Cascade Party
A new path in Washington State politics.
A new path in Washington State politics.
Elections & Voting
Better Pay & Labor Cost Increase
By Marjorie O’Rourke (October 17, 2025)
Depending on how you look at it, voters in Olympia will determine whether to burden businesses or benefit workers.
There is an initiative on the ballot proposing what supporters say is a, "Workers Bill of Rights”; also known as Proposition 1, as new rules for the city. A similar effort is spurring controversy in Tacoma. This article looks at issues with the wage increase proposals.
Olympia's Proposition 1 wants to increase the minimum wage for workers from the current state minimum wage of $16.66 an hour to $20 an hour. The initiative campaign website lists these labor groups as the top-5 contributors: AFSCME Council 28, WFSE Local 443, Thurston-Lewis-Mason Central Labor Council, UFCW Local 367 and WPEA Local 365.
The initiative also seeks to allow workers greater leeway over their own schedule. The proposition wants employers to schedule out their employees 14 days in advance, and for workers to have 10 hours between their shifts.
The effort provides current part-time employees the first opportunity for new hours as they become available before employers hire additional staff.
The proposition imposes penalties on employers if they don’t abide to the new rules. The proposition’s main focus is large employers who are defined as having more than 500 employees.
The initiative will also mandate what proponents say are, "sufficient staffing levels". Supporters claim this will “reduce the risk of injuries and violence, as well as enhanced safety training and emergency preparedness.”
Impact on Government
Supporters seek to add to the city of Olympia’s regulatory code by using a state law preventing the city from revising the initiative before it is voted on by the voters.
If the proposition is passed, the enforcement of the initiative will have to be paid by the city, which will require the city to make certain funding decisions with its budget. The City of Olympia will also be required to take any revisions of it to the voters in another election.
The effective date for implementation of the proposition, if passed by voters, is also an issue. The new law would go into effect on January 1, 2026 — which leaves the city less than two months to prepare before it has to begin to enforce the proposed code.
Impact on Business
The proposition defines a large employer as having more than 500 employees. This count includes temporary employees, whether or not they come from a staffing agency. The proposition defines a medium-sized employer as having 15 to 500 employees, and a small employer as having less than 15 employees.
Business interests are concerned over the mandate of scheduling shifts two weeks out. Employers of all sizes must provide their employees schedules that plan 14 days in advance.
Another issue is the requirement that workers of a large employer have a 10-hour span between shifts, and that if an worker is asked to come in sooner than 10 hours, the worker is to be paid overtime at time and a half.
The $20 minimum wage would also apply to small and medium sized businesses. While the proposition phases in the minimum wage requirement, small businesses will be required to raise their wages from the current state minimum of $16.66 an hour to $17 an hour. The increase for medium sized businesses is more at $18 an hour from the current $16.66.
Effort Expanding
The city of Tacoma is being sued over a similar measure — Initiative No. 2. This lawsuit is over whether or not the measure will be on a special ballot in February 2026. The city council voted against the initiative — meaning it then goes to voters. Tacoma issued a statement about the matter, "Per Washington State law, a general election can only be for issues on a regular, recurring basis, such as electing candidates for office. All initiatives and other measures can only go on the ballot as a special election." The city was sued by the measure’s supporters who want the measure to be on this year’s November ballot.
The statement adds Tacoma Mayor Victoria Woodards has received concerns over the unknowns regarding Initiative 2 from nonprofits, such as the Urban League and Boys & Girls Club, and a variety of other employers, large and small, including the City of Tacoma itself.
The economic impact of this proposition is still being sorted out. If the proposition passes in both cities, the city councils of Olympia and Tacoma will have to make tough decisions about how to pay for the enforcement of it.
Small and large businesses will have to deal with their labor costs rising. It’s a vicious circle affecting the cost of living. You know the story —rising labor costs make things more expensive for business, who must past the costs onto consumers.
