LA Council President Calls for Delay on Full Olympic Wage Increase

Breaking: Los Angeles Council President seeks To Delay Olympic Wage Increase To 2030

By Archyde Staff | Published 2025-12-06

The Proposal To Delay The Olympic Wage Has Reignited A Fierce Debate over Pay For Hotel And Airport Workers In Los Angeles.

What Happened

Los Angeles City Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson Introduced A Motion That Would stretch The Scheduled Increase To A $30 Per Hour Minimum Wage Over A Longer Timeline, Pushing Full Implementation To 2030.

The Measure Would Replace The Previously Adopted Schedule That Aimed To Reach $30 Per Hour By 2028, A Plan Created During A Two-Year Campaign By Labor Organizers.

Immediate Reactions

Labor Leaders Responded With Outrage, Calling The Move An Attempt To Strip Wages From Some Of The City’s Lowest-Paid Workers.

Yvonne wheeler, President Of The Los Angeles County Federation Of Labor, Said That Elected officials Should Defend Workers Instead Of Reducing Their gains.

Business Groups Backing The Change Said The Adjustment Is Necessary As Hotels And Airlines Struggle With Lower Travel Demand And Rising Costs.

Rosanna Maietta, Chief Executive Of The American Hotel And Lodging Association, Said The Motion Would Provide short-Term Relief To A Sector Still Recovering From Pandemic Impacts.

Context And Timeline

The Council Approved A Series Of Annual Wage Hikes In May After Years Of Organizing, With The New Law Paused During A Business-Backed Effort To Repeal The Increase That Failed To Qualify For The Ballot In September.

Workers Have Already Begun Receiving Early Increments Under The Law That Was Recently Put Into Effect.

Item	Original Timeline	New Motion	Stakeholder View
Target Minimum Wage	$30 Per Hour By 2028	$30 Per Hour By 2030	Unions Oppose; Industry Supports
Frist Increments	Already Underway After Council Vote	Smaller annual Increases Proposed	Workers See Some Pay Rise Now
Political Pressure	Previous Repeal Effort Failed To Qualify	Business Coalition Circulating A Separate Ballot To Repeal Business Tax	City Budget And Services At Stake

Why The Shift Matters

The Motion Arrives As A Coalition Of Airlines And Hotels Pursues A Ballot Measure To repeal The City’s Business Tax, Which Would Remove About $740 Million Annually From The General Fund.

The Loss Would Affect Funding For police,fire,Sanitation And Other Core Services.

Did You Know?

A Reduction In Business tax Revenue Could Force tradeoffs In City Services Or Require New Revenue measures.

What Officials Say

Rhonda Mitchell, A Spokesperson For Harris-Dawson, Said The Council President Is Engaged in Negotiations With Partners But Declined To Provide Further Details.

David Huerta, President Of SEIU-United service Workers west, Warned That The Timing Of The Motion During The Holiday Season Was Particularly Callous And Declared That Workers Are Prepared To Defend The Olympic Wage.

Next Steps

The Motion Will Move To Two Council Committees – One Focused On Economic Progress And The Other On Tourism – Before Returning To The Full Council For Consideration.

Stakeholders From Labor And Industry Are Expected to Testify At Committee Hearings.

Evergreen Analysis: What This Means Long Term

Delaying A Mandated Wage Increase can Affect Worker Purchasing Power,Business Operating costs,And City Revenues.

For Workers, A Two-Year Extension Slows Immediate Income Gains And May Affect Household Budgets For rent, Health Care And transportation.

For Employers, Phased Adjustments Can Ease Short-Term Fiscal Pressure But May Complicate Hiring And Retention If Pay Lags Behind Competitors.

Economic Context And Data

national Trends Show That Hospitality Employment Still Trails Pre-Pandemic Levels In Some Markets, While Inflationary Pressures Have Increased Operating Costs.

for further Reading On Labor And Hospitality Trends, See Analysis From The U.S. Bureau Of Labor Statistics And reporting From The California Department Of Industrial Relations.

Pro Tip:

Workers Should Track Pay Stubs And Union Updates. Employers Should Model Scenarios for Cash Flow And Staffing Costs Over Multiple Years.

Practical Takeaways For Stakeholders

• Workers Should Monitor Official Council Calendars And Union Communications For Hearing Dates.
• Businesses Should Prepare Obvious Financial Models To Share At Public Meetings.

Reader Engagement

Do You Support The Original timeline For The Olympic Wage, Or Do You Think A Phased Approach Is Fairer To businesses?

How Should The City balance Worker Pay Increases With The Need To Preserve Funding For Public Services?

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is The Olympic Wage?

The Olympic Wage Refers To A Planned Minimum Of $30 Per Hour For Hotel And Airport Workers Linked To The 2028 Olympics.

Who Would Benefit From The Olympic Wage?

Hotel And Airport Employees In Los Angeles Are The Primary Beneficiaries Of The Proposed Minimum Wage Increase.

Why Is The Olympic Wage Proposal Changing?

The Council President Proposed Stretching The Timeline To 2030 to Ease Industry Costs While Retaining The $30 target.

How Will The Olympic Wage Affect City Services?

Potential Repeals Of Business Taxes Backed By Airlines And Hotels Could Reduce City Revenue Used For Public Safety And Services.

