LOS ANGELES – In front of a boisterous downtown Los Angeles crowd of legislators, union leaders and workers who have been fighting for increased salaries, Gov. Jerry Brown signed legislation Monday that will raise the state’s minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2022.
Brown, during a ceremony at the Ronald Reagan State Building, said the passage of SB 3 doesn’t mark the end of the struggle for livable wages, but it’s a big step in the right direction.
“It’s about people,” Brown said. “It’s about creating a little tiny balance in a system that every day becomes more unbalanced.”
The state Assembly and Senate both approved the legislation Thursday, March 31, despite opposition from Republicans and business leaders.
Under the legislation, California’s $10-an-hour minimum wage will increase to $10.50 in January 2017, then to $11 on Jan. 1, 2018. The minimum wage will then go up by a dollar in each of the following years until it reaches $15 in 2022, after which it will continue to rise each year by up to 3.5 percent to account for inflation.
Businesses with 25 or fewer employees get an extra year to raise their wage, so that workers will be paid $15 by 2023.
The plan also gives the governor the ability to temporarily halt the raises if there is a forecasted budget deficit of more than one percent of annual revenue, or due to poor economic conditions such as declines in jobs and retail sales.
Government workers who provide in-home health services will receive an additional three paid sick days under the plan.
“Today we’re not just witnessing the signing of a bill, we’re witnessing the honoring of our social contract — specifically that, if you get a job and work hard, you will be able to support family,” Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, D-Paramount, said. “For too long, that just hasn’t been the reality. Many Californians who work full time can’t put a roof over their families’ heads or put meals on their table. This bill changes that for tens of thousands of Californians.”
The wage hike will affect 5.6 million workers, or about one-third of the statewide workforce, officials said.
The legislation earned praise from President Barack Obama, who hailed the state for bolstering wages and ensuring paid sick leave for workers.
“With these actions, California is expanding its promise to workers that they shouldn’t have to lose a paycheck if they get sick and has ensured that workers will no longer be earning a wage that keeps too many families in poverty,” Obama said. “Since I first called on Congress to raise the federal minimum wage in 2013, 18 states and the District of Columbia have acted on their own to raise the minimum wage. States and cities are making progress in expanding paid leave. Now it’s time for Congress to step up and do what is right for every hard-working American and for our economy.”
The proposal is similar, although slightly slower, than an already-approved increased in the city of Los Angeles minimum wage. Under the city ordinance, the minimum wage will increase to $10.50 on July 1 and eventually reach $15 per hour in 2020, with future increases pegged to the Consumer Price Index.
The same wage hike schedule was also adopted for the unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County.
Republicans and business leaders opposed the statewide minimum-wage hike, arguing it will lead to businesses reducing the size of their workforce or increasing prices to cover the costs of the increased wages.
Stuart Waldman, president of the Van Nuys-based Valley Industry & Commerce Association, said the law will also give businesses another reason to leave the state entirely.
“If you wanted to guarantee California will be the most expensive place to do business in the country for the foreseeable future, this is a good first step,” Waldman said. “We encourage California lawmakers to engage with the business community in order to work toward real solutions for income equality. The creation of well-paying jobs is fostered through smart fiscal policies and efficient government — not simply making businesses pay more in wages.”
But supporters, primarily Democrats, rallied behind the proposal, saying workers earning minimum wage should be able to pay for basic necessities.
“Wages are not keeping pace with the cost of living in California. Income inequality continues to grow,” said Assemblywoman Toni Atkins, D-San Diego. “This proposal will help millions of hard-working Californians while protecting taxpayers and small businesses if the economy experiences a downturn. We can be prudent and make sure workers are paid a reasonable, livable wage at the same time. It doesn’t have to be a choice.”
View a fact sheet on the new legislation here. For the full text of the bill, visit: http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov.
Previous related story: Legislature approves minimum wage hike
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John says
Fast food jobs threatened by self-ordering kiosks
http://www.10news.com/news/fast-food-jobs-threatened-by-self-ordering-kiosks-051616
pirrurris says
John, and people can boycott tjese self-ordering kiosks, just like they are boycotting Trump hotels.
