the last 100 years that system has
resulted in a mostly females over 2/3. Women just before
she would have color and single mothers suffering from the
highest rates of poverty and sexual harassment. If any
industry in the United States during the pandemic that
became so much worse. I do want to say there are seven
states that got rid of this system, many decades ago,
California or
Washington.
Washington, Nevada.
Washington, Nevada, Montana, Alaska and you're nearby state
of Minnesota. All of these states have higher restaurant
sales job growth small business growth rates actually.
California has double the small business growth rate in the
restaurant industry as Illinois and to all of the servers
in the room, I have good news for you. They have higher
tipping averages in all of the states that pay a full
minimum wage with tips on top, happy to share the courts
data which tracks tipping and shows that workers in the
seven states. With one Fair wage, get more in tips. Why?
Because workers, when they get paid more, they tip better.
They go out. They spend it in the restaurant industry and
they tip better during the pandemic. All of this, I'm
wrapping up got worse, workers were in bass majority
reported, that tips went down harassment went up and they
started leaving in Mass 1.2 million workers have left the
industry. We surveyed twenty thousand of which 70% said
they were leaving because of the wage
as a
As a result, we've Track 6000 restaurants Nashville,
including 300 right here that have voluntarily moved to
paying a full minimum wage with tips on top because they
have to recruit staff. And many of these restaurants are
saying we need policy that will create a Level Playing
Field and bring workers back to work in this industry. So
this is a policy that's been working in other states. It's
a policy that's cause Mass Exodus from this industry here
in Illinois and Chicago and we're so excited to work with
you to get it done, finally right here.
Thank.
Thank you. Lucky.
Napa record.
Okay, thank you. Thank you, rob order, let the record
reflect Alderman. Curtis is not with us, Alderman. Curtis
is here. Next UPS council member Robin Wednesday.
Hello everyone and good morning committee members, I am
councilmember Robin wansley and I have the distinct honor
of representing War 2 on the Minneapolis city council. And
while I'm currently thank you. I want a really rocking with
Minneapolis South Side. Chicago will always be my forever
home and I couldn't be more excited to speak in favor of a
one Fair wage policy that I know will drastically uplift
actor, namik Edition, for my own loved ones. As well. As,
for thousands of working-class, Chicago resident, I can
confidently speak to the positive impact. Other one. Fair
wage policy having myself spent years organizing alongside
hundred of low-wage workers to get a $15 minimum wage
policy pass, with no pellet notes. A penalty in Minneapolis
in 2017, our local fight for fifth.
Movement.
The movement became or made Minneapolis become the first
Midwestern City to pass a $15, minimum wage, and that
historic speak thank you. And that his store feet would
then go on to inspire other cities, like st. Paul, and
dozens of others. In Minnesota, to do the same. Similar to
Chicago our local by 4:15 movement was created and led by
black and brown Hospitality restaurant and retail workers
who grew sick and tired of earning sub-minimum wage is that
made it impossible for them to cover their coordinates
Destiny's like rent, child care, and medical cost.
To make ends meet, many of these workers had to take on
multiple jobs and even seek out Public Assistance. This
reality meant that our city not only had 100, a business is
thriving off of paying their workers poverty wages. But it
also meant that local governments and public agencies were
left to subsidize profitable businesses by having to
provide assistance to their underpaid workers. Whose
unlivable wages made it impossible for them to cover their
basic needs.
Are you?
3 years, low wage workers in Minneapolis alerted city
leaders about their despairing wage conditions, but were
met with silence or told that the City of Minneapolis or
local government had no role to play in. Regulating private
businesses wages in Italy. The lack of political will from
city. Leaders did not stop. These workers from taking
action, yes, they took the fight for 15, not only to the
streets, but to their workplaces and it's a city hall for
four consecutive years until they want. And I want to know
for all four years, our movement was met with great
opposition from our local Fortune. 500 companies, the
Restaurant Association in a Chamber of Commerce and even
the City of Minneapolis every attempt to introduce a $15,
minimum wage policy with blocked after successfully
acquiring /.
Bowser.
Thousand signatures to put 15 on the ballot. The City of
Minneapolis took us to court and got us kicked off the
ballot in response to the momentum that our movement was
gaining our local Restaurant Association employed, a
misinformation campaign called Pathways to 15, where they
organize dozens of temp workers to Advocate against a 15
minimum wage policy by telling them that they will lose
their tip. If his policy past and I want to highlight that,
this is a myth.
The mega.
The myth of lost hip is a fear tactic that the restaurant
and hospitality industry have used across the country to
keep wages to press through dividing, worker on the issue
of wage equality and Equity. However, workers should be
reminded that our cities and communities because literally
not function without your labor. Therefore it doesn't
matter. If you are flipping burgers at a McDonald's serving
lattes, at a Starbucks cashiering at a Nordstrom Rack or
even waitressing at an upscale downtown restaurant, you
deserve a livable wage
Dish.
Additionally, our opposition led a multibillion-dollar,
spear campaign, officially a threatening that. If we pass
the pin, a massive doomsday apocalypse will fall upon
Minneapolis Doby's were ride in all walks of life will
happen, especially just by guaranteeing that every single
worker. What earned at minimum? A $30,000 annual income?
More specifically are businesses that that, you know,
dozens of businesses would not only close their doors but
they will sleep, any hapless and move to surrounding
suburbs and Minneapolis with this. They think being the
economic engine that it has historically been for the state
and while I'm happy to know that the restaurant in Sochi,
Chicago has not fully.
Chicago has not fully employed. The Minneapolis approach. I
think it's important to highlight that even after the 15.
Minimum wage was passed in Minneapolis. The hospitality
industry didn't just survive, but all the doomsday
predictions that they have made did not come to pass.
Count.
Councilwoman you're at 5 minutes. Now maybe wrap up your
ass 5 minutes now and I just want to let folks know people
are still tipping in Minneapolis after the passage of 50.
In fact, they're still doing so the same if not even more,
mini our Hospitality retail and restaurant workers have
more wages to patronize our frequent businesses or, you
know, take a vacation every now and then they pay their
rent. We've seen more Regional businesses across
Minneapolis, Ashley raise their wages to $30 an hour. That
means there's a new standard established because we pass
15. Thank you, thank you so much for letting me speak
today.
and I,
And I'll have Jesse and I guess you keep it pretty, please.
Thank.
Thank you. I chairperson, good morning. My name is Jesse
n***** owner and founder of Back of the Yards coffee. We
believe that in order for businesses to thrive, we must
invest in our workers and our communities are we've been
doing that since our Inception. In fact, since we started
we've actually paid over $15 an hour consistently from the
very beginning.
And we feel that the minimum wage is just that the bare
minimum, the submittal wage for tipped workers is
unethical.
The actions taken by the city. Council in the mayor's
office today are long overdue. There are thousands of
working people who called the back of the Arts Community,
which is my home, their home, and they need to make enough
money to afford the products and services that businesses
like mine. Provide. When you hear that neighborhood
restaurants, can't afford to pay a full minimum wage with
tips on top, what you are hearing is that workers in my
community can't get a raise because some restaurants can't
figure out how to make money without exploiting them.
We have done it and we will continue.
