Comments on: Higher minimum wage? West Seattle Chamber discussion Thursday, online survey now

By: Jackson

Jackson — Wed, 12 Feb 2014 07:44:59 +0000

Lots of good points made on both sides here. Just a quick data point. In 1990 the minimum wage in Washington State was $4.25. Adjusting for the consumer price index (according to the the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ own calculator at (http://www.bls.gov/data/inflation_calculator.htm) that has the same buying power as $7.58 in 2013.

Based on that, the current Washington State minimum wage of $9.32 is 23% above the equivalent buying power in 1990.

Looking at a few other years with the same calculation:

1961: Wa Min Wage: $1.15, adjusted for CPI to 2013: $8.96

1975: Wa Min Wage: $2.00, adjusted for CPI to 2013: $8.66

2000: Wa Min wage: $6.50, adjusted for CPI to 2013: $8.79

One stat in the grand scheme of things. The minimum wage may be lower or higher than needed, but it has been pretty consistent in terms of buying power for quite a while.

By: Diane

Diane — Tue, 11 Feb 2014 21:48:56 +0000

my 1st receptionist job paid $10/hr (while I was in grad school, after a 20 yr career in restaurants); $10/hr seemed low to me at the time, after making more per hour based on server tips; that was 1990, when rents were avg $300, unlike the current rents of $1200 plus
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in 2014, I still see way too many “receptionist wanted” job ads with a $10/hr wage, with far more requirements in software and phone systems experience; that is insane
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$10/hr worked as an entry-level wage in 1990 (24yrs ago) when rent was average $300
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$10/hr does NOT work for anyone now when rent is $1200+ for a basic 1 bedroom, or studio, or apodment (yes, those supposedly “affordable” apodments are renting for $1200+)
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wages have clearly not kept up with inflation; every economic study has stated that Seattle’s “living wage” would be well above $15/hr (“living wage” defined as the wage required to live in Seattle)
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I’ve also been a business owner for much of my life; if you pay a reasonable living wage, you get experienced quality staff who perform well and stay with you; turnover due to low wages costs a business far more than paying a living wage; when staff are paid well, it’s better for your business; when staff have to worry about applying for food stamps or how to pay the rent or having to work while they’re sick because of no paid-sick-days, all that negatively impacts your business; happy & well compensated employees increase the bottom line of business; it’s reflected in how customers are treated, and the knowledge/service they are able to provide to customers, which increases profit; win/win
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the fear-mongering about how paying workers a living wage will somehow destroy business, sounds exactly like all the fear-mongering about how making restaurants and bars smoke-free would destroy business; that turned out to be completely false; after smoking was removed, the majority who do not smoke filled the restaurants and bars; I believe the same thing will happen when min wage is raised; businesses will have happier long-term employees who can better serve customers and increase profits; and guess what, employees will have extra money to buy goods at your businesses
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oh, and in 1990, gas was $1/gal; now more than 3 times higher; Seattle bus fares were $1, and we had a FREE RIDE AREA downtown; now the free ride area is gone and bus fares are more than 3 times higher; so min wage workers have to pay 3 times more just to get to their jobs
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all the basic needs for living (housing, transportation, food) have increased more than 3-fold, while the min wage has not kept up; Washington state min wage was $4.25 in 1990; if it were raised to match inflation, multiplied by 3, it would now be $12.75/hr; that would at least be a good starting point; even our Governor agrees

By: Nancy

Nancy — Tue, 11 Feb 2014 17:17:58 +0000

Reality check: I made $10/hr at a silly merchandising job over 15 yrs ago. Like my husband said, you better put all your salary towards new tires for the car. (I had a territory that stretched from Olympia to the Kitsap Peninsula to Bellingham. Luckily, it wasn’t mandatory that I work. I enjoyed what I did. But it’s funny that $15/hr sounds extreme so many years later. There is obviously no comparison to what the military does and the meager wages they get. But that doesn’t translate to “therefore everyone should suffer”. The wasteful spending in the military benefits no one, especially those who serve. They deserve much better.

By: concernedbusowner

concernedbusowner — Tue, 11 Feb 2014 17:13:47 +0000

“and more than a bit ironic, pretty sure that no one who is in the category of our current min wage ($9.32/hr) could afford to pay the admission fee to this forum about min wage”

Failing to the the irony. This is about the impact on businesses. You don’t think there are enough people out there, enough rallies, enough news coverage for people to get their message out about what they WANT.

I’m not sure they have a place, unless they really care, what the impact is actually going to be on the communities they live in.

