LOS ANGELES — California voters will face a crucial decision in November regarding a proposed increase in the state’s minimum wage to $18 per hour by 2026, which would establish the highest statewide minimum wage in the nation. This measure, known as Proposition 32, aims to address the financial struggles of low-wage workers in one of the country’s most expensive states.
Under the current plan, the minimum wage would rise from $16 to $17 for employers with 26 or more employees in 2024, increasing to $18 starting January 2025. For small businesses with fewer than 26 employees, wages would also increase to $17 in January 2025 and reach $18 by 2026. Without the measure, the minimum wage is set to rise to $16.50 in the coming year.
Proponents, including investor and anti-poverty advocate Joe Sanberg, argue that the increase will significantly benefit over 2 million Californians earning minimum wage. Sanberg criticized the current system as “corporate welfare,” emphasizing that full-time workers often rely on government assistance due to inadequate wages. “If someone who’s working full-time needs food stamps, doesn’t that mean we as taxpayers are subsidizing the difference between what their employer should be paying them?” he questioned.
However, opponents of Proposition 32 caution that the increase could burden small businesses already operating on thin profit margins. Jennifer Barrera, president of the California Chamber of Commerce, stated that the swift wage increase could lead to job cuts and increased prices for consumers. “This increase will really have a huge impact on them and their ability to maintain their business operations,” she warned.
As it stands, nearly 40 California cities, including San Francisco and Los Angeles, have already established local minimum wages exceeding the state level. Workers in Los Angeles currently earn $17.28 per hour, while West Hollywood boasts an hourly minimum of $19.08. However, local business owners express concerns, with a survey revealing that 42% of West Hollywood businesses had to reduce employee hours or lay off staff due to wage increases.
California’s fast food workers received a pay increase to $20 an hour earlier this year, and legislation is in place to raise wages for health care workers to $25 per hour by July 2026. A recent study from the University of California, Berkeley, found that while fast food prices increased 3.7% after the wage hike, employment levels remained relatively stable.
Despite mixed opinions, many workers support the proposition. Christian Medina, a banquet captain at the Sheraton Grand Sacramento Hotel, currently earning $16 per hour plus tips, hopes the measure will enable workers to provide better lives for their families. “It’s hard getting paid $16 an hour,” he said, emphasizing the need to save for his daughter’s education.
Conversely, some believe that even if the measure passes, it won’t suffice. Carmen Riestra, who earns $19 an hour, expressed doubts about whether an $18 minimum wage would cover living costs in Sacramento. As the election approaches, the debate over the minimum wage continues to highlight the ongoing challenges faced by California’s low-wage workers and the businesses that employ them.