Thursday, October 1, 2026
The Olympia City Council will receive a briefing on a resident-driven Workers' Bill of Rights initiative, as the petition process moves toward potential ballot inclusion this November.
On Thursday, July 17, Assistant City Manager Stacey Ray is set to present the briefing, which will outline the initiative process and the proposal's content.
The United Food and Commercial Workers Local 367 spearheaded a petition in support of a Workers' Bill of Rights initiative. It proposes several new labor standards, including raising the minimum wage for large employers — those with more than 500 workers — to $20 per hour, with annual increases tied to inflation starting the following year.
Medium-sized employers, with 16 to 500 employees, would phase into the $20 minimum wage over several years, starting $2 below the large employer rate, with an $1 annual increase.
Small employers, with 15 or fewer employees, would start $3 below and increase by 50 cents annually until reaching parity.
The measure would also require large employers to implement workplace safety plans to prepare for violence or natural disasters, including providing panic buttons in isolated work areas, conducting annual evacuation drills, and maintaining safe staffing levels in large retail spaces.
The initiative also prohibits employer retaliation against workers who exercise rights under the ordinance and allows employees to pursue civil action for violations, including wage underpayments, retaliation or unsafe conditions. Penalties for violations range from $500 to $5,000 per affected employee, depending on the offense.
On June 24, the Olympia City Clerk received the first two batches of petition signatures for the Workers’ Bill of Rights initiative. The Clerk’s Office transmitted the signatures to the Thurston County Auditor’s Office for verification. A determination on whether the petition has enough valid signatures to qualify for the ballot was expected by Tuesday, July 15.
According to Thurston County Auditor's Elections Division, 13,764 lines were submitted for signature review. At least, 5,788 valid signatures, or 15% of Olympia's registered voters in the last general election, are needed for the initiative to be certified as sufficient. If the signatures fall short, the petitioners will have 10 days to submit additional signatures.
If deemed sufficient, the Olympia City Council will have 20 days under city code to either adopt the measure or refer it to a vote of the people. The council cannot change the proposal's language.
To make it to the November 2025 ballot, the council must take formal action and file the ballot title with Thurston County Elections no later than Aug. 5.
The council is expected to formally consider its next steps regarding the initiative during its regular meeting on July 22, should the signature threshold be met.
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jimlazar
This is a good set of elements for worker protection, and to move Olympia towards a more livable community.
It would be better if it were implemented throughout Thurston County, not just in Olympia. It's a little weird to have the Olympia Westside Target subject to different rules than the Lacey Target.
Perhaps if it is enacted here, Lacey and Tumwater will follow suit without the need to go through the initiative process.
Wednesday, July 16, 2025 Report this
TheVirtualOne
This will only make businesses close, move somewhere else, and take Olympia off their list as a place to consider opening a business. It doesn’t work. Look at what Seattle has done and learn from it.
Wednesday, July 16, 2025 Report this
BobB
Hopefully this passes and will set the standard for the rest of the county. These are minimum standards for wages and scheduling that are reasonable if you're looking for a dedicated workforce. Opponents to the state's Family and Medical Leave Act also told us we were doomed if it passed but lo and behold, the free enterprise system did not falter and workers could have babies or surgery and not be thrown into poverty while recovering. Since corporations won't act unless they have to if they'll lose a nickel, it's time for legislation to protect basic workers rights.
Wednesday, July 16, 2025 Report this
Shushu
I do believe that minimum wage should rise as I have family working at this rate but businesses will find a way to deal with this. Last time wages went up employers cut full time employees to 24 hours to avoid overtime.
Thursday, July 17, 2025 Report this
FrostedFlake
It's basic economics.
If you don't pay the help, they won't have any money, can't buy your product, and so the economy stalls, people lose work, then homes, and no one knows what to do.
If you DO pay the help, they can pay rent, and show up for work the next day. For some reason some people don't get this.
Thursday, July 17, 2025 Report this
Southsoundguy
More rights = bigger government. Can this stupid idea. The City is inept as-is.
Thursday, July 17, 2025 Report this
terry
What this creates is a workforce untethered to employer/customer based standards and economic reality effecting greater application of AI and other operating efficiencies - meaning fewer jobs.
Thursday, July 17, 2025 Report this