Burien, WA – We live in a city where 25% of our population was not born in the United States, which makes Burien one of the most immigrant-heavy cities anywhere in the world. Immigrants tend to be entrepreneurial; they have come to live the American dream, but Burien’s recent record increase in the minimum wage, which promises to “create a living wage,” may have a reverse effect on local job opportunities.
Burien’s new city minimum wage is $4.00 higher than the state minimum wage, placing even more financial pressure on Burien entrepreneurs, especially those from foreign lands. Burien business owners have told Burien.News that staying afloat is already difficult, but they are now forced to make difficult but necessary decisions, cutting hours and staff to offset the higher cost of business.
A report issued by the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), shows that those who are trying to start from the bottom and work up faced more opposition and resistance in the State of Washington than in 39 other states.
Alan Jernigan, manager of ALEC’s Commerce, Insurance and Economic Development Task Force and one of the study’s contributing authors, put Washington’s No. 40 ranking into perspective:
“Washington state is a warning… Sky-high minimum wages, dense union rules, and limited licensing flexibility have created a system where the cost of entry is simply too high. It’s a beautiful place to live, but unless you’re already in the system, it’s nearly impossible to get ahead. Washington needs to ask itself: Who is this economy really working for?”
The following article by Brett Davis of The Center Square (published June 10, 2025) gives additional insights from the recent labor policies report.
‘Nearly impossible to get ahead’: Think tank ranks WA 40th for labor policy
By Brett Davis | The Center Square
Publish date June 10, 2025
(The Center Square) –Washington ranks 40th out of 50 states in the American Legislative Exchange Council’s third annual report on labor policies and how they impact worker freedom, economic growth and business competitiveness.
The conservative Arlington, Va.-based think tank’s “States That Work: A Labor Policy Roadmap Across America” highlights states where workers experience more economic freedom, contrasting them with those with what ALEC deems as “outdated mandates.”
ALEC’s report notes that “10 state-level labor policies were selected as consequential reforms that promote worker and workplace freedom, and these are listed on each state page as potential achievements. States that have passed substantial legislation consistent with these ALEC model policies receive a full gold star, increasing their overall Labor Policy Rank. States that have passed similar reforms in need of improvement receive half stars. States that have not passed the reforms or that have repealed them receive no stars.”
The 10 criteria include policies related to various aspects of labor and employment, focusing on limiting union power and reducing regulation.
Washington received one and a half gold stars. The Evergreen State’s full gold star is for House Bill 1301, passed by the Legislature in 2023 and signed into law by then-Gov. Jay Inslee, which established a sunset review process for professional licenses regulated by the Department of Licensing. The law created a system to regularly review and analyze existing professional licenses to determine their necessity and appropriateness.
The state’s half-star is for Washington’s laws and initiatives designed to address and mitigate the negative impacts of criminal convictions, also known as collateral consequences. On the other hand, Washington lacks a petition process for individuals to file a request with a designated board or agency to determine how their criminal record might affect their ability to obtain state recognition or pursue certain activities.
Beyond the 10 categories, ALEC provided information on jobs, union membership and political makeup.
Washington’s 16.4% government sector job prevalence rate ranked it 33rd out of 50 states. The state’s average 10-year private sector growth rate (2014-2024) was 22.09%, earning it a respectable No. 11 ranking. On the other hand, Washington’s $16.66 an hour minimum wage – the highest state minimum wage in the nation – saw the state come in dead last at No. 50.
The state’s 10.03% private sector union membership rate ranked No. 47, while its 49.94% public sector union membership rate ranked No. 42.
The report notes that Democrats control the office of governor and both chambers of the state Legislature.
According to ALEC, the top five states are Arizona, Utah, Georgia, Arkansas and Florida. The bottom five are Connecticut, New York, Oregon, Massachusetts and Alaska.
Alan Jernigan, manager of ALEC’s Commerce, Insurance and Economic Development Task Force and one of the study’s contributing authors, put Washington’s No. 40 ranking into perspective.
“Washington state is a warning,” he emailed The Center Square. “Sky-high minimum wages, dense union rules, and limited licensing flexibility have created a system where the cost of entry is simply too high. It’s a beautiful place to live, but unless you’re already in the system, it’s nearly impossible to get ahead. Washington needs to ask itself: Who is this economy really working for?”
One Response
Shame on the Burien News for presenting what looks like a fair assessment of Washington State’s labor laws,!
After reading this article it is clear that it is neither an assessment, nor is it fair.
It was actually written by the ultra-conservative ALEC group that has done more harm to workers in America than one can count.
This is not news! This is right-wing propaganda.
This article states that; “We live in a city where 25% of our population was not born in the United States, which makes Burien one of the most immigrant-heavy cities anywhere in the world. Immigrants tend to be entrepreneurial; they have come to live the American dream, but Burien’s recent record increase in the minimum wage, which promises to “create a living wage,” may have a reverse effect on local job opportunities.” The contradictions in this statement are startling.
