The Rev Dr. Rick SchlosserIMPACT’s Recommendation: SUPPORT
RAISES MINIMUM WAGE. INITIATIVE STATUTE.
Current law, passed by voters, raised the minimum wage for all businesses. It currently is $15 an hour for businesses with 26 or more employees, $14 for those with fewer employees. It was then mandated to rise $1.00 per year to $18 per hour. This proposition would continue to raise the wage by $1.00 increments for both sets of employees but now could be delayed in times of economic downturn at the Governor’s direction. There could be two delays thus increasing the time it would take to reach $18 level. From that point on, the wage would increase relative to the Consumer Price Index, a more reliable calculator than the federal poverty level.
This is a realistic alteration of the minimum wage statute that takes into account the vagaries of our state and national economies. While both California and the nation are strongly robust for now, that may not always be true. Giving the Governor the authority to ask for a delay is fair to business and consumers as well as to employees. The delays are limited, the promise still in effect all based on the realities of our times.
CA Secretary of State site: Arguments for and against Prop 32: https://voterguide.sos.ca.gov/propositions/32/index.htm