Deputy Mayor Joe Bushnell is spearheading an effort to develop a proposal for a minimum-wage increase. Bushnell’s efforts come amid a prolonged legal battle between United Food and Commercial Workers Local 367 and the city of Tacoma over a measure the union sought to put on the November 2025 ballot called the “Worker’s Bill of Rights.” It seeks to increase the minimum wage and strengthen worker protections.

Bushnell outlined his research to the city’s economic development committee in July and solicited feedback from other council members about what the proposal should look like. Some expressed support for approving a measure outright sooner rather than later. He told The News Tribune on Sept. 16 that he’s working on the proposal following the feedback he received from the committee and plans to present it to the council before the end of 2026.

“I do intend on trying to get this looked at and considered before the end of the year by the City Council,” he said.

Zaid Velasco, staff director for UFCW 367, said he was supportive of Bushnell’s work but wished the deputy mayor had been a more vocal proponent of the union’s work on the ballot measure.

“I do wish that he was more open in supporting the Worker’s Bill of Rights because it just provides more for the working class,” Velasco told The News Tribune.

Bushnell said the union was “entitled to their opinion.”

“I think it’s really important that we take into consideration all sides to issues, and that’s what I like to do,” he added.