CHA Supports $13 Per Hour Minimum Wage Ordinance

The Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) today announced its support of an ordinance requiring all CHA contractors and subcontractors to pay their eligible employees a minimum wage of $13 per hour.  The hourly wage will be indexed to inflation and increase proportionally on a yearly basis thereafter.  This ordinance is expected to impact nearly 500 CHA contracted employees, typically employed in the areas of resident services, landscaping, and property management.

The ordinance follows a September 3, 2014 executive order signed by Mayor Rahm Emanuel, which requires a $13 per hour minimum wage for similar work performed under City of Chicago contracts.  The executive order went into effect on October 1, 2014 and impacts all advertised City of Chicago contracts moving forward.

"We are proud to join Mayor Rahm Emanuel in the City of Chicago's key effort to raise the minimum wage for contracted and subcontracted workers," said CHA CEO Michael R. Merchant. "As part of our strategic initiative, Plan Forward, we are continuing to help build strong, vibrant communities throughout Chicago. Supporting this hourly wage increase will strengthen the economic job pathway for many contracted employees and their families within this great city."

CHA will establish rules and regulations to monitor compliance with the ordinance, including procedures for eligible contractor employees to report violations. Contractors and subcontractors who do not comply with the ordinance will risk losing business with CHA.

The agency will include the new minimum wage requirements in all of its upcoming procurement opportunities and will post the ordinance and rules and regulations on its website, www.thecha.org.