Tacoma residents will not vote on a proposed increase of the city’s minimum wage to $20 per hour in the February 2026 special election. The proposal, part of a broader Worker’s Bill of Rights initiative, was backed by groups including United Food & Commercial Workers Local 367, Tacoma For All, and the Tacoma-Pierce County Democratic Socialists of America.
The measure faced legal challenges after the Tacoma City Council expressed concerns about potential impacts on local businesses. A court initially ordered the proposal to appear on the February ballot, but the city appealed. The Washington State Court of Appeals issued a stay while reviewing the case, and both the city and organizers agreed to a briefing schedule extending beyond the special election.
UFCW 367 plans to pursue placing the measure on the November 2026 ballot, citing higher voter turnout among working-class residents. Meanwhile, Tacoma Mayor Victoria Woodards proposed a task force of union members, business owners, and community representatives to review labor policies, but a resolution to cancel the task force will be voted on December 2. Tacoma’s current minimum wage matches Washington state’s rate of $16.66 per hour, compared with Seattle’s $20.76 per hour.
