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LA minimum wage campaigners target nearby cities after winning $15 fight LA minimum wage campaigners target nearby cities after winning $15 fight
(34 minutes later)
Campaigners for a $15 minimum wage are targeting Los Angeles County and a cluster of nearby cities to swiftly cement and expand their victory in the city of LA, after the city council voted on Tuesday to increase the minimum wage to $15 by 2020.Campaigners for a $15 minimum wage are targeting Los Angeles County and a cluster of nearby cities to swiftly cement and expand their victory in the city of LA, after the city council voted on Tuesday to increase the minimum wage to $15 by 2020.
The coalition of organised labour, civic activists, religious leaders and ordinary workers hopes to create a domino effect by persuading LA County and incorporated cities such as Long Beach, Santa Monica, Pasadena and West Hollywood to follow the city of LA and increase their minimum wages to $15 an hour too.The coalition of organised labour, civic activists, religious leaders and ordinary workers hopes to create a domino effect by persuading LA County and incorporated cities such as Long Beach, Santa Monica, Pasadena and West Hollywood to follow the city of LA and increase their minimum wages to $15 an hour too.
“This is the next front in this much longer fight,” Rusty Hicks, the head of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, an umbrella group representing 600,000 employees and more than 300 locals, told the Guardian.“This is the next front in this much longer fight,” Rusty Hicks, the head of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, an umbrella group representing 600,000 employees and more than 300 locals, told the Guardian.
The strategy, if successful, will consolidate California as a leader in a US-wide campaign against poverty wages, which has stamped inequality on the 2016 election agenda.The strategy, if successful, will consolidate California as a leader in a US-wide campaign against poverty wages, which has stamped inequality on the 2016 election agenda.
LA’s city council voted 14-1 on Tuesday to gradually increase the minimum wage to $15 by 2020, a landmark victory for labour groups because LA is the US’s second-biggest city. Almost half its workforce is estimated to earn less than $15.LA’s city council voted 14-1 on Tuesday to gradually increase the minimum wage to $15 by 2020, a landmark victory for labour groups because LA is the US’s second-biggest city. Almost half its workforce is estimated to earn less than $15.
California’s current minimum wage of $9 an hour is set to increase to $10 in January 2016. Last year Seattle moved to increase its minimum wage to $15 by 2017 and San Francisco voted to do so by 2018. Other cities, including New York and Chicago, are considering following suit.California’s current minimum wage of $9 an hour is set to increase to $10 in January 2016. Last year Seattle moved to increase its minimum wage to $15 by 2017 and San Francisco voted to do so by 2018. Other cities, including New York and Chicago, are considering following suit.
The minimum wage fight has swelled into the largest protest by low-wage workers in US history.The minimum wage fight has swelled into the largest protest by low-wage workers in US history.
Related: McDonald's workers descend on headquarters to protest 'poverty wages'Related: McDonald's workers descend on headquarters to protest 'poverty wages'
On Wednesday protesters swarmed McDonald’s headquarters in Oak Brook, Chicago, ratcheting up pressure on the fast-food giant to boost wages.On Wednesday protesters swarmed McDonald’s headquarters in Oak Brook, Chicago, ratcheting up pressure on the fast-food giant to boost wages.
Meanwhile, in LA, strategists were focusing on the LA County’s board of supervisors. The five-member body serves as the executive and legislative head of the county, which has a population of 10 million, the biggest in the US. It will decide whether unincorporated parts of the county will follow the city of LA’s lead on minimum wage, affecting approximately 1 million workers. Meanwhile, in LA, strategists were focusing on the LA County board of supervisors. The five-member body serves as the executive and legislative head of the county, which has a population of 10 million, the biggest in the US. It will decide whether unincorporated parts of the county will follow the city of LA’s lead on minimum wage, affecting approximately 1 million workers.
“We’ll go to the county and try to get the wage,” said Hicks, a rising star of the labour movement.“We’ll go to the county and try to get the wage,” said Hicks, a rising star of the labour movement.
Analysts said the campaign has a good chance of prevailing because the county board recently acquired a progressive majority.Analysts said the campaign has a good chance of prevailing because the county board recently acquired a progressive majority.
“These days labour has more power than business on the county board,” said Raphael Sonenshein, executive director of the Pat Brown Institute at Cal State LA. The campaign needed to maintain momentum, he said. “If you’re an activist you don’t want LA city to be an island.” “These days labour has more power than business on the county board,” said Raphael Sonenshein, executive director of the Pat Brown Institute at Cal State LA. The campaign needed to maintain momentum, he said. “If you’re an activist, you don’t want LA city to be an island.”
