Next February, Burien voters will have a chance to vote to raise the minimum wage to match nearby jurisdictions like Tukwila, Renton, White Center, and Seattle. TRU has been helping to lead the Raise the Wage Burien campaign because we can’t let Burien set a bad precedent. Earlier this year, a majority of the council passed a business-supported law that they claim raises the minimum wage. But it’s a trick! Here’s why:
The business-backed majority on the Burien City Council is clearly afraid that voters will prefer our initiative to their law, because in October they amended it two times: first to raise the “large employer” total compensation threshold to $4 instead of $3 above the state minimum wage; and then, on October 28th, to raise it again to $4.50 and to raise the “medium employer” total compensation threshold to $3.50 instead of $2 above the state minimum wage. They are hoping that this makes our initiative harder to pass. But their law is still a confusing and inadequate dumpster fire and we will be doing our best to make sure Burien voters know the difference.