The Irvine City Council approved a “living wage” ordinance, setting wages for the lowest paid City employees and contract workers well above the state minimum wage.
The measure, approved during the Council’s June 3rd meeting, sets a minimum wage for the City’s part-time and seasonal workers at $20 per hour. Full-time employees will be paid a minimum hourly wage of $25. These City minimums will also apply to employees of City contractors doing more than $200,000 annually in business with the City. The state’s minimum wage is currently $16.50 per hour.
“The basic question is what kind of workplace do we want to have?” said Mayor Larry Agran, who introduced the ordinance. “I want to know that in this City — known for our high quality of life — anybody working for the City of Irvine will be paid at least $20 an hour. We want our workforce to be properly compensated.”…