July 1, 2016 — The Los Angeles Coalition Against Wage Theft held a city wide resource fair to celebrate the first increase to $15/hr and host wage theft intake clinics with LA workers. The fair took place in the center of downtown at Grand Park. Workers and community based organizations in the coalition were joined by Mayor Eric Garcetti and Supervisor Hilda Solis who shared their remarks at an opening press conference. Workers from UFCW 770, SEIU 721 (Fight for $15), and the Black Worker Center also shared with the press their personal experiences with wage theft while working in Los Angeles.

July 2016 marks the first increase to $15/hr in the City of Los Angeles, areas of unincorporated Los Angeles County, and Santa Monica. The minimum wage is now $10.50/hr for employers with 25 or more employees, with a one-year phase-in exemption in for employers with 24 employees or less and some non-profit organizations.

The fair was attended by about 200 members of the community and included tables for the Office of Wage Standards (LA City), the Department of Consumer and Business Affairs (LA County), and the Labor Commissioner’s Office (State of California). The fair got people moving with some midday zumba and tunes from DJ Phatrick. Children were also able to get their faces painted and enjoy balloon animals courtesy of the coalition.

The event was made possible with generous funding from the following offices, organizations and individuals: Mayor Eric Garcetti, Supervisor Hilda Solis, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, Councilmember Gil Cedillo, Councilmember Jose Huizar, SEIU 721, UFCW 770, USWW, the Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy, and DJ Phatrick. Thank you to all our continued supporters for their financial contributions and time donations!