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Council expands living-wage protections for convention center and airport concession workers, includes amphitheater
Summary
Council voted to keep living-wage protections for concession workers at the Long Beach Convention Center and Airport and to extend coverage to the planned amphitheater; the measure raises minimums on a schedule to $29.50 by 2028 and directs ordinance language revisions.
The Long Beach City Council directed amendments to municipal rules governing living wages for workers at city-owned tourism venues, preserving and expanding wage protections for concession workers at the Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center and the Long Beach Airport and extending coverage to the planned Queen Mary amphitheater. The council’s action modifies prior draft language to ensure that subcontracted and temporary concession workers are included and that the schedule of increases is implemented.
Context: Voters passed Measure RW to raise living wages for hotel workers; Councilmember Saro led a months-long effort to extend comparable protections to other tourism-sector employees. Council heard testimony from convention center and airport concession workers urging immediate application of wage increases and from labor organizations pointing to housing and cost-of-living pressures.
Key comments and votes
Councilmember Saro, the motion maker, said the purpose is to ensure that “workers who power our community” are supported as the city invests in tourism and major venues. Workers who spoke at the meeting urged immediate wage increases and opposed any carve-outs for temporary or subcontracted staff. Andrea Romero, a convention center cook of 12 years, told council: “If you do the work, you should earn the wage, plain and simple.”
City staff reported that the convention center has already negotiated collective-bargaining terms that clarify near-term wage impacts; staff also said the center operates with a structural deficit but noted that convention and event revenues, parking and other revenue streams are expected to help offset costs. Councilmembers discussed fiscal impacts and asked departments to ensure continued convention bookings and competitiveness while providing fair wages.
Outcome and next steps
The council approved the motion as amended to omit a proposed carve-out and to extend the ordinance’s coverage to the amphitheater. The motion passed; the item will return as an amended ordinance for first and second reading (the council adopted the resolution to proceed and directed staff to prepare revised ordinance text). The motion was made by Councilmember Rick Saro and seconded by Councilmember Rick Soady (motion carried).
