Los Angeles tourism workers may have to wait two extra years for the pay they were promised.
Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson has introduced a motion that would delay a landmark $30 per hour minimum wage for hotel and airport workers from 2028 to 2030—just as the city prepares to host the Olympics.
The original legislation, hailed by labor leaders as the highest minimum wage in the nation, was meant to give workers a 48–56% pay boost over three years. Business groups fought it, claiming higher wages would hurt companies—and now, they may get their wish.
“This is a shameful day in Los Angeles,” said Yvonne Wheeler, president of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, to The Times. “Workers fought for years to earn fair wages, only to have elected leaders try to take it away.”
The American Hotel and Lodging Association called the delay “a long-overdue step,” arguing hotels need relief from rising costs and reduced travel. Rosanna Maietta, the group’s president, said it would protect tens of thousands of jobs and crucial tax revenue.
The motion proposes smaller annual wage increases, pushing the $30 minimum out to 2030. Harris-Dawson, who originally championed the 2028 timeline, has not explained the shift.
David Huerta, president of SEIU-United Service Workers West, criticized the timing. “Introducing this now, in the middle of the holiday season, is particularly callous. We stand ready to defend the Olympic Wage.”
The proposal now heads to committees on economic development and tourism. Workers, unions, and businesses are bracing for a battle that could define labor in Los Angeles for years to come.
L.A.’s $30 Minimum Wage: A Win-Win for Workers, Hotels, and the Local Economy
