California Gov. Jerry Brown says he’s reached a deal with labor unions to raise the state’s minimum wage to $15 an hour. California would be the first state to approve a minimum wage that high.
Under the deal, California’s minimum wage would increase gradually until it hits $15 an hour in 2022 – with future increases pegged to inflation.
“I’m hoping what happens in California will not stay in California but spread all across the country,” Brown said.
Although Brown is a Democrat, he’s often sided with business groups on some of the California Legislature’s more liberal proposals. Not this time. Still, the deal calls for slower increases than two union-backed voter initiatives that were headed for the November ballot – and the unions now say they’ll stand down. So while business groups are criticizing the deal, it’s not clear how hard they’ll work to defeat it.
Gov. Jerry Brown's Office: Fact Sheet Boosting Californias Minimum Wage by Capital Public Radio
This story was produced by Capital Public Radio.
