Voters in SeaTac, a city of about 29,000, may have approved an increase in the minimum wage to $15 an hour:
The SeaTac ‘Good Jobs Initiative’ to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour for workers in Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and at airport-related businesses was winning 54-46%, with 3,283 votes counted Tuesday night.
Many are expressing surprise and happiness about the economically illiterate measure:
$15 minimum wage in Seatac. Now let's bring it to the rest of America <3
— worst responder (@LusciousPear) November 6, 2013
https://twitter.com/KingFeLeX_sp/status/397963745780985856
https://twitter.com/stickrachel/status/397959678967033856
Supporters of #Prop1 believe a higher minimum wage in #SeaTac will have a ripple effect across the country. pic.twitter.com/JJuDpSMMER
— Brandi Kruse (@BrandiKruse) November 6, 2013
Good tidings out of a small WA city: Seatac, home of the Seattle airport, now has a sorta-liveable minimum wage of $15/hr. #WatchAndLearn
— ⫷ • Macartisan • ⫸ (@macartisan) November 6, 2013
Seatac passed a $15 minimum wage against the wishes of big business. #seattle airport is even more amazing!
— Joe Mirabella (@joemirabella) November 6, 2013
Supporters of SeaTac's Prop 1 celebrate the first numbers as initial count is Yes with 54% (@ellenbanner) #waelex pic.twitter.com/XM7galBv5i
— Seattle Times Photo (@SeaTimesPhoto) November 6, 2013
Seatac initiative to raise minimum wage to $15 winning! #populism
— Rachel Kurtz-McAlaine (@redheadkurtz) November 6, 2013
SEIU VP David Rolf on SeaTac's $15/hour minimum wage measure: "Voters are tired of waiting for CEOs or Congress to do the right thing."
— Amy Martinez (@amyemartinez) November 6, 2013
Huge night for prosperity. City of SeaTac raises minimum wage to $15.
— Nick Hanauer (@NickHanauer) November 6, 2013
$15 minimum wage in SeaTac was passed bye y'all moving to SeaTac lol
— alexis ☯ (@champagniexo) November 6, 2013
Others are not as happy. Most economists agree that mandating a high minimum wage depresses employment among employees who have few skills and need entry-level positions to gain those skills. Most likely, the increased labor costs will be passed on to consumers, making SeaTac businesses less able to compete with competitors located in nearby cities.
https://twitter.com/Raised__Right/status/397957572419792897
Opponents of SeaTac's Prop 1 look at initial results that come in as 54% Yes (Mark Harrison) #waelex pic.twitter.com/kuo3AGUAZo
— Seattle Times Photo (@SeaTimesPhoto) November 6, 2013
So… $15 an hour minimum wage in seatac… Hmmm.. Glad my job right now makes $5 less an hour than the McDonalds and 7-11 worker in seatac.
— trevor thompson (@trevthompson12) November 6, 2013
#DearWSU can we raise minimum wage to $15 an hour so my graphic design job here can make the same as a burger king employee in seatac…
— trevor thompson (@trevthompson12) November 6, 2013
SeaTac airport. “@mtbsteve: There’s your $9.99 Big Mac. RT @StephieInTexas: $15 minimum wage in Seattle? Is that for real?”
— Bill Ferris (@cwferris) November 6, 2013
Will SeaTac be first airport with minimum wage surcharge on airline tickets and car rentals?“@Q13FOX: SeaTac $15 minimum wage…."
— Bill Ferris (@cwferris) November 6, 2013
https://twitter.com/JasonBWhitman/status/397947052241334272
With proponents declaring this the start of a national trend, all eyes are on SeaTac:
This $15 minimum wage in Seattle will be fun to watch. Let's see what happens when this happens… #popcorn
— MAGA vs UNIPARTY (@p_i_n_e) November 6, 2013
The founders wanted local governments to conduct experiments in political administration. It will be interesting to see how this one works out.
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