117,140 / 59.57% Yes votes ...... 79,498 / 40.43% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

California requires most employers to pay a minimum wage of $6.75 per hour. San Francisco requires most employers who receive City contracts to pay employees a minimum wage of either $9.00 per hour (nonprofit organizations) or $10.25 per hour (for-profit businesses).

The Proposal:

Proposition L is an ordinance that would require most employers (whether or not the employer receives City contracts) to pay a minimum wage of $8.50 per hour for work performed within San Francisco. Each year the City would adjust the amount of the minimum wage based on increases in the regional consumer price index. The minimum wage requirement would apply to employees who work two or more hours per week.

The requirement would apply to most employers. The requirement would not apply to small businesses with fewer than ten employees (including temporary and part-time employees) or nonprofits until January 1, 2005. Starting on that date, those small businesses and nonprofits would pay a minimum wage of $7.75 per hour. Then, starting January 1, 2006, all small businesses and nonprofits would pay the minimum wage of $8.50 (as adjusted based on increases in the regional consumer price index).

Under this ordinance, employees who assert their right to receive the City's minimum wage would be protected from retaliation. San Francisco could investigate possible violations and enforce the minimum wage requirements by ordering reinstatement of employees and payment of back wages and penalties.

Both San Francisco and members of the public could sue to enforce the minimum wage requirements. A court could then order reinstatement of employees, payment of back wages and penalties, and payment of reasonable attorneys' fees and costs.

Meaning of Voting Yes/No

A YES vote of this measure means:

you want to require employers to pay a minimum wage of $8.50 per hour (as adjusted based on increases in the regional consumer price index) for work performed within San Francisco.

A NO vote of this measure means:

you do not want to require employers to pay a minimum wage of $8.50 per hour (as adjusted based on increases in the regional consumer price index) for work performed within San Francisco.