Low-wage workers, local experts, and Councilmember Licata to recommend specific policy to ensure a $15 minimum wage reaches every Seattle worker
Experiences with sick leave & wage theft laws highlight importance of enforcement in $15 minimum wage debate
WEDNESDAY, 4/16/2014 - City Councilmember Nick Licata will join low-wage workers and local policy experts outside the downtown Seattle McDonald's on Wednesday to help answer a key question: how can we be sure a $15 minimum wage reaches every worker and employer in the city?
Drawing from the experiences of low wage workers in Seattle and across the country, policy experts will make specific recommendations intended to ensure a robust program of community-based education, prevention, monitoring, and enforcement is an integral part of any $15 minimum wage law.
A one-page policy brief on our recommendations for enforcement through a community-based nonprofit is available.
Who: Low-wage workers, policy experts from Working Washington and the National Employment Law Project, and City Councilmember Nick Licata
What: Speak from Seattle's real-life experience with wage theft and sick leave laws to demonstrate the need for strong enforcement of a $15 minimum wage; and offer specific policy recommendations that will guarantee robust community-based education, prevention, monitoring, and enforcement.
When: Wednesday, April 16, 2014. Press conference begins at 1:00 pm
Where: Outside the 3rd & Pine McDonald's: 1530 Third Ave, Seattle, WA 98101
The experience of Seattle workers over the last several years shows that our landmark paid sick leave and criminal wage theft laws have not taken hold across the city, especially in low-wage sectors like fast food and retail, and at poverty-wage employers like McDonald's and Target. While national surveys suggest that 89% of fast food workers experience wage theft, and local surveys suggest Seattle workers and employers are not well-informed about our sick leave law, city government does not have the resources and expertise necessary to respond vigorously to these concerns.
Low-wage workers & policy experts believe enforcement should be central to the $15 minimum wage debate, and will be issuing specific recommendations to ensure robust community-based education, prevention, monitoring, and enforcement.
More information:
- A policy brief on enforcement is now available online.
- The owners of ExtraCar Parking in SeaTac have been sued for violating the $15 minimum wage law that went into effect in January.
- Enforcement of minimum wage laws can be especially spotty in immigrant communities
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Contact: Sage Wilson, Working Washington: sage@workingwa.org