Cook County Proposes 2 Referenda Questions Regarding Minimum Wage and Sick Leave

Cook County Proposes 2 Referenda Questions Regarding Minimum Wage and Sick Leave

  Friday, July 27, 2018    Julie Tappendorf

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In 2016, the Cook County Board of Commissioners passed two ordinances regarding minimum wage and sick leave. Both ordinances took effect last summer, with the minimum wage increase being phased in over the next few years. Many Cook County municipalities (over 100) have chosen to "opt out" of the two ordinances by passing their own ordinances to that effect. 

This week, the Cook County Board of Commissioners took action to place two advisory referenda on these two topics on the November ballot directed at municipal voters. Although the referenda are advisory only, Cook County municipalities should be aware of these ballot questions as there may be questions from municipal officials and citizens as to what effect these questions might have if they are approved. In short, advisory referenda have no legal, binding effect.  

The ballot questions read as follows: 

(1) “Shall the minimum wage in your municipality match the $13 per hour Cook County minimum wage law for adults over the age of 18 by July 1, 2020, and be indexed to the consumer price index after that?”

 

 [ ] Yes

 [ ] No

 

(2) “Shall your municipality match the Cook County earned sick time law which allows for workers to earn up to 40 hours (5 days) of sick time a year to take care of their own health or a family member’s health?”

 

[ ] Yes

[ ] No