>>> GOOD MORNING.
TODAY IS THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7,
2019.
I I'M TERESA MOSQUEDA.
CHAIR OF THE HOUSING, WORK
RIGHTS COMMITTEE.
I'M HERE WITH COUNCILMEMBER
BAGSHAW.
I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR
BEING WITH US HERE TODAY.
AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, WE HAVE
BEEN CELEBRATING THE 100-YEAR
ANNIVERSARY OF THE SEATTLE
GENERAL STRIKE.
TODAY WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO
HEAR ABOUT THE HISTORY AND THE
CURRENT DAY ISSUES.
WE WILL HEAR A PRESENTATION
ABOUT THE STATE OF LABOR FROM
THE WASHINGTON STATE LABOR
COUNCIL AND THE MARTIN LUTHER
KING COUNTY COUNCIL.
WE WILL FOLLOW SOME ACTION INTO
MISCLASSIFICATION AND PROTECT
THOSE WHO WANT TO BE
INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS.
WE ARE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT
TODAY.
SO LET'S GO AHEAD AND GET
STARTED WITH SOME PUBLIC
COMMENT.
AS I THINK THE PERSON WE HAVE
SIGNED UP AS USUAL IS ALEX
TSIMERMAN.
IF YOU COULD KEEP YOUR COMMENT
TWO MINUTES.
>> I WANT TO SPEAK ABOUT LABOR.
SO, AMERICA HAVE UNIQUE
SITUATION WITH LABOR.
IT COMES FROM 19 CENTURY AND
GOES FOR 100 YEARS.
AFTER 1980, IT TOTALLY
DESTROYED ALL LABOR, ALL
UNIONS.
STARTING WITH REAGAN I THINK TO
GOVERNMENT.
TOGETHER WITH CORRUPT.
LABOR.
CRIMINALS.
IN THIS SITUATION.
SO FAR LAST 20 YEARS, FROM 45
MILLION, WE COME TO 15 MILLION,
14 MILLION PEOPLE AS THIS UNION
WE HAVE RIGHT NOW, TOTALLY
CRIMINAL UNIONS.
I GIVE YOU EXAMPLE WITH SERVICE
INTERNATIONAL UNION.
I WAS MEMBER A FEW YEARS ABOUT
THIS TEN YEARS AGO FOR EXAMPLE.
THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT THE UNION
WE HAVE RIGHT NOW.
SO HOW CAN WE STOP WITH LOCAL?
I HAVE PROPOSITION MANY YEARS.
TALKING ABOUT BETTER ROOM IN
CITY HALL.
SO PEOPLE CAN COME.
AND TALKING ABOUT THIS HONESTLY
AND OPENLY WITHOUT GOVERNMENT
RESTRICTION.
AND YOU COUNCIL MUST PROMISE
THIS WHEN WE ELECT YOU.
I REMEMBER THIS.
YOU TOLD US PUBLICLY.
SO YOU WILL OPEN A BETTER ROOM
ONE DAY FOR WEEK.
FROM 9:00 TO 5:00 SO EVERYBODY
CAN GO AND TALK AND CAN BE
ELECTION FORUM.
THIS IS EXACTLY WHY WE HAVE
PROBLEM WITH UNION NOW.
WHEN YOU LIE, IT'S LIE.
OR DOING THIS.
LIKE, YOU PROMISE THIS.
THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENS.
THIS IS HOW FASCISM COMES.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU CHAIR MOSQUEDA.
AND I SAY COUNCILMEMBER BAGSHAW
AND JUAREZ.
THANKS FOR GIVES ME A CHANCE TO
TALK ABOUT THE
MISCLASSIFICATION RESOLUTION.
I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER
FOR TALKING ABOUT THAT ISSUE.
THE LABOR MOVEMENT HAS TALKED
ABOUT IT FOR YEARS.
I APPRECIATE THE STRATEGIES TO
ADDRESS THAT ISSUE INTO THE
FUTURE.
ONE OF THE THINGS I THINK
SOMETIMES GETS LOST WHEN WE
THINK ABOUT HOW INDEPENDENT
CONTRACTORS AND
MISCLASSIFICATION IMPACTS THE
SOCIAL FABRIC OF THIS COUNTRY,
AS WE OFTEN FORGET THAT
INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS DON'T
CONTRIBUTE IN THE SAME WAY
BECAUSE OF THEIR LEGAL STATUS
INTO THE UNEMPLOYMENT WORKERS
COMPENSATION.
THE UNEMPLOYMENT SYSTEM.
FOR SOCIAL SECURITY AND
MEDICARE.
AND, I APPRECIATE THAT PEOPLE
WANT TO HAVE FLEXIBILITY AND BE
ABLE TO WORK WHEN EVER THEY
WANT.
THE REALITY IS THAT AT SOME
POINT IN THE FUTURE, THOSE
ISSUES ARE GOING TO COME TO A
HEAD.
WE HAVE ALREADY SEEN A BREAK-
DOWN IN THE SOCIAL SECURITY
SYSTEM.
AND, SOLVENCY ON MEDICARE INTO
THE FUTURE AND I WORRY ABOUT
THE RISE IN INDEPENDENT
CONTRACTORS AND WHAT IMPACT
THAT WILL HAVE ON THOSE
SYSTEMS.
SO SOMETHING TO BE AWARE OF.
I APPRECIATE THE CITY TAKING A
LOOK AT THAT ISSUE AND I
APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP ON
IT BECAUSE IT IS SOMETHING THAT
WE WILL HAVE TO FACE ACROSS THE
ENTIRE COUNTRY.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR
TIME TODAY AND I APPRECIATE YOU
CONTINUING TO LOOK AT THAT
ISSUE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH DUSTIN.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
YOU AND TALKING MORE ABOUT THIS
IN OUR LAST ITEM FOR THE AGENDA
TODAY.
ALSO, THANKS FOR YOUR LONG TIME
ADVOCACY AROUND LABOR
STANDARDS.
WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE.
THAT'S ALL THE FOLKS I HAVE
SIGNED UP TO TESTIFY TODAY.
IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE WHO WOULD
LIKE TO TESTIFY WHO DIDN'T GET
A CHANCE TO SIGN UP YET?
OKAY.
WELL, THAT WILL CONCLUDE OUR
PUBLIC TESTIMONY SECTION OF OUR
AGENDA.
LET'S MOVE ONTO OUR FIRST ITEM
ON THE AGENDA.
COULD YOU READ INTO THE RECORD
ITEMS ONE THROUGH FOUR?
>> AGENDA ITEM ONE, APPOINTMENT
OF ANDRA KRANZLER.
NUMBER TWO, APPOINTMENT OF
ELIJAH ANDERSON.
ITEM THREE, APPOINTMENT NUMBER
DANA BARNETT, NUMBER FOUR,
EMILY DILLS.
>> WONDERFUL.
AND COULD WE HAVE THEM JOIN US
AT THE TABLE?
IF WE HAVE ANY CENTRAL STAFF,
TOO, THEY ARE WELCOME TO COME
ON UP.
HI, WELCOME.
THANK YOU.
AND I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ AND
HERBOLD.
EXCITED TO HAVE YOU HERE.
HOPE YOU HEARD SOME OF THE
PUBLIC TESTIMONY.
THANK YOU.
HI KARINA.
>> HI.
>> EXCELLENT.
SO GOOD TO SEE YOU GUYS.
SO JUST A LITTLE BIT OF CONTEXT
HERE.
LAST YEAR THE DOMESTIC BILL OF
RIGHTS, WE HAD PROBABLY SIX TO
SEVEN MONTHS WHERE WE HAD
DOMESTIC WORKERS ON OUR
CALENDAR EVERY SINGLE DAY AND
IT WAS THANKS TO THE WORK OF
FOLKS AT THE TABLE IN THE
AUDIENCE AND THE GENERAL
COMMUNITY.
FOLKS THAT WORK IN WASHINGTON.
SEIU775.
SEATTLE NANNY NETWORK.
MOMS RISING.
HAND IN HAND.
AND THANKS SO MUCH TO ALL OF
THE AREA NANNIES AND
HOUSEKEEPERS.
ALSO, THE EMPLOYERS WHO CAME
AND TESTIFIED AND WERE PART OF
BUILDING THIS PIECE OF
LEGISLATION TOGETHER.
SO HERE WE ARE TODAY.
NOT EVEN A YEAR LATER AND READY
TO MOVE FORWARD. I
WANT TO REMIND US WHAT ARE SOME
OF THE MAIN PIECES IN THE
DOMESTIC WORKERS' LEGISLATION
WE PASSED.
THE FIRST WAS TO ENABLE US TO
EARN AT LEAST THE MINIMUM WAGE.
THIS MEANS FOR ALL DOMESTIC
WORKERS INCLUDING THOSE WHO ARE
CLASSIFY AS INDEPENDENT
CONTRACTORS AS WELL.
REGARDLESS OF CLASSIFICATION.
DOMESTIC WORKERS HAVE THE RIGHT
TO EARN A MINIMUM WAGE IN
SEATTLE.
ALL DOMESTIC WORKERS ARE
ENTITLED TO ARREST FOR LONG
PERIODS OF WORK AND MAKE SURE
FOR THOSE WORKING AT THE SAME
HIRING.
NUMBER THREE, WE HAVE
GUARANTEED A RIGHT TO PRIVACY.
FOR WORKERS WHO HAVE PASSPORTS
OR DOCUMENTATION OR LICENSES
THAT THEY WILL WORRY ABOUT
BEING RETAINED FROM VARIOUS
EMPLOYERS OR HIRING FOLKS, NOW
YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO PROTECT
YOUR DOCUMENTS AND MAKE SURE
THAT WHEN YOU DO SO, YOU ARE
NOT ACTUALLY RETALIATED AGAINST
BASED ON YOUR DOCUMENTATION
STATUS.
LASTLY, WE PROTECTED AGAINST
DISCRIMINATION THANKS TO A
COMPANION ORDINANCE BY
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
THE REASON FOR HAVING THIS
BOARD WAS TOCOME UP WITH SOME
ISSUES FOR THE COMPLEX ISSUES.
WE ARE TALK HEALTH CARE AND
THINGS WORKERS NEED AND
EMPLOYERS WANT TO PROVIDE BUT
WE NEED THE BOARD TO HELP US
COME UP WITH CREATIVE SOLUTIONS
SO WE INCLUDED THE DOMESTIC
WORKER STANDARDS BOARD SO
DOMESTIC WORKERS AND EMPLOYEES
CAN COME UP WITH THE POLICY
IDEAS AND THE OUTREACH SO
PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT THE NEW
RIGHTS AND PROTECTIONS.
SO WHY DON'T WE ALLOW EACH
INDIVIDUAL LO INTRODUCE
THEMSELVES.
WE WILL ASK A FEW QUESTIONS.
