Los Angeles City Hall (Photo: Evan Symon for the California Globe)
LA City Council Votes 12-3 to Give Hotel, Airport Workers $30/Hour Minimum Wage by 2028
The Olympic Wage Ordinance has been compared to the disastrous AB 1228 fast food minimum wage law
By Evan Symon, May 15, 2025 1:51 pm
In a 12-3 vote on Wednesday, the Los Angeles City Council approved a minimum wage hike for airport and hotel workers, with the goal of it reaching $30 an hour by 2028 in time for the Olympics.
According to the Olympic Wage ordinance, the minimum wage for airport and hotel workers is set to go up to $22.50 an hour in July, with it going up by $2.50 every July until July 2028, when it will peak at $30 an hour. In addition, employers will also be required to pay $8.35 for each hour payment to cover health care costs by January 2026. A housekeeping training requirement will go into effect as well, giving at least 6 hours worth of training a year, telling them what to do in an emergence, how to respond to human trafficking, violence, and other serious situations.
Hotel and airport workers in Los Angeles have been trying to get a significant wage increase for years. Previously, many hotel workers fought to get a raise to over $11 an hour in 2023. However, a rapidly increasing cost of living in Los Angeles, compounded by recent rent jumps and Los Angeles hosting several major events in the coming years including the 2026 World Cup, the 2026 NBA All-Star Game, the 2027 Super Bowl and the 2028 Olympics, reinvigored unions, primarily Unite Here, and employees to demand another increase. Many were inspired to do so by AB 1228, which increased the fast food minimum wage to $20 an hour last year.
While the hotel, airport, and tourism industry vigorously opposed the increase, it nonetheless moved forward in the Los Angeles City Council, culminating in a 12-3 vote on Wednesday. Union officials and some lawmakers praised the move, saying that it would help keep workers in LA and would benefit the local economy.
“City leaders have an opportunity to ensure the Olympic and Paralympic Games benefit hard-working Angelenos, and this ordinance does just that,” said Unite Here Local 11 co-president Kurt Petersen on Wednesday.
“This policy updates existing laws to ensure that the workers who keep Los Angeles’ profitable tourism industry running are healthy and housed,” added Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy (LAANE) deputy director Jessica Durrum. “As Los Angeles prepares to host a wave of megaevents leading up to the 2028 Olympics, this is a critical measure to make sure that tourism workers can afford to live in the city where they work and not be displaced by skyrocketing housing costs.
“It’s also a commonsense measure that will enrich the entire city because when workers have more money in their pockets, they spend it in the local economy. We know for a fact that the tourism industry has thrived after past similar wage increases, and that there are positive economic impacts. In terms of this new policy, an economic impact study commissioned by Los Angeles City Council found that this new law will result in an estimated increase of over $1.2 billion in income regionally by 2028, with approximately two-thirds of the wage gain spent locally.”
“This is what it looks like when working people come together and fight – we win,” explained Los Angeles City Councilman Hugo Soto-Martinez. “For too long, the workers who make this city run have been treated as disposable. This ordinance makes it clear if you work in this city, you deserve to live in this city — with dignity, health care, and a living wage.”
Massive problems with the L.A. Hotel, Airport worker wage increase
However hotel and airport groups, as well as some lawmakers, warned that the massively increased wages would result in some hotels shutting down, airports and hotels firing some of the affected workers as other solutions are found, increased costs for consumers, and the reduction of hours so that their employers would not need to pay for benefits. Notably, they have have recent precedent for this happening as it was exactly what fast food companies have done to stay afloat in California with AB 1228 and the $20 fast food minimum wage in place.
In recent months, the situation grew even worse. A massive drop in tourism to California beginning in February means that L.A. now has fewer tourists coming in, with hotels and airports bearing the costs of the higher wages as there are fewer customers to offset them. Many planned hotels have also been put on hold with developers awaiting the results of the wage increase. With the increase passed, some major projects, like the expansion of the Hilton Los Angeles Universal City Hotel, may now not happen, putting the city even further into a bind when it comes to hotel space for the 2028 games and other upcoming events.
