Actors fight their union over minimum wage in L.A.
An interesting in the Monday New York Times describes a fight going on in Los Angeles concerning the application of the minimum wage to actors working in very small theaters: The willingness of Los Angeles actors to perform for a pittance, hoping to hone their craft and, maybe, to catch the eye of an agent […]
April 01 , 2015 - Emily Makings
March 30 , 2015 - Emily Makings
Moving away from tipping in Seattle
Seattle’s new minimum wage ordinance takes effect on Wednesday. From the Capitol Hill Seattle Blog: Most Capitol Hill food and drink owners will only be required to raise employee wages by less than a dollar if they aren’t already making $11 an hour plus tips. But over time, the phased in wage hike could bring about fundamental changes to […]
March 27 , 2015 - Emily Makings
Minimum wage links
The University of Washington won’t be complying with Seattle’s new minimum wage ordinance, at least to begin with: But whether a city can set wages for the UW, the state community colleges, Seattle Public Schools, King County, the Port of Seattle and other public entities is still up for debate. Some of those agencies have […]
March 25 , 2015 - Emily Makings
March 19 , 2015 - Emily Makings
March 19 , 2015 - Emily Makings
Minimum wage and piece-rate wages links
Opportunity Washington has a good blog post on Seattle’s fast-growing high-end incomes, which have “fueled the urban momentum for minimum wage hikes.” It concludes: “Expanding opportunity – including the opportunity to advance beyond minimum wage employment – should continue to be policymakers’ highest priority.” There was a bit of a kerfuffle this week in the […]
March 18 , 2015 - Emily Makings
Franchisees and Seattle's minimum wage ordinance
Yesterday a federal judge denied a preliminary injunction of part of Seattle’s minimum wage ordinance that had been sought by franchisees. The minimum wage ordinance takes effect on April 1; it would gradually increase the city’s minimum wage to $15, and small employers have more time to get there. The ordinance classifies franchisees as large […]
March 13 , 2015 - Emily Makings
Senate would lower age floor for voluntary workers' compensation settlements
On Tuesday, the Senate passed ESB 5513. As amended, the bill would allow workers who are at least 40 years old to voluntarily agree to a structured settlement of their workers’ compensation claims. Washington has allowed limited, voluntary settlement agreements since 2011; but, currently, a worker must be at least 53 years old to settle. […]
March 12 , 2015 - Emily Makings