During recent City Council Study Sessions and Meetings, Initiative 2, also known as the “Worker’s Bill of Rights,” was discussed. This initiative was proposed by members of the community (“petitioners”). These basic facts are being provided by the City Manager’s Office to update the public about this important issue. Please note that further research into the impacts of this multi-faceted initiative are required, and the City of Tacoma will update this page appropriately.
Following a Special Meeting of the Tacoma City Council on Friday, August 8, 2025, at 9:30 am, we are updating this response to include the following:
What has been the timeline for Initiative 2 thus far?
Here is a breakdown of Initiative 2’s timeline with the City of Tacoma leading up to the August 8, 2025, City Council Special Meeting:
- February 4, 2025: Petitioners filed Initiative Measures Nos. 2 and 3, relating to protections for certain employees, with the City Clerk’s office. The City Attorney approved them for form and style, prepared and approved ballot titles, and transmitted notice to the petitioners that the ten-day appeal period commenced.
- June 24, 2025: Petitioners filed Initiative No. 2 with the City Clerk with signatures for verification.
- June 26, 2025: The City Clerk forwarded the signatures to the Pierce County Auditor, supervisor of elections, for verification.
- July 9, 2025: The Pierce County Auditor provided notice to the City Clerk that sufficient signatures had been verified.
- July 10, 2025: The City Clerk validated that the signatures met the requirements under the City Charter in accordance with Section 2.19 (i) and (j).
- July 15, July 29, and August 5, 2025: The City Council heard presentations regarding the initiative process and the scope, content, and impacts of Initiative 2, adhering to its lawful right as a legislative body to do due diligence and take 30 days to study and debate the potential impacts of the Initiative to the citizens of Tacoma.
- The 30-day period granted to the City Council under the City Charter to consider whether to enact or reject the proposed measure, or place an alternative on the ballot, commenced on July 10, 2025, and ended on August 9, 2025.
- August 8, 2025: In a Special Meeting, the City Council voted unanimously in favor of Resolution 41733, which rejected the Initiative and directed the City Clerk to send Initiative 2 to the Pierce County Auditor for inclusion on a November 4, 2025, special election ballot. Some members of the City Council expressed deep concern about Initiative 2 as written, while fulfilling their legal obligation to forward the ballot measure on to the public for consideration.
What concerns does the City Council have regarding Initiative 2?
Unlike similar legislation that has been enacted in Seattle, Initiative 2, as submitted to the City of Tacoma, does not include scheduling provisions that allow for changes to an employee’s schedule outside the required 14-day window even if the nature of that employee’s job is related to emergency services – such EMS, firefighters, police officers, first responders, dispatchers, and health care providers – or if an employee’s job might need flexibility due to inclement weather – such as teachers and other educational professionals, as well as public works staff who maintain our city’s roadways.
At this time, we also do not know the potential impacts on the variety of employers who make Tacoma a desirable, livable place for all of our current and future residents. As Mayor Woodards expressed in the August 8, 2025, Special Session, we have received concerns over the unknowns regarding Initiative 2 from nonprofits, such as the Urban League and Boys & Girls Club, and a variety of other employers, large and small, including the City of Tacoma itself.
The City Council finds that if adopted, Initiative 2 would have broad and far-reaching impacts on employers and employees in the City of Tacoma, and that it does not have sufficient information to make a reasoned decision regarding whether it should enact Initiative Measure No. 2, or consider placing an alternative measure on the ballot.
For the above-stated reasons, the City Council has determined that it will not enact, and therefore rejects, Initiative No. 2, and pursuant to Section 2.19 (j) of the City Charter, the City council must call for a special election on November 4, 2025, concurrent with the general election, and submit the proposed measure to the voters for their approval or rejection.
Why must Initiative 2 be considered as a special election concurrent to the general election scheduled for November 4, 2025?
Per Washington State law, a general election can only be for issues on a regular, recurring basis, such as electing candidates for office. All initiatives and other measures can only go on the ballot as a special election. More information on special elections regulations can be found from the Washington State Legislature.
Is Tacoma’s minimum wage higher than the State of Washington’s?
Up until 2019, Tacoma had a higher minimum wage than the State of Washington, at which point the State adopted a higher minimum wage (currently $16.66, with the minimum wage recalibrated annually). This is currently Tacoma’s minimum wage.