We have done it and we will continue to do that.
In.
In the Twin Cities. There are successful neighborhood
restaurants, same with Los Angeles Portland, Seattle, Las
Vegas and Montana, and Alaska, and they all pay one Fair
wage. We look forward to a Level Playing Field where all of
Chicago restaurant workers are paid fairly paid fairly and
can support the community restaurant. That they love
today's a big day and I'm proud to stand next to these
workers and the elderly persons in our brave elected
officials who are finally correcting this historic.
Inequity. Thank you.
I'll
Okay, thank you for the testimony. We will now move on to
questions from other person's, I'll recognize committee
Members First. Any hands we have one, two, three hands up
for hands. I'm assuming we'll start with the M 4 L rumors
were also. Thank you so much Mr. Chair. I'm so happy that
sorrow. Who is a national expert on this issue and who has
been doing research in her roles in Berkeley and president.
One Fair wage spoke to the history because it's so
important to know the history of policies and the way in
which they impact our communities today,
If you.
if you are a black,
If you are a black woman, if you are a brown woman, if you
are lucky not working in the restaurant industry, you are
more than likely living in poverty. When you count your
tips, at the end of the week, you are more than likely, not
receiving. The minimum wage as we embarked on this work. I
taking the time to speak with tipped workers and I heard
from some workers, who worked at? Very nice restaurants,
downtown were white men. Who said things are going? Okay,
I'm getting great money and tips.
and then,
And then I see.
And then I spoke with Latinas with black women who said
this is not working.
I have.
I have been a victim of wave stuffed where my employer take
half of my tips every week.
I count my money. And yeah, maybe I got a good Sunday or
good Saturday, but the rest of the week, I'm not making 15
an hour.
I spoke to.
I spoke with one woman who worked in the restaurant
industry in Los Angeles and she said that in Los Angeles,
she was making a thousand more a month. Los Angeles. Is a
one Fair wage. City will workers receive a full minimum
wage with tips on top. She said when she came to Chicago
she was making less than $14 an hour when she included
tips. And she said that her employer did not make her whole
and when she asked to be made whole when she became aware,
that the law says that you have to be made whole, He Didn't
Do It.
Send.
She ended up becoming a nanny because the restaurant
industry was not paying her enough.
I have.
I have spoken with so many workers on the margins.
Undocumented people who are afraid to report their
employee. For Waste stuffed squid, been threatened with ice
and called them because they have stood up inside your
supposed to pay me. The full minimum wage of the tips.
Don't get me there.
This is why we're fighting for this issue and I'm very
disappointed that some employers have lied to their
employees and it brought them here to yell at women of
color that are fighting for Fairways that are fighting to
stop. This practice that has led to harassment that has
left the property that has left explication.
We know what the data says. We have Decades of research,
Los Angeles Minneapolis cities across this nation with a
condom is very similar to ours. Have already instituted one
Fair wage with tips on top
Read.
Restaurants are opening up. Restaurants are growing.
Restaurants are employing more workers and workers are
making the same or more. In San Francisco. Has the highest
national average in tipping. They are one Fairway state.
So for anyone that is afraid that stopped for some reason,
tips will go away. Once the base wage for workers and
restaurants goes up just a little bit that tips will go
away. The data shows that that's simply not true. It's a
fear-mongering tactic and we've heard these fear-mongering
tactics before. When are City sought to raise the minimum
wage, we were told that it would be the end of the world.
Is small businesses were closed that you know our
neighborhoods would be empty. That has not been the case.
So I think it's important for us to lead on our values. I
think it's important for us to look at the data and to make
changes that are in the interest of all Chicago gangs.
My pet.
My parents were small business owners. They own the
laundromat in Lakeview many years ago and in the 1990s,
they paid $12 an hour because they knew that it was so
critically important to provide their Workforce with
livable wages and that was a livable wage at that time.
Small biz.
Small business owner.
Small business owners can.
Small business owners can find a way to make this work and
has been has already been noted hundreds of small
businesses throughout the city of Chicago. Have already
found a way to make this work. I spoken with so many small
business owners in my community, who say aldermen were
already, paying one Fair wage were already paying 16 17 and
some cases $18 an hour to the front of the house. Cuz
that's the only way that we can get people to work at our
restaurant. But also because we know that paying them a
livable wage with tips on top is the best way that we can
treat our workers. So I just want to say thank you to the
one Fair wage Coalition thank you to nataki. And of course
thank you two May or Brendan Johnson because on the
campaign Trail he went alongside tipped workers and did the
server four-day event. Walking a day in their shoes after
he won he came back and did the server a four-day event
again, with tipped workers talking,
Papa needs.
I need to go.
I need to get this done and he was able to bring the
Restaurant Association together with the one Fair wage
Coalition, and come to a good compromise. I want to thank
the Illinois Restaurant Association. I want to thank the
one for Waste Coalition and of course I want to take me to
bring Johnson. And lastly I would be remiss not to thank
all the women Jesse Fuentes.
Was elected.
What?
Was elected to represent her community and within just a
few weeks of getting here said, I'm going to fight to make
sure that black and brown women in my community. Get Fair
wages. And so, you know, thank you for all your work here
and with that, thank you chairman for course putting this
on the agenda for giving me some time. Thanks very good.
Exactly 5 minutes here.
Thank.
Thank you, mr. Chairman and I to support one Fair wage and
soreness and I want to thank my colleagues.
Old woman, Jesse Fuentes. Great job on this and I thank you
for your advocacy for tipped workers.
You do have this part of your package which concerns me a
little bit Washington DC and it's against the study in
Washington DC as a cautionary. Tale. I heard anyone speak
to Washington DC and I was wondering if your expert on can
speak to ask you what happened in Washington, d.c. to make
this, they have such an adverse impact on that City. And is
there a possibility of having at I'm at same adverse impact
in the city of Chicago?
Yeah. Can you hear me? I'm so glad you asked. Thank you for
the question, actually, Washington. DC is doing great. We
actually 11 Fairway in Washington DC with 75% of the vote.
And the wage has gone up from it, so I haven't gone up all
the way to one Fair wage, so it would be impossible for
anybody to say anything about it, really, but it's gone up
from 5 to $8 an hour, which is actually where Chicago is
right now, to continue look to 10 and then 12 and it'll hit
16:10 in about 2 or 3 years plus tips. Now, the Restaurant
Association of Metropolitan Washington directly after the
passage of I-80 to with 75% of the vote convene, their
members and told them, don't worry. All you have to do is
switch from tips to service charges and take the money out
of the service charge and use it to cover your cost. Not
all restaurants did that. But several members of the
restaurant,
Did the?
Did that as kind of a spice to workers and to voters for
having passed, this ordinance now, that was in, that was in
contradiction to DC law. Which says that when you actually
use a service charge, you have to very clearly State, what
you are doing with that service charge? Are you using it
for yourself or are you giving it to the worker at the tip
of the DC? Attorney general started going out to
restaurants and saying you have to clarify? What are you
doing?
