[Vision2020] Seattle gradually increases minimum wage to $15 an hour

[Kenneth Marcy]

Question:  What effect, marginal though it would be, will higher wages 
in Seattle have on Washington State University, and, we dare ask, 
University of Idaho, admission applications?

Here is the news story raising the question:

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/06/02/seattle-council-passes-15-minimum-wage/ 


SEATTLE -- The Seattle City Council unanimously passed an ordinance 
Monday that gradually increases theminimum wagein the city to $15, which 
would make it the highest in the nation.

The issue has dominated politics in the liberal municipality for months, 
and a boisterous crowd of mostly labor activists packed the Council 
chambers for the vote. Mayor Ed Murray, who was elected last year, had 
promised in his campaign to raise theminimum wageto $15 an hour. A 
newly-elected socialist City Council member had pushed the idea as well.

"We did it. Workers did this," said Kshama Sawant, the socialist City 
Council member "We need to continue to build an even more powerful 
movement."

Council member Tom Rasmussen said "Seattle wants to stop the race to the 
bottom inwages" and address the "widening gap between the rich and the 
poor."

The measure, which would take effect on April 1, 2015, includes a 
phase-in of thewageincrease over several years, with a slower process 
for small businesses. The plan gives businesses with more than 500 
employees nationally at least three years to phase in the increase. 
Those providing health insurance will have four years to complete the 
move. Smaller organizations will be given seven years.

The International Franchise Association, a Washington, D.C.-based 
business group that represents franchise owners, said it plans to sue to 
stop the ordinance.

"The City Council's action today is unfair, discriminatory and a 
deliberate attempt to achieve a political agenda at the expense of small 
franchise business owners," the group said in a statement.

The ordinance came from recommendations made by an advisory group of 
labor, business and nonprofit representatives convened by Murray. After 
more than four months of discussion, the group presented its plan last 
month. Last week the Council delayed implementation by a few months and 
approved a sub-minimum wagefor teenagers, a provision opposed by labor 
representatives.

Although some local businesses have come out in support of the measure, 
a group of restaurant owners oppose it, saying it would force them to 
scuttle expansion plans, decrease hiring and possibly cut service hours.

Nick Musser, executive chef and general manager of the Icon Grill in 
downtown Seattle, doesn't think the wagecredit for tips should phase out 
after seven years and finds the differentiation between large and big 
companies irrelevant.

"The reality is that the larger companies are going to ratchet up 
theirwagesand we're going to have to play at that level anyway," said 
Musser, whose restaurant employs between 50 and 60 people, depending on 
the time of year. Most of them are paidminimum wage.

Ubah Aden, 40, a Seattle home health worker who says she now earns 
$10.95 an hour, is looking forward to the way a higherwagewill help her 
support her three children. But she also likes the idea of Seattle 
setting an example for the rest of the nation.

"If this passes, then it will pave the way for other cities and states. 
I really think so" Aden said.

She said she and her three kids are living with her brother because she 
can't afford an apartment of her own even though she works full time. 
"This will make changes to myself and also a lot of other people in my 
shoes."

San Francisco currently has the nation's highest hourlyminimum wageat 
$10.74.

The currentminimum wagein Washington state is $9.32 an hour.

Earlier this year Minnesota raised the state's guaranteedwageby more 
than $3, to $9.50, by 2016. California, Connecticut and Maryland also 
have passed laws increasing their respectivewagesto $10 or more in 
coming years.


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