AFL CIO Los Angeles County Federation of Labor : Long Beach City Council Votes to Create Pathway to $15

Long Beach, CA - Last night - early morning, over 100 low-income working parents, nonprofits, researchers, and small business owners in support of raising the minimum wage attended the final vote by the Long Beach City Council. They advocated for Long Beach, as the second largest city in Los Angeles County, to develop similar standards adopted by the City of L.A., County of L.A., and Santa Monica with a $15/hour wage, strong wage enforcement, additional paid sick days, and no exemptions. After months of several hearings as directed by Mayor Robert Garcia, the City Council voted to direct the City Attorney to prepare an ordinance for a citywide minimum wage policy, which would include a pathway to $15 by 2021, a strong system to enforce wages, and a cost-of-living adjustment.

The Raise the Wage Coalition applauded the City Council for listening to the voices that make Long Beach thrive every day, and for voting to to prepare an ordinance that would make Long Beach continue being a well-renowned city that protects the lives of its workers.

'I have spent 17 years working in the kitchens of Long Beach restaurants, but I have never seen real value to my work due to how little I am paid with no benefits,' said Roberto Ramirez, Long Beach restaurant worker. 'I put faith in my city's leadership to give me a $15/hour wage I can live on to support my family, without having to rely on working two jobs.'

'I'm thrilled that the City Council is taking the first step in ensuring all workers in Long Beach earn the wages they deserve. The LGBTQ Center of Long Beach currently pays all employees at least $15/hour, which in turn has created a workforce that is happier and more financially secure,' said Porter Gilberg, Executive Director of The Center. 'It also benefits our organization because there's less turnover and fewer training costs.'

'I thought if went to college, I would be able to find a good job that pays well in the city I grew up in, but unfortunately that's not a reality,' said Maria Lopez, Paralegal Assistant and member of the Long Beach Coalition for Good Jobs and a Healthy Community. 'With soaring rent prices, today's minimum wage is not enough to live in Long Beach, even as a college graduate. I hope the City Council continues to stand strong to make sure that young workers like myself, are paid a living wage of $15/hour with strong enforcement so we can afford to stay in this city.'

'We thank the Mayor and City Council for voting to prepare an ordinance that would lift thousands of workers out of poverty and ensure they are not cheated out of a full day's work,' said Rusty Hicks, Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor and a co-convener of the Campaign to Raise the Wage. 'An ordinance that includes a $15/hour wage, cost-of-living adjustment, wage enforcement, and no exemptions is the only way to ensure workers have a secure and stable life to provide for their families.'

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Raise the Wage is a coalition of business, labor and community leaders working to raise the minimum wage to $15, with enforcement provisions and paid sick days, to bring thousands of workers out of poverty.

Find out more atlongbeachraisethewage.org