Soriano Power SEATTLE (Legal Newsline) – Grocery associations are suing the City of Seattle over an ordinance that would require stores to pay employees $4 more per hour as hazard pay during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Northwest Grocery Association and the Washington Food Industry Association filed their lawsuit Feb. 3 in Seattle federal court over a measure passed Jan. 25 by the Seattle City Council. The suit seeks a declaration that the ordinance is unconstitutional because it is preempted by federal law regulating collective bargaining and unfair labor practices. It also claims the ordinance violates the equal protection and contracts clauses of the U.S. and Washington constitutions.