City of Renton

When corporations raise their prices but don't raise their wages, it's impossible for many people to afford the basics. It's been almost 14 years since Congress raised the national minimum wage, and millions are struggling to afford food, housing, health care, and more. One local initiative could help reverse this trend. If approved by voters, Renton's Citizen Initiative Measure No. 23-02 would raise the city of Renton's minimum wage from the statewide minimum of $15.74 to $20.29 an hour for large businesses, and $18.29 for medium-sized businesses. Smaller businesses with less than 15 employees or a gross revenue of less than $2 million are exempt. 

If approved, Renton will join many large cities in Washington like Seattle, SeaTac, and Tukwila in securing a minimum wage that better reflects what workers should truly earn in an economy where companies and executives are taking in record profits. This modest increase in minimum wage can make a huge difference in being able to afford medical care, make rent reliably, and keep the utilities on. Despite the urgent need for action, conservative lobbyists and large corporations like Walmart and McDonald's have banded together, contributing to the $100,000 campaign aimed at preventing the initiative from passing this February. 

When working people earn the wage they work hard for, everyone benefits - families can stay housed, healthy, and able to afford living where they work. We strongly endorse a Yes vote on Citizen Initiative Measure No. 23-02.