With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
State Minimum Wage Will Go Up To $10 By 2016
(Photo by eyetwist via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr)
()
State lawmakers have been busy: In addition to approving driver's licenses for undocumented residents yesterday, they also agreed to raise the minimum wage from $8 to $10.
Governor Jerry Brown announced his "strong support" for the bill, which was approved by the state legislature yesterday 51-25. The state Senate approved it by 26-11.
The raise will happen in increments: First it will go up to $9 per hour on July 1, 2014, and then to $10 on January 1, 2016.
This will be the first minimum-wage hike in five years.
Support for LAist comes from
"The minimum wage has not kept pace with rising costs,"said Governor Brown in an email statement. "This legislation is overdue and will help families that are struggling in this harsh economy."
"The real winner here is the economy," said Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez via email. "A $10 hour minimum wage boosts earnings by $4,000 a year and will put $2.6 billion dollars back into the hands of workers. This is money that will be spent at grocery stores, on school supplies and invested in education, and that ultimately strengthens the recovery and ensures California's job market continues growing faster than the rest of the nation."
More than 90 percent of minimum wage workers in California are over the age of 20, and 25 percent of California children live in a household with one minimum wage-earning parent, according to the bill's supporters.
"I'm proud to author this measure on behalf of hard working families in California,"said Assemblyman Luis Alejo (D-Watsonville), who also authored the driver's license bill.
Not surprisingly, labor unions were for the bill while business groups opposed it, arguing that it will be raising the wage too much over too short a time, the L.A. Times reports.
The California Chamber of Commerce labeled the bill "a job killer."
"This is an unprecedented wage hike," Jot Condie, president of the California Restaurant Association, told the Times. He predicted that California's 87,000 restaurants will end up cutting back employees' hours and reducing hiring.
Support for LAist comes from
California currently has the eighth-highest minimum wage in the country, according to the Times. Washington state has the highest at $9.19 an hour, followed by Oregon at $8.95.
San Francisco, by the way, has its own minimum wage, which is currently $10.55.
Some workers, including one interviewed by the Times, are still holding out for $15 per hour. Fight For 15 has called for fast-food worker strikes.
Editor's Note: We originally used an image of an In N Out employee for this story, but the chain actually starts its workers out at a much-higher-than average $10.50 per hour. McDonalds and Taco Bell, on the other hand, are frequent targets of protesters who want the minimum wage raised. Thanks to our readers for their FB!
Related
Fast Food Workers Will Strike In Los Angeles
The Nanny State: Your Babysitter's Rights to Minimum Wage, Overtime, and Paid Vacation
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
What do stairs have to do with California’s housing crisis? More than you might think, says this Culver City councilmember. -
Yes, it's controversial, but let me explain. -
Doctors say administrator directives allow immigration agents to interfere in medical decisions and compromise medical care. -
The Palisades Fire erupted on Jan. 7 and went on to kill 12 people and destroy more than 6,800 homes and buildings. -
People moving to Los Angeles are regularly baffled by the region’s refrigerator-less apartments. They’ll soon be a thing of the past. -
Experts say students shouldn't readily forgo federal aid. But a California-only program may be a good alternative in some cases.
Best of LAist