On Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025, Burien residents will vote on Initiative Measure No. 1, a proposal aimed at aligning the city’s minimum wage with that of neighboring Tukwila.
The initiative mandates that large employers pay an hourly minimum wage equivalent to Tukwila’s rate of $20.10–$21.10/hour depending on business size, with phased implementation periods for medium and small businesses. The wage would be adjusted annually for inflation.
Additionally, the measure requires certain employers to offer existing employees additional work hours before hiring new staff or subcontractors. Protections against employee retaliation and penalties for non-compliance are also included.
Proponents argue that the measure addresses the inadequacies of Burien’s current minimum wage ordinance, which took effect Jan. 1, 2025 and pays $16.66–$20.24 depending on business size. They claim the existing law contains numerous exemptions and lacks an inflation adjustment, leaving many workers without sufficient wage increases.
Opponents, including some city officials, express concerns that adopting the initiative could lead to confusion and potential legal challenges, as it would result in Burien having two concurrent minimum wage laws. Here’s a link to the city’s minimum wage Ordinance 855.
They also highlight the loss of local control over wage policies, as future adjustments would be tied to Tukwila’s decisions.
The outcome of this vote may set a precedent for other cities considering similar measures.
Ballots will be mailed to Burien voters on Jan. 22, 2025, and the measure can be passed via a simple majority (RCW 35A.11.100 and 35.17.240).
Explanatory Statement:
“This measure would adopt an ordinance that requires covered employers to (1) pay a minimum wage for all hours worked within Burien, and (2) distribute additional hours to its part-time workers prior to hiring new employees, contractors, or temporary workers if its existing part-time workers have the skills and experience to perform the work.
“The minimum wage effective 30 days after passage will be equal to that in the City of Tukwila for large employers, then adjusted annually for inflation, with phase-in periods for smaller employers. The minimum wage for medium-sized employers will begin $2 lower, with the reduction decreasing by $1 annually. The minimum wage for small-sized employers will begin $3 lower, with the reduction decreasing by $.50 annually. After the phase-in periods, all employers must pay the full minimum wage.
“Employers may not retaliate against employees exercising rights under the ordinance and must comply with administrative requirements.
“Remedies for violations include payment of: attorneys’ fees, unpaid wages, interest, liquidated damages equal to twice the unpaid wages, compensatory damages, and a $5000 penalty for retaliation. Intentional violations could subject employers to revocation of their business license.
“The existing minimum wage ordinance in the Burien Municipal Code differs in various respects including employer categories, employee classification, minimum wage calculation, tip credits, remedies, and other rules.”
Statement in Favor
“Burien wages have fallen behind the cost of living. A full-time worker must earn over $30/hour to afford a one-bedroom apartment. People who work in Burien should be able to live here, and no one who works full-time should live in poverty.
“This measure raises Burien’s minimum wage to match nearby Tukwila, Renton, White Center, SeaTac, and Seattle. This will keep Burien competitive instead of driving workers out to make more money at the same job in the city next door. Vote Yes to give Burien a raise!
“Business lobbyists have pushed their agenda through the Burien City Council to attempt to defeat this measure. They passed an ordinance that pretends to raise wages but actually excludes most workers. Anyone who gets tips or benefits, even some people who work for multinational corporations, won’t qualify for a raise. It’s a business-backed scramble to keep wages low.
“Research shows that local minimum wage increases actually create jobs, including small business jobs. Wages for workers earning above the minimum will also increase as employers seek to retain their skills and experience. When more people have more money, that’s good for our local economy. Vote Yes to give Burien a raise!
“Submitted by: Jennifer Fichamba, Stephen Lamphear, Kelsey Vanhee, RaiseTheWageBurien.org”
Statement in Opposition:
“Vote “No” to giving control of our local wages to Tukwila’s voters. You read that right: this initiative, created by an outside Burien group—the Transit Riders Union—would take wage decisions away from the people who live and work in Burien, tying us to a city known for giant malls, big-box retailers, and corporate franchises. Do they not trust you and our elected city leaders to do what’s right for Burien?
