Hernandez Fighting for Fair Pay for Restaurant Workers, Level Playing Field for Suburban Employers

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Elizabeth ‘Lisa’ Hernandez, D-Cicero, is fighting for fair pay for restaurant workers and a level playing field for all businesses by advancing new legislation that would phase out lower wages for tipped workers and help suburban restaurants compete with their Chicago counterparts.

“This is a pro-worker, pro-business, pro-growth initiative,” Hernandez said. “By taking the principle of ‘one fair wage’ statewide, we can raise the standard of living for countless Illinois workers, who for too long have had to rely on tips from customers to subsidize poverty wages. Additionally, we can address an unsustainable situation for suburban employers who will struggle to hire in competition with Chicago restaurants that are already phasing out the sub-minimum wage. While more work on this bill remains, we continue to make progress everyday that moves towards a final product, addressing the needs of workers, businesses and local families.”

In October 2023, Chicago passed a “One Fair Wage” ordinance, eliminating a lower minimum wage restaurants were allowed to pay tipped workers. While the city’s measure brings fairer pay to thousands of employees, it has also created challenges for restaurants in neighboring suburbs, which could struggle to fill jobs at lower pay.

Hernandez’s House Bill 5345 levels the playing field for all businesses and paves the way for fair pay for every Illinois restaurant by eliminating sub-minimum wages statewide. Under her bill, beginning Jan. 1, 2025, the minimum wage for tipped workers would be raised to $15 per hour, coinciding with the state’s standard $15 minimum wage for non-tipped workers.

Hernandez’s legislation passed the Labor & Commerce committee on Wednesday.

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