Gov. Jerry Brown and labor union leaders have reportedly reached a deal to raise California’s minimum wage to $15 per hour over six years.
The Los Angeles Times reported the tentative deal, which Brown could announce as early as Monday, would raise the minimum from the current $10 per hour to $10.50 in 2017, $11 in 2018 and then by $1 per year through 2022. After that, further increases would be indexed to the inflation rate.
Small businesses — those with fewer than 25 employees — would have an extra year to comply with each upward increase.
The reported agreement comes a week after a ballot initiative raising the minimum wage to $15 was approved for the November general election. That would likely be withdrawn.
There is also a local initiative on the June 7 primary ballot that would raise San Diego’s minimum wage to $11.50 in 2017, a higher level than Brown’s plan.