Should the state minimum wage be increased? Debate set in Tacoma

A forum on the state minimum wage ballot issue, called I-1433, is set for Wednesday.

The event will be 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the downtown Tacoma Library, 1102 Tacoma Ave. S., Tacoma.

The forum is sponsored by the League of Women Voters and University of Washington Tacoma’s Division of Politics, Philosophy and Public Affairs. It features a panel including a student, a UWT staff member and a policy representative on each side, pro and con.

The state initiative would phase in a minimum wage increase over four years from the current $9.47 per hour to $13.50 per hour. The issue would require employers to provide paid sick leave for workers.

Arguing in favor of I-1433 are UWT lecturer in labor studies Alex Morro, UWT law and policy senior Ashley Dickerson and Aaron Sherman, staff member with state Senate Democrats.

Panelists debating against adoption of the initiative are UWT economics professor Seyed Karimi; 2016 UWT graduate of politics, philosophy and economics Rob Johnson; and Freedom Foundation’s director of labor policy Maxford Nelsen.

UWT professor of economics Will McGuire is the moderator.

For information about this forum and others, see tacoma.uw.edu/pppa/2016-election.

This story was originally published October 10, 2016 at 2:06 PM with the headline "Should the state minimum wage be increased? Debate set in Tacoma."