Oak Park Chooses Not To Opt Out Of Minimum Wage Ordinance

OAK PARK, IL — A throng of protesters greeted Oak Park Village Trustees at a special session Friday that led to Oak Park officials deciding not to opt out of Cook County's minimum wage and sick leave ordinance. The decision came just a handful of hours before the ordinance was set to take effect.

Initially, Mayor Anan Abu-Taleb called the last-minute meeting to consider a temporary 10-day opt-out and open discussion with community business owners who were pursuing a 90-day opt-out. Residents at the meeting criticized the village for giving little public notice about the meeting. Some trustees were not present due to the short notice provided for the session. Throughout the session, the crowd erupted in applause and shouts of support as residents spoke out against opting out of the ordinance.

Resident Steven Ashby, a professor of the School of Labor and Employee Relations at the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana, gave rousing remarks that distilled the sentiments of most residents. Ashby opened his testimony by saying, "If you vote to opt out, everyone knows it's a vote for poverty." He continued by asking the audience, "Oak Park, are you angry? Will you fight for Oak Park values?" The room rang with a resounding call of "yes."

After Mayor Abu-Taleb announced that no vote would be taken, village trustees struggled to speak while making their own statements and reading letters from trustees who were not able to attend the meeting. Trustee Bob Tucker, who was not present, said in a written statement, "I believe an honest day's work deserves an honest day's pay." Many trustees expressed a concern for how the decision would impact small business owners. They acknowledged that Friday's decision, although overwhelmingly popular with the public, was —as proven by the tumultuous meeting— not an easy one to make.

>>Image via Village of Oak Park