News, Events, and Blogs
Cases at Warlord, Noma prompt fresh questions about how to protect restaurant workers
“We don’t have a lot of policies that protect workers,” said Raeghn Draper, executive director of the CHAAD project. Draper added that Illinois is also an at-will employment state, meaning employers can terminate employees at any time for any reason that isn’t illegal. “If your boss gets a whiff of you filing a complaint with an enforcement agency, you can get fired for that, and there’s not much to do in an at-will state unless you’re really rigorous.”
Se llevaron a uno de los nuestros… y no estábamos preparados
El 27 de febrero de 2026, agentes de Immigration and Customs Enforcement detuvieron a G, nuestro amigo, vecino, y pareja de una de nuestras organizadoras, fuera de su casa en West Garfield Park.
G tiene un caso de asilo pendiente de resolución y vive en Chicago desde hace cuatro años. Ahora se encuentra bajo custodia de ICE.
Como organizadoras/organizadores en Chicago, muchos de nosotros trabajamos con comunidades inmigrantes y con personas que trabajan en restaurantes. Frecuentemente hablamos sobre estar preparados: conocer nuestros derechos, planificar ante acciones de control, reunir documentos, y construir redes de apoyo.
One of our people was taken… And we were not prepared.
One of our people was taken… And we were not prepared.
On February 27, 2026, our friend, neighbor and significant other for one of our organizers, G, was taken by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents outside his home in West Garfield Park.
G has a pending asylum case and has been living in Chicago for four years. He is now in ICE detention.
As organizers in Chicago, many of us work closely with immigrant communities and restaurant workers. We talk frequently about preparation: knowing your rights, planning for enforcement actions, gathering documentation, and building support networks.
But when it happened to one of us, we realized something difficult: We were not prepared either.
What followed was a crash course in rapid response, one that required improvisation, coordination, and an enormous amount of emotional labor.
We are sharing what happened so others can prepare in ways we wish we had.
Chicago City Council Just Stabbed Tipped Workers in the Back
After a blitz by restaurant industry lobbyists, Chicago’s city council voted last week to maintain the subminimum wage for service workers, keeping them stuck in precarity and poverty wages.
An attempt to end a phaseout of the tipped minimum wage.
An attempt to end a phaseout of the tipped minimum wage.
The battle over subminimum wage in Chicago
A debate is raging in the Chicago City Council, with a majority of alders moving to freeze the increase in tipped minimum wage – an action Mayor Brandon Johnson says he will veto.
In the Loop hears perspectives from the restaurant industry and worker advocates for their thoughts on ending subminimum wage.
GUESTS: Sam Toia, president and CEO, Illinois Restaurant Association
Molly Pachay, restaurant worker; organizer, One Fair Wage and the CHAAD Project
City Council poised to vote on restoring Chicago’s subminimum wage for tipped workers
Restaurant Lobbyists are trying to freeze our Wages
Chicago hospitality workers — this is urgent.
Learn. Protect. Care.
Learn. Protect. Care.
Self-Defense + Community Care in Pilsen
📅 When: March 3rd - 6:30PM
📍 Where: Pilsen (address shared after RSVP)
💸 Cost: sliding scale $15-$30 (link in bio)
👊🏽 What to expect:
• Intro self-defense class (all levels welcome)
• Led by Elías of Pilsen Defense & Access
Why it matters:
Build confidence, knowledge, and tools to protect ourselves + our community. Donations help sustain free programs, rapid response, and grocery distribution in Pilsen.
🔗 RSVP now to save your spot!
#Pilsen #CommunityCare #SelfDefense #mutualaid
Free Skills Training for Hospitality Workers
It All Begins Here
West Loop Town Hall
📣 West Loop come through! We want to hear from you.
On Tuesday, February 17th, from 11 AM to 1:30 PM, we will be hosting a private community town hall in the West Loop area. The exact address will be shared only with those who RSVP via the link in our bio.
Love, Served
Love, Served is coming in HOT as our first event of the year 💘❤️🔥
Join us 2/15 at The Clipper for a night of draglesque, DJs, and community care all in the name of hospitality workers.
Featuring: Raven Wright @oliviaoliveliv and Vitigrrl @vitigrrl
Doors at 6pm
Performance start at 8pm
No presale - tickets at the door
$10-$25 sliding scale ($10 min)
Plus a raffle!
Come dance, tip the performers, support worker justice, and show some love. 💗
Block Club Chicago Warlord Coverage
“A group that advocates for restaurant workers is protesting the future opening of Lords, a second restaurant by the Warlord trio. The main chef behind Warlord is accused of sharing an explicit photo of a woman without her consent.”
Chicago Reader
