Seattle Subway Shop Owner: Min. Wage Hike Means Costlier Sandwiches

INOCENCIO (voice-over): “For Subway owner Matt Hollek in Seattle the 1st of April brings frustration. A City Hall approved a minimum wage hike for staff and that means a price hike for customers.”
HOLLEK: “We are going to do probably a 29 cent on every sandwich that goes out to door.”
INOCENCIO (voice-over): “For some, that doesn’t seem like much, but Hollek could raise prices by a buck come New Year. On April 1st, Seattle’s minimum wage is $11; than $13 January 1st; $15 a year after. In all, a 60 percent hike for companies with 500 staff or more and national franchisees regardless of size.”
HOLLEK: “And there will be business closed. I don’t know that I am the only one of them and hopefully I won’t be but it’s going to affect business.”
INOCENCIO (voice-over): “At $15 Seattle’s minimum wage would be the highest in the United States. Meanwhile, small non franchise owners like Jeremy Price at the Whale Wins are less stressed. He’s got four more years ‘till 2021 to get to $15.”
PRICE: “I can definitely sympathize with someone who purchased a francize and has maybe 5 employees but isn’t getting [indecipherable] into the same pool as people with 500 employees.”
INOCENCIO (voice-over): “Hollek has just eight and while he does support the wage hike—“
HOLLEK: “What I am totally against is the unfair disadvantage with which this law puts me and my fellow franchisers.”
INOCENCIO (voice-over): “Looking ahead, Seattle franchisers and the International Franchise Association have said they will appeal to the U.S. 9th Circuit Court demanding fair treatment.”