2015 Wage Hike May Be Largest In Nation For L.A. Hotel Workers
On July 1, 2015, many hotel workers in the City of Angels will be celebrating their independence from low-wage jobs. That is when some members of the big city's hospitality industry will be forced to pay their employees at least $15.37 an hour for their hard-earned tasks.
This minimum-wage increase, recently mandated by the Los Angeles City Council, could be the largest pay hike in the nation for those whose primary duties are to maintain hotels in a clean and orderly fashion. Lodging facilities that will be affected include those that provide no less than 300 rooms. Because of exemptions, the adopted rate will likely apply to less than 50 of L.A.'s 350 hotels. Nevertheless, thousands of hotel laborers that are now balancing more than one job to make ends meet will be able to breathe a refreshing sigh of relief.
Housekeepers in L.A., for instance, earn an average annual salary of $25,706, according to current employment data. If they are managing a family of four, they are also tackling the odds just to stay above the local poverty level.
The majority of the council members that voted in favor of the wage increase said they hope their collective decision will pull struggling hotel workers and their families out of financial hardship. Proponents of the pay hike want to see gainfully employed breadwinners move toward a quality lifestyle that does not include having to hold down a second job in order to feed, clothe and shelter their offspring. "It's not okay for families … working in this thriving industry to not see their children before they go to bed," San Fernando Valley representative Nury Martinez told a local news organization.
Unionized hotels will be immune to the pay hike. Establishments that can prove severe economic difficulty will also be freed from having to pay their workers more money.
Mayor Eric Garcetti has vowed to sign the wage deal, which is projected to help change the lives of up to 13,500 hotel workers. On July 1, 2016, the minimum-wage boost will fan out to hotels that are equipped with at least 150 rooms.
Sharon Raiford Bush is an award-winning journalist who covers topics of social interest in greater Los Angeles. Some news articles she has authored have been archived by the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC. Sharon also contributes to Examiner.com.
