Labor unions and activist organizations have filed a lawsuit against the City of Tacoma and Pierce County, claiming officials unlawfully prevented voters from deciding on a proposed $20 minimum wage this November.
The plaintiffs, United Food and Commercial Workers Local 367, Tacoma For All, and Tacoma Democratic Socialists of America, argue that city and county leaders failed to act with the “reasonable promptness” required by law to ensure the measure reached the ballot in time. In their complaint filed Tuesday in Pierce County Superior Court, they contend it is both unfair and against statutory requirements for local governments to delay processing an initiative and then use those delays to block ballot access.
City spokesperson Dee Paul and county spokesperson Libby Catalinich each said in emails that they do not comment on pending litigation.
The measure, referred to as the “Workers Bill of Rights,” would raise Tacoma’s minimum wage to $20 an hour starting Jan. 1 and introduce new worker protections, such as requiring large employers to provide schedules at least two weeks in advance. While the proposal has drawn criticism from some business owners and sparked concerns from officials about its potential impact during emergencies, backers say the change is essential to keep up with the area’s rising living costs and give workers more predictable schedules.
Organizers want the court to order the initiative onto the Nov. 4 ballot. UFCW Local 367 member Aria Joslyn, who has lived in Tacoma for years, said the goal is to create a culture where the working class is supported with jobs that offer dignity, stability, predictability, and livable opportunities. She argued that the fair scheduling mandate would help workers arrange important appointments, anticipate their income, and reduce the need for last-minute childcare.
Supporters began collecting signatures in February and submitted them to the city clerk on June 24, expecting them to be forwarded to Pierce County Auditor Linda Farmer for verification. According to the lawsuit, the auditor did not begin checking signatures until July 7 and validated them on July 9. The Tacoma City Council was then required to pass a resolution by Aug. 5 to put the initiative on the ballot, but the deadline passed without action.
The council met again on Aug. 8 in a special session and approved sending the measure to voters, but the timing missed the cutoff for the November election. Attorney Knoll Lowney, representing the labor groups, noted that the county had six months’ notice that petitions were coming and said city and county officials “took just enough time to deny our place on the ballot,” which he described as neither reasonable nor prompt.
Currently, Tacoma’s minimum wage matches the state’s $16.66 per hour, while cities such as Seattle, Tukwila, and Burien already have minimum wages above $20. The proposed initiative includes a phased increase for small and medium-sized businesses, similar to other wage ordinances in Washington.
City officials have voiced concerns that the scheduling rules could interfere with emergency response needs, such as calling in firefighters or hospital workers during crises. Joslyn dismissed that argument, saying that when real emergencies occur, workers will still show up. Colton Rose, a UFCW 367 researcher and former Fred Meyer employee, added that avoiding last-minute schedule changes would ease one of the biggest financial burdens for working parents: finding urgent childcare.
Lowney said he expects the court to issue a ruling within the next month.
