Los Angeles Delays $30 Minimum Wage for Hotel, Airport Workers

The City Council in Los Angeles approved a measure to delay a US$30 minimum wage for hotel and airport workers, including janitorial staff, until after the 2028 Olympics, the Los Angeles Times reported. The new plan calls for raising the wage to $25 in July and to continue hiking it toward $30 by January 2030.

Last week, the City Council approved the 18-month delay to fend off a business leader-backed initiative to eliminate the gross receipts tax, which is the city’s second-largest revenue stream. With the minimum wage increase delay, the business leaders dropped their ballot measure which would have tanked the city’s budget.

In addition to postponing the $30 minimum wage, the council delayed the hourly healthcare payment to start at $8.15 an hour for airport workers in July 2027 and $4.25 for hotel workers July 1 of this year.

Because the 11 to 4 vote was not unanimous, the new pay schedule will head to a second vote this week.

In May 2025, the council approved a proposal that would have increased the minimum wage to $30 in July 2028 and also raised an hourly payment for healthcare coverage.