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$30 hourly wage increase for hotel and airport workers heads to Bass for final approval
An aerial view of the Los Angeles City Council chamber as it votes on agenda item 14 about tourism workers wages ahead of the 2028 Olympics at their May 23, 2025 meeting.
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Los Angeles City Clerk
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LAist
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Topline:
The Los Angeles City Council has approved an ordinance that would raise the wages of hotel and airport workers to $30 an hour over the next three years ahead of the Olympic games. The ordinance now heads to Mayor Karen Bass’ desk for a signature.
What do supporters say: Unite Here Local 11 Union backs the ordinance, president Kurt Petersen told the City Council, “City leaders have an opportunity to ensure the Olympic and Paralympic Games benefit hard-working Angelenos, and this ordinance does just that." Advocates say that low-wage workers live paycheck to paycheck and struggle to keep up with costs of living in L.A. Additional, they argue that the wage hikes will benefit the local economy.
Details: If Bass signs it into law, workers will see a wage hike to $22.50 starting July, gradually reaching $30 by 2028. The ordinance applies to hotels with 60 and more rooms.
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What does the hotel industry say: Ahead of Friday's city council vote, a number of hotel operators said they would pull out of an agreement to provide discounted rooms for the Olympics over the ordinance, including the Hilton and W Hotel in Beverly Hills.
Ray Patel, a small hotelier, says increased wages will force owners to pass off costs to the consumer. In yesterday's council meeting, he asked the city to consider expanding the exemption.
"You did good with 59, but we need the 60 to 150 limited-service, family-owned hotels to also be exempt," Patel said.
Go deeper: LA’s tourism workers are one step closer to a wage increase by LA28
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