Ray says
Buggy whips threatened by motor car — Lancaster PA Gazette.
I long for the day when instead of fast food workers getting replaced, instead it’s greedy ambulance chasers replaced by common sense, forgiveness, and love.
pirrurris says
Jason, the small business owners reaped profits, for the last ten years, without raising the minimum wage. So the world is not going to end if they raise the minimum wage. The only idiots that complain about raising the minimum wage, are the ones that are getting paid more than the minimum wage….has anyone besides me notice this? I have yet to hear a walmart worker complain about raising the minimum wage. Stop with the greed.
Eric says
So the only people you hear complaining are those who will be essentially taking a pay cut, while you haven’t heard those who will be receiving a raise complain? Wow, what a surprise.
pirrurris says
With 1/3 of what wasted in the Iraq war, we could have saved social security for the next 75 years.
Pirrurris says
Eric, how is a person that is already earing $35.00 an hour taking a pay cut?
Laughing says
It is not a pay cut, it is a loss of purchasing power. Minimum wage goes up, food prices tend to follow quickly, then other services since there is more money to grab. The person that is employed by the public usually does not get a 50% wage increase across 7 years like minimum is getting. The public employee gets 1 to 3 percent if lucky (not always getting cost of living increases). What happens is they start to lose purchasing power and slip from middle income into lower (minimum wage) income.
It pays to learn a trade!
pirrurris says
Laughing, once again……prices have been goin up for the past ten years but not the minimum wage. Stop with your nonesensethat prices are going go up. They are already high.
Laughing says
You focused on one thing the prices. How about the loss of purchasing power due to lack of a matching raise? The slipping from middle income into low income? The less money spent, thus less taxes collected, due to belt tightening?
Guess we can always look at the non-sensical idea that we all need a base income and then those willing to work can earn above that.
Mikey says
Pirrurris,can you name one small business that has reaped profits for the last ten years?also,the reason people who make more then the minimum wage complain about it is,they have to pay more for goods.it only hurts the middle class.
pirrurris says
Mikey, stop with your nonsense. The price of goods has been gping up for the past ten years, but not the minimum wage. It is about time the minimum wage is raised.
Shane Faco says
A few years back in the LA Times I read that if you are “low income” and maximize al the entitlements you are eligible for, it’s like having a 55k a year job. Crazy.
There has been so much subsidization with entitlements that it is more beneficial to live on welfare, section 8, wic, free school lunches and breakfasts…than it is to have a job. People can eek out a fairy comfortable lifestyle. Have more kids? Get more money. Raising minimum wage isn’t going fix that mindset.
Tim Scott says
Actually, small business owners are less likely to be paying minimum wage anyway. When you have to look someone in the eye when you hand them a paycheck, knowing that their labor is what feeds your family, it’s pretty hard to not pay them a living wage. It’s the giant corporations that pay a ‘manager’ an extra quarter an hour plus the privilege of handing out the checks where you see people working for less than a living.
Shane Falco says
It’s always enlightening to see the people who don’t own or run a small business, with no skin in the game, who speak about all the profits “reaped” as if the fraction of successful business owners should be ashamed for making money.
I am a business owner with project managers at $25 an hour and up, skilled experienced foremen at $17-$20 an hour while starting new guys at $12-$13. I have a lot of room to move guys up based on merit but now that incentive and step increases are greatly impacted. The governor himself said it makes no economic sense to raise the wage, but myself, like many others, will either shut down the business or relocate to another state.
Tim Scott says
There’s the proof. Even a complete scum like Shane doesn’t pay his employees less than a living wage.
By the way Shane…scoot…sooner the better. Texas, Timbuktu, Tinderville and burn up in a fire…anywhere will do, really.
Mikey says
I know ill get a smart alec answer, but tim, what is a living wage.how much an hour, in california.the only reason jerry signed an increase, is the taxes california will get.he doesnt care about people making a living.if he did, he would stop raising taxes every year.
