SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6674

BYSenators Lee, Bailey, Anderson, Benitz, Johnson, Zimmerman and Metcalf

Raising the state minimum wage.

Senate Committee on Economic Development & Labor

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 1, 1988; February 4, 1988

Majority Report:  Do pass.

      Signed by Senators Lee, Chairman; Anderson, Vice Chairman; Cantu, Conner, Deccio, McMullen, Saling, Smitherman, West.

Senate Staff:Bill Lynch (786-7427)

                  February 16, 1988

AS PASSED SENATE, FEBRUARY 16, 1988

BACKGROUND:

The Washington State Minimum Wage Act provides that employees of at least 18 years of age must be paid at least $2.30 per hour.  Exceptions are made for agricultural workers, workers engaged in domestic service in a private home, outside salesmen, persons engaged in forest protection and fire prevention activities, and others.

The federal minimum wage laws establish the federal minimum wage at $3.35 per hour.  Employees of enterprises engaged in interstate commerce are covered by the federal minimum wage.  When the federal and state minimum wage laws apply to the same employment, the employee must be paid whichever wage is highest.

The state minimum wage has remained at $2.30 per hour since 1977.

SUMMARY:

The state minimum wage is raised from $2.30 per hour to $3.35 per hour.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      requested January 29, 1988

Senate Committee - Testified: Bob Seeber, Restaurant Association & Lodging Association (pro); Susan Johnson, Service Employees Union (pro); Jeff Johnson, Labor Council (pro); Lonnie Johns-Brown, Washington State National Organization of Women (pro); Clif Finch, Association of Washington Business (pro); Tom Taylor, Washington State Christmas Tree Growers (pro); Norval Johanson, Washington Strawberry Commission (pro); Richard Shepard, Libertarian Party of Washington (con); Isaac Shapiro, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (pro); Larry Kenney, Washington State Labor Council (pro); Tony Lee, Washington State Catholic Conference (pro); Bertina Belle, minimum wage earner (pro); George Finch, United Farm Workers of Washington (pro); Shelly Lundberg, University of Washington labor economist (pro); Dan Hainline, Dept. of Labor and Industries (neutral); Bob Baker, Dept. of Employment Security (neutral)