Employers with 25 or fewer employees would pay at least $17 per hour beginning Jan. 1, 2025 (rather than $16.50), and $18 by 2026. The minimum at larger businesses would rise immediately to $17, and go up to $18 by 2025. The proposal would likely lead to slightly higher consumer prices, with relatively small impacts on job numbers, according to a state analysis. Higher wage floors in certain localities or industries wouldn’t be impacted.
Yes Argument
Raising the minimum wage will help roughly 2 million Californians who struggle to afford basic necessities, supporters say. It would boost spending and job growth in communities across the state and promote economic fairness, they add. Supporters also argue that taxpayers should not be forced to subsidize corporations whose full-time workers rely on government aid programs because they are not paid enough to get by.
No Argument
Proposition 32 will increase the already high cost of living in California by forcing small businesses to raise their prices and cut jobs in order to cope with higher payroll costs, opponents say. They argue state and local governments will chop vital services and increase taxes to fund the wage increases for their employees and contractors. And the wealthy Los Angeles-based investor who helped bankroll the measure shouldn’t be dictating labor policy for all Californians, opponents say.
FundraisingCampaign finance data comes from the California Secretary of State’s office or the Federal Election Commission.
Source: California Secretary of State
Key Supporters
In Support
- Ada Briceño, copresident, UNITE HERE Local 11
- Joe Sanberg, Los Angeles investor and anti-poverty advocate
- Nanette Diaz Barragán, U.S. representative
- Saru Jayaraman, president, One Fair Wage
In Opposition
- Jennifer Barrera, president, California Chamber of Commerce
- Jot Condie, president and CEO, California Restaurant Association
- Ron Fong, president and CEO, California Grocers Association
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