But the service charge, the Restaurant Association,
initially pushed back, but I have right here, copies of a
press release. That was issued jointly by the Restaurant
Association and the DC attorney general in early August
feeling that they've come to an agreement on guidance for
the Washington DC Metro area. You want to hand it out that
they agree that there should be very clear guidance to
restaurants at. If they're going to use a service charge,
they have two very clearly State on the menu, how they're
using a service charge. Are they giving it to workers as a
tip or are they using it for their own purposes? In which
case there should be tipping on top. Now, we have surveyed
hundreds of restaurants in DC and thousands of workers
people are tipping, on top of the service charge,
especially when they find out a restaurant. Maybe using a
portion of the service charge for themselves people
continue to tip, the overwhelming majority of people are
still tipping on top of service charges, because they don't
like it.
When a rest.
When a restaurant tries to do something funny with a
service charge, if it pissed off consumers, when the
Restaurant Association attempted to do that but I will tell
you it's been resolved as you can see in the press release
that was issued jointly by the Restaurant Association and
the DC attorney general and the wage continues to go up.
Actually I can give you the growth rate from rest from DC
but small business growth rates. Continue to go up, sipping
continues to go up, everything is fine.
Jerry.
German. Thank you. Thank you, for your leadership on this.
If, if we're going to continue changing the narrative on
violence in the city of Chicago, the help reduce violence.
We have to continue to fight for working families, and
continue to fight to make. Sure families are able to
sustain themselves Financial in. This is just one approach
to doing it. Don't want to thank you for your leadership.
All the one with the windows. Thank you for your leadership
is where all the roses and Dom. I want a really thinks a
toy you for coming to the table to negotiate in with that
chairman of my time, and thank you so much.
Turn.
You're too much.
all the
Alleman Hall.
Thank you, mr. Chairman, I am to stand and support for a
lot of reasons in my family, a million days, especially my
grandfather, depending on tips to survive. And as a child,
we remember growing up the tip jar that had nothing but
quarters nickels and dimes for men, that work 14 hours a
day. So the idea that you work hard and you give your best
and you depend on someone just to Simply say thank you. And
often times most of these workers don't get thanked enough.
Let alone your tip is the reason why
Family, Support to level the playing field. When we look at
those who eat downtown, it's a privilege. There were two
million people in this city. If not less than more in the
majority of which can't afford to eat downtown
neighborhood. While I serving at 6 for the average income
is only $39,000. So the amount of people that are going
downtown to eat, want to go out has very few but those who
work in those restaurants and all said to me, we need help.
Those who work at Captain hard times, should have the same
level of income in Plainfield. There goes that work at
Gibson's
it's
And so, this is a move to equal the Plainfield. It's not a
left or right, it's a both fan. And so this is what happens
when we do come together. We disagreed on a lot. But one
thing, we all agree on is that everybody to have their fair
share in order to survive in this times at Reading.
Stone.
It may take time, but I do believe that this is the work
that makes Chicago, the place to live in where everybody
can eat together. Laugh together, but get their fair share
of work wages together. Thank you mr. Chairman, I would
like
all right, we'll
All right, we'll move.
All right, we'll move on to non committee members that this
points first in line is all in writing.
Thank.
Thank you, Sharon wanted to provide a few comments. I don't
have any specific questions at this time for the last 45
minutes or so we've gotten a pretty extensive amount of
testimony in support of the ordinance and I want to
compliment the sponsors for bringing it before us, it is an
issue that needs to be addressed, and I think there's been
an indication from the restaurant industry. They're willing
to work on this money. Like always, don't know this, but I
grew up in the restaurant industry, went to work in the
first restaurant at age 13 and working at in the street for
a few decades, couple decades and I do understand that even
the most successful most popular restaurants operate on
very thin margins compared to other Industries. If you're
doing four or 5% margin, that's an incredible year for you
as a restaurant, operator, whether you are a small
mom-and-pop or Gibson's or pick another fancy restaurant
downtown,
These types of inputs. These new costs, do you have an
impact on the bottom line? And because he's margin Turf,
and it's not because operators are me and evil people,
they're certainly not them play. Lots and lots of people in
Chicago, they have no choice but to pass these costs along
to their customers, and unfortunately, that does have an
impact.
on the
On dining behavior. And again, I want to make it very clear.
These are very hard jobs and I'm incredibly sympathetic to
folks who are part making a heart, had a hard time making
ends meet at the restaurant that they work for. We do need
to find some ways to address some of the other issues and
fit that are impacting them in their wages. Disorders,
isn't about wage theft, it's about increasing. The wage for
tipped workers which is admirable, but I just want to
remind folks that there. There's a lot of unintended
consequences to sounds like both sides of this issue. Have
their data and they're pulling in their surveys but
intuitively I can tell you that there are certain data
points that I'm seeing in this Washington, d.c. survey
where this change is currently underway. They've been at it
for about 4 months, The Operators, there are already making
changes to to adjust and then, you know,
likely the
Likely the rest.
Likely the restaurant industry is a resilient one, you
know, is you're in Chicago and across the country, we saw
them survive, the pandemic, many didn't, but this industry
has been able to adapt and that's what makes these folks
successful at what they do. But when you layer on one too
many burdens they do have to take some pretty drastic stops
and what they're going to see in d.c. here is 80%, the
restaurants are planning to raise their menu prices,
7.
70% playlist.
70% playlist, YouTube service, charges 70%, plan to reduce
employee hours, not good for anyone, 72% plan to reduce
staff. And in this is a city where this is already
happening, it's also a city that gets a lot of Tourism like
we do. So this isn't just about Chicago diners. It's about
Chicago as a destination or Travelers across the globe in
from across the country. It is a critical component of our
City's economy. Hospitality industry is is an anchor for
the city of Chicago. And I can tell you when you look at
the surveys that have been done here in Chicago recently
talking about the store and it's the idea of a potentially
a 15% price increase on menus to eventually absorb the cost
to come with this higher wage.
We're.
What's the?
We're seeing that 48% of diners are likely to tip a smaller
amount. And that's not an industry. Representative telling
you, that, that's over a thousand people in Chicago,
surveyed frequent Diner. And yet another 44% are more
likely to dine outside the city and 53%, more likely, to
dine at home. We saw what happened to this industry, when
folks decided to dine at home for a while involuntarily.
But then, even when we reopened restaurant, a lot of folks
chose to stay home and had a devastating impact on on
Restaurant, Chicago lost dozens upon dozens of
institutional restaurant.
For decades.
For decades owned by families generations of families. So,
again, I'm not criticizing the intent of of the sponsors of
this ordinance. I, I support them in there in there.
In 10.
Intense. However, I live in reality and there are
consequences that come with these policy changes in the in
this case, I think we should spend more time rather than
voting. Yes, or no. I'm said you want to support finding a
way for folks to make more money in the industry. I'm take
some more time, be more collaborative of more public, likes
your discussion, these negotiations took place rapid fire
and in not in the in the light of day and that's a lot of
negotiation tap in this building. That's so bad. But given
that this impacts tens of thousands of employees and many
thousands of restaurant operators. I think it deserves a
full batting and in a public one at that. And so my request
to my colleagues would be to not vote on this today. But if
we are forced to have a vote here after very little public
discussion and review of the changes that were alive,
We agreed to buy.