Tim Scott says
I don’t have a specific number, but when you are paying people directly you know whether you are paying a living wage. When you work with people you know if they are struggling, and if they are working for you and struggling you know you need to do something about it…unless you are a jerk.
As to raising taxes…the number of people who couldn’t begin to imagine living without the tremendous services government provides but think that somehow they should just get that without paying for it is beyond belief. Without the society that operates in the framework the government provides 95% of the population of this valley wouldn’t last five days, almost certainly you among them, but you whine incessantly about paying for it. Sux to be you.
Mikey says
I knew it would be that kind of answer. Sarcastic. I dont have a problem paying for services.but I do have a problem with the money going to low lifes that want a free ride.or illegals that receive billions for breaking the law.or 250 billion so high society can get from la to frisco in 3 hours.cal will have only rich and poor, no middle class.but thats what democrats want.all democrat states are like that.all democrat states are the most expensive to live in.if you feel these taxes are justified, why dont you call the state, and tell them you would like to pay even more taxes, to help out.ill bet you would have a different take, if you had to give more.
Mikey says
What was or is the name of the company you left to your employees, tim?
Mikey says
How much did you pay your employees, in your business that you owned, tim.
Mikey says
If you read the articule tim, the democrat fron san diego tells the story.”wages are not keeping up with the cost of living in california”right from the dems mouth to your ears.taxed out of a living.
Tim Scott says
I read the “articule” Mikey. If you slow down a bit (four responses, really?) and proof your work you might look smart enough to bother with.
I’ve paid my share of taxes, without complaint, and there were stretches where my income and subsequent taxes were pretty substantial. I enjoy living in this country, and didn’t mind paying for the privilege. Now I don’t worry about it since I don’t need any income so I don’t have to pay income taxes any more. That’s always an option for you as well, should you get tired of whining about it.
Meanwhile, I’d be happy to answer your personal questions about my business should you ever convince your mommy to let you come out and talk to strangers. But we know where that offer leads.
Shane Falco says
Tim, you say you no longer pay income tax because you have no need for income. Obviously, your business was so successful that you made more than you needed to make and no longer needed money so you just gave the business away to those who needed it more.
Did you invest your vast fortune? Surely a man of intelligence realizes that whether it’s from a 401K, or pension, or dividends, interest on your sums of money, and even social security is counted as income, for which you are taxed (at a lower rate at retirement, mind you) but you are still taxed…unless you are below the poverty line, which is also entirely feasible.
Even such a cheerful patriotic giver of his income to the government must surely know that even though you have no need for trivial burdens like money understands that not having to need income doesn’t absolve you of your responsibility to pay tax on it.
While it’s obvious you simply misspoke, some might think that with naïve statements like these that you never really owned a business that you so charitably gave away, nor are you so carefree without the constraints of financial burden when you don’t understand the simple difference between “income” and “tax liability”.
Tim Scott says
LOL…Shane, if I ever need any business advice I won’t be getting it from a fireman. Go play with matches.
Your intermittent efforts to pretend you are interested in conversation have run their course. You are just an odiously arrogant buffoon to be made fun of, not engaged with.
Shane Falco says
Well of course it’s cash, Tim. What else could it be? Again, kudos to you for making what is clearly a fortune and making so much that you could just give away your business. Also, it is quite impressive that a man like yourself, with a cash existence is never going to make any more money (income), who would be all for raising minimum wage as it’s going to lead to higher costs for all goods and services.
You will use up your fortune faster and yet you still only care about people at the bottom.
Forgive me as I am but a man who sprays water on fire for a living who sprays water…but if you have all this cash, which is awesome by the way, you would obviously keep it in the bank. Then I remembered that banks pay you interest and with the size of the fortune a guy like you has, that would be quite a bit of taxable income, but you said you don’t have income.
