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Initiative Measure 1 offers proven policies to fix Burien’s flawed minimum wage law

The city's current minimum wage ordinance gives with one hand while taking back with the other — but Initiative Measure 1 would fix that

Photo of "wages" seen through eye glasses with text that reads, "Initiative Measure 1: proven solutions for higher wages"

Burien voters can add their city to the growing ranks of local communities with a strong minimum wage by passing Initiative Measure 1 during the February 11, 2025, special election.[1] Brought to the ballot by the Raise the Wage Burien coalition, Initiative Measure 1 offers proven policies to fix the city’s current (and very flawed) minimum wage ordinance.

The benefits of a strong minimum wage are well-documented: reductions in poverty and income inequality, greater business activity and job growth, and a host of other improvements for workers, families, and communities.[2] But Burien’s current minimum wage law, which took effect January 1, 2025, is unlikely to accomplish that because it leaves an estimated 47% of people working in the city under a reduced wage standard and is far weaker than other local minimum wage laws in Washington.[3]

Put simply, Burien’s current minimum wage gives with one hand and takes back with the other. It seems to offer higher wages, but its many carve-outs and exceptions — and lack of an inflation/cost-of-living adjustment — mean any real benefits will likely be minimal at best. Among its many shortcomings, the law:

  • Excludes people working in small businesses (69% of local establishments) and creates a reduced minimum wage for those working in medium businesses (14% of local establishments).
  • Allows larger businesses to pay lower wages (meant for medium or small businesses) by artificially reducing employment numbers. It counts only employment in King County (just 1% of U.S. total), uses full-time equivalent employees instead of total employees (reducing count by 10%-26%), and treats many financially connected franchises (like Wendy’s or McDonald’s) as separate businesses.
  • Provides no cost-of-living adjustment, so will lose value to inflation over time.
  • Allows tips and the value of medical benefits to be counted toward paying minimum wage.
  • Slows people’s access to private legal action if an employer refuses to pay minimum wage.

By contrast, Initiative Measure 1 will provide a higher minimum wage for more people working in Burien over time – using practical, effective policies proven by experience in other Washington localities.

This is Burien’s minimum wage in 2025.
  “Large” business “Medium” business “Small” business
Initiative Meas. 1 500+ employees total: $21.10/hr. plus tips/benefits 15 to 499 employees total: $19.10/hr. plus tips/benefits Less than 15 employees total: $18.10/hr. plus tips/benefits
Current Law ~600+ employees in King County (500+ FTEs): $21.16/hr. minus tips/benefits ~25-599 employees in King County (21 to 499 FTEs): $20.16/hr. minus tips/benefits Less than ~25 employees in King County (20 or less FTEs): $16.66/hr. minus tips/benefits
Here is what Burien’s minimum wage would be in 2031*.
  “Large” business “Medium” business “Small” business
Initiative Meas. 1 All business sizes (after 3- or 6-year phase-in for medium or small businesses, respectively): $24.47/hr. plus tips/benefits
Current Law ~600+ employees in King County (500+ FTEs): $23.82/hr. minus tips/benefits ~23-599 employees in King County (21 to 499 FTEs): $22.82/hr. minus tips/benefits Less than ~25 employees in King County (20 or less FTEs): $19.32/hr. minus tips/benefits

*Assumes 2.5% annual cost-of-living adjustment for inflation

Initiative Measure 1 closes the gaps in Burien’s current minimum wage law by:

  • Covering people working in medium and small businesses, using a 3- or 6-year phase-in, respectively.
  • Ensuring all businesses pay a minimum wage for their size by counting total employment (all full- and part-time employees at all locations), and employment at connected franchises (like Wendy’s or McDonald’s) as one business.
  • Independently calculating a local minimum wage for Burien that receives a full yearly inflation/cost-of-living adjustment.
  • Requiring any tips (and voluntary employer medical benefits) to be paid in addition to minimum wage.
  • Preserving people’s access to private legal action if their employer refuses to pay minimum wage.
  • Requiring large/medium businesses to offer work hours to current part-time staff before hiring new ones.
Burien’s current minimum wage law excludes many. Initiative Measure 1 covers all working people.
  Current minimum wage law Initiative Measure 1
Summary Fewer people covered by a lower wage over time. Weaker standards overall than found in King County, Bellingham, Everett, Renton, SeaTac, Seattle, and Tukwila minimum wage laws. Every person covered by a higher wage over time. Strong standards overall, similar to King County, Bellingham, Everett, Renton, SeaTac, Seattle, and Tukwila minimum wage laws.
Coverage Excludes small businesses (69% of establishments) and reduces the minimum wage for medium-size businesses (14% of establishments) – leaving an estimated 47% of people working in Burien under a lower standard. Covers all people working in Burien with the same minimum wage standard by 2031, using a 3- or 6-year phase-in for medium or small businesses, respectively.
Business Size for Wage Standards Counts only full-time equivalent employees (FTEs) in King County (1% of the U.S. total) to determine business size.

