San Diego City Council will meet Monday, Aug. 18, to consider overriding Mayor Kevin Faulconer’s Aug. 8 veto of an ordinance that would increase the minimum wage in the city and give workers five paid sick days, council President Todd Gloria said Aug. 14.
Council voted 6-3 along party lines on July 14 to increase the minimum wage. At least six votes are needed to override Faulconer’s veto.
The ordinance would increase the minimum wage to $9.75 on Jan. 1, to $10.50 in January of 2016 and to $11.50 in January of 2017. Beginning in January 2019, the pay scale would be indexed to inflation.
“The City Council should stand up for the 38 percent of San Diegans who are counting on this raise to help them better make ends meet, and I hope they will override the mayor’s veto,” Gloria said.
In the past, the mayor has said he favored state or federal increases because that would leave everyone with a level playing field.
Business community leaders who oppose the rise in the lowest pay level have said they are considering their options, including collecting signatures to force the issue to the ballot.
Supporters of the sick leave requirement said it will keep employees from showing up for their jobs while ill and infecting the public and their co-workers.
Gloria had 30 days to schedule an override vote. That time period went up against the next scheduled meeting – on Sept. 8 – following a four-week break. He has since canceled those meetings, making the next regular meeting Sept. 15.