CA: Deal Reached to Raise Minimum Wage to $15/hour

[The Mikado]

Yeah, a tiered minimum wage (15/12.50/10) depending on region of CA would be entirely appropriate. This is a state that still has vast rural areas as well as inland hellholes like Fresno and Bakersfield, where a $15 minimum wage isn't going to be as viable as it will be in SF.

We'll see how this turns out, though.

[The Mikado]

Half assed decision because it doesn't go into effect for years and it exempts like half of all business because they're small businesses.

Also important to note, the main reason they exempted small businesses is because if they didn't, basically every bodega and Chinese restaurant would go out of business.

Open borders make a high minimum wage impossible.

$15 is not "high".

For agricultural workers?

Also, the median income in California comes out to ~$20/hour. Raising the minimum to 75% of the median is...not something that's really viable.

[The Mikado]

Uh, yes. Agricultural work is exhausting and I don't see why it shouldn't be compensated appropriately.

So why wouldn't supermarkets start ordering even more of their produce than they already are from Chile and Argentina? The importation costs would be more than offset by the labor savings.

If a Chilean strawberry is retailing 29 cents cheaper than a Californian one in a supermarket, the consumer's going to pick it every time.