We agreed to by certain members of the industry and in the
administration why Rush this if it's good policy will stand
up but I would much rather have a longer and more public
conversation about this issue is going to impact many. Many
likes both sides of this issue at a time. When frankly, the
restaurant industry is just climbing out of the dead and
has a ways to go. I'm so I would just ask my colleagues. If
you have to vote on this today, I asked you vote. No, so
they will have more time to discuss this and work out. A
fair compromise. That doesn't have a disproportionate
negative impact on an industry. That is critical to the
future of the city of Chicago. Thank you jamming.
We're going.
We're going to.
We're going back to the committee members and Nick Masala
Roughnecks all of its bottle.
We're going back to the committee members alderman,
sposato.
I'm sorry. Did you say it was all the men? Riley must have
been looking over my shoulder a little bit, but that's just
my conversation. I know when public comment I want I want
Set alarm self. Try going to be the same thing again this
time chairmen. So up please indulge me. First of all, I
just want to start off by saying I do not care. One bit
about the intentions of my colleagues, are, I believe you
all have very good intentions. I give you credit for trying
to do what you feel is, right? I just, I just don't agree
with you and, and I and I don't support, you know, I don't
support this at this time, I certainly appreciate the
compromise. I was very happy to see that someone of a
compromise but once again, things were a little quick so
just a few things are just going to touch off on a few
things I think one or two things if we want we want to help
tip workers. One of the first things we should be doing is
teach people how to chip the proper the proper way to
chipmunk. Many of people don't know how to cook.
Mike, Mike my fans over there. I'm not going to ask him.
I'm going to make it. I'm going to say a question that I
know the answer to the best tippers Inn in the business. If
you go to restaurant, your best tippers are people in the
industry.
They know how to flip the back.
Wow, well also people, this is for the surprise. Everybody
are there may be some tipped workers, your dad don't know.
This never ever tip on the credit card. Always chip in cash
right now. Always tip and cast it to the temp workers they
lose 3% of that they they get the fast money. If you took
him in cash and then it and then they can do what they want
with that. He can take, they receive money every day. I was
except worker. I did start off as a tip worker. I like my
colleague was starting with 13.
Amazon.
I was only.
I was only fourteen. I started as a busboy. My father was a
tip worker. My grandmother was a tip worker and both of my
daughters have been tip work or so. I know what I know what
industry. Well, I'm just not sure why we're not going after
the Bad actors. If These people aren't living up to the
minimum wage, I'm not so sure bhdp. I'm not going to call
you out Ken, but why are we going after those bad people
need to report them?
I don't, I don't, I don't doubt, there's Bad actors. I work
for a family-owned restaurant for 37 years. I worked there
from the time, I was fourteen. At the time, I was 51 going
to head a better experience. Did everything for him. Great
people. A lot of the reason why I ain't where I am today is
because of them. I think there's going to be a job and
business killer. I mean, there's no doubt about it. My
mind, especially for myself. I don't mean to drag you into
this. Marty. I don't mean to drag O'Shea into this. I don't
mean to drag Derrick Curtis into this. We're bored or
worse. I'm bored. I'm already getting killed. Okay, we
don't have the machines. We know of anything. Why would
somebody set up in Chicago when they can go across the
street from me? Literally, the suburb of Norwich is one and
a half blocks away from my office. So I mean I'm right
there. I'm surrounded by Elmore Park, River Grove
Norwegian, Harwood Heights, some about the industry. You
don't start off at Joe's Pizza and then a year later or a
week later you're working for Gibson's, it just doesn't
work that way. You have to work your way up, you starting
to my Norway.
Adventure.
eventually the major leagues would be a
Eventually the major leagues would be a place like, Gibsons
Bar or some of these places. I talked to Sam Sanchez. I
talked to Jay Stever from lettuce, they got employees are
working for them, they're making 8090 thousand year. They
told me I don't have any reason to believe they're lying to
me. I'm sure they're there full-time workers, I'm sure
they're not. They're part-timers because many of people do
this for part time. It might be a mom trying to help that
out, get some money, you might be a student. So one of my
main establishments that I go to, in my work, very good
friend of mine. Fridays and Saturdays is bartenders he said
they make fight that if he has two bartenders they make 5
600 tonight. So I know that's the exception. I could
guarantee you all my bars up, bartenders don't make that on
the weekend. But I'm just worried about the chain reaction
for this OS in the business is for every action. There's a
reaction paper Pan, the server 16 I'm just rounding off to
16 everybody. So if you're paying down 16 going to have to
get the dishwasher Mark yet, they could cook them are the
phone girl, more to fungi, whatever it is everybody.
How to make?
How to make me?
How to make more. I just think we're creating a problem, is
really not a problem in this industry. So I think that
that's what we're doing right here. I don't doubt the
history. The history 150-year history of tipped workers.
Are they did not have got mistreated so and so far, I don't
doubt that for one bit, but everybody know everybody is
entitled. Everybody is entitled to their opinion, but not
everyone is entitled to their own facts. So some people are
creating facts that really
I don't believe.
I don't believe our
I don't believe Archer.
I don't believe are truthful, figures Liars figure. That's
what I'm seeing somebody here. And some of some today, this
year, this past May was my 50 year anniversary of starting
work and I started a restaurant. As a tip worker. I said I
did a lot of jobs for them. Most of them were being a tip
work or so with that that I got him in within 5 minutes. I
appreciate the time. I know it's 7 and a half minutes
yesterday so that got this one in five but just let's think
about we're doing both. Let's cool down a little and that's
about it. Thank you, Jeremy.
Five.
5 minutes exactly. Very good.
All.
Alder Vasquez, thank you very much German. I really want to
commend the folks have been doing the work on the ground to
make this an issue or a cheetah to change the way we think
about this. Knowing its Origins. Like a little hot. Also
want to thank you for sharing the committee to have a c r,
a s Fuentes for the work, as well as Alderman ramirez-rosa
and our mayor. I want to give credit to all the folks on on
either side of this conversation. I want to thank all the
person Riley, for really making some. I need a very clear
point so I had to respect it but there's a couple things
that I would respectfully disagree with. I don't believe
this conversation has been a quick one. In fact I recall
when we first got elected over four years ago, this was a
conversation. We were having an affair work, you can get in
Fast. And I remember remember,
Forgot.
Forgot to clock in. I'm having some level of regret that we
didn't move further on this to also get one Fair wage done.
So this in effect is a quick conversation that is occurred.
It's something that people been organizing for years to try
to make the conversation.
I'm checking the time for you to make sure we hit it sorry
but but it is something we've been bringing up. So the fact
that you have the opportunity to have this conversation in
a way that allows us to move forward if it's different.
It's not that it's a new conversation. I would agree with
my colleague ottoman such as I do that, the workers do make
the best tippers. So making sure that all the tipped
workers are getting minimum wage and able to get tips on
top allows them to spend that money in the economy and be
the best difference.
What would it appears to me that that I'm hearing is really
something that that translates across our city often. That
were really an effect, having A Tale of Two Cities. I heard
of people who are tip servers, say this is up a part-time
job and thankfully that I can focus on my career. I want to
get into the movies or film, or do the other thing which
is, which is great to have the opportunity and privilege to
be able to pull that off. But you also the other side of
town where this is the career, there's not a dream that
people see and they're actually trying to make those
dollars at they make do that you know, work paper, their
families, pay rent, survive in a system that we
know, if you're relying on to
Know, if you're relying on tips tends to skew the
interactions, right? If you're a woman, if you're a woman
of color, maybe you have to ignore a certain comments.
