Living Wage Heading to Court?

Unfortunately, it seems likely that the new living wage legislation will be heading to court. Rather than pay fair wages to their employees, after getting $110 million in incentives in recent weeks, it appears that business interests will sue to block the ordinance. From today's LAT:

Though the law is expected to win final approval next week, it is likely to be challenged in court, union and business officials agreed Tuesday.

The city had rescinded its original ordinance for the hotel workers under threat of a referendum, and some business interests say that would make it difficult for the city to defend a new law in court — particularly if the new law isn't much different from the old one.

Council President Eric Garcetti, however, said the city was on solid legal ground.

I am no lawyer and will not begin to pontificate on the merits of such a lawsuit. Instead, I will simply lament this turn of events. It was only a short time ago that the business groups were on board and supporting the ordinance. Now, they have withdrawn support and are talking about going on the attack, all to avoid paying their workers a fair wage.

Talk of a potential lawsuit added to the charged debate on Tuesday.

A livid City Councilwoman Janice Hahn asked business officials to reconsider giving the money they would use for lawyers to the hotel workers.

"I implore you not to tie this up in litigation," said Hahn, her voice rising. "Pay your hotel workers what they deserve."