(The Center Square) – Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is giving $7 million in taxpayer-funded raises and bonuses to early childhood workers at 86 locations in the city.
The mayor said about 3,000 workers would get 5% to 10% “across the board” wage increases.
It’s a down payment on the workforce behind the workforce, Johnson said.
“They are the people and the spirit behind the child’s success. These are the people that families drop their children off to every single day,” Johnson said.
Chicago is facing a budget deficit of more than $1 billion, although Alderman Scott Waguespack told The Center Square last month that the budget shortfall might be close to $1.5 billion or more.
Johnson recognized Service Employees International Union Healthcare.
“We’re going to make sure that these tough workers know that we will always remain the most pro-worker city in America,” Johnson said.
The mayor made the announcement Tuesday at a news conference hosted by YMCA Metropolitan Chicago at its North Lawndale facility on the city’s West Side.
YMCA Metropolitan Chicago’s chief learning officer, Danette Connors, thanked SEIU for helping to facilitate the event.
SEIU Healthcare Illinois Vice President Brynn Seibert said the union and the Child Care for All coalition organized and held town halls, showed up at budget listening sessions, testified before the city council and delivered a petition with 1,800 signatures to City Hall.
“We won’t stop fighting until every Chicago family has access to quality, affordable care and education, and to get there, we need to make sure that every childcare worker has a good union job,” Seibert said.
Chicago Department of Family and Support Services interim Commissioner Maura McCauley said staff employed at all 86 agencies that are funded through the agency would receive raises.
Johnson said the wage increases would be implemented in the next “couple of months.” He said the $7 million would come from the city budget.
Johnson was asked how long the additional funding for childcare workers would be sustainable.
“Well, the sustainability is around the ongoing effort to make sure this down payment is extended beyond this year,” Johnson said.
