This week the City of Seattle will host a daylong “Income Inequality Symposium” at Seattle University. According to the event website, the symposium is “part of the process the Mayor’s Income Inequality Advisory Committee is using to solicit input and feedback from a wide variety of stakeholders as members work to recommend a new minimum wage policy to the Mayor by the end of April.”
A look at the featured speakers and experts, however, quickly indicates that the supposedly “wide variety of stakeholders” is composed almost entirely of high-profile advocates for increasing the minimum wage.
The Mayor’s website lists 21 “national and local experts,” almost all of which have explicitly supported dramatic increases in minimum wage laws. Some work for organizations like the National Employment Law Project that are dedicated specifically to increasing the minimum wage. Others are from radical labor groups like the Restaurant Opportunities Center, which has faced federal investigation because of its “history of intimidation towards opponents.”
Overall, 18 of the speakers publicly support a higher minimum wage, two have not publicly expressed opinions, and one is against.
There is no shortage of local and national experts willing and able to explain the negative consequences of increasing the minimum wage. Just this month, over 500 economists signed a letter to President Obama opposing an increase in the federal minimum wage to $10.10. Local experts from the Freedom Foundation, Washington Policy Center, and Washington Research Council have all produced independent research in recent months warning against a $15 minimum wage. A number of local entrepreneurs and leaders in the business community have expressed concern about the $15 minimum wage.
But none of these dissenting voices will be heard at the symposium. This intentional lack of diversity will undoubtedly inhibit productive dialogue and lead to a hollow consensus tilted in favor of a dramatic increase in Seattle’s wage mandates.
Given its one-sidedness, perhaps a more fitting name for the event would be the “Opinion Inequality Imposium.”
Academics: Four publicly in favor, one unknown
1. Dorian Warren, Columbia University
“So what do participants in the Raise Up Milwaukee campaign, and their counterparts in other cities, want? A basic wage of $15 per hour and the right to form unions without corporate interference and intimidation. They understand that big corporations in the service industries can afford to pay more but that these companies won’t do so unless workers join together and demand wages that support families.”
Dorrian Warren, “Low-wage workers rebel against modern Gatsby,” Las Vegas Sun, May 18, 2013.
2. Michael Reich and Ken Jacobs, UC Berkeley
“Even if Congress finally acts to raise the federal minimum wage, higher standards at the state and local level still make sense.”
Michael Reich and Ken Jacobs, “All Economics is Local,” New York Times, March 22, 2014.
3. Marieka Klawitter and Bob Plotnik, University of Washington
Klawitter and Plotnik conducted a study at the request of the city to determine the characteristics of workers currently earning less than $15 in Seattle. Klawitter recently signed a letter in support of increasing the federal minimum wage to $10.10 per hour.
Elected Officials: All eight publicly in favor
1. John Avalos, San Francisco Supervisor
“In San Francisco, we pride ourselves on having the highest minimum wage in the country, at $10.55 an hour. But that’s still not enough on which to raise a family, particularly given our city’s high cost of living. I am tremendously excited about Seattle’s push for a $15 minimum wage.”
John Avalos, quoted by Seattle Councilmember Nick Licata, “March 27 Income Inequality Symposium,” Council Connection, March 21, 2014.
2. Wilson Goode, Philadelphia City Councilmember
“I am excited to come to Seattle and join the effort to dramatically raise the minimum wage there. Efforts like these are part of a nation-wide movement to lift families out of poverty and reward hard work with dignity and security.”
Wilson Goode, quoted by Seattle Councilmember Nick Licata, “March 27 Income Inequality Symposium,” Council Connection, March 21, 2014.
3. Roderick Sawyer, Chicago Alder
“Raising the minimum wage is long overdue. We need to give our workers an opportunity to earn a living wage.”
Roderick Sawyer, quoted by Action Now, “Aldermen Endorse $15 Minimum Wage Referendums on Major Corporations, Actionnow.org, January 30, 2014.
4. Toni Foulkes, Chicago Alder
“The minimum wage is my baby, because I know what it is.”
Toni Foulkes, quoted by Ted Cox and Tanveer Ali, “$15 Minimum Wage Backed by Aldermen, Rapped by Business,” DNAInfo Chicago, January 30, 2014.
