Chicago alderman approve increasing city’s minimum wage to $13 by 2019

CHICAGO – The Chicago City Council has overwhelmingly supported a measure to increase the city’s minimum wage to $13 by 2019.

Council members gave their final approval Tuesday, a day after a council committee advanced the plan to raise the current $8.25-per-hour wage. Five aldermen voted against the measure, saying businesses will be tempted to leave the city and there could be job losses.

Supporters say the minimum wage hasn’t kept up with other increasing costs and people can’t survive on it.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel called Tuesday’s special meeting amid fears the Illinois Legislature could pass a measure preventing cities from setting their wage at a level higher than the state’s minimum wage. State legislators could vote this week on a plan to increase the state’s rate to $11 by 2017.

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