>> CHICAGO WORKERS COULD SOON GET 10 DAYS OF PAID TIME OFF UNDER A PROPOSED ORDINANCE.

BUT OPPONENTS OF THE PLAN SAY IT WOULD DEVASTATE BUSINESSES IF THE ORDINANCE IS APPROVED BY A CITY COUNCIL VOTE THAT COULD COME THIS WEEK HERE WITH MORE ARE SO FEW ON EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF RAISE THE FLOOR ALLIANCE AND BRAD TEATS, VICE PRESIDENT OF GOVERNMENT RELATIONS AND STRATEGY FOR THE CHICAGOLAND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

THANKS TO BOTH FOR JOINING US.

SOFIA.

LET'S START WITH YOU.

PLEASE YOUR WITH YOUR ORGANIZATION.

RAISE THE FLOOR.

YOU ALL SUPPORT THE PAID LEAVE ORDINANCE.

TELL US WHY SO THE PAID TIME OFF ORDINANCE WOULD BE A LIFELINE FOR THE WORKERS THAT RACE.

THE 4 ALLIANCE REPRESENTS.

>> HE'S A PREDOMINANTLY BLACK AND BROWN WORKERS WHO LABOR IN OUR LOW WAGE INDUSTRIES.

THESE ARE THE WORKERS THAT WE CALLED ESSENTIAL DURING THE PANDEMIC WHO PUT THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE TO KEEP OUR SOCIETY RUNNING AND WHO HAD TO DO SO BECAUSE THEY FORWARD TO MISS WORK AND TO MISS WAGES.

SO THE PAID TIME OFF ORDINANCE IS ABOUT RESPECTING THOSE WORKERS WHO ARE THE BACKBONE OF OUR CITY.

IT'S ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT NO ONE HAS TO MISS A PAYCHECK OR A JOB TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR LOVED ONES.

IT'S ABOUT BEING ABLE TO SPEND TIME WITH YOUR FAMILY.

I'M GOING TO YOUR KID'S SOCCER GAME, MAKING MEMORIES WITH YOUR AILING ELDERS.

AND SO THIS REALLY IS AN ORDINANCE THAT IS GOOD FOR WORKERS AND GOOD FOR CHICAGO.

AND BRIEFLY, GIVE US A SENSE.

HE SAID, YOU KNOW, ESSENTIAL WORKERS, IT'S BEEN A FEW YEARS SINCE WE'VE HAD TO TALK ABOUT IT BRIEFLY.

A COUPLE OF A COUPLE OF POSITIONS ARE KINDS OF JOBS.

>> THAT YOU WILL REPRESENT SHORE.

SO WE REPRESENT WORKERS AND ALL LOW-WAGE SECTORS, WHETHER THAT'S MANUFACTURING THE CLEANING INDUSTRY STICK WORK.

CHILDCARE, RESTAURANTS, FOOD, PRODUCTION AGAIN, THAT THE INDUSTRIES THAT WERE REALLY ESSENTIAL TO KEEPING OUR SOCIETY RUNNING.

BRAD, OBVIOUSLY, WE KNOW SOME OF THE BUSINESS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THIS ORDINANCE HAD SAID IT WOULD DEVASTATE BUSINESSES OF ALL SIZES.

TELL US HOW.

>> SURE.

AND AND I DO WANT TO CLARIFY OR AT THE TOP TO I MEAN, THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY UNDERSTANDS THERE'S A FOR A BALANCE PAID LEAVE POLICY.

IT'S WHY WE CAME TO THE TABLE AT THE STATE LEVEL TO DO THE 5 PTO DAYS BACK IN JANUARY OF 2023.

IT'S WHY WE'VE BEEN ON THE FOR THESE NEGOTIATIONS IS WHY WE PUT ON THE TABLE JUST A WEEK AND A HALF AGO, 10 PAID LEAVE DAYS WHERE THE EMPLOYER HAS ARE WITH THE EMPLOYEE HAS THE ABILITY TO TAKE THE DAYS AS THEY SEE FIT.

