In a 9-6 vote, City Council approved changes to the original Olympic wage plan for hotel and tourism workers, pushing back the timeline that had previously set workers on track to reach a $30 minimum wage by 2028.
Under the revised plan, the minimum wage will now increase to $25 in 2027, $27.50 in 2028, and $30 in 2030. The original proposal was to have wages set to $30 by 2028.
Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson stated that negotiations will continue Tuesday, May 19. City Council could work with private industries and business groups to remove the gross receipts repeal ballot measure from the November ballot in exchange for slower wage increases.
Councilmember Curren Price voted against the revised plan. With the FIFA World Cup just weeks away, Team Price believes hotel and tourism workers should not be asked to take on the growing demands tied to major international events while wage increases promised under the original ordinance are delayed, especially as many working families continue struggling with the rising cost of living.