Somebody made at the table because you want to make sure
you get it cuz that is survival for you. That's a different
scenario. Then then folks who don't have to live that
experience and can crack a joke here and there and maybe
they get more tips. Because if create an experience, when
you have to subvert yourself in an interaction because of
the dollar that leaves two potential for harassment, which
we know occurs in the industry, it leads to the kind of
experience, none of us. Want you being. So, I, I do
recognize that there are two different experiences that
those who are doing really well right now and have the
ability to focus on a career while they're also getting
that extra money can do so. But we have a whole part of
town a whole half of a cup of people that don't have
experience at all. They have to bend over backwards told
that they make the same amount that that most people do a
minimum wage. So I just want to frame that
I don't think.
I don't think the people are arguing on the intent. I think
people have different experiences and I'll say this is
somebody's work retail my whole life. When I take umbrage,
is it anyone trying to undermine anyone who works as a
cashier or works at a McDonald's or Burger King, right? You
don't even have the ability to put on a smile when you're
flipping fries all day. And so did you say to somebody?
Hey, you know what we do makes me a professional and what
you do is your a burger flipper.
That's that.
That's, that's really insensitive and thinking about the
amount of work and jobs, people have to take this to buy.
I will.
I was.
I will say this, I'll also say that we're acting as we
often do as if the USA is the only country on the globe cuz
there are plenty of other countries that don't have a
tipping system that I figured this out and people are
making their able to do it. Now is a pivot 12 we have to be
concerned about absolutely. Do we have to make sure we're
in communication to figure out if it just has to be made as
we pivot a million percent, but we didn't invent this idea
and there are other people successfully doing it. So this
idea of like American exceptionalism, she teaches that we
can also figured one moment please. Your time here. I'm
going to ask for respect of the other person's as they
speak. Thank you so much. I'll return to your time. Thank
you so. So I do think we've got to think about making the
adjustment if they're necessary based on your back. I think
as legislators sometimes feel like we saw things and it's a
one-and-done and it is rarely ever the case. So I didn't
ask me to move forward with this. We should also continue
that conversation, I think.
one of
One of the last one.
One of the last ones I make is Ottomans was out of which
your family my guy stated well what if you're paying the
people that are doing a survey and then you got to pay the
dishwasher then you got to pay the person who's in the back
and you got to pay the cuts. Yeah that's what pain
relievers about.
like,
The food that's created, the experience that created all
that created by the workers and the labor that do it. So to
pay them, their fair share. And their amount for doing that
work is only Justice and if you do that, right? If you do
that, right? And you create the experience and people feel
that when their consumers, they keep coming back and they
pay for that experience and I have full confidence in the
restaurant industry. It wasn't an alleged compromise, mr.
Toy was right here to state that it was that I have full
confidence that the restaurant industry in partnership with
the workers, are going to figure this out in a way that
makes our city and our economy better. So I look forward to
supporting this and we boarded it passing out of the
council after we passed out of committee. Thank you very
much.
Are.
Alright, my friend, I'll let me quit. I have to go to the
same meeting after this, so all the rooms place.
Thank you, mr. Chairman and and thank everybody that has
participated in this debate. Today I have a little bit
different perspective of as all them cuz I know had pointed
out. I am aboard Ward and so, part of my charger, as the
ottoman is to try to recruit restaurants and to all them.
And Riley's Point restaurants are anchors and communities.
People travel restaurants, in I have been struggling with
that recruitment because I'm competing with Bedford Park in
Burbank and Summit. And so my fear and all of this because
I can't do the things that they do is that this ordinance
will have an adverse impact on my attempts to recruit more
business. When I talk to prospective buyers, they said tell
me all the, how am I going to make money money Monday
through Thursday?
That's the question that I have to answer. Now that's the
question. Anyone has to answer. And so for those Reasons,
I'm going to be voting. No, because I think that this will
have an adverse impact on the residents of the 13th, ward
in my campaign to bring more restaurants to the community.
So thank you mr. Chair.
All.
Alderman. Curtis
And this is how I want you to know that one. I am a great,
a great tip of it because I love I love good service and
maybe in a people person, the more they talk to me, the
more I want it, I want to thank all the way for bringing
this up, actually. I was
I was.
I was one of the first person to sign on when she brought
this up, but if it's a challenge, it's a super challenge
for me because like my colleague, says, a queen for the
bottle. I bought a 5, suburbs, Evergreen Park, Hometown
Burbank, Oak Lawn to Bedford Park, and it's so hard to get
businesses to come on. The Chicago side. It's is very
difficult.
It was even hard for me to get piece of Fresh Market, but I
was able to do it. I am happy listening to the young lady.
What what what was that Washington did you know?
Allah.
a lot of, a lot of a lot of
A lot.
A lot of businesses, maybe don't know how to navigate
bringing getting through this. If this would have been a
two-year deal, I think a business is what a failed. I am.
Glad to hear that they stretched it to the five years
because it gives time for adjustment. But again, when it,
when it comes down to and it's not just this tip wage, its
other ordinances that we have right now, that's hurting the
city of Chicago when we have to fight if this in and I was
I was there for fighting for the for the $15, an hour wage
increase, from years ago in and I will be in this fight.
Now, there's nothing more that I want to see. It is a
single mom.
Being.
Being able to go home with that children and the evening
time after they get out of school, but I think it's
difficult. I hate to see a finger mom working in the
evening, when their kids are at home or in daycare, because
I think that's one of the problems that we have without
violence. Now, they didn't grow up with parents because
they were out working and I'm so I do understand what we
trying to do. But again, if it's, it's a struggle being
right on the border and seeing a business come up right on
the other side of the street. So again, it's a struggle for
me. I just heard about a grant that that and then I would
love to talk about that more. A grant that the business
that we will be getting if they
you know, if we pass this which will allow them to help and
transition. So I would like to know more about that Grant
and and businesses need to know more about that Grant. So I
would love to talk about that. If we could thank you, thank
you.
next up, all the minion say,
Good.
You're more.
good morning everyone. I stand in support of this ordinance
for a couple reasons.
What's on my?
As long as somebody knows my background as a trade unionist
and almost 20 years ago, I had an opportunity to spend some
time with some organizers from the liquor hospitality and
miscellaneous Union is a Hospitality Union and Australia.
And after a long day at work, bunch of organizers went to a
local bar. And at this bar, Chicago.
Tips.
Tip your server. Well, the second round came and our
Compadres from Australia, walk around and did not tip.
And you had a discussion about a rather brief discussion
about in the short of it is.
Wish.
We shouldn't have workers, should have to rely on the
kindness of their patrons in order to make a living, right?
They also said that workers who organized they want more
money, and I think it's clear this. What's happened here
today and your last if your business model is exploited us
and requires you to pay people less than a living wage, in
order to go to work, that's a slap in the face to workers.
I live.
