15Now was formed by former Seattle City Council Member Kshama Sawant following her election in 2014. ¹ The campaign was created to push for a $15 minimum wage law in the Seattle area, and achieved this goal when the city passed an ordinance on June 2, 2014. The ordinance was passed after 15Now threatened a ballot initiative to achieve its goals. ²

Having achieved its purpose, the organization has ceased most activities, and the website archives and as of September 2024, posts under News stop in March 2018. ³

Repeal Attempt

A group opposing the $15 per hour city minimum wage, Forward Seattle, proposed a referendum to repeal the ordinance, but failed to collect the required number of signatures. ⁴

State level opponents tried to repeal the law, led by Tim Eyman, who proposed that the proposed Washington Wage-Setting Authority Initiative would take all power of wage-setting from local political subdivisions, including the city of Seattle. However, the referendum failed to qualify for the ballot. ⁵

Endorsements

The 15Now website boasts a large group of far left and socialist groups and individuals who endorsed the campaign. Prominent endorsers include the Green Party of Minnesota,  the Green Party of Wisconsin, the Green Party of Seattle, several 36th District Democrats, Noam Chomsky, musician Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine, and former Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein. ⁶

Promotional Materials

To encourage the campaign for minimum wage laws, 15Now has prepared materials on its website that organizers all over the country can use. These include digital copies of posters, volunteer signup sheets, sustainer forms, a Frequently Asked Questions pamphlet, flyers, buttons, digital images to share on social platforms, and instructions on how to create a freeway banner. ⁷

People

Kshama Sawant founded 15Now in 2014 as a campaign to advocate for a $15 per hour minimum wage law in the Seattle area. Sawant is a former member of the Seattle City Council. ⁸

She was part of the Socialist Alternative party until her resignation in 2024, when she wrote an open “Dear Comrade” letter, citing differences including lesser evilism, low pay for full-time employees, and an unhealthy culture. ⁹ Sawant went on to form the Revolutionary Workers, a socialist political party. ^{10 11}

1. “About.” 15 Now. Accessed August 26, 2024. https://15now.org/about/.
2. “15 Now.” Ballotpedia. Accessed August 26, 2024. https://ballotpedia.org/15_Now#cite_note-about-1.
3. 15 Now. “Latest News.” 15 now, March 20, 2018. https://15now.org/latest-news/.
4. “15 Now.” Ballotpedia. Accessed August 26, 2024. https://ballotpedia.org/15_Now#cite_note-about-1.
5. “City of Seattle $15 per Hour Minimum Wage Increase Veto Referendum (November 2014).” Ballotpedia. Accessed August 26, 2024. https://ballotpedia.org/City_of_Seattle_$15_Per_Hour_Minimum_Wage_Increase_Veto_Referendum_(November_2014).
6. “Endorsements.” 15 Now. Accessed August 26, 2024. https://15now.org/endorsers/.
7. “Materials.” 15 Now. Accessed August 26, 2024. https://15now.org/resources/materials/.
8.  “About.” 15 Now. Accessed August 26, 2024. https://15now.org/about/.
9. Payiatsos, Andrοs. “The Implosion of the ISA: Can the Good Traditions of the CWI Be Saved?” Internationalist Standpoint, June 30, 2024. https://www.internationaliststandpoint.org/the-implosion-of-the-isa-can-the-good-traditions-of-the-cwi-be-saved/.
10. Sawant, Kshama. “Why We’re Launching Revolutionary Workers & Leaving Socialist Alternative .” DocumentCloud. Accessed August 26, 2024. https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/25041448-why-were-launching-revolutionary-workers-leaving-socialist-alternative.
11. Westneat, Danny. “A Familiar Thorn Threatens to Pop Wa Democrats’ Bubble.” The Seattle Times, August 15, 2024. https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/wa-democrats-are-giddy-but-a-familiar-thorn-aims-to-pop-their-bubble/.