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