An alliance to advance health equity in labor wage policy: Examining the work of Cook County PLACE MATTERS and Restaurant Opportunities Center Chicago

Background: Cook County PLACE MATTERS (CCPM) works to eliminate health inequities by raising awareness about structural racism, and building power among affected communities to change policy. The Cook County, Illinois team is one of 19 teams in the USA supported by the National Collaborative for Health Equity. The Restaurant Opportunities Center of Chicago (ROC Chicago) found 82% of the 250,000 people employed in the Chicagoland restaurant industry earn less then $10/Hour. Immigrants and people of color have these low wage jobs. Using data from two local health departments, CCPM in 2012 identified a 14-year gap in life expectancy by neighborhood Income level in Cook County, Illinois. Methods: CCPM identified food justice as its focus, given high profile discussions of food deserts and healthy food access. Despite higher rates of poverty and food insecurity among tipped-wage restaurant workers this injustice was often disregarded by food-oriented policy advocates. Labor & wage policy was deemed a structural determinant of racial, gender, and class health inequity. Results: Informed by the World Health Organization framework on health, and Patrick Fafard’s critique of the health sciences approach to policy change, an alliance between ROC Chicago and CCPM is mutually beneficial.  Collaboration includes awareness raising and policy advocacy. Recommendations: Local health departments and other health organizations focusing on health equity in all policies, poverty and nutrition should build relationships with base-building organizations such as ROC Chicago. To advance health equity, it is critical that laws allowing different minimum wages for tipped- and non-tipped workers be abolished.