Seattle’s minimum wage will rise to $22.14 an hour on January 1, 2027, an increase of 84 cents from the current rate. The annual adjustment is tied to inflation in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue area.
Discussing the increase during “The Gee and Ursula Show” on KIRO Newsradio, co-host Gee Scott questioned why living costs keep straining household budgets, while co-host Ursula Reutin addressed the costs facing employers.
“I don’t want it to turn into worker versus businesses,” Gee said. “Why in the world is it costing so much just to live? Period. Just stop for a second. Forget worker. Forget business. Just in general, why is it costing so much money to live? Every single time we walk out, everything’s expensive for everyone.”
Gee questions what workers need to get by
Gee described a familiar divide in conversations about minimum wage: Workers say they need more money, while businesses say they are struggling to cover expenses…