Coalition submits petition for higher minimum wage in Burien; City pushes back, cites potential issues

The debate over Burien’s minimum wage intensified on Monday morning, Aug. 12, 2024, as a coalition of residents, community organizations, and labor unions submitted a petition with over 6,000 signatures to the City Clerk.

The coalition aims to place an initiative on the February, 2025 ballot that would raise the city’s minimum wage to match those of nearby cities like Tukwila and Renton.

The proposed initiative, backed by the Raise the Wage Burien coalition and Transit Riders Union, seeks to increase Burien’s minimum wage to $20.29 per hour, with a three-year phase-in for mid-size businesses and a seven-year phase-in for small businesses.

The measure also includes an “access to hours” policy, requiring larger employers to offer additional hours to part-time employees before hiring new staff.

As we previously reported, in March, the Burien City Council passed Ordinance 837, which which will go into effect Jan. 1, 2025, and be $3/hour higher than the state’s, making it $19.28 per hour, depending on business size.

The coalition originally hoped that the Burien City Council would pass stronger minimum wage legislation, and claims that the ordinance the council passed in March “is so full of carve-outs and loopholes that it will give very few workers a raise, leaving Burien a low-wage island surrounded by higher-wage cities.”

“It is also complicated, confusing, and unenforceable; workers will have to take their bosses’ word as to what wage they are supposed to be paid,” organizers added. “In fact, the ordinance was applauded by business interests and opposed by labor unions and worker organizations. For these reasons, the coalition is going to the ballot.”

“As an educator who advocated for the minimum wage increase in Tukwila I have seen first hand how it has an impact on the whole family,” said Jennifer Fichamba, Burien resident and Tukwila educator. “My families have shared that they no longer need a second job and are able to go to their kids’ events. Increasing the wage had a ripple effect! Wages for workers throughout the community increased.”

Supporters of the initiative argue that the current minimum wage in Burien leaves many workers struggling to make ends meet.

“Raising the minimum wage will benefit the local community, especially seniors who are now in the situation where they have to work,” said Gigi Green, a Burien homeowner and pharmacy technician.

City of Burien Responds

However, the City of Burien – which passed its own minimum wage ordinance in March 2024 – on Monday afternoon responded with its concerns about the proposed initiative. The city’s ordinance, set to take effect on Jan. 1, 2025, will increase the minimum wage to $19.28 per hour with annual cost-of-living adjustments. The ordinance also includes exemptions for small businesses with fewer than 20 full-time employees.

City officials warn that the proposed new initiative “could create complications by tying Burien’s minimum wage to decisions made in Tukwila.”

The City said that Burien’s economic base largely consists of small businesses and is different from nearby cities (SeaTac, Seattle, Renton, and Tukwila) that are home to sports teams, or have airports, hotels, and regional or larger shopping malls or stores.

“Burien’s minimum wage ordinance was carefully crafted with input from the community, businesses, and local leaders,” the city stated. “We believe it strikes a balance between providing a fair wage for workers and supporting small businesses.”

The City said the differences between the existing and initiative ordinance are:

BURIENTRANSIT RIDERS UNION’S INITIATIE ORDINANCE

Burien and its residents control Burien’s minimum wageTukwila controls Burien’s minimum wage

Burien has a minimum wage lawThe Initiative fails to acknowledge that Burien adopted an ordinance that will take effect before the vote for this initiative ordinance occurs

Exempts employers with less than 20 Full-Time Equivalents (FTEs) to protect Burien’s small businesses and keep jobs in BurienNo exemption, but does have a 7-year phase-in with fifty-cent increases annually

Addresses wage theft (BMC 5.15.250)Does not address wage theft

The city also noted that its ordinance addresses wage theft, a provision not included in the initiative proposed by the coalition. Additionally, the city expressed concern that the initiative does not offer exemptions for small businesses, potentially placing a significant burden on them.

The signatures on the petition are currently being reviewed by the city, with the King County Elections Division set to confirm the election deadline.

Burien’s existing minimum wage ordinance is still scheduled to take effect in January, 2025, while, if approved, the initiative will be subject to a vote on Feb. 11, 2025.