Will Arlington Heights Board opt-out of minimum wage ordinance?

Arlington Heights Village board meetings, November 7, 2016 and March 20, 2017

Minimum wage rising from $8.25/hr to $13/hr in Arlington Heights

On October 26th the Cook County Illinois commissioners adopted a measure that will 

increase the minimum wage from current $8.25/hr. in suburban Cook to $13/hour by 

2020. And part-time employees can accrue up to five days of paid sick leave. If a 

municipality is home rule, it has the capacity to opt-out of the Cook County Ordinance, 

that is not allow the minimum wage rise to $13/hr by 2020. 

The village board was fully prepared to vote to opt out of the ordinance on March 20. But 

instead the board delayed the vote until May 1. The board was surprised by the attendance 

of many residents that were in opposition to opting out of the ordinance. See the following links that reported on the board meeting: 

From Daily Herald: http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20170321/business/170329841/

From Telemundo: http://www.telemundochicago.com/noticias/local/En-la-lucha-por-derechos-trabajadores-en-Arlington-Heights_TLMD---Chicago-416717773.html

Tribune: http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/arlington-heights/news/ct-ahp-arlington-minimum-wage-protest-tl-0323-20170321-story.html

At the meeting many Arlington Heights residents addressed the board urging them to not 

opt-out of the Cook county ordinance, that is to allow the minimum wage to rise to $13/hr 

by 2020. Please see village website for the March 20 meeting minutes and video at: 

http//www.vah.com 

I also addressed the board on March 20, 2017.

Thank you, President Hayes

Consider this

According to the BLS about half of federal minimum wage earners are now over 25 years 

old. So these are not teenagers just trying out the labor market. Many workers are relying 

on the minimum wage to support themselves and their families.

Could any of us here possibly support our families on $8.25/hour?

Also there is NO strong evidence that raising the minimum wage hurts businesses. We 

have many current, natural experiments that confirms that raising the minimum wage 

actually helps employment, businesses and the economy. In this case gradually raising the 

minimum from $8.25/hr. To $13/hr in 3 years is not going to make or break businesses in 

this town. Maybe if we were going to $30/hr maybe.

At the November 7 board meeting I asked you to please consider proven research that 

economies actually do better when they raised the minimum wage:

Some supportive points to raise the minimum wage from the November 7 meeting :

• Give our residents more spending power that would boost our local businesses.
• Support our residents that do rely on the minimum wage.
• It would give a demand side boost to our community versus the supply side stimulus we have always relied upon.
• Attracts more stable work force
• MOST IMPORTANT: It is the right thing to do

This idea that we have to opt out of the minimum wage ordinance to compete with 

neighboring towns, that have opted out, is a complete economic myth. This is a race to 

the bottom where no one wins.

Now we find out that this board is going to amend the Municipal code with the following 

language, “it places an undue burden on employers within the Village of Arlington 

Heights given the current rights of employees available under Federal and State Law”.

First, if Federal and State law was adequate wage protection then the Cook Co. board 

would not have passed the minimum wage ordinance in the first place, to raise the 

minimum wage from $8.25/hr.

Second, Would you please forward to me your research that supports the claim 'undue 

burden on employers' ? I mean other than the Chamber of Commerce and businesses said to opt out.

Did you hold any round tables to hear alternative views?

Summary

We all understand this board usually puts business interests first over residents. But to opt 

out of this Cook county ordinance in my opinion is just cruel, mean and unnecessary.

But this seems to be the case now days.

I would ask that the board do the right thing and not opt out of the Cook County 

Ordinance on minimum wage and sick time.

Thank You President Hayes.