It’s been almost two years since city of SeaTac voters approved a $15 minimum wage, but workers employed by some businesses operating at the airport have not reaped its rewards — at least until now.
On Monday, the Washington State Supreme Court rejected a request for reconsideration of an August ruling in favor of the minimum wage law. Alaska Airlines, a food company and the Washington Restaurant Association had asked the court to review its decision. Given the court’s ruling, airport workers will not only begin receiving the $15 minimum wage, but they will also be entitled to pay retroactive to Jan 1, 2014 when the law took effect.
Meanwhile, workers employed by businesses surrounding the airport, such as parking garages, rental car companies and hotels, have received and benefitted from the new hourly wage. Alaska wanted the Court to reconsider whether businesses at the airport should be included; it was argued that the Port of Seattle-operated Seattle Tacoma International Airport was outside the governance of the city of SeaTac.
