California’s minimum wage increasing January 1st

In 2014 California’s minimum wage went up a buck to $9 an hour and in less than five days it will go up to $10 dollars an hour.

and in less than five days it will jump from $9 dollars to $10.

“We don’t really have a choice and it’s going to happen,” said First Awakenings co-owner Chris Ulrich.

Ulrich says under the new law about 17 of their employees will get a raise which means the restaurant will have to pay more than 130 extra dollars a day to their staff.

“As a business owner you always want to try and keep your expenses down,” said Ulrich.

The restaurant says they’ve had to raise prices on their menu to make up for the extra wages they’re paying employees.

“We’re not happy about it because it drives our customers away that are used to a certain amount, said Ulrich. “But we just raised everything a small percentage not even 10%.”

Gaby Granados with Medina’s Bridal Shop in Salinas already makes $10 dollars an hour.

“We have bills, insurance, rent, food,” said Granados. “We’re still trying to fit in school it’s really, really hard.

She said she applauds the new wage increase but knows first-hand $10 dollars an hour is not much.

“I think they should do at least $12 and I still don’t think that’s enough,” said Granado.

She fears some businesses will not even implement the new wage increase.

“There’s a lot of people who take advantage of field workers or even people who don’t have papers and I think that’s really wrong,” said Granado.

Gaby also believes that with the minimum wage going up so will everything else leaving her and other employees stuck in the same place financially instead of moving ahead.

“No matter how much we’re getting paid things are just gonna keep going up and up and up,” said Granado.

Other business we talked to say they’re welcoming the change.