The question that I haven’t seen asked, yet, is how will this raise affect other sectors?
I know that many UNION jobs are tied to the minimum wage. As it goes up their salary automatically goes up.
All future labor bargaining will be based on the $ 15.00 minimum wage so the asking salary will also go up.
What about various pension plans? The minimum wage increase will make them less “livable”. Also, how will this jump affect the cost of living adjustments?
Bottom line it just got much more expensive to live in Seattle.
As for the college student saying he would travel a few blocks for a $ 15.00 an hour job what makes him think that others will not travel a few blocks to save $ 5.00 - $ 15.00 for a meal or any other purchase?
Yep, it did get more expensive to live in Seattle, which means the poorer people will move out, and the richer ones will move in!
Servers across the Ranier Plateau are breathing a sigh of relief. Their wages have now gone to a guaranteed $15/hr.
Now, they need to take a weekend to figure out why their overall pay has been reduced due to the elimination and/or minimization of their tip income. The Seattle area has recently undergone a “tip” reversion of 10%...or less.
If my server is getting $15/hr (uhhhhh....$30K/yr!!!), they don’t need my tip.