SO TO TO SOPHIA'S POINT, WE UNDERSTAND EVERY WORKER SHIP THE NEED TO CARE FOR THEMSELVES CARE FOR THEIR FAMILY AND JUST SIMPLY ENJOY THEIR LIVES.

YOU KNOW, HAVING SAID THAT, WHAT'S BEFORE CITY COUNCIL, IT GOES TOO FAR QUICKLY.

AND YOU KNOW, IT'S IT'S GOING TO IT'S THE MOST COMPLICATED AND EXPENSIVE FOR PAID LEAVE IN THE COUNTRY AND IT WOULD ACUTELY IMPACT THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND SMALL BUSINESS.

THE COMMUNITIES THAT CITY COUNCIL CLAIMS TO CARE THE MOST ABOUT, YOU KNOW, AND THIS IS ALL HAPPENING ON TOP PERSISTENTLY HIGH CRIME LABOR SUPPLY CHAIN SHORTAGES.

YOU KNOW WHAT HAVE YOU?

I'D LIKE, YOU KNOW, BAD POLICIES COMING OUT OF CITY COUNCIL LIKE THE TIP CREDIT, FOR INSTANCE.

DON'T KNOW IF YOU SAW THIS MORNING BUT 121 RESTAURANT OWNER SIGNED ONTO AN OP-ED BLASTING THIS POLICY AND REMOVING THE TIPS.

MINIMUM YES, YES.

YOU SAID THAT THAT IT GOES TOO FAR TOO QUICKLY.

WELL, WHAT WOULD YOU PREFER TO SEE WHAT WOULD BE MORE WORKABLE?

WELL, AND LIKE I MENTIONED, WE ACTUALLY PUT FORTH A POLICY FOR 10 PAID LEAVE POLICY DAYS.

BUT >> ONE, WE NEED A WHOLE LOT MORE PROTECTION FROM LAWSUITS BEING FILED AGAINST BUSINESSES INTO PARTICULAR SMALL BUSINESSES WHO DON'T HAVE HR DEPARTMENTS TO, YOU KNOW, PUSH BACK AGAINST THIS.

WE'RE ALSO PUSHING BACK STRONGLY AGAINST THE PAYOUT REQUIREMENTS THAT ARE REQUIRED IN THE WHEN EMPLOYEES SEPARATED FROM EMPLOYMENT NEWS REQUIRED TO BE PAID OUT UNDER THE ORDINANCE.

NOWHERE ELSE IN THE COUNTRY REQUIRED.

ILLINOIS, NEW YORK CITY LA.

SO WE'RE ASKING FOR SIMILAR POLICY HERE.

AND WE'RE ALSO ASKING FOR MORE PROTECTIONS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES.

SO THE CURRENTLY EXEMPT SMALL BUSINESSES FROM THE PAYOUT PROVISIONS.

BUT WE'RE ASKING FOR A TOTAL CARVE SO THAT ONLY THE NEW STATE REQUIREMENTS APPLY TO >> SO LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT ALDERMAN WILLIAM HALL HAD TO SAY IN SUPPORT OF THIS PROPOSAL.

>> AND ONE THING WE KNOW IS THAT SOMETIMES YOU NEED TO STEP AWAY SO THAT YOU CAN REFRESH AND RESET.

NO ONE SHOULD BE PENALIZE.

NO ONE SHOULD BE AFRAID TO TAKE TIME OFF TO DO WHAT'S NECESSARY TO BE A GOOD WORKER.

AND SO THIS IS A CITY OF BIG SHOULDERS.

SO TODAY WE'RE CARRYING SMALL BUSINESSES, BIG BUSINESSES, BUT ALL THE BUSINESS MATTERS CHICAGO.

IF THE WORKING CONDITIONS ARE RIGHT IN THE RIGHT?

>> SOPHIA, WHAT DO YOU TO SOME OF THE CONCERNS FROM THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY THAT THIS WOULD BE VERY HARD FOR THEM?

>> YES, SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE'VE HEARD A LOT OF CONCERNS ABOUT SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS, BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO ASK WHAT ABOUT THEIR WORKERS?

