Today is payday for many of us in Chicago and across Cook County.  For a lot of us, it’s the first payday since Chicago and Cook County’s minimum wage increases and paid sick time ordinances took effect on July 1^st.
Together through our union and working with allies, we won this fight to get more money in our pockets for the hard work we do and time off to care for our families.  It’s a huge victory.
Here’s what you need to know.

For workers in the city, the minimum wage has increased from $10.50 an hour to $11 an hour. By July 2019, the minimum wage will be $13 an hour.
Also, workers will earn 1 hour of paid sick time for every 40 hours worked, with a cap of 40 hours a year. A worker is eligible to use paid sick time after 6 months of employment. Workers can use sick time for an illness or injury, to care for a sick family member, to attend a medical appointment or a family member’s medical appointment, or if the worker or a family member is a victim of domestic abuse or sexual violence.

Many cities and villages in Cook County outside of Chicago raised their minimum wage to $10.00 an hour, up from the state’s minimum wage of $8.25.   By July 2020, the minimum wage will be $13 an hour in those cities and villages. Also, just like Chicago, workers in these cities and village will earn 1 hour of paid sick time for every 40 hours worked, with a cap of 40 hours/ year.
(Click here to see which cities and towns in Cook County raised their minimum wage and allowed workers to get paid sick time)
An increase in the minimum wage and paid sick time are huge victories, but we’re not done yet.  Right now, there’s a bill to raise Illinois’ minimum wage to $15 an hour sitting on Governor Rauner’s desk.  We will continue to pressure him to sign it.
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