Here’s the news release from the L&I:
TUMWATER – Washington’s minimum wage will increase to $9.19 per hour beginning Jan. 1, 2013, the Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) announced today (Sept. 28).
L&I calculates the state’s minimum wage each year as required by Initiative 688, approved by Washington voters in 1998. The 15-cent-per-hour increase, from $9.04 to $9.19 an hour, reflects a 1.67 percent increase in the Consumer Price Index (for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, CPI‑W) announced earlier this month by the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
The CPI-W measures average price changes for goods and services purchased by urban wage earners and clerical workers. The goods and services it monitors include basic living costs such food, clothing, shelter, fuels, and services such as doctor visits.
According to the BLS’ Sept. 14 announcement, about 80 percent of the increase was due to a jump in gasoline prices, which rose an average of nine percent over the past 12 months.
Washington is one of 10 states that adjust the minimum wage based on inflation and the CPI. The others are Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, Ohio, Oregon, and Vermont.
Washington has the highest minimum wage, followed by Oregon, which recently announced its 2013 minimum wage will rise 1.7 percent, or by 15 cents, to $8.95 per hour.
Washington’s minimum wage applies to workers in both agricultural and non-agricultural jobs, although 14‑ and 15-year-olds may be paid 85 percent of the adult minimum wage, or $7.68 in 2012.
More information on Washington’s minimum wage is available at Wages.Lni.wa.gov. Employers and workers also may call 360-902-5316 or 1-866-219-7321.
WOW, no wonder my Big Mac was 5 bucks!
Your Big Mac was $5 because food prices are going up with global commodity prices. The labor component of your big mac is negligable.
Get used to food price inflation.
Nope, the cost is all because of labor. Labor through the supply chain is the largest portion of food service prices, and parts of the USA with very low minimum wages (like the USA south) have dramatically lower food prices for the same style of restaurants.
I’ve been doing this for over 20 years in Whatcom County. The CRB index today is at 309. In 1992 it was at 230. This is an increase of less than 50% over a 20 year time period, an increase of less than 2% per year compounded.
If it goes up because the gas price rises, will it go down if the price of gas does?
It’s no wonder the state is infested with illegals.
They have dreams of becoming millionaires once
they learn Washington has the highest minimum wage.
I work in the hospitality industry. I live in Portland, OR. It is very hard to come by negative comments regarding the minimum wage increase. However, when only the lowest paid workers’ wages increase without merit and the others do not… it can be detrimental to all who do not qualify. The minimum wage is increased almost every year in Oregon… this year by $0.30 and next year it will by $0.15. This doesn’t seem like much, but when you have a lot of employees, and it happens so frequently; it certainly adds up.
Unfortunately everyone who’s making more than minimum wage is at a disadvantage because of it. Everyone making more than minimum whose wage doesn’t enjoy the same increase will ultimately be getting a decrease in wage compared to the required minimum (and cost of living resulting from it) because their employers are not required to give them an increase as well. I have employees who rightfully deserve a decent salary increase due to their great performance, however, they do not get rewarded for their performance like they should because I am not able to offer the same promotions, bonuses, and wage increases now which I could have if it wasn’t for the hike in the lowest genre of wage earners at my place of business. Furthermore, those who are making more than minimum wage are sometimes left feeling unappreciated and have lower employee moral with less confidence in their line of work because of it.
If people think about how much they’re making right now and then think about how much they’re making after each minimum wage increase… They realize their salary stays the same, but the new hires and unqualified worker’s wages increase (some of which are illegal immigrants which I know all too well from first hand and current experience), as does the price of your expenses… but the salary they make isn’t able to increase anymore like it would otherwise because of the cost increase of the bottom wage earners. It would only be fair if everyone’s wage increased the same amount as the minimum wage does, however, it is obvious that businesses cannot afford such an expense, and it would make the cost of living sky-rocket to make up for it. Also, this year (2012) the owners of the small business I work for decided to eliminate the 2 sick days I used to get and decreased my (our) vacation days by cutting them in half (they call it “paid time off” now) and no longer offer paid holidays and overtime like they used to. The expense of the minimum wage earners has gotten too high and the best workers do not last as long which becomes detrimental to our business (also understanding it takes up to 4 weeks just to train someone in at my work and they do not last nearly as long as they used to…) . To make matters worse, the prices my company charges consumers for the products and services they offer have had to decrease year over year in order to stay competitive in the market due to the economy. Larger corporations can still offer a reasonable increase for all of their workers because they can pass on the expense to their consumers. Unfortunately we are not able to.
I empathize with minimum wage earners wanting an increase in wage, however, and increase in wage for new hires and low level workers, etc. will sometimes amount in a decrease in benefits offered and may not allow them to grow in the company or earn the wage increase deserved if they exceed their job performance expectations the way it would have otherwise. Also, the minimum wage earners at my work get tips and the workers who make more than minimum wage do not. Therefore, the minimum wage earners ultimately (and usually) end up making way more than their superiors (and I’ve been told they do not report the tips in their earnings on their tax returns when they’re paid in cash so they still qualify for all the tax deductions and refunds associated with being a low income earner who has kids) Luckily, everyone working for me at the minimum wage level lives with a household of atleast 2 or more other adults (with quite a few children) and receive food stamps and government assistance, etc. along with thousands of dollars in Government tax credits each year for each of their many children since they are low wage earners and claim to be a single mother although the father of the children actually lives in the same household. Some of them also make sure to not work full time (even when it’s offered to them) because they want to keep their welfare & foodstamp benefits.
Where does it end? I have a payroll cap which means there are less people I can hire and less of an hourly wage I can offer to employees who make more than minimum. In addition; my personal expenses keep rising and I haven’t had a raise in 3 years like many other middle class workers… What once seemed like a a good wage has decreased in value over the years and has now become a disappointment. I dread telling my best employees they can’t get a wage increase each year like the minimum wage workers do… and I’m concerned that my wage will never increase again if I continue working for a small business as well. The cost of all of our expenses keep rising, as does the minimum wage… but when will the skilled/talented workers who work for a private sector small businesses ever be thought of to receive the same attention and consideration?