Well then the only other option would be to literally have cash hidden everywhere, but then that could be construed as hiding it for purposes of not being taxed, and a patriot as yourself has clearly stated you gladly and happily pay taxes.
So my question is, do you really have income or do you not pay taxes?
Tim Scott says
Shane, who said anything about a fortune?
Unlike you, I just need enough to get by, because I’m not trying to use income or wealth or fortune to compensate for any lack of self worth. I played that game, where it really counted. In commission sales you can genuinely say “my bigger paycheck literally means I am better than you at what we do.”
But you and your “better than” based on some grandiose view of having “made it” in Lancaster are just laughable. Or would be if it weren’t just gross. Go find a Jones to keep up with, and leave me out of your game, because I don’t need to play it.
pirrurris says
Shane, it is more enlightening to hear from the same people that work for the government, making more than the minimm wage, complain about people that are on minimum wages.
You should relocate to another state and don’t let the door hit you on your way put.
Shane Falco says
pirrurris, I was a full time EMT right out of high school and worked full time doing that and other low paying jobs while I put myself through college. I lived on ramen, pancakes for dinner and the kindness of nurses at the ER’s giving me left overs and cake from nurse/Doctor birthday’s in their break room.
In the summers and Christmas breaks during college I worked hanging sheet rock, trenched for a pool contractor, did attic insulation, worked clean up on construction sites, cleaned the college bathrooms, worked harvesting/loading carrots in bakersfield, did brush clearance for a landscape company, and worked will call loading trucks for a building supply company…all at minimum wage. I barely eked out tuition payments but knew it was a necessary experience to go through to better myself.
I graduated from college and was in the Lasd academy four days later, when I left there for the FD I started a side business, got my masters degree and I am a small business owner and I actively recruit college/high school kids for summer work.
There’s nothing wrong with hard work at minimum wage to motivate you to strive for better…not to settle for demanding living wages for little job/life skills
Tim Scott says
Too bad those nurses were kind. Think what a better place the world would be if you had starved.
Shane Falco says
I wouldn’t have starved but I might have suffered an even worse fate….living in a townhome.
Tim Scott says
LOL…the reek of arrogance you emit is hilarious. Your insular little gated swine farm in the AV isn’t exactly appearing on Pimp My Crib.
Your need to be “better than” seems sufficiently pathological to explain why you got drummed out of the sheriff’s department. Even they have some sort of standards apparently.
Too bad says
Wow Tim, usually I am totally with you and enjoy reading your witty banter. But what is with all of the childish insults that I read this morning? It’s so beneath you!
Michelle Egberts says
@ Shane Falco… really. Do you want an “atta boy”?
Shane Falco says
An atta boy? That was just life, Michelle. When I needed money, I got a job that matched my skills and worked. I didn’t rob, steal and defraud others, I worked.
I wasn’t having kids in high school, drinking, doing drugs, dropping out, committing crime, or making excuses about life being hard/unfair.
Not long ago, working hard, staying in school, staying out of trouble and taking career risks to better yourself was the norm. Today many downgrade and dismiss that work ethic and vilify any hard worker as if he’s the problem. There’s a whole lot less to overcome when you aren’t making self-inflicted problems.
Right, Michelle?
Pirrurris says
If you are lucky enough to do well, it’s your responsibilty to send the elevator back down. (Kevin Spacey).
Gowchong says
More computer order boards. Or other non human means of selling and collecting. When’s the last time you saw a gas station attendant and actually paid him or her? When I was a kid, my first job was gas jockey. We’d “fill ‘er up” while we checked tire pressure, fluid levels under the hood, and wash the windshield and back window. Today I go to Costco and slip my member card in, then my debit card. There is an attendant there, but when I worked in a gas station, there were three of us.
So look for more machines and fewer people. Can’t say that I blame Burger King, MacDonalds, et. al. because the bottom line for them is $$$.
pirrurris says
Who the hell understands the hypocrote republicans? They make people believe that they are concern about the economy and jobs, and when someone tries to improve things, they are the first ones complaining because the government is trying to improve the evonomy. These are the same chucklenutz that complain about pele being on welfare but never complain about corporate welfare.
