Seattle's minimum wage compromise is ending. Restaurants are worried
Seattle Now
KUOW News and Information
4.7 • 670 Ratings
🗓️ 22 July 2024
⏱️ 15 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Ten years ago, when Seattle passed its first-in-the-nation $15 minimum wage, a lot of small businesses were concerned. So the law carved out an exception that let some small employers count tips and other reimbursement.
That compromise will expire in January, and some restaurant owners say it could cause big problems. We’ll hear why from restaurant owners Yenvy Pham, Amy Fair Gunnar and Eric Banh, plus analysis of how we got here from Seattle Times reporter David Kroman.
We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. You have the power! Make the show happen by making a gift to KUOW: https://www.kuow.org/donate/seattlenow
And we want to hear from you! Follow us on Instagram at SeattleNowPod, or leave us feedback online: https://www.kuow.org/feedback
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | These days, there's so much news. |
| 0:01.8 | It can be hard to keep up with what it all means for you, your family, and your community. |
| 0:06.4 | The Consider This Podcast from NPR features our award-winning journalism. |
| 0:10.7 | Six days a week, we bring you a deep dive on a news story and provide the context and analysis that helps you make sense of the news. |
| 0:17.5 | We get behind the headlines. |
| 0:19.4 | We get to the truth. |
| 0:22.8 | Listen to the Consider This podcast from NPR. |
| 0:26.1 | Hey, good morning. It's Patricia Murphy. It's Monday. This is Seattle now. 10 years ago, when |
| 0:32.8 | Seattle passed its first in the nation, $15 an hour minimum wage, a lot of small businesses were concerned. |
| 0:39.6 | So the law carved out an exception. |
| 0:42.2 | That let some small employers count tips and other reimbursement. |
| 0:46.5 | That compromise will expire in January. |
| 0:49.3 | And some restaurant owners say it could cause big problems. |
| 0:52.6 | We'll hear more in a minute from restaurant tours and Seattle Times reporter David Cromen. |
| 0:58.0 | But first, here's what's coming up this week. |
| 1:06.0 | President Joe Biden dropped out of the 2024 presidential race yesterday. |
| 1:10.0 | He endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris |
| 1:12.7 | to lead the ticket. Washington State Democrats followed suit, including Senator Patty Murray, |
| 1:18.4 | representatives Primalogia Paul, Adam Smith, and Marilyn Strickland. Washington GOP chairman Jim |
| 1:24.7 | Walsh said on X, formerly Twitter, it's troubling that President Joe Biden is |
| 1:29.4 | quitting his campaign for re-election at this late point in our nation's process. |
| 1:35.0 | The Seattle Office of Housing will present its annual report to the City Council on Wednesday. |
... |
Please login to see the full transcript.
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from KUOW News and Information, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.
Generated transcripts are the property of KUOW News and Information and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.