LOS ANGELES—The Los Angeles City Council tentatively approved an ordinance on June 21 that would raise the minimum wage for people working at covered health care facilities in the city to $25 per hour.
The “Minimum Wage for Employees Working at Healthcare Facilities” initiative, which was brought to the council through a successful petition drive, would raise the workers’ minimum wage and have it adjusted annually to account for increases in the cost of living. The ordinance would also prohibit employers from funding the minimum wage increase by laying off workers or reducing benefits or hours.
The council had the choice of either adopting the initiative or putting it before voters. On a 10–2 vote, the council opted to adopt the measure without going to a public vote. Councilmen Joe Buscaino and Paul Krekorian opposed the measure….