Business group: Overturn Seattle’s $15-an-hour minimum wage [View all]

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Lots of luck getting Seattle's voters to agree with this.

A self-identified independent business group called Forward Seattle said Thursday it is is filing a charter amendment that would overturn Seattle’s new, phased in $15-an-hour minimum wage, and replace it with a five-year phase in of a $12.50 an hour minimum wage.

“We believe voters must have the option of $12.50 in five years on the ballot this November. Donate now,” said the group’s website, which does not list endorsers or supporters.

Mayor Ed Murray, seeing the group’s news release, voiced confidence that Seattle voters will back the plan unanimously adopted Monday by the Seattle City Council and that he signed into law a day later.

“I think a reasonable, modest proposal that raises the minimum wage to $15 an hour is what our voters will support,” Murray said in an interview. “I believe it is unfortunate if we go to the ballot. Both business and labor should be helping employees and building jobs. ”

“If we go through this battle, though, we go through this battle,” Murray added. “We are a Western city. We have provisions for initiatives and referendums.”

Murray voiced surprise at the Forward Seattle proposal.

“We heard from the restaurant association, we heard from the business groups, that they wouldn’t do this,” Murray said. “We worked hard with the business community. A good segment felt this was the best approach, even though they were not excited about it.”

“The fact that we went to a long phase-in — up to seven years for some small businesses — was a compromise. Counting tips in restaurants was a huge compromise on the part of labor. So was the inclusion of benefits received by workers.”

The Forward Seattle proposal would repeal a key element of the $15 plan, a three-year phase in for businesses employing more than 500 people, and a far more gradual approach of up to seven years for small businesses, particularly restaurants owned by immigrant families.

The charter amendment would put McDonald’s and Burger King on an even playing field with mom-and-pop businesses.


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http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlepolitics/2014/06/05/business-group-overturn-seattles-15-an-hour-minimum-wage/#23925101=0