Washington Food Industry Association calls on Seattle mayor to end hazard pay

Days after the statewide indoor mask mandate has ended, the president and CEO of the Washington Food Industry Association (WFIA) is calling on Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell to end the city’s hazard pay ordinance.

With divisive vote, Seattle council upholds grocery worker hazard pay ordinance

In a letter, WFIA’s Tammie Hetrick notes that Seattle grocery stores are the “only employers still impacted by a pay ordinance enacted at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic,” and that the safety concerns that prompted the ordinance are no longer an issue. She also says hazard pay, coupled with the rising rate of inflation, growing energy costs, and supply chain challenges have strained independent grocers who are just trying to keep their doors open.

“Many of these same businesses are also paying more for security to protect against shoplifting, property damage and other safety concerns,” she writes.

Ross: Battle against inflation with digital deals at the grocery store

“The cumulative impact of all of these added costs have real impacts on our members, many of whom are small, family-owned businesses,” Hetrick continued. “Annual inflation in the U.S. is now at its highest rate since 1982. It is difficult for these small businesses to compete on cost in the current environment; they cannot spread those costs out over other stores, and have no choice but to raise prices. That hurts working families and others in the communities served by these grocery stores.”

“I ask you to reconsider this measure immediately and treat grocery stores just as you would all other public offices, industries and businesses. The end of the mask mandate should also signal the end of the hazard pay ordinance in Seattle.”