Do they really care that this will put many of us out business? No, because we are the evil rich who, egads!, can pay $35 for a ticket to this discussion.

I think most of us know what it is like to live on minimum wage. Most all of us have done it at some point in our lives, and some of us are lucky to be able to make that while we build our businesses.

By: Jeffrey

Jeffrey — Tue, 11 Feb 2014 07:00:42 +0000

Woohoo! Raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour!

The theatre of unintended consequences will prove to be hilarious from my perch.

And really, anybody who doesn’t understand that prices will rise as a correlate needs to take a deep hit off the smelling salts and step back into reality.

Still, raise it up!

It will provide entertainment for years to come.

Time for me and Clyde to take a drive to the market for that loaf of rye we forgot earlier.

By: wage "chat" is national

wage "chat" is national — Tue, 11 Feb 2014 04:10:52 +0000

National discussion of $15/hr has picked up since SeaTac vote. This is so much bigger than just West Seattle. Businesses, large and small, are suppose to be risk managers. This discussion would be different if our country and its work ethic and reward system hadn’t been turned upside down in a way it never has been before. New problems need new solutions but MOSTLY we need to change our assumptions about “how it is suppose to work”. Because it has not worked. We have to ALL adjust and that’s gonna’ hurt somebody, somewhere.

We all need to learn to share more pain of this upside down country. How much do you buy China every damn day? Think about *that*.

By: Smitty

Smitty — Tue, 11 Feb 2014 03:09:01 +0000

People also have to understand that this would lead to wage inflation.

You think the guy currently making $15/hour is going to stand pat? Hell no! Bump him up to $20! Making $20? Give him/her $25!

End result. We all pay higher prices.

You think wages/jobs are static? There is movement, people.

If you want wage mobility, prove yourself. I did. Why shouldn’t you?

By: C_T

C_T — Tue, 11 Feb 2014 02:27:58 +0000

Chances are those execs have a degree, so it’s possible for anyone to rise up the ladder if they try. I think that is the beauty of America, I’m all for helping people, I vote Democrat but I still do not think this is a good idea.

By: Greta

Greta — Tue, 11 Feb 2014 02:24:03 +0000

I think a bump to $11.50-$12.00 an hour would be reasonable and not as distressing to people. $15.00 seems steep and is close to what I make – and I have a college degree.

By: sna

sna — Tue, 11 Feb 2014 02:08:46 +0000

Enacting a minimum wage 60% higher than surrounding communities will simply result in businesses locating outside of city limits. I imagine that areas close to the city boarder will be especially hard hit.

I generally support a higher minimum wage, but not at the city level.

By: MellyMel

MellyMel — Tue, 11 Feb 2014 01:23:09 +0000

I certainly don’t know the right answer to this problem and will be reading with interest what comes out of the forums.
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What won’t happen is what seems like an appropriate response for big corps with menial workers at the bottom. Exec management stops making hundreds of times what their menial worker does and sends that money “downstairs”. (i.e. the dreaded “wealth redistribution” event Fox news has been promising is coming for the last 6 years.)
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Maybe they only make 50 times what an entry level worker does . . . Oh the tragedy.

By: Seahawk Momma

Seahawk Momma — Mon, 10 Feb 2014 23:30:13 +0000

I gaurantee you that business owners will drop hours for employees or worse just let them go. Having an employee making more money than a business owner isn’t gonna happen trust me. I know I run a business.

By: rr

rr — Mon, 10 Feb 2014 22:09:05 +0000

The minimum wage going to $15/hr is a done deal. If you own a small or large business my best advice is to get involved on how to get some concessions from the city to offset the wage increase.

By: WSB

WSB — Mon, 10 Feb 2014 21:34:26 +0000

In reply to Diane.

Diane – I asked this morning and they hadn’t finished confirming who would be on it. I’ll add any information I eventually get about that.

By: Diane

Diane — Mon, 10 Feb 2014 21:25:01 +0000

thank you for posting; all the registration page says is: “A panel has been assembled of people who are studying potential impacts, working to develop a strategy and business owners that will be impacted.”
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WS Chamber; would be nice to know who is on the panel
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good to see this being addressed seriously in WS; wish I could attend, but I will be participating in an all day forum at City Hall on affordable housing; both of these topics equally critical
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and more than a bit ironic, pretty sure that no one who is in the category of our current min wage ($9.32/hr) could afford to pay the admission fee to this forum about min wage
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after taxes, a min wage earner would have to work 4.6 hours in order to afford a ticket to this luncheon
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but I suppose, at least nice to be invited