Low-wage workers in Cook County, Illinois, will be getting a raise. The Cook County Board voted to raise the minimum wage to $13 by 2020, following a move by Chicago to raise its minimum wage to $13 by 2019. The first step in the increase will come in July 2017, moving the minimum wage from $8.25 to $10 an hour.
"Today's vote is a tremendous victory for working people," said Pascal Brixel with The People's Lobby. "It will give 200,000 people a desperately needed raise, and, when fully implemented, it will put almost $10,000 more dollars a year in the pockets of full-time, minimum wage workers.
Earlier in the month, the Cook County Board passed paid sick leave, again following a move by Chicago. That ordinance takes effect in July 2017 and will affect 441,000 workers, while Chicago’s ordinance will cover 460,000 workers. So that’s two pieces of good news for workers in the area—good news that wouldn’t have come without worker organizing and activism.