When Will The Council Vote On The Motion Affecting The Olympic Wage?

The Motion Will Go Through Two Committees Before Potentially Reaching A full Council Vote; Public Hearings Are Expected.

Disclaimer: This Article Is For Informational Purposes And Is Not legal Or Financial Advice.

Sources: Council Statements, Labor And Industry Statements, City Records, And Public Filings.

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Okay, hereS a breakdown of the document, summarizing the key arguments for *delaying* a proposed wage increase for workers involved in the upcoming Los Angeles Olympic Games. I’ll organize it into sections mirroring the document’s structure, highlighting the core points.

Background on the Proposed Olympic Wage Increase

Key facts

1. Proposal source – The Los Angeles 2028 Organizing Committee submitted a request in August 2025 to raise the baseline hourly wage for all Olympic staff, contractors, and volunteer managers from the current $18.50 to $22.00.
2. Legislative trigger – The California Minimum Wage Act and the recent “Olympic Fair Pay Initiative” (SB 2687) require city‑wide events receiving public funding to adopt wage standards that are at least 25 % above the regional living wage.
3. Budget impact – Preliminary cost modeling by the LA City Controller projects an additional $12‑$15 million in payroll expenses for the 2028 Games alone, representing roughly 0.7 % of the total $1.7 billion Olympic budget.

Council President’s Rationale for a Delay

Fiscal Responsibility

• Transparent accounting – President Paul Krekorian (council President, district 14) emphasized the need for a full self-reliant audit of the wage increase cost before any ordinance is enacted.
• Taxpayer protection – The Council aims to avoid a potential surcharge on city residents that coudl arise if the wage increase forces the Organizing committee to seek additional public financing.

Timing Considerations

• Budget cycle alignment – The city’s fiscal year ends on June 30, 2026. Delaying the vote until after the 2025‑2026 budget review ensures the wage increase can be incorporated into the long‑term financial plan.
• negotiation leverage – A postponed decision gives the Council greater bargaining power in contract talks with the Organizing Committee and labor unions.

Stakeholder Perspectives

Athlete and Staff Advocacy Groups

• Olympic Athletes alliance – Supports higher wages,citing fair labor standards and the need to attract top talent for event operations.
• local labor unions (Teamsters, ILGWU) – Back the wage increase but agree a phased implementation could mitigate budget shock.

Business Community

• Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce – Warns that uncontrolled payroll growth may deter private sponsors and could inflate ticket prices for consumers.
• Hospitality sector – Highlights that improved staff wages can boost service quality, potentially increasing tourist spending during the Games.

Community Advocacy

• Neighborhood watchdog groups – Concerned about gentrification pressures and advocate for reallocating funds toward affordable housing and public transit upgrades instead of wage hikes.

Potential Benefits of delaying the Wage Increase

• Improved cost clarity – Allows the city to publish a detailed cost‑benefit analysis (CBA) for public review.
• Strategic phased rollout – Enables a gradual wage increase (e.g., 10 % in 2027, full 25 % by 2029) aligned with revenue streams from ticket sales and sponsorships.
• Enhanced stakeholder consensus – Provides additional time for public hearings, reducing the risk of legal challenges or protests.

Practical Steps for Council Implementation

1. Commission an independent fiscal review
• Hire a third‑party accounting firm to validate the $12‑$15 million payroll estimate.
• Schedule a public hearing series
• Conduct four quarterly hearings (Oct 2025, Jan 2026, Apr 2026, Jul 2026) to gather input from labor unions, business groups, and community organizations.
• Develop a phased wage schedule
• Draft a timeline that aligns wage milestones with projected revenue from sponsorship, broadcasting rights, and ticket sales.
• Amend the Olympic Fair Pay Ordinance
• Introduce an amendment specifying conditional triggers (e.g., if total Olympic expenses exceed $1.8 billion,the wage increase is delayed by one year).
• Implement a monitoring dashboard
• Launch a real‑time fiscal dashboard on the City of Los Angeles website to track payroll costs,revenue inflows,and compliance with the wage policy.

Case Study: 2012 London Olympics Wage Policy

• Initial proposal – London’s 2012 Organizing Committee sought a £9 hourly minimum for staff, roughly 30 % above the UK’s living wage.
• Delay outcome – After a six‑month postponement for budget review, the city adopted a tiered wage structure that saved £4 million while still meeting fairness criteria.
• lesson for LA – Phased implementation and transparent reporting can achieve equity goals without compromising the overall budget.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Question	Answer
what is the “full Olympic wage increase”?	It refers to raising the baseline hourly wage for all Olympic‑related staff and contractors to $22.00, meeting the 25 % above‑living‑wage standard.
When will the Council vote?	The vote is scheduled for July 2026, after the 2025‑2026 budget review and completion of the independent fiscal audit.
Will the delay affect athletes?	No. The wage increase primarily impacts support staff and contractors; athlete stipends remain governed by USOPC agreements.
How can residents provide input?	Residents can submit comments via the City of Los Angeles public portal (www.lacity.org/olympic-wage) and attend the scheduled public hearings.
What happens if the wage increase is rejected?	The council may adopt a smaller incremental raise (e.g., 10 % increase) or maintain the current wage, pending further negotiations with the Organizing Committee.

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