I live in award that has a pretty robust reps. Restaurant
industry, Ave Hyde Park in my washer Hyde Park with all the
alderman Robinson and know that I have a restaurant owner
in school may, not necessarily agree with the sentiment.
That's been expressed here by how many of you were in
support of the soreness. But me a picture being a server,
or a bus boy who saves the owner of the restaurant coming
with a new car every couple years, right? When you're
struggling to get to work on time or when child care costs
have gone up significantly or the cost of a dozen eggs to
feed yourself in your family.
Right.
right, we can
Right? We can't live in an economy that allows workers to
go to work and still have to rely on government assistance
in order to survive everyday. Like I understand that there
is tension in this conversation but like what's it what we
want to create right? We want to create a city where people
can go have 200, $300, meals downtown and we're going to
keep it 100 like there's there's there's Facebook memes all
over that. You know, have Bible verses in the tip line, or
make America great or get a better job. We all enjoyed
being served, but we shouldn't treat the people who serve
us like servants.
Thank.
Thank you. Any other committee members that want to speak.
You stuck around, will let non committee members and then
we'll go eat.
Thank.
Thank you, chairman and I appreciate the opportunity to
speak today. Really want to acknowledge the work of all of
the leaders in this Council, who worked on this piece of
legislation, you know, I'm not quite sure where I am right
now. I really appreciate the willingness to negotiate to
get to a five-year Runway. I think it's past that will be
really helpful to the many restaurants that I have in my
ward in Chinatown. And I want to say that the restaurant
owners that I've talked to who survived covid
Didn't do.
Didn't do so, on the back of their workers, they took hits
themselves, not taking pay themselves to make sure that
their workers were able to continue to make livable wages
so that they could survive but are restaurants in my
community are still bouncing. That I have family members
that have restaurants. If we're paying really high rent,
that's not the conversation today. But if you're paying
$26,000 a month for rent,
Yes.
yes, that
Yes, that's a real thing. It makes it all the more difficult
for even small incremental changes to wages.
On.
on the
On their bottom line. So I share a lot of the same concerns
that some of my colleagues have not talked about today. In
terms of the number of negative impacts potentially down
the road. I have no doubt that some people are making more
money based on having a elimination of the sub-minimum
wage. But I also wonder about how many businesses have
suffered and closed because of it. I got a lot of small
businesses and I'm still talking to constituents. I just
wanted to Boise's concerns. I think that for the most part
restaurant winners, there, especially the small ones in my
community have workers out of work for them. For 20-30
years, they want to be able to keep them and they're part
of those families that this business has to survive in
order for that to happen as well as we continue to hit
people with, you know how your tax assessments, higher
rents, everything and not everybody is getting an increase
in their wages to is everything gets more expensive. I hear
more and more that people are staying home or
I'm so be.
I'm so, these are all things that I think we need to
consider in the process.
but,
but I'll
but all things that I
But all things that I think we individually as council
members as we talk to our constituents, have to consider as
we consider this phone. So thank you.
All.
Alder rear supposed to have some quick.
Yes, I do have two questions for sorrow. The first one is
our colleague and Committee Member Alderman. Derrick Curtis
asked about the grants, and if you could just speak a
little bit to that,
do you hear me? So, thank you for the for raising that
during the pandemic. We started a program called highroad
kitchens in partnership with Mara Lightfoot at the time,
but also with Governors and Mayors all over the country
Governor. Whitmer, in, Michigan, Governor, Newsom in
California, mayor de Blasio mayor, Walsh in Boston, and the
program allowed us to provide grants small grants to
especially by POC owned and small business restaurants and
training. That allowed us to show restaurant owners how to
make the change profitably. How to ensure their workers
would still would actually get a raise and let the and
tipping would continue. We actually show them different
models of how to do it. We use calculators and cash, flow
documents, to show them how to make the change profitably.
And at the end of the program, they get recognized by the
mayor of the governor and it allows them to can a perm.
The fact that they are.
The fact that they are making mischief.
The fact that they are making this change and they're doing
it well and so we have been in conversation with the with
this mare with Mara Brandon Johnson, we are committed to
put it, we put a million dollars during the pandemic into
the program. We funded about 75 restaurants almost entirely
small business restaurants here in Chicago. We are
committed to working towards another million dollars
towards small business. At this round. We've already
committed half-a-million working with the mayor to raise
another, half a million to put two words, small businesses,
especially by Paco and restaurants in your District. Would
be very happy to work with you and any other council member
of aldermen would like to work with us on this program and
the mayor's office to ensure that this support gets to
restaurants, who are looking for how to make this happen
profitably. I do want to say the program is led by former
restaurant owners on our staff. So making out is here, he
leads. I rode restaurants. The National Association of
2,500 restaurant owners across the country including over
100 here in Chicago.
that I
That are.
That are supportive of this ordinance of this policy that
many of whom have gone through the training program and
learned how to make these changes profitably. I mean Jessie
and so many other employers have been part of this network
supporting each other as they make these changes and that's
what restaurants in your District would. Yeah, I do just
want to say to the question of Border communities, I'm cuz
it has been an argument for years. If we raise wages you in
one place, restaurants wilfley, everybody will. Flee what
we're seeing happening right now?
Across the country.
Across the country is at the what the real issue is right
now is mass. Exodus of workers, 1.2 million workers have
left this industry and in Washington DC as wages, have gone
up in Washington, d.c. we sought, 20,000 workers, leave
neighboring, counties of Maryland, and go work in DC. And
so what people need right now is staff to be able to be
open on all days of the week, to be able to operate, they
need to stop and we are seeing not businesses, go across
the border were seeing workers, go across the border to
where they can get higher wages. And so we want to be able
to support your restaurants in your district, and I'd only
get grants and training but also qualified great talent
that they will be able to get by raising wages.
And then I think you so much for that very detailed
explanation for answering Alderman. Curtis question.
There's also been some discussion during this hearing
around the data that proponents of one Fair wage have
cited. The fact that in states that have one Fair wage
tipping is higher. So if you could speak a little bit to
that data and then also speak to the data around how the
restaurant industry is doing better in one. Fairway States,
use all mostly government data US Department of Labor
Bureau of Labor Statistics there, small business, satistics
data, employee, reported payroll data to show how
it's the
it's that have a
It's that have a full minimum wage with tips. On top, we
look at their job overall restaurant industry, size job
growth small business growth. We just got small business
growth data for Illinois, versus California California
right now has a 13 + 13. Openings of small business
restaurants, Illinois, it's 5.9. The California has double
the new small business restaurant openings, as Illinois, so
that that's one source of data, that comes straight out of
the Department of Labor. The Tipping data comes from a
variety of sources. One that often gets published is quartz
quartz is at, you know, a company that tracks tipping on
credit cards. And every year they put out a list of where
tipping is higher or lower, it changes every year and
frankly, the numbers are between cities are so close as to
not be truly statistically different. But I can tell you is
that every single
Dearly.
we're looking at the states, which is a better source of
data, cuz it's more data. Alaska is always the number one,
highest tipping state. In the United States of America.
