Restaurant Workers Demand End of Subminimum Wage

The Illinois Restaurant Association says even as establishments continue to reopen since the start of the pandemic, 100,000 restaurants have closed nationwide, and the industry is still down 70,000 jobs in Illinois. Worker advocates say one way to fix that shortage is to get rid of the subminimum wage. That’s the minimum hourly rate employers have to pay tipped workers like waiters and bartenders because the law assumes the combination of the lower wage and tips will equal the full minimum wage. One of those advocates is Saru Jayaraman, president of One Fair Wage. Jayaraman was in Chicago this week visiting restaurants that have abandoned the subminimum wage—at least for now. She talks to host Jacoby Cochran about the campaign. And we hear from a worker who left the industry and says she’s not going back.

Guests:

Saru Jayaraman — President, One Fair Wage

Jewel Simmons — Former Chicago restaurant worker

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