THEN WE WILL PROD A LITTLE
MORE.
>> I'M EMILY DILLS AND I
FOUNDED A COMPANY CALLED
SEATTLE NANNY NETWORK
INCORPORATED BACK IN 1997.
DO YOU WANT ME TO DO AN
INTERSECTION AND CARRY AROUND?
>> THAT'S PERFECT AND WE COME
BACK TO YOU.
>> YEAH.
>> I AM KARINA BULL.
FROM THE OFFICE OF LABOR
STANDARDS.
>> I'M JENEE JAHN.
I'M ALSO HELPING TO STAFF.
>> I'M ANDRA KRANZLER.
>> I'M ELIJAH ANDERSON.
I RUN THE LARGEST SEATTLE
NANNY'S GROUP.
WE HAVE BEEN WORKING HARD THE
LAST SEVERAL YEARS TO GET
NANNIES EDUCATED ON THEIR
RIGHTS AND EXPECTATIONS.
>> I'M DANA BARNETT.
I WORK AT THE BAR ASSOCIATION
INCLUSION SPECIALIST.
I'M HERE IN MY CAPACITY AS AN
EMPLOYER.
I LIVE IN SEATTLE WITH MY
PRESCHOOLER AND SPOUSE AND WE
EMPLOY OCCASIONAL NANNIES AND
HOUSE CLEANER.
>> EXCELLENT.
WE ARE REALLY EXCITED YOU ALL
ARE HERE.
WE ARE SO GRATEFUL FOR YOUR
TIME LAST YEAR IN HELPING TO
CRAFT THE LEGISLATION.
DO YOU MIND IF WE ASK YOU TO
ELABORATE A LITTLE MORE ON WHAT
YOUR INTEREST IS IN THE BOARD.
AND WHY YOU WANT TO SERVE.
AND WE WILL GO AROUND THIS WAY
AGAIN.
>> MY COMPANY FOR OVER TWO
DECADES HAS BEEN DOING
NETWORKING AND EDUCATION
OUTREACH SO I FEEL THIS IS A
FANTASTIC OPPORTUNITY TO WORK
ON SOMETHING THAT IS VERY
IMPORTANT.
THE BURDEN ON THE MODERN FAMILY
TODAY IS REALLY HUGE.
I FEEL MORE THAN EVER THEY ARE
FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR
THEIR CHILDREN AND THEIR
PARENTS.
THEY ARE UNDER TREMENDOUS
PRESSURE.
WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY RIGHT
NOW WITH THIS BOARD TO FIND A
BALANCE BETWEEN THE NEEDS OF
THE ALREADY BURDENED MODERN
FAMILY AND THE DOMESTIC WORKER
WE KNOW.
WE ALL HERE AGREE THEY DESERVE
PROTECTIONS.
FAMILIES REALLY DEPEND ON IN-
HOME CARE.
BUT, THEY DON'T WANT TO WAKE UP
ONE DAY AND FIND OUT THEY HAVE
BEEN OVERREGULATED.
ZOECIUM VERY SENSITIVE TO THAT.
THE STANDARDS WILL PROTECT THE
FAMILY EMPLOYER AND THE
EMPLOYEE WHO RELY ON THIS
PRIVATE FORM OF EMPLOYMENT FOR
THEIR LIVELIHOOD AND I FEEL IF
CHANGE IS TO BE MADE, COMMON
GROUND MUST BE FOUND BETWEEN
THE EMPLOYER AND THE EMPLOYEE.
WHAT I HOPE TO CONTRIBUTE IS MY
EXPERIENCE.
OVER 22 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN
EDUCATING AND EMPOWERING
EMPLOYERS, MEDIATING CONFLICT.
AND WORKING TOWARD DEVELOPING
SYSTEMS OF ACCOUNTABILITY.
I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
APPLY FOR THE BOARD.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
ANDRA?
>> I'M REALLY EXCITED TO BE ON
THIS BOARD.
I JUST GOT OFF THE PHONE WITH
MY DAD AND MY LEGACY OF
DOMESTIC WORKERS.
MY GREAT GRANDPARENTS WERE
DOMESTIC WORKERS IN UP STATE
NEW YORK.
ANY GRANDMOTHER WAS A DOMESTIC
WORKER AS SHE OWNED HER OWN
CATERING BUSINESS AS WELL.
BUT DOMESTIC WORK WAS HOW SHE
PAID FOR THE FAMILY'S BASIC
NEEDS.
AND, SHE DID THAT WELL INTO HER
LATE 70s , AND THEN I WAS A
NANNY.
I WAS A BABYSITTER STARTING AT
AN AGE THAT WAS TOO YOUNG TO
BABYSIT.
[ LAUGHTER ] AND THEN, NANNY.
AND MY NANNY FAMILIES HELPED ME
PAY FOR LAW SCHOOL.
AND I RENT FOR ONE OF MY
NANNIES IN A MARKET WEIGHT
HOUSING.
SO NANNY IS A REALLY IMPORTANT
PIECE OF WHO I AM AND THE TYPE
OF ADVOCATE THAT I AM.
I'M REALLY EXCITED TO GET TO
SUPPORT MY COLLEAGUE DORIS
GARCIA WHO IS LEADING THE NANNY
COLLECTIVE FOR WESTERN
WASHINGTON.
I WILL VERY BEEN ABLE TO
PARTICIPATE IN ONE OF THE
MEETINGS WITH THE NANNIES.
THEY ARE REALLY CONCERNED
ABOUT, YOU KNOW, BENEFITS,
HEALTH CARE BENEFITS.
REQUIREMENT.
RETIREMENT.
ADVOCACY AND RESOURCE TO
NAVIGATE THE PERSONAL AND
PROFESSIONAL RELATIONSHIP THAT
HAPPENS TWEEN THE FAMILY AND
THE NANNY AND WHEN SOMETHING
GOES AWRY, BEING ABLE TO
SUPPORT THE WORKER.
AND MAINTAINING THE JOB AND THE
RELATIONSHIP WITH THE FAMILY.
AS REFERRALS ARE REALLY AN
IMPORTANT PART OF HOW NANNIES
ARE SUCCESSFUL.
WE WILL BE WORKING WITH THE
SEATTLE WORKERS ALLIANCE
PARTICIPATING IN A MONTHLY
MEETING THAT HAS BEEN ONGOING.
WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO -- DORIS
AND I WORKED TOGETHER TO
DEVELOP A BILINGUAL DOMESTIC
WORKER'S PRESENTATION THAT
COVERS THE BASIC LAWS THAT
COVER NANNIES AND WE ARE
HOPEING TO SHARE THAT RESOURCE
AND IN OUR FAIR WORK CENTER
UPDATED BROCHURE OF 2019, WE
HAVE INCLUDED THE DOMESTIC
WORKERS.
WE ARE HAVING THAT
CONVERSATION.
WE TRAINED 30 COMMUNITY
PARTNERS AND THEY ALL HAVE THE
PRECURSOR DOMESTIC PARTNERS
HAVE RIGHTS.
WE WANT YOU TO TALK ABOUT THEM
AT THE KICK START OF 2019.
REALLY HONORED AND THANKFUL AND
EXCITED TO SERVE.
>> THANK YOU ANDRA.
AND YOU LIVE IN DISTRICT 2.
ELIJAH, DISTRICT 5.
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ.
>> I WAS.
I RECENTLY MOVED TO TACOMA.
>> OKAY GREAT.
DISTRICT 5 ROOTS.
YEAH.
>> STILL VERY IMPORTANT.
>> I STILL WORK IN SEATTLE.
IT IS JUST VERY EXPENSIVE TO
LIVE HERE.
BUT I LOVE TACOMA.
I LOVE SEATTLE AND TACOMA.
YOU HIT SO MANY AWESOME POINTS.
MY MAIN THING IS ABOUT FINING
WAYS TO REACH NANNIES AND
EDUCATE THEM.
SO MANY NANNIES GET TAKEN
ADVANTAGE OF EVERY DAY.
DESPITE THE ORGANIZING WE HAVE
BEEN DOING, WE ARE HEARING
HORROR STORIES ABOUT PEOPLE
TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF.
TAX TIME EVERY YEAR.
YOU HEAR MY EMPLOYEE WANTS TO
1099 ME.
AND IT IS OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
SO JUST GETING THE WORD OUT
THERE.
THE BOARD IS REALLY EXCITED TO
ME THAT WE CAN WORK TOGETHER ON
BOTH SIDES AND FIGURE OUT HOW
PEOPLE CAN FEEL PROTECTED AND
EDUCATED.
OFTEN EMPLOYERS COME INTO IT
FOR THE FIRST TIME WITH NANNIES
DOING THIS FOR 20 YEARS AND IT
IS A CONSTANT HAVING TO RETEACH
PEOPLE.
I THINK IF WE CAN COME TOGETHER
AND FIND A WAY THAT PARENTS AND
NANNIES CAN HAVE THESE
RESOURCES AN LEARN WHAT THE
STANDARDS ARE, BECAUSE, RIGHT
NOW, IT IS SUCH AN UNREGULATED
INDUSTRY.
IT IS SUCH AN ISOLATED WORK
THAT IT IS HARD TO GET THE WORD
OUT.
THAT'S WHY I'M REALLY EXCITED
ABOUT IT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH ELIJAH.
>> HELLO.
>> HI.
>> YOU LIVE IN KIRKLAND IS THAT
RIGHT?
>> NO.
I LIVE IN THE CENTRAL DISTRICT.
>> OH, THAT'S GREAT.
DISTRICT 3.
>> DISTRICT 3. I THINK IT IS
DISTRICT 3. SO, YEAH.
MY NAME IS DANA.
WHAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE SAID,
THOSE THINGS ARE REALLY
IMPORTANT TO ME.
THAT'S PART OF WHY I'M HERE.
I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH
COMMUNITY ORGANIZINGS, RACIAL
JUSTICE.
A COUPLE OF DECADES.
I'M OLDER THAN I LOOK.
IN BOTH NEW YORK WHERE I'M FROM
AND PHILADELPHIA FOR MANY
YEARS.
MOVED HERE SIX YEARS AGO.
AND, FOR ME, I THINK I'M HERE
IN A CAPACITY I'M NOT REALLY
USED TO BEING AN EMPLOYER.
AND SO, THAT IS SOMETHING WHERE
IT IS SORT OF AN AWKWARD
POSITION TO FIND MYSELF IN.
AS SOMEBODY WHO GREW UP IN A
WORKING CLASS, LOWER MIDDLE
CLASS WHO HAS WORKED FOR
EQUITY.
BUT HASN'T REALLY BEEN ON THIS
SIDE OF IT BEFORE.
NOW I OWN A HOME IN SEATTLE.
YOU KNOW.
WE ARE ABLE TO AFFORD TO LIVE
HERE AND WE DON'T HAVE ANY
FAMILY HERE ALSO SO WE NEED TO
USE THESE DIFFERENT SERVICES
AND WE ARE ABLE TO AFFORD THEM.
