Brandon Johnson Wants Chicago to be the ‘Most Pro-Worker City on the Planet’
The Chicago mayor spoke to More Perfect Union as major PTO and tipped wage policies went into effect.
By Paul Blest, More Perfect Union
Two major ordinances that went into effect in Chicago on Monday are part of Mayor Brandon Johnson’s goal of making Chicago the “most pro-worker city on the planet,” he told More Perfect Union last week.
One ordinance guarantees up to five days of paid leave and five days of paid sick leave to the city’s workers, while another kicks off a years-long transition to ultimately phase out the tipped wage, in favor of guaranteeing service workers and others who rely on tips a real minimum wage.
And while two weeks of guaranteed time off might not sound like much, it’s the most expansive paid leave policy in the country — and Johnson, a former Chicago Public Schools teacher and union organizer — hopes it’s replicated in other cities around the nation.
“We want to make sure that the model that we establish is a model that can be used around this country,” Johnson told More Perfect Union. “Having common sense, pro-labor policies that's good for business, that's good for our economy, that’s good for our communities.”
The below conversation is edited and condensed for clarity.
More Perfect Union: Thanks so much for joining us. What are these ordinances, what do they say, and what will they do for Chicago workers?
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson: Well, we have a paid time off ordinance [that is] the most progressive, expansive paid time off ordinance in the country. Sick paid time off, as well as paid time off for vacation, or any other use that a worker deserves. We also have abolished the sub-minimum wage for tip workers, who will get a raise every year until they are caught up with the minimum wage.
The impetus behind these ordinances was really to reestablish ourselves in the city of Chicago as the most pro-worker city in the entire country. Quite frankly, our goal is to be the most pro-worker city on the planet. The city of Chicago is deeply tethered to substantial labor causes in this country, and we are grateful that we are in a position to carry the tradition and the honor of being a pro-worker, pro-labor city.
MPU: It seems to me that these ordinances are intended specifically to help raise pay and increase the quality of life for some of the city's most vulnerable workers, people who could be wrecked by an unforeseen expense or having to take time off to be with a loved one or take care of their themselves. What have you heard from these workers about the impact this will have on their lives?
Johnson: Well, first of all, thank you for lifting up the fact that we're talking about workers that have historically been left out of pro-labor policies, particularly Black and brown workers, women workers…these are some of the most vulnerable workers who are on the frontline every single day providing services for the people of Chicago and really the people of this country.
And what I've heard repeatedly is that not having to choose between going to see your doctor and going to work, or not having to choose between being available for your family or taking some much-needed time off with your family or friends and loved ones, versus having to show up to work every day because you want to ensure that the ends meet…people are very excited, they're grateful, they're humbled that, that there's an administration that sees dignity in work and doing everything within our power to make sure that we are showing up for working people, and they actually get a more dignified experience as a worker.
MPU: The PTO ordinance was delayed for several months to give businesses time to understand and implement the law. What have you learned in the time since that confirmed for you that this is the right thing to do and the right time to do it?
Johnson: Let me just say that there were a number of businesses, small and large, that wanted to be a part of this historic moment. And there were some, of course, that we had to, to inform and to challenge that having a workforce that is stable as well as protected is better for business, right? Because it eliminates, you know, the churn or the turnover that tends to happen when workers are unsatisfied.
What we have learned ultimately is that the businesses, small and large, as well as the workers in my administration, we've learned that so many other jurisdictions, cities, and states want to move in this direction. So it was imperative for us to have this delay so that we can get it right. We want to make sure that the model that we establish is a model that can be used around this country.
And so this education, as well as outreach that we have done over the course of these last six months, have proven to be beneficial for our long-term efforts. Not just about expanding this beyond the city of Chicago — there are many other pro-worker policies that we have ready to unfold. But we want to make sure that there are great experiences that we all can have to build confidence so that when we come with the next batch of pro-worker policies the hope is that there will be less resistance.
MPU: What sort of opposition and resistance did you see when you were trying to pass these ordinances, and how did the coalition to defeat that opposition come together?
Johnson: What I'm able to do as mayor has been brought to us by a movement, a broad-based coalition of workers — and that includes all workers, labor unions, community-based organizations, workers centers, the faith community, as well as the business community. And, you know, part of the delay, or the resistance, I should say, had more to do with just a lack of understanding as well as some level of trepidation of what impact this could have on business.
Bottom line…every single metric that you look at and study — when your workforce is stabilized, that’s good for business. And too often, there are these competing interests that believe that if you do something that's favorable towards workers, that automatically associates with you as anti-business. And it's just not true.
What we ultimately are doing is providing a pro-worker agenda that benefits the economy, and anytime the economy benefits, that actually strengthens our business community as well. It's just a model and a framework that has just been removed from the public space and the political space because you have had previous administrations that had a very petite view of the world and labor and community and faith.
In order for us to move beyond sort of this stale, stagnant economy, you have to go big. And that's ultimately what we were able to impress upon the business community, that your business grows when the economy grows, [and] the economy grows when workers are ultimately protected and fully invested in. And that's what my administration has effectively been able to do.
MPU: So what message would you send to mayors across the country about the government's responsibility to make this happen?
Johnson: The government, unfortunately, has been the culprit of many of the failed policies that have caused tremendous harm across this country. We have seen an entire generation of austerity and privatization that has proven to be disruptive and harmful, particularly to Black and brown workers and women workers. And so my message to city leaders around the country [is]…you have the greatest impact on the day-to-day lived experiences of people. And when you have dysfunction at other levels of government, it's incumbent upon local government to begin to solve local issues, while also leading broader coalitions that can translate beyond local politics.
Local government is better positioned than it has ever been before to begin to rectify the disruption that has been the prevailing form of governance for an entire generation in this country. See Chicago as an opportunity to grow [a] coalition, to build [a] coalition across multiple sectors, whether that's business large and small, labor, workers, the philanthropic community, along with elected officials and faith leaders, to put forth policies that work for families. That is what my focus has been.
MPU: At the top of the call, you said you want Chicago to be the best city it can be for workers. So what's next on your agenda for workers in the city of Chicago?
Johnson: There’s still a lot of work that we have to do around healthcare and making healthcare a real human right. And I know that there are steps that our country has taken to create a stronger care system around people. However, I believe that there are still more measures that we can take. There are more things that we can do to accommodate workers, particularly now that we're in this post-pandemic era, and particularly around childcare. Those are just two examples where I believe that the city of Chicago can lead the way.
These are elements that quite frankly have been quite cumbersome and burdensome for workers in America and particularly in Chicago. And so as much as we recognize there are benefits to wage raises, what we do know is that when it comes to healthcare, the lack of healthcare or affordable healthcare has led to many families going bankrupt and living in very extreme circumstances. And then the same thing with childcare. In some instances, childcare is more expensive than rent.