Dear John,

We are so thrilled to tell you that the Long Beach community, once again, stood with workers in their fight for family sustaining wages. As of the latest ballot count update, Measure RW has earned nearly 53% of the vote.

Measure RW guarantees Long Beach hotel workers the highest minimum wage in the nation. The measure will raise those workers’ wages to $23/hour by July 20, 2024, with an escalator to $29.50/hr by the 2028 Olympics. This is a major victory for working families in Long Beach. 

The Yes on RW campaign was led by UNITE HERE Local 11, LAANE, CLUE, and the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor. Through a robust canvassing program, the campaign spoke to over 20,000 Long Beach voters, knocked on over 104,000 doors, and made 100,000 calls. It was endorsed by a broad coalition of supporters, including over 200 Long Beach small businesses and 70 community organizations.

Measure RW will cover workers at Long Beach hotels with 100 rooms or more. Approximately 20 large corporate hotels and more than 2000 hotel workers will be impacted by the initiative. 

The push to raise wages for Long Beach hospitality workers comes as the industry is raking in record profits—while its workers are struggling to provide for their families. This wage increase ensures that hotel workers who make the tourism industry thrive do not get pushed out further from their jobs, especially as the region gets ready to host the Olympics in 2028.  

Measure RW’s victory comes more than ten years after Measure N—or the “Long Beach Hotel Workers Initiative Ordinance”—was passed in 2013. Measure N brought hospitality workers’ wages to $13 an hour. The current minimum wage for hospitality workers is $17.55/hour.

We want to commend the support of the Long Beach City Council, especially the leadership of Councilwoman Suely Saro and Mayor Rex Richardson for creating a pathway for Measure RW. This historic victory could not have been possible without the support from our community partners and allies who joined us in knocking on doors, endorsed Measure RW, donated to the canvassing program, and talked to their neighbors. Your hard work has changed the lives of Long Beach hospitality workers and their families!

In Solidarity,

Grecia Lopez-Reyes
Campaign Director, Long Beach for a Just Economy