And Then There Was Mills - Mother Jones
At the start of last week, there were four members of Congress at risk of expulsion due to allegations of severe misconduct. Two of those members, Reps. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) and Eric Swalwell (...
Tukwila voters to weigh in on minimum wage increase - The Seattle Times
Job hunting in Tukwila this spring, Arc Di found more than 30 possibilities within a few blocks of the city’s job hub, the Westfield Southcenter Mall. But only two were offering more than $15 an hour.
Di knew that a few minutes away in SeaTac, employers were paying that city’s minimum wage of $17.54 for transportation and hospitality jobs. In Seattle, large businesses were paying at least $17.27.
“There were a ton of jobs [in Tukwila] but nothing to incentivize workers to stay,” Di said.
A ballot measure before Tukwila voters in November’s election aims to bridge that gap and account for inflation.
Initiative Measure No. 1 would increase the city’s minimum wage to match SeaTac, requiring large employers to pay about $19 an hour starting next summer.
The measure is the latest effort to raise wages for workers as the cost of living skyrockets across Western Washington. At the state’s current $14.49 minimum wage, a minimum wage worker in King County would need to work 92 hours a week to avoid spending more than a third of their income on a one-bedroom apartment, according to one analysis.
Advertising
Even in a tight job market where many businesses have raised wages to attract more workers, supporters say many in Tukwila are still making the state minimum wage or slightly above.
“This is the bare minimum people need to stay alive,” said Di, who now makes $17 an hour working at a paint store near the mall. Rising costs, including a $300 rent hike, have...
Read Full Story: https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiaWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnNlYXR0bGV0a...