For example: a large business with 5,000 total employees, of which 500 work in King County, would typically have about 410 FTEs and so would pay the lower “medium business” minimum wage.

Allows employment at financially connected franchises (like Wendy’s or McDonald’s) to be counted separately, classifying more of them as medium or small businesses with a lower wage.

Counts total employment (all full- and part-time employees at all locations) to determine business size.

For example: a large business with 5,000 total employees would pay the higher “large business” minimum wage to people working in Burien, no matter how many of those employees work in King County.

Ensures employment at financially connected franchises (like Wendy’s or McDonald’s) is counted together to accurately determine business size with appropriate minimum wage.

Tips, Benefits, and Inflation Adjustments Tips (and the value of medical benefits) can be counted by an employer toward minimum wage.

Minimum wage is a flat additional increment – with no yearly inflation/cost-of-living adjustment – added to Washington’s minimum wage.

Tips (and voluntary employer medical benefits) must be paid in addition to minimum wage.

Minimum wage is independently calculated for Burien and receives a full yearly inflation/cost-of-living adjustment.

Worker Rights If an employer refuses to pay minimum wage, requires employee to give written notice to employer, wait 45 days, and exhaust all state administrative remedies before taking private legal action. If an employer refuses to pay minimum wage, does not restrict employee’s decisions/timing on private legal action.

Large and medium businesses must offer available hours to current part-time employees before hiring new ones.

 

When people can afford to live and play in the cities where they work, the entire community thrives. In fact, studies show that raising the minimum wage can create more jobs.[4] But today, too many people are struggling with inadequate wages in the face of increasing costs for food, housing, health care, and other basics.

Many local governments in Washington have responded by adopting strong minimum wage laws, including King County, Bellingham, Burien, Everett, Renton, SeaTac, Seattle, and Tukwila. This February, Burien voters can do the same by passing Initiative Measure 1 — bolstering their neighbors’ economic well-being and building a stronger, more resilient community for everyone.


[1] Sixteen states and more than four dozen cities and counties across the U.S. have adopted minimum wage laws of $15/hour or more – locally, that includes Washington State, King County (unincorporated areas), Bellingham, Burien, Everett, Renton, SeaTac, Seattle, and Tukwila. “Local Minimum Wage Rates, Washington Department of Labor and Industries”, accessed December 20 2024, https://www.lni.wa.gov/workers-rights/wages/minimum-wage/local-minimum-wage-rates.

[2] See: “Why the U.S. needs at least a $17 minimum wage”, Economic Policy Institute, July 31, 2023, https://www.epi.org/publication/why-17-minimum-wage/.

[3] All data presented is based on the Economic Opportunity Institute’s analysis of City of Burien Ordinance 855, City of Burien Initiative Measure 1, 2022 Economic Census (US Census), 2021 and 2020 Statistics of U.S. Businesses Annual Data Tables by Establishment Industry (US Census), 2020 Employees by Industry and Full-Time Equivalent Employees by Industry (US Bureau of Economic Analysis), and 2022 Covered Employment (QCEW) data (WA Employment Security Department).

[4] See: “New Study Finds a High Minimum Wage Creates Jobs”, New York Magazine, May 13, 2023, https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2023/05/new-study-finds-a-high-minimum-wage-creates-jobs.html.

All information presented is current as of January 3, 2025 and is based on the Economic Opportunity Institute’s analysis of City of Burien Ordinance 855, City of Burien Initiative Measure 1, 2022 Economic Census (US Census), 2021 and 2020 Statistics of U.S. Businesses Annual Data Tables by Establishment Industry (US Census), 2020 Employees by Industry and Full-Time Equivalent Employees by Industry (US Bureau of Economic Analysis), and 2022 Covered Employment (QCEW) (WA Employment Security Department).

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