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Alaska Airlines and the Port of Seattle are reviewing their options in the wake of Thursday's ruling by the state of Washington Supreme Court, which said the city of SeaTac's $15-an-hour minimum wage applied to workers at both the airline and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
The city, where SeaTac Airport also happens to be located, last year voted to increase the minimum wage within city limits to $15.
But both Alaska Airlines and the Port of Seattle did not believe the city law applied to the airport. Alaska Airlines is Sea-Tac Airport's largest carrier.
The state Supreme Court upheld the Proposition 1 vote enacted by the city two years ago, saying in its ruling that there as "been no showing that this law would interfere with airport operations."
Both Alaska Airlines and the Port of Seattle issued separate statements.
"Alaska Airlines respects the views of the Washington State Supreme Court and will carefully review the full decision as we determine the appropriate next steps," the airline said.
"The Port of Seattle respects the Washington State Supreme Court's decision on the City of SeaTac's Prop 1 initiative and we are reviewing what effects the ruling may have on operations, policies and employment standards related to tenants, customers and stakeholders who work at Sea-Tac Airport," the Port said.
It remains to be seen whether either entity will take this beyond the state Supreme Court and into federal court.
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