5. John Arena, Chicago Alder
“A $15 an hour wage floor will put more purchasing power into the hands of workers and boost direct spending in our communities.”
John Arena, quoted by Action Now, “Aldermen Endorse $15 Minimum Wage Referendums on Major Corporations, Actionnow.org, January 30, 2014.
6. Nick Licata, Seattle Councilmember
“We can get to a $15 an hour minimum wage. And it’s not just some Socialist dream. It’s good government. And, it’s good business.”
Nick Licata, “Raising the Minimum Wage in Seattle,” Urban Politics: Nick’s Blog, December 20, 2013.
7. Bruce Harrell, Seattle Councilmember
“15Now.org has laid a stake in the ground. They want no exemptions. They want 15 implemented immediately. I think that’s good.”
Bruce Harrell, quoted by Erica Barnett, “One Question for Council Member Bruce Harrell,” Seattle Met, February 18, 2014.
8. Kshama Sawant, Seattle Councilmember
“Sawant, who made the $15 an hour wage the signature issue in her City Council campaign, said she wants the wage hike now, with no exceptions, conditions or delays.”
Deborah Wang, “Seattle Minimum Wage Activists Prepare To Fight Against ‘Swiss Cheese’ Plan,” KUOW, March 4, 2014.
Non-Profit Activists: All four publicly in favor
1. Lori Pfingst, Washington State Budget and Policy Center
“A minimum wage increase is good for Washington state’s economy and a minimum wage increase would help more Washingtonians meet their basic needs.”
Lori Pfingst, testimony before the Washington State House Labor and Workforce Development Committee on HB2627, February 4, 2014.
2. Saru Jayaraman, ROC-United
“There is a bill moving through Congress called the Fair Minimum Wage Act that would finally raise the wage for both tipped and non-tipped workers. And even better than that, there are a number of states and localities where we are moving to eliminate the tip credit, the lower minimum wage for tipped workers, altogether.”
Saru Jayaraman, “Raising the Restaurant Minimum Wage,” The Atlantic’s Schriver Report Live, January 23, 2014.
3. Heather Boushey, Washington Center for Equitable Growth and the Center for American Progress
“Raising the minimum wage” is “the right policy at the right time.”
Heather Boushey, “Economists come together to weigh in on a most important economic issue,” heatherboushey.com, January 15, 2014.
4. Paul Sonn, National Employment Law Project
“Raising the minimum wage can help our economy recover while helping the millions of Americans struggling to make ends meet in low-wage jobs.”
Paul Sonn, “Minimum Wage Hike Could Boost Economy, According to New Research,” Center for American Progress, June 7, 2011.
Business: Two publicly in favor, one against and one unknown
1. Nick Hanauer, Seattle venture capitalist
“Raising Seattle’s minimum wage to $15 in a speedy, simplified, and practical way will make our city more competitive and bring giant benefits.”
Nick Hanauer and Eric Liu, “How a $15 Minimum Wage Would Make Everyone Richer,” The Stranger, March 26, 2014.
2. Dick Conway, Puget Sound Forecast
“Conway says when he first heard the idea of lifting Seattle’s minimum wage to $15, he was skeptical. ‘I kind of shook my head; I thought that seems a little on the high side. But when I put my pencil to it, it’s really not that outrageous,’ he said.”
Ashley Gross, “Regional Economist Dick Conway Says $15 Minimum Wage Is ‘Not Outrageous,’” KPLU, March 6, 2014.
3. Jasmine Donovan, Dick’s Burgers
“Jasmine Donovan, granddaughter of the founder of Seattle-based Dick’s Drive-In restaurants, said that if the minimum wage were raised to $15, the company’s labor costs would increase $1.5 million. ‘Raising prices would have to be our first response,’ she said, adding, ‘Sadly, some of our benefits would have to be on the table, including 100 percent employer-paid health insurance for those working more than 24 hours a week.’”
Lynn Thompson, “’Historic moment’: hundreds pack minimum-wage hearing,” Seattle Times, March 5, 2014.
4. Maud Daudon, Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce
As a business representative on the Mayor’s Income Inequality Advisory Committee, Daudon has not been public about her position on the minimum wage. Regardless, it appears that Daudon will act only as a moderator, not a speaker, at the symposium.
