AJR 12, as amended, Gatto. Minimum wage.
This measure would call upon the President of the United Statesbegin insert and the United States Trade Representativeend insert to include raising foreign minimum wages in future treaties, trade agreements, and other international protocols. It would also call upon the Senate of the United States to decline to ratify these agreements that fail to include these provisions.
Fiscal committee: no.
P1 1WHEREAS, Unemployment remains too high in the United
2States, with one significant cause being the “outsourcing” of quality
3trades, manufacturing, and service industry jobs to nations where
4workers are paid miniscule wages for their labor; and
5WHEREAS, In an age of “globalization,” many American
6industries have suffered due to competition from foreign employers
7who pay wages well below the federal minimum wage; and
8WHEREAS, A standardized international minimum wage, or
9even a staggered annual increase in foreign minimum wages, would
10ensure that American workers and firms compete on a “level
11playing field” in the global market; and
P2 1WHEREAS, A rising minimum wage in foreign countries would
2raise the standard of living for billions of people worldwide and
3would open new markets to American exports; and
4WHEREAS, A guarantee of fair wages and employment rights
5would curb the exploitation of workers; and
6WHEREAS, The advent of a minimum wage in developing
7countries would eliminate the need for some American foreign aid
8and assist in reducing poverty and creating more stable societies
9less prone towards wars or terrorism; and
10WHEREAS, The United States has a long history of stimulating
11beneficial policies abroad when negotiating treaties and trade
12agreements, including, inter alia, demanding free elections,
13protecting American patents, prohibiting nuclear testing, requiring
14currency stabilization, and requiring environmental safeguards, as
15a condition for peaceable relations, open trade, and robust
16commerce with the United States; and
17WHEREAS, The United States is in a unique position to affect
18global policies by utilizing its treaty powers to require foreign
19nations to stop exploiting low wages for competitive advantage;
20now, therefore, be it
21Resolved by the Assembly and the Senate of the State of
22California, jointly, That the Legislature respectfully calls upon the
23President of the United Statesbegin insert and the United States Trade
24Representativeend insert to include raising foreign minimum wages in future
25treaties, trade agreements, and other international protocols; and
26that the Senate of the United States Congress decline to ratify such
27agreements that fail to include such provisions; and be it further
28Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies
29of this resolution to the President and Vice President of the United
30States, to the Majority Leader of the Senate, and to thebegin delete Chief Clerkend delete
31begin insert Secretaryend insert of the United States Senate, for distribution among
32members of the United States Senate.
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