The Seattle City Council on Monday unanimously approved a $15 hourly minimum wage — the highest in the nation.
The ordinance, which phases in the increase over
time, passed a committee last week with a few changes. It would take
effect next April and allow a sub-minimum wage for teens.
Read More In liberal cities, minimum wage puts businesses in a bind
The ordinance was drafted by an advisory group of
labor, business and nonprofit representatives convened by Seattle Mayor
Ed Murray. It would phase in wage increases over three to seven years,
depending on the size of the business and employee benefits.
The City Council voted 9-0 in front of a sometimes
raucous audience that frequently interjected cheers, applause and
shouts of "Shame on you!" as the council debated several changes to the
measure.
Read More Seattle City Council panel OKs $15 minimum wage
Seattle's higher minimum wage would surpass San Francisco's minimum of $10.74 an hour.
Washington state also has the highest state minimum wage, at $9.32 an hour.
Some small business owners worry that a higher minimum wage could put them out of business.
Meanwhile, a group called 15 Now led by Socialist
Seattle City Council member Kshama Sawant is collecting signatures for a
ballot measure that would create an immediate wage hike for large
businesses and a three-year phase-in for small business.
"Our victory is not complete, but we have fought
until the last day, the last hour, against all the loopholes demanded by
business," Sawant said before the council vote. "$15 in Seattle is just
the beginning."
-The Associated Press and NBC News staff
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Though this is a great living wage it also might have the effect of driving businesses that can't afford to pay this wage and stay in business out of the Seattle area. But, they likely would only have to move beyond the Seattle City limits not out of the state.
So, we will have to see the short and long term effects of this. That might be a good study for a college to conduct.