How would the City of Tacoma enforce Initiative 2 if approved by voters?
At this time, the best model we have of possible enforcement is looking to the City of Seattle’s Office of Labor Standards (OLS). For 2025, Seattle’s OLS included 43 full time employees and has an operating budget of $8.5 million. Recreating such an office for the City of Tacoma would cost approximately $1.5-2 million per year for administrative enforcement, not inclusive of additional costs for the City Attorney’s Department and Hearing Examiner’s office.
What procedures does Initiative 2 require of the City of Tacoma, employers, and/or employees?
Of note, Initiative 2, as written, does not include procedural requirements. All procedures and processes would have to be decided by City Council within 120 days of ballot approval with further Council legislation, including the issuance of citations of violations of the new law.
How does Initiative 2 define “Adverse Action”?
Though the term “Adverse Action” is not defined in Initiative 2, it is already defined in Tacoma Municipal Code (Title 18, Minimum Employment Standards, January 2015, revised December 2019). This legislation states that “Adverse action” means any unfavorable action taken or threatened by an employer against an employee for any reason prohibited by Section 18.10.040.”
Why is the City of Tacoma not immediately moving this initiative to the November ballot?
The proposed Initiative 2 is a complex set of regulations that impacts workers, employers, non-profit organizations, families, and the City government itself, including emergency services. We must take the time to do our due diligence and carefully study the potential impacts of this initiative. Studying these impacts takes time.
Is taking this time legal?
Yes. The Tacoma City Charter – adopted by voters in 1953 – grants the City Council a 30-day period to review any initiative after signatures are validated. This time is specifically intended for careful study and consideration. The Charter’s 30-day review period extends beyond the state’s deadline for the November ballot. Responsible governance requires us to complete our due diligence, and not rush a critical decision to meet a conflicting deadline. We are upholding the deliberative process that has been in place for over 70 years.
What’s wrong with speeding up the timeline?
A rushed timeline presents a challenge for conducting a thorough review ahead of the election deadline. It is our core duty as elected officials to analyze the potential consequences of new laws. This proposal would have wide-ranging economic effects on our community, and it is our responsibility to understand them fully. Rushing to a decision without this analysis would be a disservice to the community.
How will the Council move forward from here?
The City Council takes the issues of wages, worker security, and work-life balance extremely seriously. The Council intends to use this review period to formally begin a comprehensive study of the topics raised by the initiative. Please know that our work here is just beginning. Here are our commitments to you:
- We believe in a community-driven approach. We plan to move this issue to a committee for detailed study and public discussion. This is the same successful model we have used in the past, such as the 2015 process that brought together diverse community voices to find a compromise on the minimum wage.
- This is about good governance, not delay. Our goal is to ensure that any path forward is data-driven, fully understood, and reflects the best interests of the entire community. We want to hear from workers, small business owners, non-profits, and residents to craft policy that helps our entire city thrive.
- We are choosing a responsible path. Rather than rush a complex or poorly understood measure onto the ballot, we are choosing to engage in the hard work of governing. This means taking the time to get it right.
How does a Tacoma resident file a petition to put an initiative, referendum, or City Charter Amendment on the ballot?
Initiatives, referenda, and charter amendments are filed with the City Clerk’s office, who offers guides on each process.
At this point in time, what concerns does City Council have of Initiative 2?
We will continue to study the potential effects of this proposal. At this time, however, our primary concern is around the “Fair Scheduling (18.20.202)” section of the proposed initiative.
Many of the proposed changes to City Code under Initiative 2 focus on large employers, or those employing over 500 people. Such employers include many of Tacoma’s hospitals, emergency service providers such as the Police and Fire Departments, and Tacoma Public Schools.
As proposed, this initiative allows employees to decline changes in work shifts if they receive less than 14 days advance notice. We are concerned there are not provisions provided in the initiative for health care, emergency service, and education providers, who often face reasonable changes to their schedules due to emergencies or weather-related incidents.
Where can I read the text of Initiative 2, sometimes called the Worker’s Bill of Rights, for myself?
You can read the full text of this proposed initiative and a more in-depth frequently asked questions developed by the Tacoma City Manager’s Office.