The campaign to significantly increase the minimum wage shifted from local government to the state Wednesday, with UC President Janet Napolitano announcing that several thousand workers would have their salaries increased to $15 an hour by 2017.
UC's action is expected to heighten debate in the state Legislature about a proposal to boost the statewide minimum wage and has also prompted calls for the California State University system to follow suit.
Napolitano announced the move a day after Los Angeles County — the nation's largest government agency — agreed to increase the minimum wage to $15 an hour in all unincorporated communities by 2020.