The Los Angeles City Council on Wednesday night postponed a vote on whether to approve a minimum wage increase for tourism workers.
Hotel and airport workers are demanding higher wages in time for Los Angeles to host the Olympics in 2028, but the City Council has decided to postpone the decision until December.
Dozens of workers at the meeting were dissatisfied with the decision and began shouting, “We’ll be back!”, prompting city councilors to ask, “To all of you who are screaming, please don’t disrupt this meeting.”
Next year, the City Council will decide whether to finalize changes to city ordinances that will raise the minimum wage for about 23,000 hotel and airport workers from less than $20 an hour to $25 an hour, with gradual increases to a maximum of $30 an hour. I was planning to vote on it. 2028.
Worker representatives say current salaries don’t cover rent, and housing costs will rise even more as major events take place in Los Angeles.
The issue is gaining attention as Los Angeles prepares to host the 2028 Summer Olympics and Paralympics, as well as the Super Bowl and eight World Cup games in 2026.
City councilors are concerned about potential damage to the tourism industry following recent economic reports.
“My colleagues, there is no doubt that we all want the same thing. A thriving tourism economy is about not only paying workers a fair wage, but also encouraging entrepreneurship and making businesses successful. 11th District Councilmember Tracy Park said. You can maintain that balance. ”
Officials also expressed concern that the ordinance would increase room rates after hotel owners said they would have to pass the cost on to guests. Some owners also threatened to withdraw from contracts to provide rooms to tens of thousands of tourists during the Summer Olympics if the ordinance is approved.
The City Council is scheduled to discuss the issue again on Dec. 11.
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