RENTON, Wash. — The initiative to raise Renton's minimum wage is passing after an initial round of election returns were released Feb. 13.
After an initial round of ballot returns on Tuesday, the initiative had an approval rating of 57% to 43%. These returns are from ballots that were turned in early and tabulated.
If the initiative passes, it would raise the minimum wage to $20.29 an hour for employees working for large businesses and $18.29 for employees of smaller businesses. Businesses with fewer than 15 workers would be exempt unless they have an annual gross revenue of more than $2 million.
The wage would be adjusted for inflation each year.
According to the language on the ballot initiative, the measure would also require covered employers to "distribute additional hours to its part-time workers prior to hiring new employees, contractors, or temporary workers if its existing part-time workers have the skills and experience to perform the work."
The Raise the Wage Renton campaign garnered enough signatures to put the measure to the city council or voters. In December, Renton City Council voted against immediately adopting the measure, instead choosing to let voters decide.
Opponents of passing the measure as is, include the Washington Hospitality Association, which says it feels the process is moving too quickly.
"A huge sense of relief because it has been such a journey to get here," said Guillermo Zazueta, chair of the Raise the Wage Renton initiative.
Zazueta said their efforts to get this passed began more than one year ago, in January 2023. He said they were often met with enthusiasm.
"I think everyone can relate to the cost of living crisis," said Zazueta. "There's thousands of working families in Renton that just they need a raise, you know? Inflation is up through the roof.”
Several cities in South King County have seen action or proposed action being taken on raising minimum wage.
Previous to this initiative, Renton joined neighboring cities Kent and Maple Valley in keeping with the state's minimum wage.
But in 2022, the city of Tukwila raised its minimum wage to as much as $20.29.
It's not welcome news for everybody, though.
"Things have been tough anyway since we've already been going through COVID. We did all that," said Paul Trujillo, who manages Uncle Mo's Bar in Renton.
He added, "It's gonna affect my boss's bottom dollar at some point, you know what I mean?... We're gonna have to cut certain things... maybe cutting back on some of our hours.”
The ordinance will also require Renton business leaders to offer more hours to existing part-time employees before hiring new employees or subcontracting services. It also asks that they not retaliate against employees for exercising rights created by the ordinance.
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