Los Angeles Battles for $30 an Hour

And labor groups call for an eviction moratorium in the city to protect immigrants

News and Views

• Labor and business are battling over a higher minimum wage for the city of Los Angeles, where workers have been under attack from Trump’s immigration agents. In May, business groups announced a ballot referendum effort to overturn a new Los Angeles ordinance raising the minimum wage to $30 an hour for tourism industry workers ahead of the 2028 Olympics in the city. Unions struck back with a ballot referendum proposal of their own, to raise the minimum wage for all Los Angeles workers to $30 an hour.

• Also in Los Angeles, SEIU 721 and other groups are calling for a local eviction moratorium to protect families impacted by ICE raids. (The article refers to a “Coalition of Labor Union Employees”--we assume they are referring to CLUW.)

• The Trump Department of Labor directed its field staff on June 20 to stop enforcing critical farmworker protections implemented under the Biden administration.

• The CEO of US Steel got a $108 million payout when Nippon Steel closed its acquisition of the company last week. The final deal grants the White House a “golden share” in the company, which “gives the president perpetual veto power over a broad range of actions impacting its workforce.” The United Steelworkers are skeptical of the deal, warning that the “golden share” gives Trump “a startling degree of personal power over a corporation.” But, the Steelworkers say they are they are ready to hold Nippon’s feet to the fire.

Today’s Wins

• 288 rehabilitation workers in Massachusetts are organizing with SEIU.

• IATSE just won a strong contract at Encore, which is owned by Blackstone, the world’s largest private equity firm.