IT IS FIGURING OUT HOW DO I
LIVE MY VALUES IN MY OWN LIFE
AND USE ANY POSITION TO CREATE
MORE JUSTICE.
AND ALSO CONNECTING TO PEOPLE
IN SIMILAR POSITIONS TO ME.
THAT I CAN HELP USE THIS
POSITION THAT I'M IN, IN ORDER
TO CREATE THE NETWORKS AND
SUPPORT FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT TO
LIVE OUT THEIR VALUES BUT DON'T
KNOW HOW OR MAY NOT THINK OF
THEMSELVES AS EMPLOYERS WITH
THE RESPONSIBILITIES OR MAYBE
THEY DON'T WANT TO DO IT.
BUT EITHER WAY.
YOU KNOW.
I WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO HELP
WITH THAT F. I HAVE BEEN IN
COMMUNICATION WITH HAND IN
HAND.
REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THEIR
WORK.
IN 2006, I WAS THERE WHEN I
THINK THE DOMESTIC WORKERS
ALLIANCE FIRST LAUNCHED AND I
WAS REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THEIR
WORK AND HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING
THEM FOR A LONG TIME SO I'M
REALLY EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO BE
A PART OF THIS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU DANA.
BEFORE WE OPEN IT UP FOR
QUESTIONS, ARE THERE ANY OTHER
COMMENTS FROM OUR FRIENDS AT
OFFICE OF LABOR STANDARDS?
>> WE ARE SO EXCITED TO BE HERE
AT THE TABLE TODAY.
WE ARE SO READY TO SUPPORT THE
WORKERS STANDARDS BOARD.
TO PARTNER WITH SEATTLE OFFICE
OF CIVIL RIGHTS FOR THE
PROTECTIONS OF DISCRIMINATION.
AND, WE WILL HIRE TWO POSITIONS
TO ASSIST WITH THIS WORK.
A POLICY ANALYST, AND
ENGAGEMENT SPECIALIST WHO WILL
WORK WITH DOMESTIC WORKERS AND
HOUSEHOLDS AND EMPLOYERS.
CURRENTLY, THE ANALYST POSITION
IS POSTED.
IT CLOSES FEBRUARY 19.
SOON THERE AFTER WE WILL POST
THE ENGAGEMENT SPECIALIST WHO
WANTS TO GET THE WORD OUT
THERE.
IN THE MEANTIME, JENEEEE JAHN
WILL BE POSTING THE OUTREACH.
>> WE ARE REALLY EXCITED TO
WORK WITH YOU ALL ON THE BOARD.
I THINK ONE OF THE EXCITING
PARTS ABOUT IT IS THE POTENTIAL
TO DO WORK.
SUPPORTING FAMILIES THE BEST
WAY THEY KNOW HOW.
THEY ARE TAKING CARE OF THEIR
KIDDOS AND ELDERS.
OUR WORKERS SUPPORTING THE
HOUSEHOLD'S FAMILIES AS WELL.
WE ARE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT
THAT WORK.
AS IF THE BOARD MEETING FOR THE
FIRST TIME IN MARCH, IT IS
RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER SO WE
ARE REALLY EXCITED TO GET ALL
THE MEMBERS OUT.
IN THE TABLE.
OFF AROUND THE TABLE.
SO WE WILL WORK WITH YOU ALL IN
TERMS OF ORIENTATION AND
GETTING THINGS READY TO ROCK
AND ROLL THE NEXT FEW YEARS.
IN TERMS OF RULE MAKING WE WILL
BE STARTING THAT.
SO THERE WILL BE ANNOUNCEMENTS
SOON.
THE TIME LINE IS GETTING FIRMED
UP NOW.
IN TERMS OF OUTREACH, WE ARE ON
THE GROUND PUTTING THINGS IN
ORDER AN STARTING
COLLABORATIONS WITH THE OFFICE
FOR CIVIL RIGHTS IN OUR
COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO TRY TO
GET THAT OFF AND RUNNING AS
SOON AS POSSIBLE SO PEOPLE HAVE
THE INFORMATION THEY NEED TO BE
SUCCESSFUL WITH THIS WORK.
>> REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
LISTENING AUDIENCE, CONTINUE TO
PASS ALONG THE WORD WE HAVE TWO
POSITIONS OPEN IN POLICY
ANALYST AND SOON, ENGAGEMENT
SPECIALIST WILL BE POSTED.
VERY EXCITING.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK TO THE
SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS OF THE
JOB?
>> JUST IN GENERAL BROAD
STROKES.
WHAT ARE WE LOOKING FOR?
>> BRAD STROKES.
WELL, FOR THE POLICY ANALYST,
THAT POSITION WILL BE
INTERESTED IN SUPPORTING THE
BOARD.
AND DRAFTING RULES.
AND, ANY LEGISLATION IF THAT
COMES OUT AS A RECOMMENDATION
OF THE BOARD.
DOING ALL OF THE RESEARCH THAT
NEEDS TO BE DONE FOR THESE
ISSUES.
AND, SHEPHERDING THE BOARD.
THERE'S A LOT OF FACILITATION.
THERE'S ADMINISTRATIVE WORK.
ON BOARDING.
MAKING SURE EVERYBODY HAS THE
TOOLS.
AND, THE COMMUNITY THAT IS
NEEDED TO MAKE THIS BOARD
SUCCESSFUL.
DRAFTING, INTERPERSONAL SKILLS.
RESEARCH, COMMUNITY BUILDING
ARE ALL VERY IMPORTANT SKILLS
THAT ARE NEEDED FOR THE
ENGAGEMENT SPECIALIST.
THAT PERSON ALSO WOULD NEED ALL
OF THOSE SKILLS, MAYBE LESS SO
OF THE DRAFTING SKILLS.
BUT, CREATING OUTREACH
MATERIALS, FINDING WAYS TO
CONNECT WITH THOSE DOMESTIC
WORKERS AND THE HOUSEHOLDS AND
THE EMPLOYERS, THAT JOB WILL
ENTAIL A LOT OF ON THE GROUND
EFFORTS.
REALLY BEING OUT THERE IN THE
COMMUNITY AND CONNECTING WITH
FOLKS AND ALSO, WORKING WITH
OUR ENFORCEMENT TEAM TO FIND
WAYS TO MAKE THE INVESTIGATIVE
PROCESS IF WORKERS FEEL THINGS
ARE NOT GOING AS THEY SHOULD BE
TO MAKE THAT SUCCESSFUL.
FOR EVERYONE THAT IS INVOLVED
AND ENCOURAGE THEM TO COME
FORWARD IN THEIR PARTICULAR
SITUATION.
THAT POSITION WILL HAVE A LOT
OF DIFFERENT MOVING PIECES TO
IT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> LET'S OPEN IT UP.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD?
>> I APPRECIATE HEARING THAT
THE OFFICE OF LABOR IS
COLLABORATING WITH THE OFFICE
OF CIVIL RIGHTS AS IT RELATES
TO THE OUTREACH.
THERE IS A SEPARATE ORDINANCE
THAT CIVIL RIGHTS IS CHARGED.
PROBATION AGAINST RETALIATION,
HARASSMENT.
I APPRECIATE THERE IS
COLLABORATION HAPPENING.
I JUS WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
THE OUTREACH AND EDUCATION
ABOUT THOSE TWO LAWS IS
HAPPENING TOGETHER AND NOT
SILOED BECAUSE I THINK IT WOULD
BE VERY CONFUSING FOR WORKERS
TO GET TWO DIFFERENT PIECES FOR
INFORMATION.
>> OUR COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS
ARE PRETTY NEW.
BOTH KARINA AND I WERE FROM
CIVIL RIGHTS BEFORE WE CAME TO
THE OFFICE OF OLS SO WE ARE
BOTH EXCITED TO GO HOME IF YOU
WILL.
WE WERE CONNECTING WITH OUR
COLLEAGUES AT OCR.
OUR BRAINSTORM OF IDEAS IS
PRETTY NEW.
THERE IS A CONCERTED EFFORT TO
MAKE SURE THAT MESSAGE IS
UNIFORM AND THEY DON'T HAVE A
MILLION DIFFERENT FOLKS COMING
IN THOUGH WE WILL ALL BE
WORKING ON GETING THE WORD OUT.
IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOLKS
GET ONE MESSAGE AND THAT WE ARE
BOTH SUPPORTING EACH OTHER
MAKING SURE WE ARE ON THE SAME
PAGE WITH THOSE MESSAGES ABOUT
OUR DIFFERENT OFFICES.
>> YEAH.
AND SNOT ONLY I THINK
ELIMINATING THE CONFUSION ABOUT
MULTIPLE MESSAGES, KNOWING
ABOUT ONE SET OF RIGHTS,
EMPOWERS PEOPLE TO EXERCISE
THEIR RIGHTS UNDER THE OFFICE
OF LABOR STANDARDS.
IF THEY KNOW THEY ARE PROTECTED
AGAINST RETALIATIONS.
>> COUNCILMEMBER BAGSHAW?
>> THANK YOU.
WE ARE HERE IN NO SMALL PART
BECAUSE OF MY COLLEAGUE HERE,
COUNCILMEMBER TERESA MOSQUEDA.
LAST YEAR, WHEN WE HAD SO MANY
MEETINGS IN THE COMMUNITY.
I WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT.
I APPRECIATE THE WORK AND ALL
WHO CAME TO TESTIFY TO HELP US
SHAPE WHAT WE ARE DOING TODAY.
SO, THAT SAID, I KNOW THAT WE
ARE GOING TO HAVE OUR OWN WORK
TO DO TO GET STARTED HERE
WITHIN THE CITY.
I'M VERY INTERESTED IN WHAT THE
CONNECTION IS WITH THE STATE.
AND WITH OUR LEGISLATORS RIGHT
NOW.
BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THE WORK
THAT THE CITY HAS DONE OVER THE
LAST DECADE, WHETHER IT IS $15
AN HOUR MINIMUM WAGE OR PAID
FAMILY LEAVE, THAT IT IS REALLY
THE BEGINNING POINT FOR MANY
OTHERS IN THE STATE WHO WANT TO
POINT BACK AND SAY THIS IS WHAT
SEATTLE IS GOING.
HERE IS WHAT WE CAN DO
STATEWIDE.
I AM VERY INTERESTED TO MAKE
SURE THE LESSONS WE LEARN ARE
SOMETHING WE CAN TAKE
STATEWIDE.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT.
CERTAINLY THIS LEGISLATION IS
SO GROUND-BREAKING IN THAT IT
COVERS EMPLOYEES AND
INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS.
SO THERE'S A LOT TO LEARN AND
SHARE.
SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.
>> OKAY, SO WE ARE REALLY
EXCITED ABOUT THE PARTNERSHIP
AT THE STATE LEVEL.
