This November, Olympia voters have a chance to make history by voting Yes on Proposition 1 — the Workers’ Bill of Rights. It’s a community-driven initiative that puts fairness, stability, and dignity at the center of our local economy — for workers in every field, from grocery clerks to caregivers to nonprofit staff.
For too long, too many people in our city have struggled to keep up with rising costs despite working hard every day. Rent, food, gas, and childcare keep getting more expensive, while wages haven’t kept pace. The Workers’ Bill of Rights is Olympia’s plan to change that — a practical, phased-in approach to ensure that everyone who works here can afford to live here.
What the Measure Does
The Workers’ Bill of Rights raises Olympia’s minimum wage to $20 an hour, adjusted each year for inflation. To make sure the transition is fair and manageable, it includes a gradual phase-in for smaller employers:
- Small businesses and nonprofits (15 or fewer employees) have six years to reach the full rate.
- Medium employers (up to 500 employees) have three years.
- Large corporations with more than 500 employees nationwide would implement the $20 rate right away.
The measure also introduces predictive scheduling protections — but only for large employers. These rules ensure that large employers give employees at least 14 days’ notice of their schedules and compensate them for last-minute changes. Large and medium employers must offer additional hours to current employees who have the required skills (and who may decline) before hiring new staff. For small employers, these scheduling requirements do not apply.
The goal is to raise standards in a fair, targeted way — focusing on large corporations that can easily afford it, while giving smaller employers and nonprofits the flexibility they need to adjust.
A Positive Response from the Community
In recent weeks, volunteers and community members have been going door-to-door across Olympia to talk with residents about the Workers’ Bill of Rights — and the response has been overwhelmingly positive.
After COVID, many downtown Olympia restaurants and small businesses saw a sharp drop in their built-in lunch traffic as so many state and local jobs shifted to remote work. Some places have never fully recovered from losing that steady stream of customers. At the same time, big corporations keep squeezing everyone — from workers trying to pay their bills, to small businesses fighting to stay open, to nonprofits stretching every dollar. When that happens, people stop spending locally, because they can’t. The Workers’ Bill of Rights helps turn that around. By phasing in higher wages, it puts money back into the hands of the people who actually live and shop here — the ones who make Olympia run every day. That’s what keeps our downtown alive and our community strong.
Many residents have shared stories about unpredictable schedules that made childcare impossible, or about working two or three jobs just to stay afloat. Others have talked about how even a modest raise would mean fewer tough choices between rent, bills, medicine, and groceries. While some small business owners have expressed understandable concerns about costs, the gradual phase-in built into the initiative is designed exactly for that reason — to give employers time to plan and adapt while still ensuring that no worker is left behind.
The Role of Nonprofits
Nonprofit organizations are the beating heart of Olympia — they feed families, provide housing, care for children, and advocate for those most in need. Many nonprofit workers are motivated by purpose, not profit, yet too often their paychecks don’t reflect the value they bring to our community.
The Workers’ Bill of Rights acknowledges that reality. It doesn’t exempt nonprofits, because fairness shouldn’t depend on whether someone works for a for-profit or a nonprofit employer. But the six-year phase-in period for small nonprofits gives them the time and flexibility to adjust, often in partnership with the city and the grant funders who support their programs.
And importantly, many nonprofits themselves have endorsed the measure. These organizations understand firsthand how hard it can be to operate on grants and donations — but they also recognize that raising the floor helps everyone. When workers across the city earn more, fewer families rely on emergency services, food banks, or housing support. Nonprofits can focus more of their energy on long-term community building instead of crisis response.
This measure is about building a healthier, more sustainable community — one where nonprofits can thrive alongside the people they serve.
A Balanced Approach
The Workers’ Bill of Rights isn’t about dividing workers and employers — it’s about balance. Ethical businesses, responsible nonprofits, and everyday workers all benefit from clear standards and fair expectations.
Cities like Seattle, SeaTac, and Tukwila have implemented similar policies, and the results are clear: reduced turnover, improved morale, and stronger local economies. When working people have more stability and income, they spend it locally — supporting the very businesses and organizations that make Olympia thrive.
A Community Choice
At its core, the Workers’ Bill of Rights asks a simple question: should the people who make Olympia run — whether they stock shelves, provide care, or run community programs — be able to afford to live in Olympia?
This initiative is about our values as a city: fairness, compassion, and shared prosperity. It’s about ensuring that no one who works full time has to live in poverty or constant uncertainty.
Olympia has a proud history of leading on progressive change. By voting Yes on Proposition 1, we can continue that tradition — ensuring that our local economy works for everyone, not just a few.
When working people do well, the whole community does well. Let’s make sure Olympia remains a place where everyone — including those who serve our community through nonprofit work — can thrive.
Vote YES on Proposition 1 — the Workers’ Bill of Rights.
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