John,

For Mayor Lightfoot, protecting working families is personal.

Growing up, her parents worked multiple jobs to support her and her siblings, but their family—like so many working families across Chicago today—still lived paycheck-to-paycheck.

Since taking office, the Mayor has worked with the City Council to increase the minimum wage to $15, pass the most expansive Fair Workweek Ordinance in the country, and hire the first director of Chicago’s Office of Labor Standards.

The Mayor also recently announced that her administration won $935,000 in restitution for almost 3,000 Chicago workers who were denied the paid sick leave they are guaranteed under Chicago labor law. 

When a brave employee reported the violation, the City took action, issuing the largest fine ever for violating Chicago labor laws and securing the sick pay these essential workers were entitled to.

This announcement builds on the Mayor’s recent work to support Chicago’s workers. In June, our city passed its first Wage Theft Ordinance to crack down on employers stealing wages from employees, which costs Chicago workers $400 million a year. Her administration also passed the Right to Return Ordinance to ensure hotel workers laid off during the pandemic have a fair chance to get their previous jobs back. 

There’s plenty more work to do, but together with our partners in the labor movement, we are making Chicago a national leader when it comes to protecting workers’ rights. Thank you for standing with us--and with our essential workers--every step of the way.

In solidarity,

Team Lightfoot