ORDINANCE
WHEREAS, the City of Chicago is a home rule unit of local government pursuant to
Section 6 of Article VII of the Constitution of the State of Illinois and has the authority to
exercise any power and perform any function pertaining to its government and affairs
including, but not limited to, the power to regulate for the protection of the public health,
safety, morals and welfare; and
WHEREAS, the corporate authorities of the City recognize that an honest day’s work
should be rewarded with an honest day’s pay; and
WHEREAS, it is the policy of the City to promote a living wage that permits working
families in our communities to meet basic needs; and
WHEREAS, direct and indirect beneficiaries of City financial assistance should not be
permitted to pay their employers below poverty-level wages; and
WHEREAS, paying employees a living wage is beneficial to business by creating a
stable and productive work force that produces satisfied and reliable customers and
stronger communities, and
WHEREAS, the City intends to require that all beneficiaries of City financial assistance
provide a livable level of compensation to their employees so as to promote the financial
well-being of its working families; now, therefore
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO:
SECTION 1. The above recitals are expressly incorporated herein and made part hereof
as though fully set forth herein.
SECTION 2. Title 5 of the Municipal Code of Chicago is hereby amended by adding a
new Chapter underscored as follows:
Chapter 5-1 Living Wage for City Beneficiaries
5-1-010
Definitions.
a.
“Living wage” means no less than $11.03 an hour. As of July 1, 2010, and each
July 1 thereafter, the living wage shall be adjusted, using the most recent federal poverty
guidelines for a family of four as published annually by the United States Department of
Health and Human Services, to constitute the following: the poverty guideline for a
family of four divided by 2,000 hours or the