SHOULD WORKERS AT SMALL BUSINESSES HAVE SECOND-CLASS RIGHTS?

I DON'T THINK SO.

I THINK WORKERS AT SMALL BUSINESSES SHOULD HAVE THE SAME RIGHTS AS WORKERS AT LARGER BUSINESSES MAJOR CHAINS WORKING AT A SMALL BUSINESS DOESN'T CHANGE THE FACT THAT LIFE HAPPENS AND PEOPLE NEED TIME OFF TO TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES BELIEVE ISN'T JUST A BENEFIT.

IT IS A NECESSITY FOR LIVING A DIGNIFIED LIFE AND EVERYONE ALL WORKERS SHOULD HAVE THIS RIGHT REGARDLESS OF THE SIZE OF THEIR EMPLOYER.

I ALSO WANT TO SAY THAT ORDINANCE IS THE RESULT OF MANY MONTHS OF NEGOTIATIONS AND IT REPRESENTS COMPROMISE.

I'M NOT ONLY DID COMPROMISE ON THE ROLLOUT WE COMPROMISED ON THE NUMBER OF DAYS AND WE COMPROMISED ON THE PAYOUT THAT WORKERS WOULD RECEIVE.

SO THIS IS AN ORDINANCE THAT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE IS TENABLE FOR BUSINESSES.

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT'S ABOUT GIVING WORKERS THE RIGHT TO REST AND THE ECONOMIC SECURITY TO THRIVE.

FRED, YOU MENTIONED THAT THE INITIAL CALLED FOR 15 DAYS OF PAID LEAVE IN SUPPORTERS HAVE CALLED THIS, QUOTE, THE BARE MINIMUM FOR WORKERS DO NOT SEE THIS AS AS A AS A COMPROMISE.

IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU SEE THIS STILL TOO MUCH.

WE KNOW WE HAVE.

WE HAVE MADE PROGRESS THROUGH OUR NEGOTIATIONS, BUT IT STILL IS STILL GOES TOO FAR TOO QUICKLY AND, >> YOU KNOW, DIDN'T MENTION THIS, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE ONLY HAVE 8 WEEKS UNTIL JANUARY ONE 2024.

>> THE STATE LAW WENT INTO EFFECT IN MARCH OF 2023 AND THERE'S CALLS AND EVEN LEGISLATION NOW TO PUSH BACK EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE STATE REQUIREMENTS BECAUSE WE WANT TO PARTNER LABOR CAN PROPAGATE THE RULES.

QUICK ENOUGH FOR THIS SO AGAIN, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE GOING TO BE SETTING UP BUSINESSES OF ALL SIZES TO LAWSUIT EXPOSURE IN THE NEXT 8 WEEKS.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAUGHT THE HEARING ON THURSDAY, BUT CITY OFFICIALS COULDN'T ANSWER THE MOST BASIC OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS.

AND NOW THEY'RE CLAIMING BE DOING TRAININGS RULE PROMULGATION IN THE NEXT 8 IT'S HARD FOR US TO SEE THAT HAPPENING GIVEN HOW POORLY DRAFTED THE LANGUAGE IS.

THERE'S JUST SO MANY BEEN A FLAWED PROCESS FROM THE START IS LEADING TO A FLAWED PRODUCT.

COOK COUNTY ACTUALLY INTRODUCED ORDINANCE SIMPLY TO COMPLY WITH THE NEW STATE REQUIREMENTS BECAUSE IN THERE IN THEIR MINDS, WEEKS WAS NOT LONG ENOUGH THAT YOU DO THIS RIGHT.

SO IF YOU HOW ABOUT THAT, THE STATE LAW THAT THAT IS ALREADY IN EFFECT, IS THAT NOT ENOUGH?

>> KNOW, AND AND WORKERS IN CHICAGO ARE ACTUALLY AT RISK OF BEING BEHIND THAN THE REST OF THE STATE WHEN THE STATE LAW GOES INTO EFFECT ON JANUARY.

FIRST 2024.

>> YOU KNOW, BROADWAY'S TO POINT THE CONCERN AROUND FOR THOSE LAWSUITS.

AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO MENTION THAT PRIVATE ENFORCEMENT AND THE ABILITY TO GO TO THE COURTS IS FUNDAMENTAL AND IT'S A FACET OF MANY CHICAGO LAWS.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WORKERS WHO ARE TRYING TO PROVIDE FOR THEMSELVES AND FOR THEIR FAMILIES.

THE IDEA THAT THEY WOULD HAVE THE MEANS OR THE TIME OR THE RESOURCES TO RECRUIT LAWYERS TO LOB FRIVOLOUS LAWSUITS THAT THEIR EMPLOYERS IS BEYOND BELIEF.

AND IN ADDITION TO A PRIVATE ENFORCEMENT IT IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT GIVES WORKERS THE PAST TO ENFORCE THEIR RIGHTS.

WHAT WE SEE ALL THE TIME IS THAT EMPLOYERS VIOLATE WORKERS RIGHTS AND THEY DON'T JUST FIGHT VIOLATE SINGLE ISSUES.

THEY VIOLATE MANY RIGHTS.

THE WORKERS THAT WE REPRESENT ARE DEALING WITH UNPAID WAGES.

THEY'RE DEALING WITH DISCRIMINATION WITH WAGE THEFT WITH UNSAFE WORKING CONDITIONS AND THEIR FACE RETALIATION WHEN THEY TRY TO IMPROVE THEIR WORKPLACE.

AND THE ABILITY TO GO TO THE COURTS IS ALSO AN ABILITY TO CUT THROUGH THE RED TAPE OF ALL THE AGENCIES AND REGULATIONS THAT GOVERN THOSE RIGHTS.

THAT'S SO IMPORTANT FOR WORKERS WHO HAVE LIMITED TIME AND RESOURCES.

BRAD, HOW MIGHT THIS PROPOSAL IF ENACTED, HOW MIGHT IT IMPACT BUSINESSES ABILITY OR THE CITY'S ABILITY TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN?

>> BUSINESSES TO THE CITY?

>> WELL, THERE'S MULTIPLE LAYERS TO THIS ONE IN THE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE STRUGGLING.

MOST OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

I THINK THAT'S WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO A REALLY BIG IMPACT TRYING TO GET SMALL BUSINESSES THERE AS WELL AS BIG ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES.

I THINK IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA YOU'RE GOING TO SEE COMPANIES HAVING A GETTING WORKERS TO ACTUALLY COME OR LIKE THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BRING WORKERS INTO THE DOWNTOWN AREA BECAUSE OF THIS.

IF THEY IF THEY COME FROM THE SUBURBS OR SOMETHING ELSE LIKE THAT HAS IMPORTANT PIECE OF THIS IS THE DEFINITION OF EMPLOYEE IN THIS ONLY A WORKER TO WORK FOR 2 WEEKS OR 2 HOURS IN A TWO-WEEK PERIOD TO BE SUBJECT.

THIS ORDINANCE.

SO, YOU FOR A TRAVELERS COMING IN.

SO ACTUALLY, THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY IS NOW I'M KIND OF PERK IN THE YEARS UP TO THIS BECAUSE UNDER THAT DEFINITION, IF SOMEBODY FROM SEATTLE COMES IN FOR A CONVENTION AND HERE FOR 3 DAYS, THEY ARE NOW SUBJECT TO ORDINANCE.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF UNANSWERED QUESTIONS LIKE THAT WE'RE JUST STARTING TO GRAPPLE WITH IN OUR FIRST MEETING ACTUALLY HAPPENED ON OCTOBER.

13TH.

SO WE'VE ONLY HAD 4 WEEKS TO REALLY NEGOTIATE THIS.

I'M STILL GETTING E-MAILS FROM FROM BIGGER COMPANIES BK.

HAVE THEY CONSIDERED THIS YET?

HAVEN'T THOUGHT ABOUT THIS YET.

SO A LOT OF UNANSWERED AND THERE'S THE CHANCE OF CITY COUNCIL MAY BE VOTING ON THIS TOMORROW.

SO