Attorney General Kris Mayes Joins Living United for Change in Arizona (LUCHA) in Opposition to Major League Baseball’s Attempt to Circumvent Arizona’s Minimum Wage (Prop 206)

PHOENIX – Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes joins LUCHA in opposition to any effort attempting to undermine Arizona’s minimum wage Prop 206 law that short-changes employees. LUCHA will not support any carve-outs to the overwhelmingly voter-approved Prop 206 and that is exactly why MLB is looking for legislative exemptions through HB 2197/SB1093.(minimum wage, minor league baseball). 

“The proposed carveout in HB2197/SB1093 contradicts the purpose of voter-protected legislation,” said Attorney General Kris Mayes in a statement provided directly to LUCHA about her opposition. “Rather than furthering the purpose of voter-approved legislation, it undermines it. Every worker in Arizona, including minor league players, deserves to be paid fairly in accordance with state law and the clear intent of voters. This carveout risks setting a harmful precedent, weakening the critical worker protections approved by voters.”

This effort by Major League Baseball (MLB) comes after an 8-year-long lawsuit that forced MLB to pay $185 million for violating minimum wage and overtime laws in various states. Instead of following the court order to comply with these state laws, they have focused efforts on changing the law in each of those states. They have succeeded in both California and Florida, where exemptions have passed, creating an uneven playing field for minor league players and subsequently ridding MLB of all legal responsibility to these players. 

Proposition 206, also known as the Fair Wages & Healthy Families Act was a landmark achievement that expanded workers' rights, raising the state's minimum wage and providing paid sick time off for all workers. LUCHA played a pivotal role in the introduction and success of this ballot measure, benefiting workers across Arizona.

LUCHA’s Executive Director Alejandra Gomez said, "It is not the job of the Arizona legislature to do the bidding of greedy billionaire owners; it should be the top priority of the legislature to reject HB 2197/SB 1093. This bill contradicts the democratic will expressed by the people of Arizona through Proposition 206. It jeopardizes the hard-fought rights of workers and sets a dangerous precedent that undermines the very essence of fair wages and workers' protections. We applaud Attorney General Kris Mayes for her pivotal testimony in opposition of this bill."

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LUCHA  is a grassroots organization dedicated to building power with Arizona's working families. LUCHA fights for racial, economic, and social justice, striving to create a just and equitable society for all. Check us out on social media and our website for more information. Founded in 2010, LUCHA has been at the forefront of numerous successful initiatives, including Proposition 206.