“As of January 1, Burien already has one of the highest minimum wages in the country—$20.16 to $21.16 for larger businesses. This law was shaped with input from workers, small businesses, and labor groups, ensuring higher pay while protecting the immigrant-owned restaurants and family-run shops that make our city special. Because it’s our own policy, we can improve it as needed.
“If this initiative passes, Burien loses control over its wage policy. It’s not clear how we would get it back.
“Vote “No” to keep Burien’s future in our hands. Vote “No” to preserve a policy we can refine, rather than surrendering local control and hurting the small businesses and workers that define our community. Vote “No” to protect Burien’s right to choose what’s best for Burien.
“Submitted by: Eric Papczun, VoteNoForBurien.com”
More info on this initiative is available here.
From the opposition statement: “Do they not trust you and our elected city leaders to do what’s right for Burien?”
Correct, we do not trust our elected leaders to do what is right for Burien, demonstrated by their repeated attempts to mislead Burien voters on their minimum wage law.
We do not trust them to prioritize the working class and protect workers rights over their business donors. We do not trust them to be clear and transparent with their motivations.
Correct this corruption, VOTE YES ON INITIATIVE MEASURE 1
Thank you!
This wage initiative is entirely tainted with outside labor union interests and blatantly disregards local market conditions, why would anyone vote to cripple the business engine of Burien. As it is clearly shown the initiative backers are doing the bidding of activists and we all know the harm that mentality has done to Burien. Vote NO
“crippling the business engine” is some fear mongering rhetoric and does not represent the situation at hand. It does not “cripple” the “business engine” to have a reasonable minimum wage using standard terms and definitions that are well known and understood. Why would anyone vote to cripple working families in Burien? It’s clearly shown that the City Council is doing the bidding of corporate interests at the expense of Burien workers. We have seen all the harm that mentality has done to THE ENTIRE NATION and THE ENTIRE WORKING CLASS.
Support PEOPLE, Support WORKERS, not “business engine”.
I mean this extremely respectfully as someone who will likely vote yes – Could you provide your perspective on this? My understanding is that this places control of our minimum wage in the hands of Tukwila – a very different city. Regardless of trust of elected leaders, are we relinquishing the current control we have over MW?
It’s easy to deal with the suggested issue of confusion when the initiative passes while there is an existing city ordinance in place. The simple solution is for the council to repeal its inadequate ordinance once the initiative passes. That’s not complicated at all.
The following organizations (who represent many people living and working in Burien) endorse Raise the Wage Burien’s ballot initiative…VOTE YES to bring a real raise to Burien workers!
ACLU Burien People Power
Aerospace Machinists Union
Alimentando al Pueblo
Burien Arts
Community Visions
Economic Opportunity Institute
Highline Education Association
MLK Labor
NAACP
One Fair Wage
One America
PROTEC 17
Queer Power Alliance
Renton Education Association
Transit Riders Union
UFCW3000 Union
Weed Warriors
The Washington Bus
Washington CAN
Washington Community Alliance
Working Families Party
Working Washington
The Urbanist
Local 8, Hospitality Union of the NW
33rd LD Democrats
34th LD Democrats
See more endorsements at the website: https://www.raisethewageburien.org/endorsements
That list, minus just one follows the same failed mantra that money grows on trees and the Government should give me everything for free without raising my taxes. It’s the same story over and over how unfair life is in the real world and how everyone has it better than me.
The hubby and I just got our ballots in the mail and voted NO. ✌️
Those are all really far left endorsements. Is there anyone closer to the middle who supports this? Asking for a friend who owns a small business that would be destroyed by this union driven initiative. Thank you
This is misinformation: “They also highlight the loss of local control over wage policies, as future adjustments would be tied to Tukwila’s decisions.” WRONG!
The truth is that the initial wage increase is based on Tukwila’s wage. After that, future adjustments will be independently based on the cost of living index. Tukwila will not control Burien’s wage.