Olympia City Council to review research on low-wage workers 

The Olympia City Council is set to review initial research on low-wage workers and discuss how to move forward on the issue.  

City staff will present the research at a city council study session at Olympia City Hall at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 22.

The research follows a two-year process that has included debate over minimum wage, predictive scheduling, workplace safety and a citizen-led initiative that proposed specific worker protections.

Assistant City Manager Stacey Ray and Economic Development Director Jennica Machado are going to present the research findings and ask council members which issues they want the ongoing process to address.  

The work began in 2024, when the Olympia Finance Committee started examining policies that could help address concerns about the cost of living and job safety for low-wage workers in Olympia.  

The city council received significant community feedback on an initial draft project scope and timeline.

Many people expressed concerns about the pace of the process and whether individuals most affected by potential policies would have enough chances to participate in the dialogue and decision-making process.  

In 2025, the council directed staff to slow the process and focus on research and scoping. The effort was then paused after a citizen-led initiative was placed on the November 2025 ballot.  

Proposition 1, which supporters referred to as a “Workers’ Bill of Rights” inititative, proposed changes ranging from an increase in the minimum wage to predictive scheduling requirements and additional workplace safety measures. The proposition failed to pass muster with voters. 

The council later directed city staff to continue researching workers’ affordability and protections, as part of its 2026 annual work plan.  

In July, Ray presented a revised approach intended to address earlier concerns about the process, including the timing and community participation.  

Under the revised approach, city staff began with research and data gathering focused on low-wage workers in Olympia.  

Community and stakeholder engagement was postponed until after the city council could review the initial research and determine what questions it wanted staff to explore further.  

According to a staff report, council members may consider whether additional research is needed, how stakeholder and community engagement should be structured, and whether specific policy solutions should be included in the scope of the work.  

The city has not committed funding to a future phase of the project. The initial research cost $12,000 and is being covered through Ray's professional services budget. Any funding or staffing needs for a second phase would be determined after the city council refines the scope.  

The staff report notes the state's current minimum wage is $17.73 per hour and cites United Way research on ALICE households — people who are employed but have limited income and assets — as evidence of financial hardship among working households in the state.