Commentary: Beyond Prop  1 — Olympia needs a $20 minimum wage

I recently read Thurston County Commissioner Wayne Fournier’s post-mortem on the defeat of Proposition 1 in Olympia, in which he framed the loss as a rejection of poorly drafted policy. 

While I have much respect for the commissioner's commitment to our community and otherwise rarely disagree with him, his analysis overlooks a crucial reality: Prop 1 was not a policy failure, but a vital, measured response to the escalating crisis of affordability facing Olympia’s workforce.

I find that suggesting the initiative failed due to “policy literacy” dangerously diminishes the real struggles of the thousands of working families who desperately need these basic protections. The precinct map is not a measure of "political maturity." It is a stark reflection of the deep economic gap in our city: working-class precincts with more renters voted for it, while high-income, homeowner precincts voted against it. That’s not a “tidy explanation”; it’s an analysis of the election results compared with economic data. 

It is also troubling that Commissioner Fournier implied voters in renter-heavy neighborhoods lacked the maturity to properly analyze their ballot choices. These are the same precincts that voted in favor of the most progressive measure in city history, the 2016 income tax that also failed with 52% of the city voting no and 48% voting yes. In both cases, the voters in those working class precincts knew what was being asked of the city. They supported it, because they knew it would make their lives better. Fournier can chalk this up to “redistributive policies,” but in reality it’s simply workers trying to create a more fair landscape.

The assertion that labor unions are an "outside" force is a misleading rhetorical device. The “no” campaign centered on the boogeyman of an “out of town” group forcing its will upon us. This argument willfully ignored that the labor groups in support of Prop 1 represent thousands of local workers from every walk of life, and more importantly, that 5,300 Olympians signed the petition to put the Workers' Bill of Rights (WBR) on the ballot. 

This was a movement borne and driven by the people of Olympia.

It is simple: These policies work 

The critique that the WBR was too complicated or simply a "Seattle template" is, in my view, a simplification, and much ado about nothing. Being a policy-maker himself, Commissioner Fournier knows very well that good policies are repeated from place to place, and just like the WBR, tailored to fit our community. The core principles of the WBR are clear, and the model has been implemented effectively in jurisdictions of various sizes across the state since 2015.

• A living wage is foundational: The proposed $20 minimum wage was strategically phased in over time and by business size. This gradual approach was designed to not be a sudden shock to the system, providing businesses with necessary time to adjust while taking a critical step toward economic justice in the face of Olympia's high cost of living.
• Dignity through predictability: For large employers (500-plus employees), the mandate for 14 days’ advance notice and premium pay for last-minute changes is not rigid red tape; it is a fundamental shift toward respecting a worker’s personal life. This allows our employees to manage child care, education and health care without constant anxiety. This combination of better pay and reliable schedules directly contributes to reduced stress and greater family stability.

I maintain that the outcome of the election was not a rejection of the principles of the WBR, but the success of a “no” campaign that generated reasonable doubt among voters regarding its complexity and specific impact.

Structural elements were designed for effectiveness

Commissioner Fournier cites "structural flaws," such as the private right of action and the limitation on immediate city council amendments, as central issues. From my view, these elements were essential mechanisms designed for accountability and long-term effectiveness.

• The right to seek justice: The “private right of action” is a standard mechanism for civil enforcement of labor standards that empowers workers to directly address things like wage theft and other violations. As a long-time public official, Commissioner Fournier surely understands the importance of strong enforcement tools. Characterizing this as "flipping due process" is a limited interpretation; it simply allows our workers a direct path to resolution. As a longtime union member, Commissioner Fournier has undoubtedly benefitted from, either directly or indirectly, civil action that defended or upheld his rights; and appreciates the importance of these protections for workers.
• Protecting the policy's core: The provision limiting amendments was included to protect the standards from being rapidly weakened by the same political process that had historically failed to pass similar protections. Crucially, the measure still empowered the city to establish rules and compliance procedures, which would have involved input from both employers and workers. To put it simply, they could have created any enforcement mechanism they wanted, including giving the responsibility to code enforcement within the city, creating a revenue stream in the process.

A balanced view of economic impact

While Commissioner Fournier gives substantial weight to the fears of small business owners (who would not have been affected by the scheduling provisions), I believe his analysis offers little balance regarding the positive economic outcomes for the community as a whole.

• Growth in thriving communities: The concern that raising the wage floor will drive businesses out of Olympia is a familiar, yet unsubstantiated, concern. Businesses thrive where residents have disposable income. Economic research confirms that the financial impact on consumer prices is minimal, often just a few cents on a purchase, while the impact on a family’s budget is substantial.
• Supporting nonprofits by addressing poverty: When wages rise and families achieve greater stability, the demand for crisis services provided by many local nonprofits naturally diminishes. The WBR directly addresses the root causes of poverty, allowing our nonprofits to better focus on their core missions rather than patching holes in the community safety net.

A path forward

The Workers’ Bill of Rights was an urgent and vital step toward solving Olympia’s affordability crisis. The election outcome was a failure of messaging and resource allocation, not a rejection of economic justice. The path forward requires us to address these core issues with renewed commitment.

To move us past the divisions of the last election, I call on the Olympia City Council to immediately adopt an ordinance that phases in a $20 minimum wage paired with an “offer of hours” provision that prioritizes existing part-time workers for additional available hours before new staff are hired - protecting our workers from employers who “game the system” by reducing workers’ hours after wage increases take effect.

The time for tilling old soil is over; the time to deliver economic stability for the people of Olympia is now. It is my hope that Commissioner Fournier, now that the election is behind us, will use his platform to urge the City Council to adopt this solution, reminding us all that, regardless of the campaign's heat, we remain neighbors committed to a city where every worker can thrive.

Rob Richards was the campaign manager for Yes for Olympia Workers.