WE KNOW THERE'S A NUMBER OF
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HOW THEY,
THEY BEING THE STATE AGENCIES
FOR WORKERS COMPENSATION.
THE FOLKS WORKING ON FAMILY
LEAVE, SICK LEAVE.
THEY ARE VERY INTERESTED IN
WORKING WITH THIS BOARD AS YOU
FIGURE OUT THE STRATEGIES FOR
FOLKS TO PAY IN OR HOW WE MAY
REPLICATE SOME OVINES POLICIES.
IN THE IDEAL WORLD, WE WOULD BE
PARTNERING AT THE STATE LEVEL.
I THINK THE POINT IS TAKEN IN
HEALTH CARE AND LEAVE POLICIES.
THERE IS ONGOING CONVERSATION
IN THE OFFICE OF
INTERGOVERNMENT RELATIONSHIPS,
IS VERY KEENLY AWARE OF OUR
INTERESTS ON HOW WE CAN CREATE
SOME LEAVE, SORRY, SOME
PROTECTIONS THROUGH THE STATE'S
WORKERS COMP AND UNEMPLOYMENT
SYSTEM.
THERE IS NOT A CLEAR ANSWER
WHICH IS WHY WE NEED ALL OF
YOUR INCREDIBLE BRAINS.
ANY QUESTIONS FOR THEIR
INCREDIBLE BRAINS?
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ?
ANYTHING?
>> NOPE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD?
>>
>> I WILL COME BACK WHEN WE
HAVE A RECLASS RESOLUTION, BUT
I WANTED TO COME HERE AND
SUPPORT THE NOMINATION OF ANDRA
KRANZLER.
SHE WORKED IN MY OFFICE FOR A
YEAR AND THREE QUARTERS AND HER
FOCUS HAS ALWAYS BEEN ON
WORKING ON BEHALF OF FOLKS WHO
MAY NOT HAVE ACCESS TO POWER.
AND BRINGING THEIR LIVED
EXPERIENCES INTO THE
POLICYMAKING REALM SO WE CAN
MAKE SURE THE DECISIONS WE ARE
MAKING ACTUALLY MAKE PEOPLE'S
LIVES BETTER.
BEFORE WORKING IN MY OFFICE, I
HAVE BEEN FAMILIAR WITH ANDRA'S
WORK LONG BEFORE THAT.
AND, SHE HAS ALWAYS BROUGHT
THOSE VALUES AND I THINK SHE
WILL BE VERY WONDERFUL ADDITION
TO THIS BOARD.
AND I THINK SHE WILL SHOW A LOT
OF LEADERSHIP.
OH SHE'S BLUSHING OVER THERE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER JUAREZ?
>> I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS
OF THE APPOINTEES.
GENERAL AWARDS OF AFTER YOU DO
THE APPOINTMENTS?
>> IF YOU WANT US TO WAIT YOU
CAN WAIT.
GO AHEAD, YOU HAVE THE
MICROPHONE.
>> OKAY, MANY MEETINGS ON THE
DOMESTIC WORKERS STANDARDS.
YOU BROUGHT UP A GROUP FROM
CALIFORNIA AS WELL AND THE
MATERIAL IN THE STUDIES WE
READ.
A LOT OF PUBLIC COMMENT.
I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A LITTLE
SKEPTICAL.
I WAN TO MAKE SURE THINGS ARE
DONE RIGHT AN UPHELD AND I WILL
BE LOOKING FOR THIS BOARD FOR
ENFORCEMENT AND FOR THE
EDUCATION PIECE.
WE WILL LOOK TO YOU AS BEING
THE SUBJECT MATTER FOLKS.
AND I KNOW ANDRA, YOU ARE AN
ATTORNEY.
I'M GLAD.
NOT THAT ATTORNEYS NEED TO BE
EVERYWHERE.
AND THE REPORTING REQUIREMENTS,
ONE OF THE THINGS COUNCIL
MEMBER MOSQUEDA AND I TALKED
ABOUT IS A LOT OF THE COMMUNITY
MEMBERS WANTED A LOT OF THINGS
AND SOME OF IT JUST LEGALLY, WE
COULDN'T DO.
AND SOME OF IT WE WILL JUST
NEED A BOARD TO STAFF US ON
THAT.
I'M GUESSING YOU WILL BE
WORKING WITH LEGAL ON THE
THINGS WE CAN PUSH FORWARD ON.
I'M NOT SAYING NOT TO DO
ANYTHING BECAUSE IT COULD NOT
BE CHALLENGED.
IT IS KIND OF SAD THAT DOMESTIC
WORKER STANDARDS IN PROTECTING
PEOPLE AND ENFORCEMENTS HAS TO
BE SOMETHING LABELED
PROGRESSIVE.
IT IS BASIC.
IT IS GENDER BASED, HAS A
HISTORY OF BEING IGNORED IN
EVERY WAY.
BUT I'M MINDFUL THAT WE WANT TO
BE SOLID IN OUR MOVE FORWARD IN
THAT SOMETIMES I GET A LITTLE
ANNOYED WHEN PEOPLE SCREAM WHEN
DO WE WANT IT, WE WANT IT NOW.
THE WORLD DOESN'T WORK LIKE
THAT.
THOSE OF US KNOW INCREMENTALLY
WE MOVE FORWARD.
I HOPE THE BOARD WILL WORK WITH
US AND THE POLICY FOLKS.
I DON'T WANT TO SEE IT JUST
BECOME AN ENFORCEMENT
MECHANISM.
THAT IS IMPORTANT, I LIKE THE
RULE MAKING, THE EDUCATION
PIECE IS REALLY BIG.
THERE WERE SO MANY GREAT JUICY
ISSUES WE WANTED TO ATTACK IN
THE BASE LEGISLATION.
WE NEEDED TO ESTABLISH THIS
BOARD. NALOXONE WE HAVE
SOMETHING ROBUST, SOLID, THAT
WE HAVE A PLAN, A VISION, AND
WE SLOWLY MARCH FORWARD TO THAT
VISION.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING
WITH YOU.
>> WELL DONE.
ANY COMMENTS ABOUT THAT, THAT
FOLKS WOULD LIKE TO WEIGH IN
ON?
>> I NEGLECTED TO MENTION WHEN
I TALKED EARLIER, I AM IN THE
CHILD CARE COLLABORATIVE TASK
FORCE.
AND I FEEL THAT, AND WE ARE
MEETING EVERY SIX WEEKS THERE
IN OLYMPIA.
THAT WORK I'M DOING HERE
COMPLIMENTS THE WORK ON THE
BOARD VERY MUCH.
I'M TRYING TO BALANCE THE NEEDS
OF THE WORKERS.
THAT'S WHERE MY HEART IS.
BALANCING THAT WITH THE NEEDS
OF THE PARENTS.
>> EMILY, I WOULD LIKE, IF I
COULD ASK THAT AFTER THIS
MEETING, I WOULD LIKE TO TALK
TO YOU ABOUT THAT.
AND WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THE
CHILD CARE INITIATIVE IN
OLYMPIA.
THAT'S A MAJOR THING
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA AND I
ARE WORKING ON.
I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU EMILY.
AND ANDRA AND ELIJAH, WELCOME
HOME.
IT IS GREAT YOU ARE WILLING TO
SPEND YOUR TIME DOING THIS WITH
US.
>> SO YES.
PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> I THINK REALLY EXCITED ABOUT
THIS LABOR STANDARDS BOARD.
I WAS PART OF WORKING WITH THE
WORKERS ON THE PARTY HIRE
ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND WHAT THE
WORKERS WERE ABLE TO DO AND THE
LEGACY THAT LIVES ON NOT JUST
IN THE CITY, BUT THE REGION.
LAST YEAR, I WAS ABLE TO
PARTICIPATE IN A REGIONAL
FUNDING PROPOSAL WHERE THE
CITY, THE COUNTY AND THE PORT
PONIED UP MONEY TO DEVELOP A
WORK FORCE PIPELINE IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH SOUND TRANSIT.
WHEN WORKERS ARE MOBILIZED AND
RESOURCED, ANYTHING IS
POSSIBLE.
SO I'M EXCITED TO DO THIS HARD
WORK.
AND I DO SUPERVISE A COLLEAGUE
IN YAKIMA.
AND WE ARE HAVING THIS
CONVERSATION, DORIS WAS ABLE TO
DO A PRESENTATION WITH SOME
WORKERS IN YAKIMA SO I THINK WE
WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE THE
CONVERSATION AS IT LEADS TO A
STATEWIDE LOW HANGING FRUIT
KIND OF WAYS.
>> THANK YOU.
BEFORE WE WRAP UP, COULD YOU
TALK ABOUT THE ISSUES THAT
EXCITE YOU.
WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT MANY
IDEAS.
WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU ARE
LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING ON
THIS YEAR POLICY WISE?
>> I THINK THE EDUCATION OF THE
IN-HOME WORKERS AND THE
TRAINING.
IF THERE WAS A WAY TO REQUIRE A
CERTAIN LEVEL OF TRAINING IT
WOULD ELEVATE THEIR STANDING AS
AN EMPLOYEE AND THE CARE THE
FAMILY WOULD RECEIVE IN THE
HOME.
>> EXCELLENT.
THANK YOU.
>> I THINK MAKING SURE
EMPLOYERS KNOW WHAT IT MEANS TO
BE GOOD EMPLOYERS AND REALLY
EXCITED ABOUT THE PORTABLE
BENEFITS PIECE AND THE
RETALIATION PIECE.
THE FACT THE SOCR IS GOING TO
AFFIRMATIVELY MAKING SURE
RETALIATION IS ADDRESSED IN
REALTIME AND I THINK IS
PARAMOUNT TO MAKING THIS
SUCCESSFUL.
>> GREAT.
EXCELLENT.
ELIJAH?
>> MAKING SURE NANNIES AND
EMPLOYERS UNDERSTAND WHAT THE
JOB IS LIKE.
AND ALL THE DOMESTIC WORKERS,
GARDENERS, HOUSE CLEANERS.
THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT
PARTS.
THERE ARE JUST SO MANY
QUESTIONS AND UNKNOWNS AND
PEOPLE ARE GUESSING AND THAT IS
HURTING EVERYBODY.
SO WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO
BRING EVERYBODY TOGETHER SO
EVERYBODY KNOWS WHAT THE
STANDARDS ARE AND HOW TO WORK
HARMONIOUSLY TOGETHER.
>> IT IS HARD TO CHOOSE
EVERYTHING EVERYONE ELSE SAID.
SAYING LAST MEANS I HAVE TO
ALWAYS SAY THAT.
I THINK FOR ME ALREADY, I LOOK
PART IN A WEBINAR LAST WEEK
ABOUT EMPLOYERS, THROUGH HAND
IN HAND, YOUR HOME IS A
WORKPLACE.
