The Los Angeles City Council on May 19 voted 14–1 to increase the city’s minimum wage from $9 to $15 per hour by 2020.

The vote came just a month after a massive April 15 national protest for higher wages that organizers have said was the largest protest by low-wage workers in U.S. history. More than 60,000 workers in 200 cities across the country, including Los Angeles, walked off their jobs or participated in rallies.

The city’s new minimum wage will affect as many as 800,000 workers, making it the largest city in the nation to adopt a major increase. Chicago, San Francisco and Seattle have already introduced similar hikes.

New York is also considering an increase for one sector of low-wage workers. Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced in a New York Times op-ed on May 6 that he will convene a wage board to explore increasing the minimum wage for fast-food workers.

Los Angeles Times, May 19
Albany Times-Union, May 7