Initiative 688: Minimum Wage Increase

Raise Washington’s minimum wage, say supporters of Initiative 688, and you improve the lot of thousands of lowincome workers.

Raise the minimum wage, say opponents of I-688, and you risk unemployment, inflation and permanent damage to small businesses.

Both sides agree on one point: If the measure wins, its impact will be lasting.

I-688 would raise the minimum wage from its current level of $4.90 to $5.70 next year and $6.50 in 2000. Thereafter, it would be adjusted annually to keep pace with inflation, using the U.S. Department of Labor Consumer Price Index as it benchmark.

Supporters, including a number of labor unions, say the indexing will prevent families supported by minimum wage jobs from dipping below the poverty level before the wage is raised again.

The indexing will also eliminate the lobbying efforts to raise the wage that arise every few years, said Tim Flynn, I-688 campaign manager.

“It’s some attempt to have a mechanism where occasionally (the minimum wage) can go up in a way that doesn’t require legislative action or ballot initiative,” Flynn said.

Restaurant owners and others who depend on employees who earn minimum wage caution that the annual raises could result in higher prices and inflation.

“This isn’t just about raising the wages of the lowest-paid people,” said Dave Hooke, president of the Washington Restaurant Association and owner of the Senor Froggy’s fast food chain. “The trickle-down effect means the entire wage base will be raised that much. This should not be allowed without future voter approval. We’re mandating that every single year, wages are going to go up.”

I-688 Initiative 688 would raise the state minimum wage from $4.90 to $5.70 an hour in 1999 and $6.50 in 2000. Thereafter, the minimum wage would be pegged to national cost of living adjustment and would likely rise slightly every year.