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Efforts from labor unions to raise the minimum wage in Renton to $19 fell flat Monday night when the Renton city council failed to adopt the ordinance instead opting to send it to the voters in 2024. Should the initiative pass, it would place Renton in the top 3 highest minimum wage in the US along with Sea Tac ($19.06) and Seattle ($18.69).
Councilmember James Alberson stated what should be obvious, that the minimum wage is not intended to be a living wage. By raising the minimum wage, in the short term, workers will see an increase in wages, but long-term costs will increase negating the additional money received from the higher minimum wage.
Additionally, business owners will be forced to lay off workers or reduce work hours. Instead of a salary bump, many workers instead find their work hours cut or their jobs eliminated completely. For some employees, if they fall below a minimum hour threshold required for benefits, they lose benefits too.
Renton is the latest city to consider increasing the minimum wage and should the initiative pass, will be at a competitive disadvantage to surrounding cities. This is similar to Bellingham whose voters passed Initiative 1 earlier this year.
Voters will decide next fall if the minimum wage will increase in the city of Renton.