[EDITOR’S NOTE: The following is a Letter to the Editor, written and submitted by a verified Burien resident. It represents the opinion of the author and does not necessarily reflect the views of South King Media or its staff.]
Raise the Wage, Burien! I support Initiative 1 and ask my fellow Burien residents to join me!
Burien Initiative 1, if passed by BURIEN voters, will bring our city’s minimum wage up to par with our region. At the moment we are lagging behind, and it is negatively impacting Burien’s workers and businesses. The recent letters posted by people who do not want this initiative to pass are misleading, containing scare tactics as old as the minimum wage itself.
For example, some opponents have said the current law in Burien is “better” for our city; but this begs the question, better for who? We have a large number of workers here who have been left behind – people who work hard to keep this city running. These people deserve to make a livable wage, too. Unfortunately, we know the chances of that happening are slim unless we are willing to take action ourselves to ensure they are paid adequately – and Initiative 1 is our opportunity to do so.
Opponents have tried to claim the effort to raise the wage in Burien is being pushed by “outsiders” – but who stands to gain from increased wages here, besides our workers? Organizations are indeed working to support this initiative, but they are groups that represent Burien workers, like our educators, grocery workers, servers, etc. What does raise some questions, however, is that the opposition to Initiative 1 has refused to identify who exactly is behind the push to stop this initiative from passing.
Opponents have also been trying to push the narrative that approving this initiative would allow Tukwila to make decisions for Burien. This is simply not true – Initiative 1 would just make Burien’s wage match the rates of our neighboring cities, and Tukwila’s wage is a standard we can start with.
I hope the irony is not lost on everyone that opponents are trying to convince you this initiative will give someone else control over our wages – but THEY are the ones insisting we shouldn’t decide what workers deserve in this city. We have the chance right now to demand better for our people. Don’t let them silence us – make your voice heard, get your ballot in by February 11th, and vote YES on Initiative 1.
– Jennifer Fichamba
Burien Resident & Educator
Vote YES Raise the Wage Burien
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It’s crazy how the far left activists keep spreading the same false information.
I was just out at breakfast and talked to our server who already voted against Initiative 1, because it would lower her income. Here’s the thing, if sales fall due to higher menu costs, her tips decrease and her hours get cut. Both result in a loss for her. It’s not workers who are supporting this initiative, it’s the far left.
Look at what is happening in Seattle due to similar law. Restaurants are closing. Workers are complaining about less income.
Don’t make the same mistakes as Seattle. Protect our workers and our small businesses, vote NO on initiative 1!
You said in your letter:
“At the moment we are lagging behind, and it is negatively impacting Burien’s workers and businesses.” These people deserve to make a livable wage, too.”
$20 an hour isn’t a live-able wage, sorry to tell you. It’s a starting wage on the job ladder or a starting job (could even be part-time). The majority of businesses in Burien are small, mom&pop owned. They decide their own wages to pay and anyone interested in applying for those positions get to negotiate or accept the offered wage at the time of hire. The reality of working at a small business is there’s not as much opportunity for growth vs working at a corporation. You are in control of your life and where you work. The benefit of working at a small business is you do have the ability to shine your independence as a worker and strive harder for your employer to show you can increase revenue for them and in return increase your wage VS working at a corporation you may be paid well but you’re a number and independence doesn’t go far.
You want Burien’s small businesses to match the starting wage of national corporations and think that will change something for the better when the wages you speak of aren’t even living wages. Remember we are talking about “MINUMUM WAGE” not living wage. This wage change won’t magically open the doors of financial independence, it will only harden the path for small businesses to survive. The foresight is completely lost here with anyone who agrues this would be good to vote in
Also, Jennifer Fichamba, do you own a small business in Burien or have you ever? I’m strongly assuming no..
Here’s my answer in 17 different ways:
1. Absolutely not.
2. No way.
3. Not a chance.
4. Sorry, but no.
5. I’m afraid not.
6. Negative.
7. Definitely not.
8. No, thank you.
9. I can’t do that.
10. I’m not able to.
11. That’s not possible.
12. No, I can’t help with that.
13. I don’t think so.
14. Unfortunately, no.
15. Regrettably, no.
16. No, not at all.
17. I have to decline.
Why would anyone try and stop this? We all pay the price for a dozen eggs;
$8.00 at Grocery Outlet yesterday and $10.00 at QFC last week.
Raise the Wage Burien minimum wage lifts all boats.
Thank you for having empathy for working families. That empathy is lost on a lot of people here on this blog, and it is always worthwhile to inform people on what this vote is really about. They spread misinformation because that’s all they have. There is no reasonable, rational reason to reject this measure.
Support working families, and reject corruption on the City Council: VOTE YES on Measure 1.
The information you speak of is provided by outside political and union backed groups who want to dictate policy in Burien to advance political agendas and slush funds. There, I fixed it for you.
I would like to ask a couple of questions
1) How many Burien minimum wage workers actually live in Burien? Less than half I would guess. So, the whole Burien family support argument sort of goes out the window. Plus, how many have a family and or a partner they need to support.
2 I think it is also worth considering, Burien is not a one-horse mining town with one industry in the middle of nowhere. Burien residents do not have to work in Burien they have lots of choices, like drive 2 miles to Tukwila for instance.
I find it interesting the folks who talk the loudest about this (the yes folks) have for the most part zero experience in running a small business.
Just my thoughts