Voter-approved Proposition 1, which provides for a $15-an-hour minimum wage along with paid sick leave for hospitality and transportation workers in the Washington State community of SeaTac, has been revived by the state Supreme Court in a 5-to-4 vote.

After voters approved the measure two years ago, a King County judge ruled that the city of SeaTac had no jurisdiction over the airport and restricted the minimum wage and paid sick leave to businesses outside SeaTac Airport.

The Port of Seattle, which has jurisdiction over the airport, hailed the judge’s ruling in a lawsuit brought by Alaska Airlines, the Washington Restaurant Association and others.

This week the Supreme Court disagreed, declaring, “There has been no showing that this law would interfere with airport operations.”

The $15-an-hour wage rate and other benefits will now accrue to some 4,700 workers at the airport.


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