The Seattle City Council recently passed a new law that would significantly reduce the city’s historic $15 minimum wage. This law, which is being challenged in court, is seen as a major blow to the city’s working class and low-income residents. The Seattle City Council is facing criticism for its decision, with many arguing that it will negatively impact the city’s economy and exacerbate existing inequalities.
We believe that small businesses can thrive without compromising the well-being of their workers. This statement reflects a core belief of many small business owners and advocates. It challenges the prevailing narrative that small businesses are inherently exploitative and that their success hinges on squeezing every penny out of their employees. This statement is a powerful call to action, urging small businesses to embrace a more ethical and sustainable approach to business.
We are writing this letter in response to the anti-worker legislation District 3 Councilmember Joy Hollingsworth put forward just before the end of the council session this summer, which she has promised to re-introduce in the fall after some “strategic tweaks.” The bill she introduced, if passed, would enshrine the two-tier system of wages that was set to expire in 2025, creating a permanent sub-minimum wage for workers at businesses who employ 500 people or fewer. This would mean that over 200,000 of our city’s minimum-wage workers would be denied at least $3/hour of wage increases. Businesses with 500 or so employees are not “small,” but somewhere between Zeeks and Pagliacci sized chains with 13-20 locations. Let’s be clear, the real intention of this legislation is to begin to dismantle our progressive $15/hour law on behalf of big business. Hollingsworth’s attempt to make the lower-tier wage permanent is just a first step down that path. If our community lets the City Council get away with this attack, it will only embolden them, and the big business interests they serve, to keep attacking our minimum wage, and other progressive victories, including renters’ rights.
We need to stand together and fight for our rights. This is a critical moment for workers in Seattle and across the country. The minimum wage is under attack, and the consequences of a rollback are far-reaching. The fight for a living wage is not just about individual workers; it’s about the future of our economy and the well-being of our communities.
This is a stark reminder of the precarious nature of work in the modern world. The pandemic exposed the vulnerabilities of our economic system, highlighting the lack of social safety nets and the precariousness of many jobs. The pandemic also revealed the importance of essential workers, who kept society functioning despite facing immense risks and sacrifices. The pandemic’s impact on the labor market has been profound and multifaceted.
64% is a significant number, and it highlights the severity of the housing crisis in Seattle. The Seattle housing market is characterized by a severe shortage of affordable housing. This shortage is exacerbated by factors such as high demand, limited supply, and restrictive zoning laws. High demand is driven by a combination of factors, including a booming economy, a growing population, and a strong job market.
They said that small businesses would be crushed, and that the $15 minimum wage would lead to mass unemployment. These claims were based on flawed logic and unfounded fears. The reality is that Seattle’s economy has thrived since the $15 minimum wage was implemented. The city has seen a significant increase in its tax revenue, a decrease in poverty, and a rise in the overall well-being of its residents.
This attack on our minimum wage has nothing to do with small businesses, and everything to do with paving the way for big corporations to maximize their profits by clawing back our historic minimum wage victory and others our movements have won over the past decade. The Council Democrats will not stop if they are successful in this attack. In fact, this would only add fuel to their broader conservative agenda. This thoroughly corporate city council has already made it clear that our renters’ rights are in their crosshairs as well, beginning with rolling back the bans on winter and school-year evictions.
The summary provided argues that Democrats are using small business owners as a shield to protect big business interests. It calls on progressive small business owners to resist this tactic and organize against these attacks. **Detailed Text:**
The assertion that Democrats are using small business owners as a shield to protect big business interests is a complex and contentious issue.
Caleb Hoffmann, formerly of Blotto Cathy Kerns, HIIT LAB Ian Sample, Ballard Jiu Jitsu Michelle Forbes, PJ’s Classic Creamery Mike Dempster, MIRAGE Beer Co. Swanson’s Shoe Repair Amy Graham, Jilted Siren Shirley Henderson is the owner of Squirrel Chops in Seattle’s Central District. She and the other signers of this letter are organizing progressive small businesses to testify in public comment at City Hall, starting tomorrow, September 2nd at 2pm.
