A citation issued to Hertz Transportation for failure to comply with SeaTac’s $15 minimum wage by the Washington Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) is a victory for workers at airport-related companies in SeaTac, says Sen. Karen Keiser, D-Kent, who issued the following statement.
“We have patiently awaited the outcome of L&I’s investigation and I am very happy with the decision guided by L&I Director Joel Sacks to side with the workers and the will of the voters in SeaTac. When a business deliberately violates any law, corrective action and compensation for those impacted must be enforced.
“That compliance will be enforced and that the worker will receive the hard-earned back wages to which they are entitled is a credit to the process and sets a significant precedent. I look forward to other wage complaints being upheld and urge SeaTac airport-related businesses to avoid further delay. With more than two years of failure to pay back wages, the bill for those obligations will only increase with every passing day.
“Thanks are also owed to Attorney General Bob Ferguson for the work of his office providing guidance and assistance to L&I as they sought resolution to this issue.
“Although this is the first L&I citation given out in response to an employee-filed complaint, this decision has broken ground for quick resolution to the remaining complaints filed against other SeaTac businesses.
“I will continue working with our state agencies to encourage prompt action as this major dispute over the implementation of Proposition One is finally settled for the hundreds of workers at SeaTac airport-related businesses.“