“Hotel employees in Los Angeles are paid the highest wages in the country, but right now their jobs are at risk,” explained American Hotel and Lodging Association CEO Rosanna Maietta last month. “City leaders are considering a damaging proposal that will jeopardize these jobs; it would devastate much needed tourism related tax revenue and lead to the closure of hotels that are desperately needed to successfully host the 2026 World Cup, the 2027 Super Bowl and the 2028 Olympics.”
“I opposed this increase because while the intent may be well-meaning, the execution lacks fiscal foresight,” added Los Angeles City Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez following the vote. “This policy imposes a significant wage and health benefit increase overnight that will inevitably result in higher hotel rates, reduced hours for hotel workers, and job losses–not just in hotels, but across businesses that rely on tourism: restaurants, retail, attractions, and our struggling commercial corridors. Tying the wage increase to the 2028 Olympics may sound appealing, but the reality is that many of those events are happening outside city limits, yet this increase only impacts the City of Los Angeles making our hotels less competitive and undercutting our ability to attract tourists resulting in a loss of TOT, taxes and other economic impacts that the City will lose as we are facing a $1 billion deficit and laying off workers.
“My concern remains that we are on a path to having the highest-paid unemployed workforce in the country, where wages go up, but job opportunities disappear because we failed to think through the economic impact on our small businesses, hotels, and the broader tourism sector.”
Currently, the wage increase isn’t a done deal just yet. The City Council needs to approve it again in a second vote next week. Should it pass again, it will then be put into effect
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I guess the L.A. City Council didn’t get the memo that Communism doesn’t work. Seeing as how L.A. is becoming the armpit of the world, fewer people will want to come here anywhere to visit.
What a way to boost travel to Commiefornia! $800 a night hotels to see homeless tent communities and the rest of Commiefornia’s hellscape! Maybe they will experience an earthquake or have to drive through a wildfire On an evacuation route? The fun never ends in Commiefornia! At this rate it will become a ruin people are leaving so fast!!!!
No government has a legal right to dictate to a business how to operate it. California has indeed become a communist state. Decent people will change it
“The state of California is run by democrats and democrats are run by Unions, if you can’t do business in that environment you should go elsewhere “ direct quote from Gavin Newsome
To pay with instead of pilfered MediCal benefits?
Guess no one thought of how much the workers are going to make per hoir when the hotels close down. Just a bunch of dumb criminals on the council.
Ahhh, good… our Democrat lapdogs are bending to the will of their union funders/overlords…
Watch the unemployment in this segment skyrocket going forward, in 3….2…
This is PROOF, folks, that any Democrat who is a “community organizer” is UNFIT to make economic decisions that affect the wellbeing of their constituents, or the markets that they operate….
Dumbasses, all…..
Nice to see that Bidenomics-induced inflation has also hit the unreasonable requests made from 2023, as well :
https://californiaglobe.com/fr/motion-to-set-25-an-hour-minimum-wage-for-tourism-workers-introduced-in-la-city-council/
Here’s the Cliffs-Notes of LA Council idiocy :
“This policy updates existing laws to ensure that the workers who keep Los Angeles’ profitable tourism industry running are healthy and housed,” added Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy (LAANE) deputy director Jessica Durrum. (Jessica DUMBASS is more like it…) “As Los Angeles prepares to host a wave of megaevents leading up to the 2028 Olympics, this is a critical measure to make sure that tourism workers can afford to live in the city where they work and not be displaced by skyrocketing housing costs.” (Thanks to the hospitality housing SHORTAGES CREATED BY THE PALISADES AND EATON WILDFIRES, dumbass!!!)
And a stereotypical “community organizer” response right here :
““This is what it looks like when working people come together and fight – we win,” explained Los Angeles City Councilman Hugo Soto-Martinez. “For too long, the workers who make this city run have been treated as disposable. This ordinance makes it clear if you work in this city, you deserve to live in this city — with dignity, health care, and a living wage.”