Alaska has that had a one pivot of one Fair wage state for
decades. I can also share with you that we've used you as a
Department of Labor site. One last thing, employer have
reported data. It's called quintile research. We've looked
at the top tip earners in Chicago. People work in the
finest dining restaurant, and the top tip earners in San
Francisco, and Los Angeles and Flow.
big is the
Vegas and Seattle, the top 10 earners in one Fair, wage
states, make more money in wages and tips than the top 20
earners in Chicago. And the the lowest tip earners in those
States. Earn more than the lowest temperatures in Chicago.
So everybody does better from the fine dining to the IHOP
in apple D. I just want to say, I think that this
Administration is committed to supporting small businesses
and workers and there's no question based upon the date on
the research. That one Fair wage is good for the restaurant
industry and good for workers. And that's why we're pushing
this for today. Thank you.
All right.
All right, we're getting there. We have two more speakers
and I can remember try to keep it under 5 minutes. Oliver
more will will have you on the record as attending as an I
can remember. And I believe you want you want to speak.
Thank you so much and I appreciate I appreciate this
opportunity and happy to be a co-sponsor of this ordinance.
By Nature, I think, because of my corporate background, I
tend to lean towards making sure that businesses Thrive and
that's important to me.
but,
But I also has a person that come out of the projects in
Chicago. A person who has worked in the restaurant industry
and I said this at the press conference. I remember working
at Ronnies Pizza & Steak house and we make it 3:35 an hour
at the end and they were taking $0.25 an hour out for
lunch, whether we ate or not. And I was in high school, but
that was a man at work. Next to me. He was, he was a
Mexican descent and we couldn't understand each other
language, but we both understood, we were broke and, and,
and what I felt for him cuz he had about four kids and I'm
saying, man, I'm in high school making this how is he
survived? And with four kids and then, I would see the
owner, you know, just throw money away. You know, I saw
this, and I said, if I can ever do something about this, I
will then, as you progress and
Forward. I remember when we were pushing the paid sick,
leave and I listen to the restaurant industry and and I've
been have felt some of their what I thought were there are
concerns, you know, and I do you support it, but I do, you
know, I wanted to negotiate more. We did and they were
going to go bro. They were going to do this, that was going
to happen then called it. And then I just lost workers all
of a sudden, out of nowhere. Man will pay y'all $20 an
hour.
What did this money come from?
That way.
That was made this easy for me to support you all and so
we're going to be okay, restaurant industry is going to be
okay and if I'm correct me if I'm wrong cuz I thought I
read that message, this is geared towards temp workers and
and when people talking about work is going out of
business, we should have if we're not paying their workers
at least minimum wage and we're not even talking about
gerbil wage livable.
I make a Dick's make a decent salary, but I tell everybody.
This is what middle-class is, and you better, everybody
take note of this. And I don't care. If you make $40,000 a
year, 150,000, what have your lifestyle is where you paying
your rent? And all that. If you don't have at least one
year savings saved up that if anything happened to you that
you wouldn't miss a beat for a whole year. That's
middle-class, how many of us in his room can say that right
now? One year salary? I cannot say that myself. And so
that's the realest. It was so you either the Working Poor
Poor or property in a few, the Working Poor. Then you one
or two paychecks away from being poor and then just a few
more months away from being Parvati. And so that's why we
have to support this in. And my litmus test, is always
there when people stop by $200 shirt,
From.
From Mesa.
From Macy, I know when trouble then and its people as I see
people going to Macy's buying $200 shirts. I never paid
$200 for a dog on shirt, but somebody got some money and
it's not me and it's not these workers. So this is focused
on temp workers and just at minimum wage, listen to that
word. Minimal not w r. And so let's support this ordinance
and trust me, I restaurant industry is going to be okay and
imma continue to support them so that we can get beerocracy
stuff out the way where they can save money on that in.
Thank you so much.
Okay.
I feel like I'm saying it over and over again. Two more
speakers. We have all the women Cruise take your time but I
also want to rise in support of this ordinance and say
thank you for everybody who have been in part of this
ordinance to make it happen. This has a personal feelings
or everything is going on. I come from a family of servers.
I come from a community that works in the restaurant
industry at a very young age, I learned to like all them.
Or is that why my brother is broke when I saw his check was
like, is this right? I see you go to work every day. I see
you come home late is, this is how much you getting paid at
that time. That's when I learn.
What a temp worker?
What a temp worker was my brother? Explain to me the whole
process there were days that he made up good money. There
was a zit, it make any money. And that story of many years
is still happening in our community. I have talked to
servers as well and said as a mother at times, it's hard
for us to see how much money we're going to be making.
Because I understand there's other workers that makes very
good money on tips. They do very well for themselves, but
at times in our community, we're not seeing the same thing.
So, that's what we want people to understand. And take that
bility to see if you want to come to our community and get
to see that from firsthand, you're more than welcome to
come. And then you will have a better understanding of what
we're all going through.
This.
this is,
This is all about having a balance and have everybody at
the table and make sure that everybody has a fair
opportunity. This is what it is. If this is to make
everybody again, have a way to live. How about a good place
for these workers. Also to have things to provide for their
family. But I also want to say, we want to support our
businesses. We understand, I often, I hear our business are
recovering our businesses. We want our businesses to do
well, we know that, but we also want our workers to do well
for themselves as well. We have workers at a time, they
having two jobs to be able to survive. Why, when we were
sacrificing that time for
Marquette at times. You hear what? Where are the parents
working? Two jobs, that's what they're doing.
So this like my colleagues have said will bring something
positive not only more than just making the minimum wage
but also being able to for these families to spend more
time with their children. So I guess this is why I
swallowed it. I also want to say thank you to Sam Toya for
also being part of his conversations. I understand two
years was at the height adult line but also we want to make
sure that these other conversations going to have. I always
up and say, we're going to have some tough conversations
but we need to have those conversations. We cannot run away
from them. So again, I want to say thank you, I have text
Jesse. I'm just here yesterday morning and let you know
happy to text her, but again, thank you for everybody who
was part of this. I hope others can understand we want we
are going to thrive just like a little more. Say we are
going to be okay but our businesses but also our workers.
So I don't get any ideas Alders. I allowed one perceives
proponents to speak a Second Source. I would allow one
perceived opponents to speak for second turn. All the mrs.
Please. Thank you. I just saw her again a second round, so
I appreciate it and I don't even want one. Sorry.
It's all just wanted to.
It's all just want to touch off on a couple things that
were talked about the once again, and that's on the border
War thing. Nobody knows what it's like, unless you live at
we here to Everyday, two problems, the problems if people
feel they have competing with the suburbs are across the
street. So I I live that we lived at those of us live. It
everyday. I was a big supporter of $15 an hour just so you
know I also supported it and the people that were said he
worried about him like it's not going to make a big deal
cuz you're you're still not going to be able to get people
for $15 an hour or so. Some of my restaurants, one of my
very good friend that owns a restaurant and I was paying
the phone girl or phone person a boy or a girl, but $15 an
hour answer the phone, guess what? He couldn't get anybody
for 15 to $18 an hour or so, some of the restaurants to
say, what we already pay minimum wage for a waiter ringer,
waitressing will yes. Because if you have a burger joint
that the ringing up $200 of receipts in the day and and her
getting 30, $40 in tips. Of course, you got to pay him a
minimum wage.