MY HOME IS A WORKPLACE.
ANDI ALREADY HAVE SO MANY
IDEAS FROM THAT I HADN'T
THOUGHT OF BEFORE.
THAT'S WHAT I'M REALLY EXCITED
ABOUT.
WHEN FIRST HEARING ABOUT THIS
ORDINANCE, BUT HOW WILL THAT
ACTUALLY WORK?
AND I KNOW PEOPLE HAVE THAT
RESPONSE.
TO SEE THE PORTABLE BENEFITS I
THINK IS BEING CREATED TO SEE
THESE OPTIONS.
I'M EXCITED TO COME UP WITH
PRACTICAL WAYS WE CAN PUT THIS
INTO ACTION.
>> THAT IS EXCELLENT.
WELL, SEEING NO MORE COMMENTS
OR QUESTIONS, I WOULD LIKE TO
MOVE THE APPOINTMENTS.
>> GOOD, SECOND.
>> ANY FURTHER COMMENTS?
NONE.
ALL IN FAVOR OF THE
RECOMMENDING PASSAGE OF THE
APPOINTMENTS?
VOTE AYE.
OPPOSE?
NONE.
PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
WE WILL BRING THIS INFORMATION
AND RECOMMENDATION TO THE FULL
COUNCIL ON FEBRUARY 11.
REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.
THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH FOR YOUR
INTEREST IN SERVING ON THE
BOARD.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> YAY!
>> THANK YOU DANA.
>> NICE HAT.
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU.
>> I JUST NOTICED IT.
>>> AS WE TRANSITION, DO YOU
MIND READING INTO THE RECORD
THE FIFTH ITEM?
>> AGENDA ITEM 5. LABOR HISTORY
BRIEFING AND DISCUSSION.
>> EXCELLENT.
IF WE COULD BE JOINED AT THE
TABLE BY CONOR CASEY, AND FROM
THE LABOR ARCHIVES OF THE
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON, JAMES
GREGORY FROM THE WILLIAM FAMILY
ENDOWMENT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON.
PRESIDENT LARRY BROWN.
LARRY BROWN IS IN HIS NOW
SECOND MONTH AS PRESIDENT OF
THE WASHINGTON STATE LABOR
COUNCIL, AFL-CIO.
AND WE WILL BE JOINED BY NICOLE
GRANT, EXECUTIVE SECRETARY
TREASURER OF THE MARTIN LUTHER
KING COUNTY LABOR COUNCIL.
GOOD TO SEE YOU.
>> PRESIDENT BROWN, NICE TO SEE
YOU.
>> GOOD TO SEE YOU.
>> IF WE COULD HAVE YOU GUYS
INTRODUCE YOURSELF FOR THE
RECORD AND WE WILL GET STARTED
WITH THE PRESENTATION.
AND PRESIDENT BROWN, IF YOU
WANT TO KICK US OFF WITH YOUR
NAME NOR THE RECORD.
>> I'M LARRY BROWN, PRESIDENT
OF THE WASHINGTON STATE LABOR
COUNCIL.
MADAME CHAIR, MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS JAMES GREGORY.
>> OH.
RIGHT HERE ON THE STEM.
ONE SECOND.
THERE.
>> OH THERE IT IS.
JUST TO CAPTURE IT FOR OUR
INCREDIBLY LARGE TV VIEWING
AUDIENCE.
>> MY NAME IS JAMES GREGORY.
I'M A PROFESSOR OF HISTORY AT
THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
AND FORMER DIRECTOR OF THE
HARRY BRIDGES CENTER OF LABOR
STUDIES.
>> I'M CONOR CASEY, DIRECTOR OF
THE LABOR ARCHIVES OF
WASHINGTON AT THE LIBRARY.
AND PRESIDENT OF THE PACIFIC
NORTHWEST LABOR HISTORY
ASSOCIATION.
>> EXCELLENT.
THANKS FOR BEING HERE.
SO, WE ARE REALLY EXCITED TO
HAVE YOU GUYS HERE TODAY.
JUST BY WAY OF INTRODUCTION, WE
HAVE DECLARED 2019 THE YEAR OF
LABOR HISTORY WITH THIS COUNCIL
DISCUSSED AT THE CITY COUNCIL
LAST MONTH.
WE ARE NOW IN OUR SECOND DAY OF
COMMEMORATING THE 100 YEAR
ANNIVERSARY OF THE SEATTLE
GENERAL STRIKE THAT OCCURRED
100 YEARS AGO TODAY.
SO IT IS REALLY QUIET AN HONOR
TO HAVE THIS ENTIRE PANEL HERE
TODAY.
WHEN FOLKS WERE WALKING IN,
THEY MAY HAVE SEEN THE
ARCHIVISTS HAVE BROUGHT DOWN
THE MATERIALS COMMEMORATING THE
SEATTLE GENERAL STRIKE WHICH IS
ALSO OUTSIDE.
I KNOW YOU WILL GIVE US AN
INCREDIBLE PRESENTATION TODAY
THAT WILL COMPLIMENT THAT.
BUT FOLKS COME BY AND HAVE A
LOOK AT THAT.
TODAY, ALSO I WANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOUR
COLLEAGUE, APRIL SIMMS,
SECRETARY TREASURER OF THE
WASHINGTON STATE LABOR COUNCIL
AND I COAUTHORED A PIECE.
AND APRIL SIMMS, SHE IS THE
FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN TO HOLD
THIS POSITION.
I SAW HER GIVE A SPEECH AND SAY
THAT.
WE ARE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT
HEARING ABOUT LABOR HISTORY.
WE ARE ALSO TALKING LABOR
PRECENTE.
WE ARE HERE, WE ARE PHYSICALLY
PRESENT.
WE ARE HERE TO TALK ABOUT HOW
LABOR HAS SHAPED OUR REGION.
THE STATE OF LABOR WHICH
PRESIDENT BROWN WILL SPEAK TO
AND WHAT'S ON THE HORIZON.
AND I KNOW YOU WILL TALK ABOUT
NOT JUST CELEBRATING THE
GENERAL STRIKE.
BUT THE 110 ANNIVERSARY OF THE
SPOKANE FREE SPEECH FIGHT OF
1909.
THE HUNDRED YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF
THE CENTRALIA TRAGEDY OF 1919
AND THE 20 YEAR CELEBRATION OF
THE BATTLE OF SEATTLE.
I WAS THERE.
WERE YOU THERE?
TURTLES AND TEAMSTERS.
WE WERE ALL OUT.
SO THERE IS A DEEP, DEEP
PRESENCE OF LABOR HISTORY HERE.
AND WHAT WE WILL HEAR ABOUT IS
THE GROWING PRESENCE OF THE
LABOR MOVEMENT AS WELL.
EXCITED TO LIFT UP SOME OF THIS
HISTORY SO WE CAN ALL CONTINUE
TO BRING IT INTO OUR LADY
CONVERSATIONS.
AND IT CAN INFORM OUR
POLICYMAKING.
WHY DON'T YOU GET US KICKED OFF
AND WE WILL HEAR FROM BROWN AND
GRANT WHEN SHE GETS HERE.
>> WITH YOUR PERMISSION, I
WOULD LIKE TO START WITH A
SHORT SLIDE SHOW.
>> LET'S DO IT.
WE'LL DIM THE LIGHTS A LITTLE
BIT.
>> TO COMMEMORATE THE EVENTS
THAT STARTED 100 YEARS AND ONE
DAY AGO IN 1919.
THE WONDERFUL RESOLUTION THE
COUNCIL ENDORSED SHOWS THE
SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS SERIES OF
EVENTS 100 YEARS AGO TODAY.
AND THERE ARE THROUGHOUT THIS
WEEK DIFFERENT COMMEMORATIVE
ACTIVITIES.
IF THE STARTING POINT FOR
THINKING ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED IN
SEATTLE IS TO REALIZE THAT IN
SOME WAYS THIS SET OF EVENT ON
THE MAP.
AS OF FEBRUARY 1919, IT
CHANGED.
AND EVER SINCE, THE STRENGTH OF
ORGANIZED LABOR AND THE FIGHT
FOR WORKER'S RIGHTS HAS BEEN
ANCHORED IN SEATTLE IN
IMPORTANT WAYS.
SO, THE CONTEXT WAS WORLD WAR I
CHANGED SEATTLE.
CREATED A BOOM TOWN ENVIRONMENT
THAT IS PRETTY MUCH LIKE THE
BOOM TOWN OF TODAY.
THEN, AS NOW, A HIGH-TECH
INDUSTRY MOVED INTO TOWN
ATTRACTING TENS OF THOUSANDS OF
WORKERS.
THE DEMOGRAPHY WAS PRETTY
SIMILAR.
SHIPBUILDING, YOU CAN SEE SOME
OF THE SHIPYARDS THAT RINGED
ELLIOT BAY.
ATTRACTING A WORK FORCE OF
ABOUT 35,000 SHIPBUILDERS.
SEATTLE HAD ALREADY BEEN A
STRONG UNION TOWN AND GAINED A
REPUTATION AS ONE OF THE BEST
CITIES FOR ORGANIZED LABOR IN
THE COUNTRY.
THIS ACCELERATED DURING THE
WAR.
IN THE CONTEXT OF THE WAR, THE
CENTRAL LABOR COUNCIL SET OUT
TO CREATE AND SUPPORT UNIONS OF
ALL KINDS AND IT WAS RARE.
MOSTLY WOMEN.
THIS PICTURE FROM THE WAITRESS'
UNION SHOWS THERE WERE 500
WAITRESSES ORGANIZED AND
VIRTUALLY EVERY CAFE AND
RESTAURANT IN TOWN WAS A UNION
SHOP.
SEATTLE WAS ALSO THE ONLY CITY
WHERE THE CENTRAL LABOR COUNCIL
PUBLISHED A DAILY NEWSPAPER.
THE UNION RECORD WAS A
CIRCULATION OF ABOUT 60,000
COMPETED HEAD TO HEAD WITH THE
SEATTLE TIMES, THE SEATTLE PI
AN SEATTLE STAR.
ALSO A CITY WITH A STRONG LEFT
WING RADICAL MOVEMENT.
MANY SOCIALISTS.
AND, THE LEFT WINK HELPED TO
PULL THE SPECIAL LABOR COUNCIL
IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS.
THE WAR WAS A COMPLICATED TIME.
LOTS OF NEW PEOPLE.
BUT, WARS ARE VERY DISRUPTIVE
AND WORLD WAR I, PART OF THE
DISRUPTION CAME FROM THE FLU
EPIDEMIC, THE SPANISH FLU THAT
MOVED ACROSS THE WORLD AND
ACROSS THE COUNTRY HITTING
SEATTLE PRETTY LATE.
SO, JUST MONTHS BEFORE THE
GENERAL STRIKE, MANY, MANY
PEOPLE WERE SUFFERING FROM THE
FLU.
