Minimum wage

A former barista in Everett is suing Starbucks for allegedly violating a new city law that requires employers to offer more hours to existing part-time workers before hiring new ones.

Labor groups back Proposition 1, which would raise Olympia's minimum wage and add worker protections. Opponents argue that local employers won’t be able to handle the costs.

The city's challenge is the latest in the battle over letting voters decide on a higher minimum wage and new workplace protections in Tacoma.

Initiative would increase worker protections and increase minimum wage to $20.24.

The region’s unaffordability problem persists, but activists say its record-high pay floor has been a success as they push for similar wage increases in Tacoma and Olympia.

The new law took effect last month, but Measure 1, if passed, would reduce exceptions for smaller businesses and carveouts for tips and benefits

The new year brings expanded paid sick leave, protections for Seattle app-based workers, more safety regulations and additional rules of the road.

At $16.66 per hour, Washington will again have the highest state level minimum wage in the country. But some advocates say that’s still not enough.

Internal emails, interviews and in-app messages show Uber and Lyft deployed a powerful lobbying playbook to stop minimum wage laws in Minnesota. But drivers had a playbook of their own.

Community members have raised concerns about councilmembers’ ties to the restaurant and hospitality industry ahead of a vote that would rollback a minimum wage law for app delivery drivers.