On July 22, employers, workers, and nonprofit leaders from Olympia and Tacoma voiced concerns about the recently certified initiatives that will raise the minimum wage and impose complex workplace rules on all employers, going far beyond Seattle’s labor standards, which apply only to retail and hospitality sectors.
Testimony at the two council meetings reflected a wide range of concerns:
- An in-home senior care franchisee stated that his 40-employee size small business will be unfairly categorized as a large employer. In addition, healthcare and emergency care scheduling cannot conform to the 2-week scheduling mandates without raising costs for vulnerable populations.
- A local restaurant owner said the rules would “take the oxygen out of the business” by removing staffing flexibility.
- A 15-year-old worker shared that the 10-hour rest rule would limit her ability to work on weekends.
- A local nonprofit representative said rising labor costs will force them to drastically limit their meal and shelter services for the unhoused and low-income residents.
- Many urged councils to adopt the initiative immediately in Olympia, stating that small businesses have time to comply and employees retain negotiation power.
Though nearly identical in content, each city’s authority differs. Olympia’s council could only adopt the measure or send it to the ballot. On July 22, they voted to place it on the November ballot to give voters more time. Tacoma’s council has broader authority to revise the proposal before referring it to voters. No action has been taken yet.
WR will continue supporting impacted members and informing voters ahead of the election.