THE CASUALTY RATE REACHED ABOUT
1400 DEATHS IN KING COUNTY.
AND, THIS PARADE ACCELERATED
THE SPREAD OF THE FLU.
SO ALL THIS IS PRELUDE TO THE
GENERAL STRIKE WHICH BEGINS IN
THE SHIPYARDS TWO MONTHS AFTER
THE END OF WORLD WAR I. IT HAD
A LOT TO DO WITH THE INFLATION
THAT PEOPLE WERE EXPERIENCING.
THE HIGH RENTS.
THE ESCALATING COSTS.
THE SHIPYARDS WERE RUN BY THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT UNDER A
SPECIAL AGENCY.
AND, THAT FEDERAL AGENCY SET
UNIFORM WAGE RATES FOR
SHIPYARDS ACROSS THE COUNTRY
WHICH DISADVANTAGED THE WEST
COAST WHERE COSTS WERE HIGHER.
IT CREATED A LOT OF TENSION.
A NEAR STRIKE IN 1917 THAT
ENDED ONLY WHEN THE GOVERNMENT
SEEMED TO PROMISE THAT AT THE
END OF WORLD WAR I, WAGES WOULD
BE READJUSTED.
AND THAT WAS THE IMMEDIATE
PROBLEM THAT LED TO THE STRIKE.
SO WHEN THE SHIPYARD WORKERS
EXPECTED TO REGAIN COLLECTIVE
BARGAINING, THE GOVERNMENT
CHANGED ITS MIND AND ANNOUNCED
THERE WOULD BE NO WAGE
INCREASES.
IN UNIONS REPRESENTING SHIPYARD
WORKERS THEN MET AND DECIDED TO
STRIKE AND ON JANUARY 22,
DECLARED WALK-OUT OF ALL THE
SHIPYARDS.
HERE WE SEE SKINNER AND EDDIE
CORPORATION, THE LARGEST
EMPLOYER LOCATED ROUGHLY ACROSS
FROM WHERE THE FOOTBALL STADIUM
IS TODAY.
AND THE WORKERS ARE WALKING
OUT.
VERY QUICKLY, THE SHIPYARD
UNIONS THEN TURN TO THE CENTRAL
LABOR COUNCIL WHICH AT THAT
TIME REPRESENTED ABOUT 110
LOCAL UNIONS.
I THINK IT IS NOW ABOUT 150.
BUT 110 LOCAL UNIONS.
ALTOGETHER, ABOUT 60,000
WORKERS IN SEATTLE WERE
UNIONIZE.
THAT'S THE OLD LABOR TEMPLE ON
SIXTH AND UNIVERSITY NEAR THE
CONVENTION CENTER NOW.
QUITE AN IMPRESSIVE BUILDING.
IT BECAME THE BEEHIVE REALLY
ALMOST THE CENTER OF LIFE IN
SEATTLE FOR ABOUT A WEEK IN
FEBRUARY.
BECAUSE, THE SHIPYARD UNIONS
ASKED THE CENTRAL LABOR COUNCIL
TO SUPPORT THEIR STRIKE BY
PLEDGING TO STRIKE IN TURN.
TO GO OUT ON A SYMPATHY STRIKE.
AND THE LEADERS OF THE CENTRAL
LABOR COUNCIL TURNED TO THE
INDIVIDUAL UNIONS AND SAID MEET
WITH YOUR MEMBERS AND DECIDE
AND VOTE ON WHETHER TO SUPPORT
THIS.
AND ONE AFTER THE OTHER, THE
UNIONS, ULTIMATELY, 101 OF THE
UNIONS, VOTED TO SUPPORT THE
SHIPYARD WORKERS IN A SYMPATHY
STRIKE WHICH WE NOW CALL THE
GENERAL STRIKE.
AND HERE IS JIMMY DUNCAN WHO
NOW HAS HAD THE ROLE THEN THAT
NICOLE GRANT HAS AS LEADER OF
THE CENTRAL LABOR COUNCIL.
>> IT HAPPENED LARRY?
YOU WERE THERE?
>> IT WAS.
I HAD HAIR BACK THEN.
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> SO AS THE UNIONS DECIDED TO
GO OUT ON FEBRUARY 2, THE
OFFICIAL VOTE WAS TAKEN AND A
STRIKE COMMITTEE WAS FORMED.
AND THE UNION RECORD DECLARED
IN THE BOLD HEADLINES THAT
60,000 WORKERS WOULD GO OUT ON
FEBRUARY 6. SO, THE NEXT COUPLE
OF DAYS WERE EXCITING AND TENSE
AND MUCH WAS GOING ON.
THE CENTRAL LABOR, THE
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, THE STRIKE
COMMITTEE SET ABOUT TO TRY TO
PLAN THE WHOLE STRIKE.
WHAT ENTERPRISES WOULD BE
ALLOWED TO STAY OPEN.
WHICH ONES WOULD CLOSE.
WHAT EMERGENCY SERVICES WOULD
BE HANDLED BY THE UNION.
THE TEAMSTERS ARRANGED TO
DELIVER SUPPLIES TO HOSPITALS.
LAUNDRY WORKER WERE DOING
DIFFERENT THINGS FOR HOSPITALS.
SOME OF THE ELECTRIC WORKERS
WERE GOING OUT.
OTHERS NOT.
THE CULINARY UNIONS UNDERTOOK
TO FEED THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS
OF PEOPLE IN DINING FACILITIES
ACROSS THE CITY BECAUSE TALL
RESTAURANTS AND CAFES WERE
GOING TO CLOSE.
HERE IS WHAT SOME OF THE
STRIKERS DISPLAYED.
THIS IS A PICTURE OF ANNA
LOUISE STRONG.
ONE OF IF EDITORS OF THE UNION
RECORD.
ON THE OTHER HAND --
>> I DO LIKE THAT LAST
SENTENCE.
GO BACK THAT ONE SLIDE.
WE DO NOT NEED HYSTERIA.
WE NEED THE IRON MARCH OF
LABOR.
>> THIS IS A VERY FAMOUS
EDITORIAL SHE WROTE.
BECAME VERY CONTROVERSIAL AS
YOU CAN SEE.
IT PLEDGES THAT THERE'S QUITE A
LOT AT STAKE AND IT WAS READ BY
CONSERVATIVES AS A CALL FOR
REVOLUTION.
SHE SAYS WE ARE UNDERTAKING THE
MOST TREMENDOUS MOVE MADE BY
LABOR IN THIS COUNTRY.
A MOVE WHICH WILL LEAD NO ONE
KNOWS WHERE AND SHE WENT ON AND
ON WITH THAT PLEDGING WE MAY
RUN THINGS HERE.
AND SOME FOUND THIS
EXHILARATING AN OTHERS
FRIGHTENING.
THE AUTHORITIES IN THE CITY
INITIALLY TRIED TO NEGOTIATE
AND MAYOR OLLIE HANSON WAS IN
AND OUT OF THE LABOR TEMPLE
TRYING TO WORK THINGS OUT.
CERTAINLY THE BUSINESS LEADERS
WERE VERY UPSET ABOUT THIS.
ONE OF THE SURPRISES FROM THE
STANDPOINT OF ORGANIZED LABOR,
THE SEATTLE STAR, A LABOR
FRIENDLY NEWSPAPER CAME OUT
MILITANTLY AGAINST THE STRIKE.
AS DID IN TIME, OLLIE HANSON
WHO UNDERTOOK TO DEPUTIZE AN
ARM, VOLUNTEERS, SOME OF THEM
RETURNING WAR VETERANS.
SO, THE SCENE WAS SET FOR KIND
OF A VERY COMPLICATED
CONFRONTATION.
ITIS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND
THAT THIS LABOR MOVEMENT DID
NOT REPRESENT THE ENTIRE WORK
FORCE OF SEATTLE.
LIKE UNIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
THEY PRACTICED WHAT WE CALL NOW
JIM CROW UNIONISM.
THESE WERE WHITE ONLY UNIONS.
THEY HAD EXPLICIT WHITES ONLY
CHARTERS.
IN SEATTLE THERE WAS ONLY ONE
MAJOR UNION WITH AFRICAN-
AMERICAN MEMBERS.
THAT WAS THE LONG SHORE UNION.
FOR THE REST, IT WAS WHITES
ONLY.
FOR MANY OF THEM, WHITE MEN
ONLY.
JAPANESE WORKERS, AND THE
JAPANESE COMMUNITY, JAPANESE
AMERICAN COMMUNITY WAS THE
LARGEST COMMUNITY OF COLOR AT
THE TIME.
JAPANESE WORKERS FORMED THEIR
OWN UNIONS AND HAD FOR YEARS
TRIED TO COOPERATE WITH THE AFL
WITH THE CENTRAL LABOR COUNCIL.
THE JAPANESE UNIONS ANNOUNCED
THEY WOULD SUPPORT IT.
THE CENTRAL LABOR COUNCIL WAS
THRILLED BY THIS NEWS AND SAID
YOU CAN JOIN US IN THE STRIKE
COMMITTEE MEETINGS BUT THE
JAPANESE COULD NOT VOTE.
SO THE EXCLUSION REMAINED IN
EFFECT.
>> CAN I ASK YOU TO GO BACK TWO
SLIDES?
STOP BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE.
AND IF YOU SEE ABOUT THE SECOND
PARAGRAPH, IT ISN'T TOO LATE TO
AVERT THE TRAGIC RESULTS FROM
ITS USE?
I THINK THAT'S WHAT THE LAST
WORD THERE IS.
WHAT TRAGIC WORD WERE THEY
THREATENING?
BECAUSE IT LOOKS TO ME LIKE
THAT IS MORE OF A THREAT THAN A
PREDICTION.
>> I THINK WHAT THE SEATTLE
STAR WAS WORRIED ABOUT, THIS IS
THE STAR OF A REVOLUTIONARY
MOMENT.
AND THE CALL FOR A GENERAL
STRIKE WAS GOING TO CASCADE
INTO VIOLENCE.
AND SERIOUS CONFRONTATIONS THAT
TURNED THE CITY INTO A VIOLENT
CONFRONTATION.
OR CREATED THE MOMENTUM FOR A
REVOLUTIONARY MOVEMENT WHICH
THE SEATTLE STAR OBVIOUSLY FOUND
FRIGHTENING.
THERE WERE UPRISINGS IN GERMANY
AND HUNGARY.
THE IDEA OF COMMUNIST
REVOLUTIONS WAS IN THE AIR AND
THE IWW WAS HOPING THIS WOULD
BE MORE THAN JUST A STRIKE.
MOST OF THE PARTICIPANTS DIDN'T
FEEL THAT WAY BUT THE STAR WAS
WORRIED ABOUT THAT AND THE
MAYOR ULTIMATELY WAS WORRIED
ABOUT THAT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> ON FEBRUARY 6, THE STRIKE
STARTS AND THE CITY SHUTS DOWN.
