Seattle begins to phase in $15 minimum wage

SEATTLE — When fast-food workers went on strike at the downtown Seattle McDonald's, Martina Phelps was one of them.
 
"It's shocking to say that, but I knew it was going to happen. I knew it," she said.
 
For almost all Seattle workers, the minimum wage goes from yesterday's $9.47 an hour to $11 an hour today.

That's a 14 percent raise overnight.
 
The pizza's in the oven in Seattle's Tutta Bella restaurant.  And now the city's higher minimum wage is baked in too.
 
"There's no question than an increase cost in wages will put some burden on the restaurant," said owner Joe Fugere.
 
Fugere has 200 employees in three Seattle restaurants. Many already make above $11 an hour. He figures the higher minimum wage will ultimately be better for business:

"One of the things people do first when they have more money and disposable income is go out and eat in restaurants."
 
During a closed-door meeting with restaurant owners this morning, Mayor Ed Murray was reassuring.
 
"We know that states and cities that have higher minimum wages are almost always states and cities that have better economies," he said.
 
Domino's Pizza worker Crystal Thompson is also among those celebrating.
 
"It feels pretty amazing, you know, being able to do this and help all these workers in the city and make something happen," Thompson said.
 
But for leading advocate and Seattle City Councilmember Kshama Sawant, the celebration won't last long.
 
She said, "We have to also organize for affordable housing, because in Seattle the rent is out of control. And we have to spread Seattle's victory around the country."

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