Title
Worker’s Bill of Rights and Minimum Wage Discussion
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Not referred to a committee.
City Manager Recommendation:
Discuss the scope and process for the City Council to consider and ordinance to address minimum wage.
Report
Issue:
Whether to discuss the scope and process for Council to consider an ordinance to address minimum wage.
Staff Contact:
Stacey Ray, Assistant City Manager, City Manager’s Office, 360.753.8046.
Presenter(s):
Stacey Ray, Assistant City Manager
Background and Analysis:
The City Council has received a letter from the Thurston-Lewis-Mason Central Labor Council and United Food and Commercial Workers Local 367 requesting consideration of a “Workers’ Bill of Rights.” The document outlines various proposals aimed at expanding worker protections, including raising the minimum wage, ensuring fair scheduling, and improving workplace safety. The letter also outlines the organizations’ intent to place a ballot initiative addressing the above proposals before Olympia voters in November 2025.
The purpose of this agenda item is for Finance Committee to discuss with staff a proposed scope, process, and timeline for consideration of the issues outlined above, with a priority on addressing minimum wage.
Climate Analysis:
There are no anticipated climate impacts from developing a scope of work, process, and timeline for addressing minimum wage.
Equity Analysis:
Community members bringing forward these topics for Council consideration are doing so with the intent to improve conditions and livability for employees who make the lowest wages in the region. They cite data highlighting that the current wage estimate needed for an individual to support themselves working full time in the Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater region is $24.01 for a single adult and $41.53 for an adult and one child. Data from the United Way on ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) households highlights that while ALICE households are diverse, financial hardship is felt more substantially by Black, Indigenous and People of Color in Washington, calling attention to inequities in the state and local economies.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
Staff anticipates broad community interest in this topic, as an ordinance that impacts working conditions for lower-wage earners will affect community members employed in primarily minimum wage employment, such as the retail, grocery, and food service business sectors, as well as the owners/operators and customers of those businesses.
Financial Impact:
There is no funding request associated with developing and implementing a scope of work and community and stakeholder engagement process for addressing minimum wage. Staff support for this work effort will primarily be from within the City Manager’s Office.
Options:
1. Discuss the scope and process for Council to consider an ordinance to address minimum wage.
2. Do not discuss the scope and process for Council to consider an ordinance to address minimum wage.
3. Discuss the scope and process for Council to consider an ordinance to address minimum wage at another time.
Attachments:
Letter to City Council: Workers’ Bill of Rights