CHICAGO, Oct. 30, 2025 — The Cleaning Coalition of America (CCA) today announced its opposition to Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s plan to impose a new workforce headcount tax on Windy City employers. The revenue proposal is part of Johnson’s $16.6 billion budget package, which is now under consideration by Chicago’s City Council.
“CCA members provide well-paying, full-time union jobs throughout the Chicagoland area,” CCA Executive Director Patrick Dunnigan said. “This proposal poses a threat to our members’ small-margin businesses and to the livelihoods of their essential-worker employees.”
As proposed, Johnson’s budget plan would create a $21-per-employee monthly surcharge on companies that employ 100 or more full-time employees. Covered employees must work primarily within Chicago’s city limits, which also include two major airports: Chicago Midway International Airport and O’Hare International Airport.
The Chicago City Council previously repealed a corporate head tax more than a decade ago.
“As we learned during the pandemic, cleaners are essential, frontline employees who show up every day, do hard work and keep our communities safe,” Dunnigan said. “Since the city is proposing to use the additional tax funds for public safety, why are we proposing to tax the very people who kept us safe?”
About CCA
Founded in 2020 by the nation’s leading facilities services companies, the Cleaning Coalition of America advocates on behalf of professional cleaners nationwide to shape and advance balanced, common-sense policies and cleanliness standards that promote a safe and healthy workplace.