Four years of minimum wage increases end in Illinois

Illinois' minimum wage has risen from $5.15 per hour in 2007 to $8.25 in 2011. (Photo by WJBC)

For the first time in five years, those earning minimum wage will not be seeing an increase in pay.

A bill introduced in the Illinois Senate in February wasn’t taken up by lawmakers during the last legislative session, leaving the state’s minimum wage at $8.25 per hour.

Faith leaders, union officials and community organizers say that lawmakers haven’t moved quickly enough to address the issue. They argue that at $8.25 per hour, the minimum wage hasn’t kept up with inflation.

Senate Bill 1565 would increase minimum wage gradually over four years to $10.65 per hour. The legislation calls for a 50-cent per hour increase each year for the next four years, plus the rate of inflation. Legislation passed in 2003 and 2006 boosted the minimum wage from $5.15 per hour to the current rate of $8.25 per hour.