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JUNE 3, 2026
Fair Pay for Fair Play
Worker Rights Must be Respected During World Cup
VOL. 107, NO. 23
Seattle Celebrates the Anniversary of The Great Seattle Fire
Seattle will mark the 137th anniversary of the Great Seattle Fire with a free family event at the Museum of History and Industry on June 6.
Seattle Office of Labor Standards (OLS)
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SEATTLE FIRE DEPARTMENT
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s FIFA World Cup 26TM matches come to Seattle and nine Fan Zones around the state for the very first time this summer, Washington is proud to host one of the most attended sporting events in the world. A sporting event of this scale will bring new businesses to Washington state along with a surge in customers for restaurants, hotels, and shops already operating here. The Attorney General’s Office of Washington State (AGO), the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I), and the Seattle Office of Labor Standards (OLS) enforce state and local labor law. These public agencies are taking this opportunity to remind workers of their rights and businesses of their responsibilities. By working together and following the law, we can ensure a safe, fun, and respectful time for all. For the past year, the AGO, L&I, and OLS have been meeting regularly with a focus on strategic enforcement of wage and hour laws in high violation industries. We will leverage that partnership to ensure that labor laws are enforced effectively during the FIFA World Cup 26TM. As we head into the FWC26, our agencies will provide a coordinated, rapid, and effective response to any labor complaints that arise. We will address complaints received from workers, ensure complaints are routed correctly, and work collaboratively on enforcement in high violation industries. OLS is also leading its strategic compliance campaign “Protecting Worker Rights is Our Goal” with multilingual worker education, business education, and expanded employer trainings to promote compliance with Seattle’s labor standards and empower workers with the knowledge of their workplace protections. Below is a list of some Washington labor laws that employers must follow. Please note: The laws discussed below apply to all workers regardless of their immigration status. Minimum Wage: As of January 1, 2026, Washington’s minimum wage is $17.13 per hour. Some cities and counties set the minimum wage higher than the state, including unincorporated King County, Everett, Burien, Renton, SeaTac, Tukwila, and Bellingham. Seattle’s minimum wage, for example, is $21.30 per hour. Tips and Service Charges: Employers are required to pay their employees all tips and service charges. Tips and service charges cannot be part of the employee’s minimum hourly wage. Meal & Rest Breaks: For every four hours worked, employees are required to have a 10-minute rest break, free from workplace duties. Employees also must be allowed a meal period of at least thirty minutes when they work more than five hours in a shift. Meal periods must be provided between the second and fifth hour of work. Employers must also provide employees with reasonable access to bathrooms while working.
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he Seattle Fire Department and MOHAI will host Fire Day at MOHAI from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the museum, located at 860 Terry Ave. N. The event is designed to connect Seattle history with modern fire safety, giving families a chance to learn about the 1889 fire while meeting current firefighters and exploring firefighting equipment. The Great Seattle Fire began on June 6, 1889, and destroyed much of the city’s downtown
business district. The disaster became a turning point in Seattle’s development, leading to major rebuilding efforts and changes in how the city approached fire safety, infrastructure and construction. This year’s anniversary event will give children and families a hands-on look at that history. According to the Seattle Fire Department, visitors will be able to climb aboard a working fire engine and ladder truck, tour a modern fireboat, watch firefighters demonstrate gear, try on firefighting equipment
and participate in fire safety activities. The event will also include firefighter story time and hands-on history activities. Seattle Fire says young visitors will be able to explore artifacts and take home fire safety materials. For families, the event offers more than a museum stop. It is a way to connect one of Seattle’s most important historical events with practical lessons about fire prevention and home safety. The anniversary also highlights the work
of the Seattle Fire Department, which today operates 33 fire stations throughout the city and responds to fires, medical emergencies and other disasters. Fire Day at MOHAI is free and family-friendly. The program runs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, June 6. The event is likely to appeal to young children interested in fire trucks, families looking for a low-cost weekend outing and anyone interested in how the Great Seattle Fire helped shape the city that exists today.
From Diamond Dogs to Dawg Territory Staff Report
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or most young softball players, college stadiums exist only in dreams and on television screens. But on a picture-perfect spring afternoon, the Queen Anne Little League Diamond Dogs got the opportunity of a lifetime: taking the field at the University of Washington Softball Stadium, one of the premier venues in collegiate softball. Each year, the District 8 softball community selects just 12 teams to participate in this special event, giving young athletes the chance to experience the game in a setting typically reserved for elite college players. This year, the Diamond Dogs, proudly sponsored by Ben Hoefer Realty, earned that coveted invitation. From the moment they stepped through the gates, the excitement was impossible to miss. Players lined their softball bags neatly along the dugout walls, just as college athletes do. Bats found their way into official bat boxes.
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