Minimum Wage Updates and Resources

With a majority of our membership in the Small Business category, the current push to increase the minimum wage is an important issue for us here at the Chamber. We're lucky to have Michael at the table on the Mayor's taskforce and want to keep our membership informed about the process. Included on this page are documents and important dates to help our members track the conversation.

We've held a couple Members Only events and plan to hold a few more as the taskforce proceeds. Member Only events are communicated via our database email list, so if you are a member and NOT in our databse please contact Michelle at michelle  @ caphillchamber.org. If you have questions or concerns about the minimum wage issue, contact Michael at Michael @ caphillchamber.org.

Supporting Documents and Websites

Income Inequality Advisory Committee Website


Overview of the Income Inequality Advisory Committee Work (23 pages)

January Voting Poll on Minimum Wage Increase

City Contacts and Mayor's Minimum Wage Task Force Roster

Neighborhood Chamber Alliance Press Release on Small Business Survey

May 1, 2014: Mayor Announces Minimum Wage Task Force Recommendation

Seattle Mayor Ed Murray today announced the details of a broadly-supported plan to raise Seattle’s minimum wage to $15 per hour, the highest of any major city in the nation.

“Seattle workers are getting a raise,” said Murray. “Throughout this process, I’ve had two goals: to get Seattle’s low-wage workers to $15-per-hour while also supporting our employers, and to avoid a costly battle at the ballot box between competing initiatives. We have a deal that I believe accomplishes both goals.”

Murray said the plan announced today has the confirmed support of 21 of 24 members of his Income Inequality Advisory Committee (IIAC), a group convened in December with representatives from Seattle’s employer, labor, and non-profit communities to address the pressing issue of income equality in Seattle. The IIAC-supported plan supports Seattle’s low-wage employees and its employers with the following framework: Small businesses (businesses with fewer than 500 employees) will reach a $15 per hour minimum wage in seven years. Also established is a temporary compensation responsibility of $15 per hour to be met within the first five years, which can be achieved by combining employer-paid health care contributions, consumer-paid tips, and employer-paid wages. More

Important Events and Dates

Upcoming Select Committee on Minimum Wage and Income Inequality Meetings

April Lunch & Learn meeting with Restaurateurs

Wednesday, April 9, 12 - 1:30 pm
Council Chambers 

April 12th Minimum Wage Committee Town Hall

10 a.m. at Northgate Community Center
10510 5th Ave Ne, Seattle 

May 13th Committee Meeting

6 p.m. at Rainier Beach High School 
8815 Seward Park Avenue South, Seattle

What:  Income Inequality Symposium

When:  March 27, 2014, 8 a.m. – 4:15 p.m. Reception to follow

Where: Seattle University, Campion Ball Room, Reception to be held in the Student Center

Cost:   Free, open the public and media (registration required).

Refreshments provided.  Lunch $5.  Reception: no-host bar.

Web: www.iisymposiumseattle.com

At the Symposium, two studies commissioned by Income Inequality Advisory Committee will be presented. The studies, here and here, were conducted by Marieka Klawitter, Robert Plotnick, and Mark Long from the University of Washington’s Evans School of Public Affairs; and Ken Jacobs, Michael Reich, and Annette Bernhardt from the Institute for Research on Labor and Employment at the University of California, Berkele