California’s minimum wage is adjusted every year for inflation. Some cities have a higher wage floor and unions are advocating bigger increases to meet rising housing costs.

More than half a million fast-food workers, mostly minorities and women, will earn higher minimum wage, but some say that’s not a living wage.

Agreements between labor groups and the fast food industry would give workers a $20 minimum wage and pull a measure off the 2024 ballot. The Legislature has until Thursday to approve it.

The City Manager's Office on Sept. 1 wrote to city council members, saying the new employees contracts will mean minimal service cuts and minimal layoffs, but warned of additional impacts in future years.

Assemblymember Ash Kalra, a San Jose Democrat who chairs the Assembly labor and employment committee, said that where labor organizing campaigns have failed in low-wage industries, the government needs to act. 

A report about the cost of living in Silicon Valley goes before the Board of Supervisors next week. Also on the agenda: a "living wage" ordinance, pro bono legal help for migrant children and a digital security program proposed by Supervisor Joe Simitian.

San Jose may weaken an ordinance that guarantees a living wage to anyone working for a private tenant of a city-owned property. The 16-year-old living wage policy requires commercial and other private tenants on city leases to pay above the minimum wage, at least $15.78 an hour with benefits or $17.03 without. Other items on Tuesday’s City Council agenda include changes to the city’s cardroom ordinance, an audit of employee travel expenses and a six-figure contract for new art and light displays.

San Jose will consider skirting its living wage policy to appease a massive corporation and some developers. The City Council on Tuesday will discuss an appeal from Starbucks and other vendors to be exempt from the rule—they’re interested in leasing space at City Hall and the San Jose McEnery Convention Center.