THE UNIONS TAKE RESPONSIBILITY
FOR ORGANIZING ESSENTIAL
SERVICES.
AND HERE YOU CAN SEE PICTURES
OF ONE OF THE DINING HALLS.
PROBABLY AT THE LONG SHORE
MAN'S LOCAL WITH MEMBERS OF THE
WAITRESS' UNION SERVING.
WHAT WAS REMARKABLE IS THAT THE
EVENT WAS ENTIRELY PEACEFUL.
THIS WILL BE ONE OF THE GREAT
TAKE AWAYS THAT THE UNION
MOVEMENT, BIG STRIKES IN THE
1800S ALWAYS TURNED TO
VIOLENCE.
THE CENTRAL LABOR COMMITTEE AND
THE STRIKE COMMITTEE HAD
CAREFULLY THOUGHT THIS THROUGH.
AND KNEW THAT EVERYTHING SHOULD
BE DONE TO AVOID PROVOKING THE
POLICE OR ANY KIND OF VIOLENCE.
SO A CONTINGENT OF RETURNING
WAR VETERANS CALLED LABOR WAR
VETERAN'S GUARD ALL DECKED OUT
WITH WHITE ARM BANDS PATROLLED
THE STREETS AND ASKED PEOPLE TO
GO HOME.
THERE WERE NO MARCHS, NO
RALLIES, NO PICKET LINES.
THE STREETS WERE ACTUALLY
PRETTY EMPTY THROUGH THE
STRIKE.
ON THE ADVICE AND WITH THE
PLANNING OF THE CENTRAL LABOR
COUNCIL.
LITERALLY THE POLICE ARRESTED
NO ONE IN THE COURSE OF THESE
SIX DAYS.
IT WAS ENTIRELY PEACEFUL.
EARL GEORGE.
I SHOWED YOU HIS PICTURE, THE
AFRICAN-AMERICAN LONGSHOREMAN
BEFORE, LATER REMEMBERED IN
THIS MEMORABLE QUOTE, HE SAID,
YOU KNOW, NOTHING MOVED BUT THE
TIDE.
HERE'S ONE OF THE FEW STREET
SCENES WE HAVE PHOTOGRAPHS OF.
THEY ARE PROBABLY NOT STRIKERS
THIS IS ON DAY TWO.
THEY ARE PROBABLY WAITING FOR
THE SEATTLE STAR EDITION TO BE
PUBLISH.
THE NEWS BOYS WERE NOT
DELIVERING THE NEWSPAPERS
BECAUSE THEY WERE ON STRIKE.
SO PEOPLE WHO WANTED TO READ
ONE OF THEM HAD TO GO DOWNTOWN
TO THE PLANT.
THE MAYOR, HOWEVER, DESPITE THE
COMPLETE LACK OF PROVOCATION,
THE MAYOR DECIDED TO ISSUE A
VERY THREATENING PROCLAMATION
WHERE HE BASICALLY SAID CALL
OFF THE STRIKE BY TOMORROW
MORNING OR I WILL DECLARE
MARSHAL LAW AND ASK THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT TO RUN THINGS IN THE
CITY.
HE DIDN'T HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO
DO THAT.
BUT, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL HAD
MEANWHILE SENT IN TWO
BATTALIONS OF U.S. ARMY TROOPS
FROM CAMP LEWIS.
YOU CAN SEE IN THIS PICTURE
THEY HAVE TAKEN UP STATIONS AT
THE NATIONAL GUARD ARMORY ON
WESTERN AVENUE.
THE TROOPS WERE NEVER PUT INTO
THE STREETS.
BUT IT HELPED SET A TONE FOR
THINGS.
ALL OF THIS WAS BEYOND WHAT THE
CENTRAL LABOR COUNCIL HAD
EXPECTED.
THEY DIDN'T EXPECT THIS FIERCE
HOSTILITY AND REACTION BY THE
MAYOR.
SO THE MORALE BY THE WEEKEND
STARTED TO DETERIORATE AND MANY
UNIONS PLAYED WITH THE IDEA OF
GOING BACK TO WORK.
AND TELLING THE CENTRAL LABOR
COUNCIL WE HAVE TO CALL THIS
OFF.
THIS ISN'T WORKING OUT.
SO ALL THROUGH THE WEEKEND,
THERE WERE NEGOTIATIONS ABOUT
ENDING THE STRIKE.
YOU CAN SEE THE UNION RECORD
DECLARING ON SUNDAY THAT THE
STRIKE WILL CONTINUE.
THE STRIKE COMMITTEE AND THE
CENTRAL LABOR COUNCIL MET AND
DECIDED OKAY SO THE STRIKE ENDS
OFFICIALLY ON THE SIXTH DAY,
FEBRUARY 11.
AFTER THIS SORT OF WEEKEND.
>> WHEN YAW SAY IT WASN'T
WORKING, PEOPLE STAYED ON
STRIKE SIX DAYS.
ARE YOU SAYING IT WASN'T
WORKING BECAUSE PEOPLE FELT
THAT LEVEL OF INTIMIDATION, THE
POLITICAL PRESSURE TO GO BACK
AND BECAUSE THE COMPANIES
WEREN'T EVEN BUDGING OR WHAT
WAS IT?
BECAUSE IT SEEMED LIKE IT
WORKED.
>> IT DID.
IT WAS A REMARKABLE EVENT.
SO MANY DIFFERENT UNIONS.
SO MANY DIFFERENT WORKERS GOING
OUT ON STRIKE NOT JUST FOR
THEIR OWN BENEFIT BUT TO
SUPPORT THEIR BROTHERS IN THE
SHIPYARDS.
JUST AN AMAZING EVENT.
IT WAS UNDERSTOOD AND
REMEMBERED THAT WAY FOR
GENERATIONS BY PEOPLE WHO
PARTICIPATED.
BUT THE APPROXIMATE GOAL OF
GTING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
TO NEGOTIATION WITH THE
SHIPYARD UNIONS WAS NOT WORKING
AND THAT BECAME CLEAR.
AND WHEN THE MAYOR AND SO MANY
OF THE CITY ESTABLISHMENT
COMING DOWN IN THIS VERY HARD
WAY, I THINK A LOT OF THE
UNIONS STARTED TO THINK WELL WE
HAVE DONE WHAT WE CAN.
IT'S TIME TO MOVE ON.
THE SHIPYARD STRIKE CONTINUED
FOR MONTHS BUT THE SYMPATHY
STRIKES BACKED AWAY.
NOT WITH THE SUPPORT OR THE
FEELING OF DEFEAT BUT THE
FEELING WE ARE DONE WHAT WE CAN
AT THIS WAY AT THIS TIME.
WHICH BRINGS US TO LEGACY.
SEATTLE WAS LITERALLY ON THE
MAP FOR THE FIRST TIME.
WE DID STUDIES OF REPORTINGS
AND NEWSPAPERS.
THEY BARELY KNEW SEATTLE
EXISTED BEFORE 1919.
SINCE THEN, THE NEW YORK TIMES
HAS KNOWN WE EXIST.
>> IT MAKES US LEGIT, THEN.
NEVER MIND THE NATIVES HERE.
THE NEW YORK TIMES SAYS YOU
EXIST.
>> YES, WELL, WE ALL KNOW WHERE
POWER RESIDES.
BUT IN ADDITION, IT ESTABLISHED
A REPUTATION OF SEATTLE AS A
UNION TOWN, WHERE WORKING
PEOPLE CAN ADVANCE AND DO
THINGS LABOR UNIONS ARE NOT
DOING ELSE WITH.
AS A CITY THAT WOULD FROM THEN
ON, FOR THE NEXT CENTURY BE
UNDERSTOOD TO BE AT THE
FOREFRONT OF WHAT CITIES AND
LABOR UNIONS MEAN IN THE UNITED
STATES.
SO IT HAS HAD THIS VERY, VERY
LONG LEGACY FOR OUR CITY.
IT ALSO SET IN PLACE TOOLS AND
TACTICS THAT ORGANIZED LABOR
WOULD USE.
THAT WOULD BE LATER GENERAL
STRIKES.
THAT BECAME POSSIBLE ONLY
BECAUSE OF THE PEACEFULNESS OF
THIS.
BECAUSE THIS HADN'T DESCENDED
INTO VIOLENCE.
SO, IN THE 1930s , THERE'S A
COUPLE OF GENERAL STRIKES THAT
CLEARLY REMODELED THE CENTRAL
LABOR COUNCIL OF SAN FRANCISCO
OKAYED A GENERAL STRIKE BECAUSE
OF THE EXPERIENCE OF SEATTLE.
THEY KNEW IT WOULD BE MANAGED
AND PEACEFUL AND THEY THOUGHT
IT WOULD BE SUCCESSFUL AND IT
WAS.
SO JUST THE LESSONS OF THIS
KIND OF COORDINATION BY A
CENTRAL LABOR COUNCIL WERE VERY
BENEFICIAL FOR THE NEXT
CENTURY.
AND THE LESSON OF SOLIDARITY.
MADAME CHAIR, THE LESSON OF
SOLIDARITY.
THE THOUGHT THAT SO MANY
PEOPLE, SO MANY UNIONS, WOULD
STAND UP FOR EACH OTHER, THIS
PRINCIPLE OF ALL FOR ONE.
>> INJURY TO ONE IS AN INJURY
TO ALL.
>> THE DISPLAY OF THAT LIVED ON
IN ALL WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE
STORIES THE UNION ACTIVISTS
WOULD TELL FOR GENERATIONS TO
COME UP TO TODAY.
>> THAT IS VERY, VERY
IMPRESSIVE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH MR.
GREGORY.
ONE QUESTION AND I KNOW WE WILL
HEAR A LITTLE BIT MORE FROM
CONOR CASEY ABOUT HOW WE HAVE
TRIED TO CORRECT THE LEGACY OF
EXCLUSION FOR VARIOUS WORKERS
OF COLOR.
IS THAN IMPORTANT ELEMENT.
YOU BROUGHT UP THE PARALLEL
BETWEEN THE HIGH-TECH INDUSTRY
OF THE EARLY 1900S COMPARED TO
TODAY.
LOTS OF PEOPLE MOVING TO
SEATTLE WANTING GOOD LIVING
WAGE JOBS.
WANTING TO RAISE THEIR FAMILY
HERE.
WORK ON THAT INDUSTRY.
IS THERE ANY, AND THIS IS OFF
THE CUFF SO.
IS THERE ANY LESSONS THAT YOU
SAW FROM THE SHIPYARD BUILDERS,
THE EMPLOYERS ABOUT HOW THEY
ADDRESSED THE HOUSING CRISIS?
WE KNOW THERE WAS SINGLE ROOM
OCCUPANCY OPTIONS THEN.
LIKE WE DON'T SEE TODAY.
