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Breaking: California Governor Jerry Brown Signs Minimum Wage Bill


(First we had major news out of New York yesterday in regard to a minimum wage hike.  Today, it is California.  This has certainly been a big week for supporters of minimum wage increases...).


As expected, California Governor Jerry Brown signed into law a minimum wage bill yesterday that will raise minimum wage rates in the state to $15/hour.  

Under the legislation passed, the minimum wage rate will rise to $15/hour within 6 years.  The minimum wage rate, currently at $10/hour, will increase to $10.50 by 2017, to $11/hour by 2018, and increase $1 every year thereafter until 2022.  Employers in the state with less than 26 employees will be given an extra year to comply.  

As for future minimum wage increases, wages would increase every year beginning in 2024 based upon inflation.  

This is a big development, given that several cities/industries in the state have already seen minimum wage increases.  With the Governor signing this bill into law, it now puts California at the forefront (along with New York) as one of the leaders in successfully having passed minimum wage legislation.  Other states, such as Illinois, Massachusetts, and Michigan, among others, could soon become the next battle ground in the "Fight for $15" movement.  Stay tuned.


For additional information:  http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-ca-jerry-brown-signs-minimum-wage-20160404-story.html

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