It helped the cause that according to opinion polls most Americans supported a higher minimum wage, Sonenshein said. “This issue is not only important to labour, it’s also popular, and that’s not always true.” An economic slowdown could dent that support, he cautioned.It helped the cause that according to opinion polls most Americans supported a higher minimum wage, Sonenshein said. “This issue is not only important to labour, it’s also popular, and that’s not always true.” An economic slowdown could dent that support, he cautioned.
Peter Dreier, a politics professor at Occidental college, said LA city’s dramatic wage increase, amounting to 66% over five years, and subsequently pegged to inflation, reflected the movement’s nationwide strength. “The ripple effect of this is quite amazing. This is only going to grow.”Peter Dreier, a politics professor at Occidental college, said LA city’s dramatic wage increase, amounting to 66% over five years, and subsequently pegged to inflation, reflected the movement’s nationwide strength. “The ripple effect of this is quite amazing. This is only going to grow.”
The patchwork of minimum wage increases across the US will insert poverty and inequality into the presidential campaign and add pressure on the federal government to respond, said Dreier. “It will be a big issue in 2016.”The patchwork of minimum wage increases across the US will insert poverty and inequality into the presidential campaign and add pressure on the federal government to respond, said Dreier. “It will be a big issue in 2016.”
After LA County, California’s campaigners plan to target some of the county’s 88 incorporated cities, which set their own minimum wages.After LA County, California’s campaigners plan to target some of the county’s 88 incorporated cities, which set their own minimum wages.
Hicks identified Pasadena, Long Beach and Santa Monica as likely candidates for the labour federation’s next push after the county. “We will assess all the cities.”Hicks identified Pasadena, Long Beach and Santa Monica as likely candidates for the labour federation’s next push after the county. “We will assess all the cities.”
Santa Monica – a wealthy coastal city dubbed Soviet Monica for its leftwing ways – is an obvious choice. Analysts also mooted West Hollywood, another progressive beacon.Santa Monica – a wealthy coastal city dubbed Soviet Monica for its leftwing ways – is an obvious choice. Analysts also mooted West Hollywood, another progressive beacon.
Anggie Godoy, a 19-year-old cashier at a downtown LA McDonald’s who participated in the LA city campaign, said she would continue fighting in solidarity for workers elsewhere. “Just like they were here for me, I’ll be there for them.”Anggie Godoy, a 19-year-old cashier at a downtown LA McDonald’s who participated in the LA city campaign, said she would continue fighting in solidarity for workers elsewhere. “Just like they were here for me, I’ll be there for them.”
Speaking from the rally at McDonald’s Chicago headquarters, Godoy said her $9 salary was “not enough to even think about going to college” but that a rise to $10.50 next year, and further rises until reaching $15 in 2020, could make a difference. That’s why I won’t stop until it’s nationwide.”Speaking from the rally at McDonald’s Chicago headquarters, Godoy said her $9 salary was “not enough to even think about going to college” but that a rise to $10.50 next year, and further rises until reaching $15 in 2020, could make a difference. That’s why I won’t stop until it’s nationwide.”
The Los Angeles area chamber of commerce, which condemned LA’s vote for a $15 base wage as a job killer, did not immediately respond to a query about the prospect of the wage spreading to other areas.The Los Angeles area chamber of commerce, which condemned LA’s vote for a $15 base wage as a job killer, did not immediately respond to a query about the prospect of the wage spreading to other areas.
Santa Monica’s chamber of commerce is “studying” the $15 wage and will soon take a position, said Carl Hansen, a spokesman.Santa Monica’s chamber of commerce is “studying” the $15 wage and will soon take a position, said Carl Hansen, a spokesman.
Business leaders and authorities in the more conservative cities and counties of Orange, San Diego and San Bernardino, which lie to the south and east of LA county, are expected to offer stiffer resistance. “This won’t be win, win, win, non-stop, for the campaign,” said Sonenshein, the analyst.Business leaders and authorities in the more conservative cities and counties of Orange, San Diego and San Bernardino, which lie to the south and east of LA county, are expected to offer stiffer resistance. “This won’t be win, win, win, non-stop, for the campaign,” said Sonenshein, the analyst.