Jason says
By the time this goes up to $15, it won’t be enough then either. Then all other levels of the work force will see wage increases as well to keep up. Then an increase in product prices will happen as well.
And what will happen to the small business owners that can’t afford to stay in business because of a bill that came about because of large corporations? There goes all there hard work down the drain.
pirrurris says
Jason, stop with the BS. The minimum has already been increased in some cities and the world has not ended.
Jason says
Never said the world was going to end now did I? Talk to any small business owner that barely makes any profit. They are going to get the short end of the stick because of big corporations being cheap.
pirrurris says
Jason, once again….small businesses will benefit too, because people will havemore money to spend on whatever they are selling. This money gets filtered directly back into the economy.
Jason, so what is your solution? Keep wages the same? How would you improve the economy? You guys are the same ones complaining about people being on welfare. Maybe if we increase the minimum wages, we will not have so many people on welfare.
Jason says
What about the areas that don’t have the business or people to support a higher minimum wage? There’s more to it than suburban areas which gets ignored. And more money in the economy won’t mean much when prices of goods and services go up. We’ll be back in the same starting spot.
Want to improve he economy here in California? Stop making it so hard for businesses to get started and stay open. The hoops that government makes people jump through to even open up is ridiculous. There’s reasons this state is near the bottom for being business friendly.
I complain about those on welfare who make no effort to better themselves and would rather sit at home and collect benefits out of laziness. The opportunities are out there for people who choose to look for them and work hard. If you want to be lazy and not work to collect welfare, you deserve every bit of criticism that comes your way. Hopefully the minimum wage going up will help those who want to get off of it.
Pirrurris says
Jason, please tell us all how much do you make an hour? Are you making less than $9.00 an hour?
You are like those idiots complaining about obamacre, when they themselves have had health insurance their entire life.
Please tell us how much you make an hour?
Jason says
Why does what I make an hour matter? I worked minimum wage jobs into my early 20s and realized life would be a struggle and when out and learned skills to make more money. I make a decent living because I took the opportunities presented to me over the years. I didn’t sit back and piss and moan about being in a minimum wage job.
You’re right, I did complain about Obamacare. It was a good idea with piss poor implementation. Having to pay a penalty because you choose not to have health insurance? Or how about the lies that premiums would go down or you would be able to keep your doctor? Guess all those people who had to choose a new doctor or had their premiums rise while seeing the insurance get worse really benefitted huh? And here we are looking at another year with premiums increasing and companies pulling out.
William says
Here’s what happened.
Reagan ran on and then did cut the top tax rate from 70% to 28%.
Did that satisfy the greedy blood sucking CEOs? Of course not. It was like giving an elephant (gop mascot) just 1 peanut. Then, he wants the whole bag.
The CEOs’ compensation packages then went through the roof while productivity increased since then but wages remained stagnant.
Did the CEOs work any harder to become billionaires after that? I don’t think so. They just got richer through lowered taxes and loopholes. And, squeezing their employees dry.
The tax structure should now incentivize higher wages and smaller compensation for the top 1%. If they want to be richer, they’ll have to work harder instead of outsourcing and doing the kind of stuff Mitt Romney did to companies and leaving the federal government on the hook for raided pensions.
BTW Did y’all get rich from Reagan’s big tax cuts and loopholes? Why not?
Mikey says
Average income increased under Reagans tax plan more the both bushes, clinton.obama has is the only one who has had a decrease in the average income.1 in 5 in poverty.over 50 million on welfare.i know you will deny, but look it up.
Mikey says
William, how does 15 an hour become reagans fault? Your guy was hired to fix it, he failed.time for a different plan, no hillary
Union Proud says
Bad news for BYD. Rexie’s pals will have to do more than Safety Bingo to comply with the law. If any company needs unionization it is BYD. Where oh where are the unions? Contributing to Rexie’s re-election campaign rather than looking out for the workers.
