Minimum Wage Increase on June Ballot

In June, San Diegans will go to the polls to decide whether to increase the minimum wage in San Diego to $11.50 starting next January.

The City Council voted unanimously to put the measure on the June ballot. If approved the citywide increase would raise the minimum wage starting in 2017.

“Today’s action brings a quarter of a million of San Diego’s working families closer to a much needed raise. This increase would be a meaningful step towards providing relief for the 38 percent of San Diegans that are working but still do not earn enough to make ends meet,” said Councilmember Todd Gloria.

The original proposal phased in the increase from $9.75 in January 2015 to $10.50 January 2016.

“I am confident that San Diegans will support this measure because they understand that this city is very expensive and we need a local solution,” said Gloria. “Our city is better off when our lowest wage workers can afford to support themselves and the additional wages they will earn will go back into our local economy.”

Workers would also be eligible to earn up to 40 hours of sick pay.

Some local small businesses do not support the increase. They say it makes their businesses less competitive.

In a prepared statement, the Small Business Coalition said the second phase of the state’s 25 percent minimum wage increase was just implemented last month. The group believes the proposed 44 percent increase for San Diego would put small businesses at a competitive disadvantage.

The coalition stated that small businesses may be forced to lay off workers in order to absorb the increased costs.

The measure will be on the June 7 ballot. 

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