Hopefully ol’ Hugo is willing to open his own personal dwelling to those that will lose their jobs when they are priced out of the market… but I doubt it….
“
When Hugo Soto-Martinez of CD/13 ran against Mitch O’Farrell he did whatever it took to win. Even shaming/smearing and lying about his predecessor in front of the media in order to get to the finish line.
AGENDA: Hugo Soto-Martinez was the head of the Hospitality union – Unite 11 that mainly employs immigrants. Most of whose (legal) status is in question. And while in the job continued to work on their behalf of these folks supporting them/striking and demonstrating alongside members for better wages/housing with media coverage. A modern-day P.T. Barnum (showman). While he’s done nothing for the rest of the constituents in his district. He also goes to bat for food vendors on Hollywood Blvd as well. Like his parents who came from Mexico. All in the family.
With this EXTREMELY STUPID and suicidal action, L.A. has once again screamed that it is wishing and hoping to be Detroit.
With good weather, of course. When it’s not burning to the ground.
I guess people won’t be staying in Los Angeles. Prices will go up at the hotels and you get to step over drug addicts, hobos, needles, feces, urine, hopefully not be assaulted or robbed and maybe leave with a disease for a premium price.
Why only $30? Why not $50? Or $100?
Why has no one here questioned a government’s right to set wages in a free marker economy?
LMAO !! L.A. continues it’s downward spiral !! Removing Government good ! Abolish Minimum wage !! To all the parents of unskilled or low skilled children, you need to get your kids a job, where they are learning and are inspired to live the American Dream. I started working for free when I was 19 yrs old , today I own my home and have hundreds of Album credits to my name. I was fortunate to have gotten my foot in the door whilst working for free which provided me connections and learning a technical skill . Gov’t is the problem , not the solution !
fraudulent voter rolls, mail-in ballot harvesting, and drop-off ballot boxes have consequences.
the Communist Democrats with their army of vapid women and greedy minorities will bankrupt and destroy our society and Nation
just before the Olympics,, all hotel owners should close!! due to high operation costs!!!
They’ll have to pass an ordinance that customers must pay for it.
This massive increase in cost would surely jeopardize any hotel projects that are looking to either build or renovate – the return on investment probably just does not make sense. A few mega events are not going to create a long-term cash flow.
$30/hour assuming 40 hr week is over $62K – assuming hours are not cut. Plus the cost of increased payroll taxes.
But of course, if I look at Gavin’s fact checking website, it spins away the negative impact of the fast-food wage increases.
Like cruise ships, large hotels should be required to build a “dormitory wing” for employees.
You can’t fix stupid!!!
California has the highest taxes and now the most expensive maids and airport workers.
When are you idiots going to vote out these liberals? Here’s a idea vote republican maybe common sense will come back their but I doubt it!
Welcome to $50 footlongs!!!!!
At this point, it will be cheaper to install a new bed in every room every day than to pay someone that much to change the sheets. They already have self cleaning bathrooms, maybe they can get self cleaning rooms.
Those costs are covered by businesses and tourists – the very people who spend heavily. If you think the average company is going to foot $600 a night hotel rooms, you are crazy. Disneyland? Florida is nicer and you don’t need an armed guard to take a walk.
Rush Limbaugh used to say that the libs should just demand a 50/hr min wage.
Another RUSHISM coming true
I don’t know what dollar amount it’s going to take before Americans realize that the minimum wage benefits no one and everyone pays for it in the form of higher prices and taxes. And why has this never been challenged in court. since a government has no right to set wages?
Great idea. Why not 35? 40?
The economic illiterate Marxists on the city council don’t realize, or forgot, that outside the city, in the South Bay for example, there are great hotels, and since those cities don’t allow campsites and urination and defecation on their sidewalks, tourists and businesses have a choice to go there. It’s safer, and cleaner. And guess what, councilfools, you won’t be collecting the city’s occupancy tax on empty hotel rooms.