In 2014, Mayor Ed Murray came to Capitol Hill to sign Seattle’s historic minimum wage law. On April 1st, the first stage of the march to a $15/hour minimum for all Seattle workers (well, except these folks, maybe) will begin. City Council member and District 3 candidate Kshama Sawant, the biggest champion of the new wage, will return to the Hill for a rally to celebrate and defend the new law:
Seattle’s Getting a Raise – Now, Let’s Enforce It!
Saturday, March 28th at 1 PM
In Front of Seattle Central College – Broadway & E. Pine
$15 was won due to the efforts low wage workers, unions, and grassroots organizations. The next step is to make sure our bosses follow the law.On March 28th we’ll be visiting low-wage workplaces to let workers know their rights. Join us and take action for workers’ rights under the new minimum wage law.
Starting next Wednesday, the minimum wage at Seattle employers with more than 500 employees will rise to $11 — an 18% jump. Employees at smaller companies with no tips and no medical benefits will also have a $11/hour floor. Small employers of tipped workers and employers that provide medical benefits may pay a $10 minimum and make up the balance with credit for the tips and bennies. No foolin’.
.@cmkshama about to go live on @FoxBusiness News to discuss $15/hr victory and April 1st implementation. #15Now pic.twitter.com/UDP9GPvZds
— Clay Showalter (@socialistclay) March 26, 2015
So, it seems like Sawant and her allies are assuming that 1) some bosses will not comply with the law; and 2) some employees are not aware of their upcoming wage increase (unlikely!). This all seems kind of presumptuous and needlessly antagonistic to me.
It’s almost given that there will be some violations. It happens all the time, even with the skimpy federal mimimum wage. Employers hope that workers don’t know their rights, and often, they don’t. Sometimes immigrant workers are afraid to speak up as well. This stands out to me:
http://www.indiawest.com/news/business/silicon-valley-tech-firm-paid-indian-workers-an-hour/article_9175fe48-5bc5-11e4-8e4e-071346c8c48f.html
Cause Bob polled all low wage workers in the city and their employers to ensure everyone was aware. You got all the answers bro.
SEIU is twitching its feelers in anticipation of increased dues.
So sad. The promotion of entitlement. What happened to the will to strive for more? I feel sorry for these people and the owners.
You don’t “earn” a raise anymore, you “win” it.
is this the end of mandatory tipping?