IBEW says
Why have the unions cowtowed to BYD? They’re also contributing to his campaign. This after killing The Kinkieshero project in Palmdale. Where is our union leadership? Why does Rex get a free pass? What happened to union brotherhood? Have we become what our critics say we are? Say it ain’t so!!!!!
Doc Rivers says
Meanwhile Queen Kathy(a Palmdale Water District Director) is living high on the hog on the backs of the rank and file brothers as she travels all over the world and parties at the unions luxury suite at the Staples
Center. This is hypocrisy at its finest, if the brothers only knew the truth they would strike their own union IBEW.
dumbandblind says
Better yet, use this calculator:http://www.usinflationcalculator.com
pirrurris says
Dunbandblind, where the hell were you, when we wasted billions in Iraq? Now you are concern abput spending? Please.
Diana says
POS governor….
William says
Move to Mississippi then. Or Kansas, Alabama, Florida, y’know, the red states.
And good luck.
Tim Scott says
Agreed. Don’t let the door hit ya on your way out. Have fun making Republican donors rich in the land of the “true conservatives.”
pirrurris says
Diana, you should move to himabama…you’ll do great there. Or even Himazona. I bet your are also that same person complaining about people on welfare.
pirrurris says
Diana, what do you do for a livinf? Please tell me why you deserve to get more than the minimum wage, and other people do not. Stop with the greed.
Tom says
This is only going to aid limited people, if you are paid commission your employer is governed by a different set of laws, the fam labor’s as well, waitresses will be screwed as well. The only one making out will be big business, people be prepared for higher prices, all this does is offers less jobs. Look at jack in the box with their order machine, red box has shown you can have a video store with no employees. Just wait till it hits watch fuel prices increase due to staffing. Minimum wage was established for a limited time frame for an individual either starting out or working and going too school, today we hear people being paid minimum wage their entire working years, all of us with average paying jobs we wont see any pay increases for quite some time. Thank you. California elected officials you have screwed us again.
pirrurris says
Tom, where the hell have you been? The prices have been going up for the past decade. Tje world is npt gping to end because the minimum wage is getting raised.
William says
Hey, Tom
Have you ever complained when CEOs compensations went through the roof the last 30 or years? Y’know. since Reagan.
Their pay went up as did productivity and prices but the employees’ pay has been stagnant since then and not just recently.
Tell The Truth says
simple math, as mandatory benefits and min wage went up for full time employees, full time positions went down or completely away. Bc ppl don’t do the simple math they believe this law is good for them, when in fact it will destroy middle to lower income jobs. Fulltime used to be 40hr wk, now most jobs are part time it is 32hr wk, to end as low as 16hr wk.
use WalMart. started at $8.25 x36 hrs = 1188mth, ended at $10 x 16= 640mth
yep I got several raise but with each raise lost hrs, so in the end less pay more w/ hrs was better. You ppl that back this are complete sand tuckers and doomed to to be poor your entire life.
pirrurris says
Tell the truth, please tell us all how much do you make an hour. Most of the pele that complain about the minimum wage increase, are the same people that are making more than the minimum wage. I still have yet to see a walmart worker or any one making tje minimum wage, complain about getting a minimum wage increase.
Tell the Truth. says
I was only there for three years. I started at 8.25 with very little skill and out of he work force for 16yrs, I’m married and it was cheaper for me to stay home and let my hubby do his overtime while I ran the house and kids. Any way I started at $8.25 after three months got a small raise, another raise at 6mths, then a raise every six months ending at $10.05 in three years. I was offered and pursued to join management, had no desire to be in charge. So yes I started at min wage but by simply doing my job well and being a good employee the wage went up quickly. HOWEVER, this all sounds great but with each raise my wage went down. By time I left my last month only had 16hrs, 4shifts at 4hrs each. IMO the issue is not wages it’s the mandatory benefits that must be offered with full time hrs that is killing the work force. Hope this all makes sense.
Tell TheTruth says
Sorry my hrs went down not my wage.