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ARTICLE · 01 SEPTEMBER 2015

Washington Supreme Court Extends Minimum Wage

Fisher Phillips LLP
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In a narrow 5-4 decision on August 20, 2015, the Washington Supreme Court reversed a lower court ruling and applied the City of SeaTac's $15 minimum wage law to all workers at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

United StatesEmployment and HR
Nicholas Beermann
Nicholas Beermann
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In a narrow 5-4 decision on August 20, 2015, the Washington Supreme Court reversed a lower court ruling and applied the City of SeaTac's $15 minimum wage law to all workers at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. 

The law, which became effective on January 1, 2014, was one of the nation's first $15 minimum wage propositions. SeaTac voters narrowly approved the wage hike two years ago, which applies to only "hospitality" and "transportation" workers within the city limits.

However, an airline, a restaurant group, and a food company each sued the city, arguing that the minimum wage proposition could not be enforced against workers at SeaTac Airport because the facility is operated by the Port of Seattle. A lower court agreed, and in a December 2013 decision, ruled that the law could not be enforced because of the Port of Seattle's exclusive jurisdiction over the airport's "operations" and its workers. The lower court made clear, however, that the $15 minimum wage

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