Catherwood LibraryILR School

On Monday, California Governor Jerry Brown spoke to Democrats and union leaders about his plans for the next 5 years, confident that he would win reelection in this year?s election. The mayor has signed into law 40 union-supported bills. The California Labor Federation, which represents 1,200, says that even though the Governor has been amenable to many propositions brought forth by labor, he does not support their ideology entirely. Since 2010, labor groups have contributed at least $60 million to Brown?s campaigns. The Governor had signed a bill that would increase the minimum wage to $10 per hour by 2016, and the unions are backing a Democratic bill that would increase the minimum wage again to $13 by 2017 and chain it to inflation. Although some Governors would shy away from raising minimum wage in an election year, Brown has long been a supporter of the working class and may see the bill as a longer-term solution.