6.
60.
$16 an hour. So I just want to touch off on that dishwasher
is in my in my community are making 20 bucks an hour. So
there's going to be a chain reaction that everybody's going
to have to get more and I believe it's going to be
difficult for some of the restaurant. I'm guessing they'll
figure it out but the restaurant owners. They're not
they're not the evil cabal, I mean that evil people. Okay?
I mean you're not bad just cuz a restaurant guy and no
offense to my colleague just cuz the restaurant owner has a
new car. I mean that guy sacrifice you took chances. I mean
Everything.
everything I could do, and
Everything I could do. And a guy, I admire from endlessly
and I know most of the people here, know him cuz most you
call him for money and it's Sam Sanchez. He is a guy that
lived the American dream, although he's born in America,
grew up in in Mexico, I believe. So that guy is five
restaurant. 800 employees pay its employees. Well, people
want to work for them. Thick, I sacrificed took chances and
he is truly living the American dream. Sorry Sammy for
listening, that's a positive thing. I mean to call you out
but there is one saying that I may be kind of not call out
the other Sam Sam Toya, everybody, they know Sam toilets
for this santoyo supports this coil supports this, for one
reason and one reason only Sam Toya had no choice. Okay Sam
Toya, cut a deal to get it down to five years to compromise
and he's happy about that and he should be happy as opposed
to the two years so that's why Sam Toya supports this I
don't speak for you Sam that's just my opinion. Then lastly
I just think we're going to be eliminating serving jobs
with this. I said this is a job-killer. You're going to see
more and more restaurants
Are you going?
Are you going to?
Are you going to the counter? You order your food, you sit
down and put a number on your table, and they come by and
bring it to you. It's the Bueno beef model, you go already
or food, you sit down, they bring it to you. No longer
being serve. Some people like that cuz they don't have to
tip some people like to be sure. I personally, like, to be
served, I thrive, I love being a generous Tipper, like, my
colleague. Derrick Curtis over there. My floor is 30%, not
my ceiling being 20. My floor is 30, okay? And I tip in
Cast.
Cash folks. Okay, I tip so. Learn how to chip in cash.
Okay. You in if you're in the industry some of you in the
industry don't even know that. So that's it. I appreciate
the second round and I took three minutes to second round.
Thank you. Thank you, Jeremy.
What is?
You know, we mean that we may not always agree to Nick but
also respect you brother. All right, to wrap us up to the
proposer. This piece of legislation, the other person of
the 26th work. Jesse Fuentes. Thank you, Chad.
Elmo.
I want to thank you for leading this committee. I want to
thank one Fair wage. I want to thank our small business
owners who have already eliminated 27, minimum wage. I want
to thank all Florida, Gator card and I want to thank our
mayor. I want to thank God, made a fair living up to the
promises that he made on the campaign Trail in front of
sharing that every person in his office would fulfill those
promises by not just cold company, not just by bringing
every stakeholder to the table, but
and she
Ensuring that there is a level of respect and Rapport and
that is evidence in this chamber today, we may not all
agree.
and we,
And we are respectful of one another and we will continue
to be diplomatic with one another. I want to thank my
colleagues are engaging in a very important conversation. I
want to say that.
Passing one Fair wage is not just admirable. It is, what's
just what's right and what's needed in this moment in this
city for every community in the city of Chicago,
We cannot say that we want black and brown women to thrive.
We cannot say that we want communities on the South and
West sides to be economically viable if we're not willing
to pay our people the minimum wage
and,
And I agree with my colleague Andre Vasquez, you see this
didn't happen overnight.
it's
It wasn't a conversation of a course of several weeks. Our
people have been fighting for years.
When the fight for 15 was taking place in the city of
Chicago, the hospitality industry and tipped workers were
told you need to wait. It is not your time. Someone tell me
when
I have the answer now.
They're big.
Their businesses, in our city, small medium size large.
Who have eliminated the sub-minimum wage.
Pay.
Pay their employees $20 an hour.
Daddy.
They are doing just fine.
because when we go to a restaurant,
are we order our meals? We are there for the experience.
You see Chicago?
Give.
Gives one of the best culinary experiences in the Midwest.
and,
In the world. Some of my colleagues would argue
when we tip it is because we enjoy the experience, we are
building relationships and often we are building Community.
I can't tell you how many people who have served, many who
have worked in. My community are really good friends of
mine. Come to my house for my birthday party or for dinner
because that is how we build relationships. We don't just
mean, we hope that the food is good when we go there.
A WeChat.
Do we tip for the experience? We will continue to check for
the experience and pain are tipped workers. A minimum wage,
not only will increase time in culture and morale in the
workplace. Don't do that in community.
Women of color Latina women in black women in the industry.
Disproportionately are affected by discrimination and
sexual harassment and over and over again. We tell them
they are not worthy of a minimum wage.
I am.
I am exhausted at watching women in my community. Struggle
making difficult decisions between paying rent or gospel.
I've
I'd love to Humble Park. I know what it means to be hungry
to connect an extension cord to the hallway, so I can have
light.
So, why?
To wonder. When will I not have a roof over my head?
On my
Our mothers, our families deserve security. Not only did
they deserve housing security, they deserve Financial
Security. And that is what we are talking about today.
How's?
I was.
I was elected to fight in my community and I will continue
to do that. There is no fear-mongering tactic that will
deter me from doing what is right.
We?
We can.
We cannot stay.
The.
That.
That we understand the errors of always through a lens of
history, but continue to make those mistakes.
In order to correct the errors that we have made, we must
change and that is what we are asking for. Today, we are
asking for change and Keyshia, thank you.
Before.
Before I take it but I just I just wanted to thank both
sides of the audience for being respectful then also beat
fruit for engaging democracy and being boys woke. I think
that's a good sign of a working democracy where we can
disagree and hopefully not be disagreeable in some respects
to recommend approval item number two on the agenda. Passed
the substitute ordinance vice-chair Gutierrez. So moves we
will take a roll call vote.
All.
I'll
Alderman UNC.
All the minion. T v i n Hall Alderman? Hall v, i a psycho.
All.
Alderman, Chico v, i m
I'll do.
All the women. I m v. I n Quinn. Quinn is a no vice-chair.
Gutierrez is an older woman Coleman online.
I'll
All.
Alderman. Curtis
Golden Corral.
Albin kurti.
Alden, Curtis is a no.
All.
Alderman Taliaferro.
Impress.
I'm presents Alderman Ramirez, Rosa.
Old.
Alderman, for the meter Strasse is in my alarms pesado.
I'll
Alder.
Alderman, sposato is a no.
Auburn Vasquez is an eye, all the women clay online.
I alderwoman clay is an eye and your chairperson Rodriguez
is an eye. We have nine. I v 3, no votes to not presence in
the opinion of the chair.
Raise.
Great job. All love you all from a slide.
I would.
I'll report this both as a recommendation to pass,
One more.
I'll
Iowa.
I will report. Wait, one second. I'll report this post as a
recommendation to pass at the next city council on
Wednesday, October 4th with there being no further business
before the committee may have a motion to adjourn. All
their baskets do moose hearing no objections to order the
mini on the comedian Workforce Development.
Now done.