TITLE
Recommendation to request City Council to receive and file a report on a proposed Long Beach Minimum Wage for Hotel Workers, and direct City Manager on next steps; and
Request City Attorney to prepare a ballot measure for consideration during the March 2024 municipal election amending the Long Beach Hotel Worker Wage Ordinance (LBMC Chapter 5.48) to authorize a market pay adjustment that ensures fair and competitive wages for hotel workers. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
Background
On November 6, 2012, voters adopted Measure N, a ballot initiative requiring minimum compensation and sick days for hotel workers. Approval of the measure established the Long Beach Hotel Worker Wage Ordinance, Long Beach Municipal Code Chapter 5.48.020 (LBMC Chapter 5.48.020), increasing hotel workers minimum compensation to $13.00 per hour for hotels with 100 or more guest rooms. This rate is adjusted annually by the amount of increase in the federal minimum wage or by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), whichever is greater. The current minimum wage for Long Beach hotel workers is $17.55 per hour.
On July 11, 2023, the City Council requested the City Manager and Economic Development staff to conduct a labor market analysis on hotel workers wage rates across the Southern California region and trends where these salary rates are headed between now and 2028. Staff were directed to refer the report to the Economic Development and Opportunity Committee for public input and discussion. The City Council further requested the City Attorney to prepare a ballot measure for consideration during the March 2024 municipal election amending the Long Beach Hotel Worker Wage Ordinance (LBMC Chapter 5.48.020) to authorize a market pay adjustment that ensures fair and competitive wages for hospitality industry employees. Because the original Ordinance was established by ballot initiative and popular vote, amending the Ordinance would require the same process.
Economic Development staff reached o...
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