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City To Host Workshop On Upcoming Minimum Wage Hike

CHICAGO (CBS) -- With the minimum wage in Chicago about to rise to $10 an hour next month, Mayor Rahm Emanuel was set to begin an effort to help educate workers on what's in store.

The July 1 boost in Chicago's minimum wage is just the first phase in an ordinance gradually increasing it to $13 an hour by July 2019. After that, annual increases in the minimum wage would be tied to the consumer price index.

The Emanuel administration has scheduled a series of workshops to help educate workers on their new wage rights. The first was scheduled for Wednesday in the Pilsen neighborhood.

The City Council approved the increase in the minimum wage in December, but the discussion had its roots in the nationwide movement to raise the minimum wage for all hourly workers in the U.S.

As rallies were held to boost the minimum wage to $15 dollars an hour for the entire country, Chicago aldermen took action to give the city's workers a raise of their own.

According to the city, approximately 410,000 workers in Chicago are paid minimum wage. Raising that wage from $8.25 to $13 an hour is expected to inject $860 million into the local economy, and lift 70,000 workers out of poverty.

At public hearings held before the City Council approved the higher minimum wage, many workers said they can't support their families on the current minimum, while retailers and restaurant owners said it puts their businesses in jeopardy.

The first city workshop to educate employees on their wage rights was scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Mujeres Latinas at 2124 W. 21st Pl.

Businesses that do not comply with the minimum wage law would face fines of up to $1,000, and could have their licenses suspended.

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