Mayor Brandon Johnson touted the plan during his campaign, though it was encountered some stumbling blocks since he took office.
Right now, tipped workers are paid 60% of Chicago's minimum wage, but under the new agreement their pay would go up by 8% every year until it hits 100% in 2028, meaning the increase would be phased in over five years. The city initially proposed a two year phase-in. "Our economy is based off of working class people doing better, and I'm so excited to be a champion of working class people," said 22nd Ward Alderman Michael Rodriguez.
"The mayor did run on this platform. We understood it. I know how to count votes. He had the votes, and like I said, if he didn't want to, you know, communicate and compromise and negotiate, he could've ran this with a two- or three-year phase-in," Toia said.