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Council pauses changes to Olympic-wage ordinance after hours of public comment; substitute motion passes 10-5
Summary
After extended public comment from hotel and airport workers and union leaders, the Los Angeles City Council voted 10-5 to approve a substitute motion to continue negotiations on proposed changes to the city's Olympic-wage ordinance (Item 20), after failing to adopt an exemption for hotel restaurants.
The Los Angeles City Council voted 10-5 on May 13 to approve a substitute motion that pauses immediate changes to the city's Olympic-wage ordinance and directs staff to return with revised language after further negotiations.
Why it matters: The ordinance governs pay and health-benefit rules for hotel and tourism workers ahead of major international events. Supporters said delaying or weakening the ordinance would undo years of organizing and leave thousands of workers without promised pay and medical coverage. Opponents including some business groups argued that narrow sectors of the hospitality industry need more time to adapt.
Council action and outcome Councilmembers voted for a substitute motion that instructs the City Attorney and administrative staff to continue negotiating compromise language and return with details, effectively pausing any immediate rollback or implementation changes to Item 20. The chair announced the final tally as 10 in favor and 5 opposed.
What speakers said Multiple workers and union representatives addressed the council during the public-comment period. Rosa Enredquez told the council, "Cuando los trabajadores reciben un aumento, su salud mejora drame1ticamente," urging members to reject any measure that weakens pay or medical protections. Laura Banuet, a member of United Local 11, said the proposed changes "quiebran la promesa" made to workers and described proposed cuts as a rollback of protections won by voters. Brandon Bermfadez of United Here Local 11 asked the council to "vote no" on changes that would reduce salaries and benefits.
On the dais, Councilmember Rodredguez argued for care in drafting any change, saying negotiations had produced compromises and warning against last-minute changes that could harm workers. Councilmember Soto Martednez emphasized that a portion (point F) had not been part of recent negotiations and asked that it be removed or separately vetted.
Failed amendment and next steps Earlier in the meeting an amendment proposed to exempt restaurants operating inside hotels from the hotel wage rules failed when the chair announced the vote as "5 a favor" and said the motion did not pass. After the substitute motion passed, the council directed staff to prepare revised ordinance language and to return to the council (the chair indicated an expectation of further work and a return on the following Tuesday). The meeting record shows the council also asked the City Attorney to draft clarifications to municipal code language related to hotel-restaurant definitions.
Context and background The dispute centers on an ordinance adopted in December that set higher minimum pay and health-benefit rules for hotel and certain tourism-sector workers; opponents have sought adjustments arguing business strain and the need for narrowly tailored exceptions, while unions and worker advocates contend voters supported these protections and that rolling them back would cause real economic harm to families.
What happens next City staff and the City Attorney were instructed to continue negotiations and return with refined language for council consideration. The council did not adopt the proposed rollback as written and left Item 20 pending further action.
