Why is Amazon advertising a position that pays just $10/hour to do customer service… in two different languages… in a state where we just voted to raise the minimum wage well higher?
Read MoreWe asked for messages last week in support of the workers taking action on the four-year anniversary of the original fast food strikes that launched the fight for $15. And wow, did you deliver — with more than 500 thoughtful, encouraging, and inspiring messages…
Read MoreSend a message of support to all the workers who continue to fight for good jobs and living wages in the year ahead.
Read MoreFour years ago, in 2012, with minimum wage at $9.04/hour, anti-worker lobby groups pushed to carve out sub-minimum wages, tip penalties, and other exceptions. Four years later, $13.50 is on the way. A lot can happen in four years.
Read MoreThree days later, there's still a lot to process. When we look at the results here in Washington, we keep thinking about Initiative 1433. Our ballot measure to raise the minimum wage won majority support in 16 Washington counties (and 49% of the vote in two more counties) many of them far outside the Seattle metropolitan area. By contrast, Hillary Clinton only got a majority of the vote in 9 counties.
Read MoreNational anti-worker lobby groups like the National Restaurant Association and the Koch Brothers had private getaways to discuss minimum wage ballot measures — including Washington’s Initiative 1433.
Read MoreTurn out that the face of the campaign against the minimum wage is a stock photo called "Two friends collecting money to paying in a restaurant.” Hot tip: they might be able to more easily afford the bill if they got a raise.
Read MoreSome opponents of Initiative 1433 to raise the minimum wage — including several newspaper editorial boards — have been trying to make the claim that lifting the minimum wage from $9.47/hour this year to $13.50 over the next four years is an “unprecedented” increase. It seems to be in some kind of anti-1433 opposition talking point. (They must think it makes them sound smart. Or maybe they're just kinda desperate?)
Because here's the reality: there is plenty of precedent for the minimum wage increase in I-1433. In fact, every single recent minimum wage increase at the state and federal levels back to 1977 raised wages by at least as much per year as I-1433 would. (And that’s not even mentioning Seattle and SeaTac.)
Some opponents of Initiative 1433 have been trying to make the claim that lifting the minimum wage from $9.47/hour this year to $13.50 over the next four years is an “unprecedented” increase. In fact, every single recent minimum wage increase at the state and federal levels back to 1977 raised wages by at least as much per year as I-1433 would.
Read MoreBig business lobbyists from Idaho say they're worried about what will happen if Washington voters pass Initiative 1433 to raise the minimum wage — because they're going to have raise wages in Idaho too in order to keep up and hire people. That's bad because....?
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