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  • SEIU 775NW | Patinkin Research Strategies

A new released statewide poll (pdf) conducted on behalf of SEIU 775NW, UFCW Local 21 and other labor unions finds strong support for raising the Washington State minimum wage to $12 and hour: 65 percent net favor to 28 percent net oppose. The survey of 500 likely voters was conducted December 6-9, and has +/- 4.4 percent margin of error.

The survey finds broad support for a higher minimum wage across demographic groups—even 43 percent of Republicans expressed favor—and in two key swing legislative districts. The survey also found that nearly three quarters of respondents support paid sick leave, according to a press release:

Both of these worker-supportive bills are before lawmakers here in Olympia. Rep. Jessyn Farrell (D-Seattle) introduced HB 2672 which would raise the state’s minimum wage to $12/hour by 2017. The minimum wage bill is scheduled to be heard at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday before the House Labor Committee. The Paid Sick and Safe leave bill, HB 1313, introduced by Rep. Laurie Jinkins (D-Tacoma), passed out of the House by 52-45 vote last week.

My guess is that if 65 percent of voters statewide support a $12 minimum wage, then there's probably a similar level of support for a $15 minimum wage here in ultra-liberal, high-cost-of-living Seattle. Hard to see how elected officials can argue for bucking this trend.