Catherwood LibraryILR School

In the November 2024 elections, California voters will decide on several key propositions that span a range of social and economic issues. Among these, Proposition 6 and Proposition 32 directly address labor laws. Proposition 6 aims to amend the state constitution to outlaw all forms of forced labor, which is currently permitted as punishment for a crime. This change targets the exploitative conditions in prison labor, where inmates are often paid less than $1 per hour. Proposition 32 seeks to increase the state minimum wage to $18 per hour for most workers, with specific higher rates set for fast food and healthcare workers, reflecting an initiative to improve wage standards across various sectors. Other propositions include Proposition 2, which proposes borrowing $10 billion for public school improvements, and Proposition 3, which intends to remove the ban on same-sex marriage from the state constitution. Proposition 4 looks to fund $10 billion for climate initiatives, such as enhancing water systems and preparing for wildfires while Proposition 5 aims to lower the voter approval threshold for local governments to borrow for affordable housing and infrastructure projects from two-thirds to 55%.