Sacramento's Minimum Wage Plan Falling Apart Before Going To City Council
SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — Sacramento's proposed minimum wage increase is falling apart as the same city leaders who crafted the plan say it's crumbling.
Sacramento florist Liezet Arnold says she's in favor of the city's plan to increase the city's minimum wage.
"The way they are doing it gradually, or that they are proposing to do it, I think is OK," she said.
But inside city hall, the bloom is off the rose. The deal reached between business and labor is falling apart.
"As it exists right now, we think the exemptions are too dangerous," said Fabrizio Sasso with the Sacramento Central Labor Council.
"Certain members of the task force shook their hand, made a deal, walked away from the table, and then now are trying to take out the things they didn't like," said Josh Wood with Region Business.
A 14-member mayoral task force initially recommended the minimum wage hike from $9 to $12.50 an hour over five years. Now labor leaders are voicing opposition to exemptions for employees who receive tips.
"There are some questions being asked right now, whether some of this stuff is illegal," Sasso said.
Wood calls the public employee exemptions hypocritical.
"They are all exempted from this measure, so this is a perfect example of do what I say, not what I do," Wood said.
The two sides now only agree to disagree.