April 08--Illinois Wal-Mart employees have begun earning at least $9 an hour, the company said Wednesday.
In February, the world's largest retailer said it would give raises to almost 40 percent of its 1.3 million U.S. employees in the next six months, as well as change how workers are scheduled and add training programs. In Illinois, raises for 12,523 workers took effect April 4.
With the raises, Illinois Wal-Mart workers will earn at least $1.75 an hour above the federal minimum wage of $7.25 and 75 cents above the state's minimum wage of $8.25 per hour. Full-time workers in Illinois will now earn, on average, $13.10 an hour.
Wal-Mart said that by February 2016, all current associates will be earning at least $10 per hour. The company employees 51,137 workers in Illinois.
Wal-Mart's move comes amid a national campaign by workers and unions to raise the minimum wage. While the federal minimum wage is $7.25, minimum wages exceed that in some parts of the country. In Chicago, an $8.25 minimum wage is set to rise to $10 on July 1 and to $13 by mid-2019.
The retailer is among a bevy of national chains, including Target, TJX, the owner of T.J. Maxx, Marshalls and HomeGoods stores, Gap and Ikea that have pledged to boost the minimum wage for their workers this year.
Fast-food giant McDonald's this month said it plans to raise starting wages by $1 above the local minimum at company-owned restaurants.
crshropshire@tribpub.com
