New York On Verge Of Approving $15 Minimum Wage For Fast Food

Reading “Wage Debate Upends L.A. Garment Makers” (Business & Tech., July 16) about the minimum-wage increase made me wonder what politicians like the mayor of Los Angeles think small-business owners want for their employees.

Details of their plan are still in the works, but the board is expected to discuss “the possibility of enacting a local minimum wage ordinance” at a work session Wednesday morning, as mentioned by Johnson County Executive Assistant Andy Johnson. It would apply only to scattered, unincorporated areas of the county that are outside its 88 cities, along with a slice of county workers. “It is just not possible to live on the current minimum wage, especially in high cost areas of the state”.

Ridley-Thomas, who also co-authored a motion to seek tough sanctions against those who violate wage standards – unanimously approved by his colleagues – said enforcement was key.

The expected move follows nationwide strikes by employees of McDonald’s Corp. and other fast-food chains who demanded a $15 hourly wage. At the most recent meeting she derided large salaries paid to fast food CEO’s compared to typical wages for workers. In a survey conducted earlier this summer, 78 percent of the 500 fast food restaurant owners surveyed said that a $15 minimum wage would force them to lay off workers or cut back on hours or staffing levels.

On July 1, 2022, the minimum wage will be increased annually and will be based on the average Consumer Price Index over the previous 20 years, according to the agenda.

Within the fast-food industry, McDonald’s in April announced it would be raising wages for USA store-owned locations to higher than $10 an hour by the end of 2016. “We’ve heard a lot of good things so far”. They’ve questioned why the fast-food industry has been singled out when others pay minimum wage, as well. Every day in Los Angeles is becoming very difficult to survive in less than $15 an hour.

Case Coles, a Tacoma resident and small business owner, was blunt in his words. After reading so many reports on the issue, I have come to believe that raising the minimum wage not only fights poverty but also benefits our economy as a whole.

“I think the city of Glendale is fortunate enough to be in the situation where we can sit back and watch this measure take effect [in the city and county of Los Angeles] and actually have empirical evidence as to what the impact is”, he said. In order to bring forth true change, a direct conversation about what will happen if striking workers are not given what they deserve, Riley writes that we need to realize that “our power lies not in the streets but at the pivot point of capitalism: the workplace”. “My guess is these companies will be able to pay slightly lower wages”. Grassroots activity was complemented by a vigorous social media presence, overwhelmingly positive polling, support from more than 180 businesses statewide, several high profile events with state and federal elected officials that generated positive media coverage, radio ads, and a steady drumbeat of support in the media for a higher wage.