Berkeley's New Minimum Wage Goes into Effect Wednesday

Starting tomorrow, Oct. 1, Berkeley will belong to the pioneering cities with local minimum wages that exceed state and federal minimums.

Berkeley’s new minimum wage goes into effect Wednesday with a citywide rate of $10 an hour (a dollar higher than the state’s minimum). It’s the first step in a three-stage plan that begins with $10 and then increases a year later, on Oct. 1, 2015, to $11. A year after that, onOct. 1, 2016, it rises again to $12.53, to match the amount expected in Oakland under an Oakland ballot measure likely to pass in November. The Berkeley plan received final approval in a unanimous City Council vote on June 24.

“Tomorrow’s boost to $10 is an important milestone in our efforts to improve the conditions and rights of low-wage workers in Berkeley,” said Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates.

In coordination with Berkeley’s plan, Mayor Bates has also proposed a regional approach.

“I have proposed that other East Bay cities join with us in adopting a regional minimum wage and am pleased that discussions for such an approach are underway in some of our neighbor cities,” Bates said. Berkeley’s plan was the product of a year’s study by the City’s Commission on Labor, public hearings before the City Council and discussions with local businesses and labor unions.

The City’s work on its minimum wage plan is still in progress. The agenda for tonight’s City Council meeting includes a proposal to ask the Commission on Labor to develop recommendations for adding sick leave, enhanced enforcement and other appropriate features.

The Mayor welcomes continued community-wide participation among City officials, labor, business and other interested groups and individuals in further developing our minimum wage program.

—Information submitted by the Office of Mayor Bates

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