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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
HONORING ARISE CHICAGO FOR 30 YEARS OF ADVANCING WORKERS' RIGHTS
WHEREAS, Arise Chicago was founded in 1991 by a group of diverse faith leaders to be in solidarity with and to empower the working class to assert their rights on the job, especially their right to form a union; and
WHEREAS, Arise Chicago is grounded in the knowledge of the sacred link between faith and work, and believes all work is dignified; and
WHEREAS, Arise Chicago casts a vision of a broad inclusive table where all are welcome, regardless of race, immigration status, faith tradition, language, union status, sexual and gender identity, country of origin, or type of work performed; and
WHEREAS, in 2002, Arise Chicago expanded to become one of the first worker centers in the Midwest in order to respond to the struggles of low-wage immigrant workers, especially women of color; and
WHEREAS, Arise Chicago has organized thousands of workers, faith leaders, and other allies to win concrete gains in the struggle against workplace injustices, including wage theft, health and safety hazards, discrimination, sexual harassment, and, to date, has recovered more than $9,000,000 in stolen wages and compensation; and
WHEREAS, in 2013, Arise Chicago established itself as a leading grassroots policy-making organization by passing its first of many pro-worker public policies, in the City of Chicago, Cook County, and the State of Illinois; and
WHEREAS, between 2017 and 2020, Arise Chicago fought against villages attempting to opt-out of the Cook County Earned Sick Leave and Minimum Wage ordinances, resulting in about half of all Cook County workers remaining covered by the ordinances; and
WHEREAS, Arise Chicago has engaged in ground-breaking work by incubating unions, resulting in workers moving from exploitation to permanent protection on the job and a higher standard of living for them and their families; and
WHEREAS, Arise Chicago served as a critical resource for essential ...
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