Today, Seattle City Council postponed a scheduled vote on CB 120119, legislation that would end Seattle’s $4 an hour, premium pay for grocery workers.
The Chamber sent a letter on July 9 urging councilmembers to swiftly pass the bill and ending mandated additional pay. When Seattle City Council passed the mandated pay for grocery workers in January, the Chamber emphasized that providing quick and equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines was the best and most effective way to ensure the safety of grocery workers and all front-line employees. Grocery workers have been eligible for the vaccine since March 17, and in early June, Seattle became the first major American city to fully vaccinate 70% of eligible residents (those aged 12 and older).
The Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce is disappointed by today’s action and is urging Council to expedite consideration of this timely bill that has now been delayed twice. When the bill passed out of committee, the legislation was scheduled a week later than normal to give councilmembers additional time to review the proposal. Today, marks another delay for legislation that is already months late. When Council initially passed the mandated pay for grocery workers in January, the legislation included a commitment to revisit the increased pay after four months.
Six months later, the temporary law is still on the books, despite significant advances in community vaccination and vaccine availability. The Chamber will reach out to councilmembers to address this overdue item and give the bill timely passage as soon as possible.
