Seattle DSA and a broad coalition of working class organizations helped deliver Renton the highest minimum wage in the country through the passage of Measure 23-02. Now, South King County DSA organizers are forming a branch and expanding a socialist presence in a multiracial, working class city.
Tonight, Seattle DSA is celebrating a historic win for the working class in Renton. Voters have overwhelmingly decided to raise the minimum wage to $20.29/hour for the largest employers in town. This victory will facilitate a wealth transfer of tens of millions of dollars a year from the capitalist class to working class Rentonites.
We’re grateful for our coalition partners who were crucial in this campaign. Our progressive ally and Renton City Councilmember Carmen Rivera has been a champion of raising the wage from the beginning, despite constant outside pressures from business interests. The Transit Riders Union are the architects of Tukwila’s minimum wage initiative, and their guidance was a huge factor in getting this initiative passed. The Renton Education Association also played a crucial role: three REA members served on the Raise the Wage Renton steering committee and helped lead this campaign to victory. Contributions from labor and individuals sustained the campaign for over 13 months.
Membership mobilized at an unprecedented scale for our chapter, showing the power of a member-driven DSA Difference campaign. Raise the Wage Renton’s steering committee and PAC board were comprised entirely of DSA members. Most of these members, including everyone on the PAC board, live and work in Renton, and were fighting alongside fellow workers for greater economic freedom. The campaign knocked on 25,000+ doors, canvassed 59,000+ voters, made 14,000+ phone calls, and had 15,000+ conversations with Renton voters in the field or on the phone. Over 100 DSA members mobilized for 90% of these canvass attempts and 75% of these phone calls. Working at this scale established a new socialist organizing presence in Renton, and we’re excited for what the future holds for Seattle DSA and our soon to be formed South King County Branch.
