Following Seattle's successful $15hr minimum wage campaign, other major American cities (like Los Angeles, Chicago, and San Diego) are following suite in the push towards higher living wages:
A coalition of activists has taken the first step in a campaign for a $15 minimum wage for workers across Los Angeles, drafting language for a ballot measure that would follow in the footsteps of a boost recently approved in Seattle.
Last week, the group submitted a proposed ballot initiative to the city clerk's office. Their proposal would require a $15 minimum wage for employees who work at least two hours a week for their employer, including workers who get tips. The required minimum would then rise annually, hitched to any increases in the consumer price index for the Los Angeles metropolitan area, according to the proposal.
If approved by voters, the boost would go into effect immediately for larger businesses, with a delay of less than two years for small businesses and nonprofits, Parker said. If the campaign nets enough signatures to get on the ballot, backers anticipate that the measure could go before voters as soon as next spring.
The bid to boost the minimum wage citywide follows other efforts to boost pay for some -- but not all -- Angelenos. The Los Angeles Unified School District recently opted to ramp up wages to at least $15 an hour for service workers such as cafeteria employees, custodians and teaching assistants.
Meanwhile over in Chicago (Go Bears!), Mayor Rahm Emanuel is pushing a
$13hr minimum wage hike:
In a closed door session July 7th, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s Minimum Wage Working Group voted 13-3 in support of a proposal to raise Chicago’s minimum wage to $13/hour, phased in over the next four years.
But nothing has been set in stone, and the mayor has clearly stated that he intends to wait until after the November midterm elections to take any action. Big business will use this time to water down the already limited proposal. It also gives low-wage workers and activists in Chicago precious time to organize to challenge big business and win the best possible deal.
As congress fails to act on important issues like this, it becomes imperative for cities like Seattle, Los Angeles, and Chicago to make progress towards improving the overall standard of living of their working citizens.