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, community engagement process, and communications strategies for Council to consider an ordinance to address minimum wage.
Report
Issue:
Whether to discuss the scope, community engagement process, and communications strategies 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:
In 2015, City Councilmember Jim Cooper put forward to the City Council the topic of a policy framework for increasing the minimum wage in Olympia, with the intent to catalyze a regional conversation on workplace wages, sick and safe leave, and predictability of schedule. Demographic data was presented, and a draft ordinance developed; however, the City Council did not at the time take formal action.
Shortly after the COVID 19 pandemic, a regional coalition of stakeholders came together to address economic response and recovery for Thurston County, subsequently developing a 24-month plan including strategies to address major economic stability challenges exposed by the pandemic. As a next step, the City of Olympia embarked on developing its own strategies to address local economic opportunity and resiliency. Know, as Olympia Strong, the resulting strategies were accepted by City Council on September 10, 2024, as the City’s role and priorities for creating and maintaining economic opportunity for a broader cross-section of the community.
Through widespread community member, partner organization, and economic sector engagement, Olympia Strong identified the greatest persisting economic challenges for individuals; among them were housing instability, increased cost of living, limited upward mobility, affordable workforce housing, systemic inequality and discrimination, and a desire for higher-wage jobs. The Olympia Strong strategies are intended to respond by helping close the exacerbated equity gaps in our economy and supporting financial stability for a greater number of Olympia community members.
In addition to accepting the strategies identified in Olympia Strong, in September 2024, the City Council also 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 scope, engagement 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, engagement 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 and Councilmembers have experienced broad and significant 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, community engagement process, and communications strategies for Council to consider an ordinance to address minimum wage.
2. Do not Discuss the scope, community engagement process, and communications strategies for Council to consider an ordinance to address minimum wage.
3. Hold the discussion at another time.
Attachments:
Letter to City Council: Workers’ Bill of Rights