What the Burien News fails to mention in this one-sided article are the parallel ideological priorities that co-exist within ALEC, which advance both conservative social policy and unfair opportunities for corporate profit-making at the expense of workers.
These are the stated goals that drive ALEC’s political efforts. These objectives reflect the two central elements of ALEC’s mission: on one side, its conservative evangelical roots that continue to resist social progress, while on the other, the corporate members continue to advance deregulation and privatization. Did I mention that all of this at the expense of workers and their right to organize?
https://www.alecattacks.org/alec-attacks-civic-engagement-and-dissent
ALEC’s attacks on workers take a variety of forms, from undermining efforts to organize to kneecapping the ability of local governments to implement pro-labor laws such as higher minimum wages. More specifically, ALEC attacks public sector unions by peddling model bills that prohibit automatic dues deductions, mandate high membership thresholds, and introduce automatic decertification, among other anti-labor measures.
Following are a few examples of what ALEC stands for;
• ALEC Right to Work Act
This model legislation prevents unions from negotiating contract provisions that require all workers to contribute to the cost of union representation on the job, which creates a “free rider” problem.
• ALEC Paycheck Protection Act
Many unions permit dues to be directly deducted from members’ paychecks, similarly to the way insurance premiums are withheld. This model prohibits automatic deductions, making it significantly more cumbersome for union members to pay dues.
• ALEC Union Recertification Act
Most unions will only be disbanded if a certain percentage of their membership petitions to hold a democratic decertification election. This model upends that practice by forcing unions to maintain a certain membership level to keep from being automatically decertified by the state.
• ALEC Taxpayer Dollars Protect Workers Act
Introduced in 2023, this model legislation blacklists companies that voluntarily recognize unions by preventing them from accessing state economic development incentives.
• ALEC Labor Peace Agreement Preemption Act
This model policy prevents local governments from requiring employers to agree that they will not in any way impede attempts by their employees to organize as a condition of receiving state funding, contracts, or licensing.
https://www.alecexposed.org/wiki/ALEC_Exposed
• ALEC Public Employee Bargaining Transparency Act
Aimed at hampering public sector unions’ bargaining position during contract negotiations by opening up such negotiations to public scrutiny.
• ALEC Employee Rights Reform Act
Limits revenue streams for public employee unions and imposes new reporting burdens on union activities. It is one of many anti-union ALEC bills that impose new burdens and makes sustaining a union more difficult.
• ALEC Public Employee Freedom Act
Weakens public sector unions by allowing the government to bypass the union and hire non-union employees, prohibits payroll deductions for union dues, and prohibits unions from negotiating contracts that require the union to negotiate on behalf of all works
• ALEC Prohibition of Negative Check-off Act and Prohibition on Compensation Deductions Act
Makes it more difficult for unions to collect dues.
• ALEC Public Pay Equity Act
Creates a way to lower or limit compensation for public employees by establishing an annual ceiling limiting public employee compensation to the same change as has occurring over the last year in the private sector.
• ALEC Living Wage Mandate Preemption Act
Allows states to prevent its cities and counties from setting minimum wages that exceed those required under state or federal law.
ALEC has produced several models opposing minimum wage laws, including the “Starting (Minimum) Wage Repeal Act,” “Resolution in Opposition to any Increase in the Starting (Minimum) Wage,” and “Resolution Opposing Increases In The Minimum Wage Linked to the CPI.”
• ALEC Prevailing Wage Repeal Act
Repeals a state’s prevailing wage requirements, which are designed to ensure quality works is done on public projects and helps keep wage standards in the construction industry.
• ALEC Public Employees’ Portable Retirement Option (PRO) Act and Defined Contribution Pension Reform Act
Aim to eliminate defined benefit pension plans for public employees, which protects retirees.
• ALEC Noneconomic Damage Awards Act
Limits noneconomic damages to only the time the plaintiff lived as opposed to the time he or she would have lived had the injury not occurred. Thus, it limits a corporation’s liability for injuring or killing a worker even if a jury would have determined that a larger amount was warranted based on the particular facts of the case.
• ALEC Resolution In Support Of Preserving Reasonable Limits on Wrongful Death Actions Act
Attempts to stop efforts to allow a jury to fully compensate a victim’s family for all damages in the death of their loved one caused by a corporation by limiting damages to prospective earnings and medical costs. In addition, the resolution attempts to prevent juries from compensating the family for emotional consequences of the loss of their parent, spouse, or child.
https://www.alecexposed.org/wiki/ALEC_&_Workers'_Rights
If the Burien News wants to parrot any ideology or group, they should be transparent and honest.
This article is neither!