Chicago Mayor Links Tipped Wages to Historical Inequities

On Wednesday, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson reaffirmed his stance on the restaurant industry, controversially connecting it to “slavery” while advocating for the elimination of tipped wages. This comes despite attempts by the City Council to block these policy changes.

Johnson’s proposed measure aims to ensure that base wages reach the full minimum wage by 2028. Many restaurant owners have raised concerns, warning that this could lead to price increases and job losses. This discussion follows a failed vote in the Chicago City Council to stop the phaseout of below-minimum wages for tipped workers.

He urged residents to “demand that our city council stop taking away wages from black and brown people,” noting that a significant number of service workers reliant on tips are from minority backgrounds.

During his address, Johnson stated, “You just saw an entire city council transparently trying to take away wages from the very people who work in industries that have ties to slavery and hide from slavery.” He went on to assert, “I’m boldly saying this city needs reparations, and I’m funding it.”

Last month, the City Council voted to postpone wage increases for tipped employees, but Johnson vetoed that decision.

Responses from restaurant owners and industry associations indicate strong opposition to the city’s plan, expressing concerns that it could exacerbate already narrow profit margins.

The City Council’s attempt to overturn the phaseout didn’t meet the necessary 34-vote threshold.

Johnson’s remarks emerged amid questions regarding the transparency of his reparations task force, which some officials claimed was not following Illinois laws about public meetings. He dismissed these allegations, defending the task force he established in June 2024 as being adequately transparent.

“I’m a black American man who wants reparations for black people,” Johnson asserted. “You can’t hide it, you can’t run away from it. I’m here to be bold.”

In 2024, he allocated $500,000 to support the work of the reparations task force.

Additionally, on Thursday, the city launched a bus tour as part of Repair Chicago, a community initiative meant to address and explore “the effects of systemic harm faced by Black people in Chicago.”

A spokesperson for Johnson highlighted his comments linking tipped wages to slavery, describing how this practice became widespread among “white Southern employers” post-emancipation. The spokesperson stated, “Currently, many Black workers, especially women, continue to rely on tips and minimum wage to support themselves and their families. Institutionalized reliance on tipping remains a uniquely American phenomenon, and Mayor Johnson is proud to lead the movement to ensure that working people receive the dignity, respect, and fair wages they deserve.”