It’s time to raise Washington’s minimum wage

With stagnant wages, working people are struggling for economic security. Rep. Sharlett Mena’s bill to raise the minimum wage statewide could change that. 

OLYMPIA, WA (February 10, 2025) — The slogan was simple: “eight hours for work, eight hours for rest, eight hours for what we will.” It’s been 85 years since the Fair Standards Labor Act established a 40 hour workweek. But for many low-wage workers, the possibility of balancing work with rest and leisure is still far out of reach.

Unemployment in the U.S. is low, hovering around 4%. But wages haven’t kept up with the demand for labor, and with prices still high as a result of steep inflation over the past several years, many working people are struggling to make ends meet.

Organized labor is tackling stagnant wages this session, advocating for a bill to raise the minimum wage in Washington State. HB 1764 would increase the statewide minimum wage to $25 per hour by 2031. It would also require a minimum of 15 days of paid vacation, modeled after policies in CA and NY, and unpaid bereavement leave, in line with Illinois, Oregon, and California. 

There is something inherently broken about an economy where workers must work multiple jobs to survive. A renter in Washington must earn $30-$40 an hour to afford a typical apartment without spending more than 30% of their income on housing; Washington’s minimum wage is currently $16.66. Low-wage work disproportionately falls on women (representing 7 out of 10 of the lowest-wage positions nationally, with more than 30% supporting children at home) and people of color.

Wages sufficient to cover expenses are only one component of ensuring that low-wage workers can thrive. Paid vacation is one of the most common benefits offered in the U.S., but only half of all service workers have access to it. All working people need time off to recover, rest, and spend time with loved ones — and the flexibility to take leave in an emergency. 

When working families thrive, communities prosper. Raising wages leads to higher local spending, and studies have found that wage increases don’t cause job loss or significantly higher prices.

TAKE A STAND: HB 1764 is being heard in the House Labor & Workplace Standards Committee meeting at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, February 11. Sign-in PRO today in solidarity with workers across Washington. 

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The companion bill, SB 5578, sponsored Sen. Rebecca Saldaña, is also being heard Tuesday, February 11, in the Senate Labor & Commerce Committee. Sign-in PRO today.

Sign-in PRO today in three quick steps:

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