L.A. Council takes first step to delay $30-an-hour minimum wage for hotel, airport workers

"In a 9-6 vote, the council voted initial approval of an ordinance to postpone implementation of the $30 hourly minimum til 2030, instead of 2028. But L.A. City Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson, who introduced the motion, called it "a placeholder" that allows negotiations between city officials, hotel and airport businesses and labor unions to continue in the coming days. Another vote would be needed to formally delay implementation."

"The move to potentially delay implementation came after airline and hotel businesses gathered enough signatures to qualify a measure for the Nov. 3 ballot that would repeal the city's gross receipts tax, which would cost the city about $860 million annually in lost revenue. Hotel and airport workers opposed the move, saying they were counting on the raise. Council members said they would continue to negotiate a compromise."

"The move came after a coalition of airline and hotel businesses gathered enough signatures to qualify a measure for the Nov. 3 ballot that would repeal the city's gross receipts tax, which if approved by voters would strip about $740 million from the city's general fund, which pays for police officers, firefighters and other services, in the first year alone. Over five years it would cost an average of $860 million annually."

""I want to assure every member of this council and every member of the public that the labor movement has come to the table in good faith and has moved a lot. The business community has been at the table form the beginning and moved some," Harris-Dawson."

Los Angeles City Council voted 9-6 to give initial approval to postpone a $30 hourly minimum wage for hotel and airport workers until 2030 instead of 2028. The motion was presented as a placeholder to keep negotiations open among city officials, hotel and airport businesses, and labor unions. Another vote would be required to formally delay implementation. The delay was linked to a ballot initiative backed by airline and hotel businesses that would repeal the city’s gross receipts tax. If approved, the repeal would reduce general fund revenue by about $740 million in the first year and average about $860 million annually over five years. Hotel and airport workers opposed the delay, while council members said they would continue negotiating a compromise.

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