San Diegans will be able to vote to increase the minimum wage in June 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 meaningful step towards providing relief for the 38% 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 finally to $11.50 in 2017.
If approved the $10.50 minimum wage would go into effect immediately.
“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 Councilmember 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.
“The second phase of the state’s 25% minimum wage increase was just implemented last month. The proposed 44% increase for San Diego only, puts our small businesses at a competitive disadvantage," the Small Business Coalition said in a statement. "The result will be that small businesses - the biggest creator of jobs in the nation - will be forced to lay off workers in order to absorb the increased costs. More unemployment is not good for the economy and it is certainly not good for those struggling to make ends meet."
The measure will be on the June 7 ballot.