Mayor Johnson OKs compromise giving restaurants 5 years to phase in higher pay for tipped workers

The long “Fight for $15” effort to increase Chicago’s minimum wage left some workers behind, including tipped restaurant workers who make only 60% of the minimum wage. (Sun-Times file)

Mayor Brandon Johnson on Monday signed off on a compromise that would deliver on his campaign promise to eliminate the “subminimum wage” for tipped workers while appeasing Chicago restaurants by giving them five years to swallow the 66% increase in labor costs.

It calls for tipped workers — currently paid 60% of Chicago’s minimum wage — to receive 8% annual increases beginning on July 1, 2024, until they reach 100% parity on July 1, 2028.