BUT, ANY LESSONS THAT YOU THINK
THAT THE EARLY 1900S CAN HELP
US APPLY IN TERMS OF EMPLOYERS
AND PUBLIC POLICY MAKERS
WORKING TO ADDRESS THE HOUSING
NEED IN THE INFLUX OF WORKERS
AS WELL.
>> I WISH.
IT WAS A MESS THEN, IT'S A MESS
NOW.
THERE WASN'T ENOUGH HOUSING.
PEOPLE SQUEEZED TOGETHER.
>> THAT IS SO SAD.
I WAS HOPING YOU WOULD HAVE
SOMETHING OPTIMISTIC FOR US.
>> THANK YOU.
AND WE WILL LOOK FORWARD TO
CONTINUING TO CELEBRATE THE 100
YEAR ANNIVERSARY WITH YOU
THROUGHOUT THIS ENTIRE YEAR.
CONOR CASEY, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH FOR BEING HERE WITH US.
WE KNOW YOU HAVE A PRESENTATION
AS WELL.
SO THANK YOU FOR WALKING US
THROUGH THAT.
>> SURE, THANK YOU FOR HAVING
ME.
I WANTED TO TELL YOU ABOUT THE
LABOR ARCHIVES OF WASHINGTON, A
COMMUNE ARCHIVE THAT WAS
STARTED BY THE LABOR UNION.
A COLLABORATION BETWEEN SPECIAL
COLLECTIONS AND THE BRIDGES
CENTER OF UW.
THERE WAS ALREADY COPY PAPER
BOXES OF EXISTING COLLECTIONS
ELATED TO THIS HISTORY AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON.
WE WERE ENTIRELY FUNDED BY THE
LABOR MOVEMENT.
NOW WE HAVE STATE FUNDING AND
WE ARE ADVISED BY A COMMUNITY
ADVISORY BOARD THAT INVOLVES
LABOR, LABOR ACADEMICS AND
COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
THAT IS HOW WE HAVE A COMMUNITY
RESPONSIVE TO MAKE SURE THE
STORIES THAT WE KNOW THE
GENERAL STRIKE BY FOR EXAMPLE.
THE RECORDS ARE PRESERVED
TODAY.
SO THAT WE CAN TELL THESE
STORIES IN 100 YEARS.
WE HAVE A WHOLE HOST OF
DIFFERENT TYPES OF RECORDS
INCLUDING ORGANIZATIONAL
RECORDS INCLUDING THE
WASHINGTON STATE LABOR COUNCIL.
THE SEATTLE LABOR COUNCIL, A
SIGNIFICANT PLAYER IN THE
STRIKE.
WE HAVE A WHOLE INTERSECTIONAL
GROUP OF COLLECTIONS I WILL
TALK IN A SECOND ABOUT
ORGANIZED LABOR AND THE
DIMENSION OF LABOR.
AND, A WHOLE RANGE OF DIFFERENT
TYPES OF MATERIALS.
IT COULD BE PICKET SIGNS.
MINUTE BOOKS.
WE ARE STARTING TO CURATE
WEBSITES AND SOCIAL MEDIA
CONTENT.
SO ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS I
WILL TALK ABOUT IS ORAL HISTORY
PROJECT WE HAVE BEEN DOING TO
MAKE SURE WE RECORD HISTORY AS
IT HAPPENS.
MORE RECENT CAMPAIGNS LIKE THE
SEATAC, SEATTLE AND MINIMUM
WAGE FIGHTS.
I'M GOING TO TALK A LITTLE BIT.
WE TALKED ABOUT SOME OF THE
WORKERS THAT WERE EXCLUDED FROM
THE LABOR MOVEMENT DURING THE
ERA OF THE GENERAL STRIKE.
WHILE LABOR HAS LEARNED AND
RESPONDED AND INCORPORATED.
INCREASINGLY TRIED TO ADDRESS
THAT DISPARITY.
LY TALK ABOUT A COUPLE OF
COLLECTIONS WE HAVE RELATED TO
WORKERS OF COLOR AND WOMEN LED
UNIONS AND THOSE CAMPAIGNS
TOWARD INCLUSION AS WELL AS THE
SEATAC SEATTLE MINIMUM WAGE
CAMPAIGN WHICH WE DID A MAJOR
ORAL HISTORY PROJECT AROUND.
THESE ARE JUST SOME OF THE
COLLECTIONS THAT RELATE TO SOME
OF THE HISTORY I WILL TALK
ABOUT WHICH RELATES TO AFRICAN-
AMERICAN MEN TRYING TO GET
EQUAL ACCESS.
WOMEN IN THE TRADES TRYING TO
GET ACCESS TO THIS DURING THE
AFFIRMATIVE ACTION ERA.
AND, AS I WILL SHOW, THERE WAS
REALLY A ROBUST KIND OF
TAPESTRY OF OVERLAPPING
ORGANIZATIONS THAT ALL FED ONE
ANOTHER AND I THINK THAT MANY
PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THE
RELATIONSHIP, HOW
INTERSECTIONAL THAT ORGANIZING
WAS.
I THINK BECAUSE OF THE WAY IN
WHICH THE GROUP SUPPORTED ONE
ANOTHER, SEATTLE HAS A UNIQUE
ORGANIZATIONAL HISTORY THAT
RELATES TO THIS.
THIS IS WHAT I WAS TALKING
ABOUT.
THIS IS THE WHOLE NETWORK THAT
I MAPPED OUT OF THESE DIFFERENT
ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAPPENED IN
THE LATE 60s , EARLY 70s .
YEAH.
THIS IS WHAT THE INSIDE OF MY
BRAIN LOOKED LIKE.
>> HOW MANY RED BULLS WERE YOU
DRINKING?
>> WHAT IT LACKS IN DESIGN
SENSE, I HOPE IT MAKES UP FOR
TRYING TO BE AN INCLUSIVE
VISION.
YOU CAN SEE THESE DOTS ARE
PEOPLE THAT KIND OF CONNECT
THESE ORGANIZATIONS.
THERE WAS ALREADY FROM THE TIME
OF THE GENERAL STRIKE OF THE
30s , THERE WAS A ROBUST,
RADICAL LABOR UNION TRADITION
HAPPENING.
>> WHY DOES THE ALASKA CANNERY
ASSOCIATION JUST END?
WHERE OTHER PEOPLE HAVE A
BEGINNING AND AND END?
>> YEAH.
SO, THE KINLEY WORKER'S UNION
WAS ORIGINALLY CALLED THE
FILIPINO LABOR UNION AND LATER
BECAME AGRICULTURAL WORKERS
LOCAL SEVEN.
ASIAN AMERICANS.
AND, DURING THE TIME AROUND THE
60s AND 70s THEY WERE NO
LONGER STRONG ADVOCATES FOR THE
CANNERY WORKERS UP IN ALASKA.
THEY HAD DIFFERENT FOOD,
DIFFERENT HOUSING CONDITIONS
FOR EUROPEAN AMERICAN, ASIAN
AMERICAN, AND INDIGENOUS
WORKERS.
THIS WAS IN THE 70s SO IT WAS
COMPARED TO THE PLANTATION
SYSTEM BY ONE COMMENTER.
IT WAS CREATED BY ASIAN
AMERICAN ACTIVISTS THAT PURSUED
A STRATEGY AGAINST SOME UNIONS
WHO WEREN'T ADDRESSING THESE
LAWSUITS.
AND THEY CONTINUED TO GO ONTO
FORM THE LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT
LAW OFFICE WHICH WAS A
COALITION BETWEEN THE UNITED
FARM WORKERS, THE UNITED
CONSTRUCTION WORKERS.
>> SO THE MURDERS THERE IN
1981, ARE YOU GOING TO TOUCH ON
THAT?
>> YES.
>> I CAN PUT A BOOKMARK ON
THIS?
I ASKED PERMISSION.
AT THE END OF THIS I WOULD LIKE
TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE
CANNERY WORKERS BUILDING AT
SECOND AND MAIN AND HAS BEEN
COMPLETELY FALLING APART AND
NOT OCCUPIED FOR 30 YEARS.
IHAVE SOME IDEAS AND I WOULD
LOVE TO HAVE YOUR SUPPORT.
>> YEAH.
THANK YOU.
ONE THING I WANT TO POINT OUT,
SO, WHAT I WILL TALK ABOUT IS
THE UNITED CONSTRUCTION.
THERE WAS A BUNCH OF FEDERAL
MONEY POURING INTO SEATTLE.
AND NATIONWIDE.
AND, THERE WAS A GROUP OF LOCAL
AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND MINORITY
CONTRACTORS IN THE CENTRAL
DISTRICT WHO SAID WE WANT EQUAL
ACCESS TO THESE JOBS.
WORK.
SO THAT WAS IN 1969.
TYREE SCOTT WAS A PROMINENT
ORGANIZER IN THAT.
ONCE THEY BROUGHT LAWSUITS
AGAINST FIVE OF THE BUILDING
TRADES UNIONS FOR EQUAL ACCESS
TO APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS.
THEY GOT EQUAL ACCESS TO THE
CONTRACTS.
THEY COULD ADVOCATE FOR WORKERS
TO GET ACCESS TO THE
APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS AND
THEY WERE ABLE TO CREATE A
PIPELINE FOR MINORITY WORKERS.
SO, THAT HAPPENS IN THE CENTRAL
CONTRACTORS HAPPENED IN 69.
70, UNITED CONSTRUCTION WORKERS
ASSOCIATION IS FOUNDED.
THEY DO AN INTERESTING OVERLAP
BETWEEN LAWSUITS AND DIRECT
ACTION.
SO THEY ARE AGITATING TO GET
ACCESS TO THE LABOR MOVEMENT
AND TO GET ACCESS TO JOBS.
ONE INTERESTING THING ABOUT
THEIR PUBLICATION IS IT IS
CALLED NO SEPARATE PIECE.
THAT SHOWS THEIR SCOPE WAS
INTERNATIONAL AND
INTERSECTIONAL FROM THE
BEGINNING.
THE UNITED CONSTRUCTION WORKERS
IS LARGELY REMEMBERED AS
AFRICAN-AMERICAN MEN.
BUT IT INCLUDED OTHER MINORITY
MEN.
THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN MEN WERE
THE ONES COVERED BY THIS
LAWSUIT THAT ALLOWED THEM TO BE
A PART OF IT.
IT WAS CALLED THE PHILADELPHIA
PLAN.
IT WAS A LOCAL MANIFESTATION OF
A LAWSUIT THAT GAVE THEM ACCESS
TO THESE PROJECTS.
THEY HAD AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN
A PART OF THIS.
SO THEY GO ONTO MARCH DOWN THE
STREETS.
THIS IS ACTUALLY FROM THE CITY
ARCHIVE BY THE WAY.
AND, THIS MODEL OF THEM DOING
DIRECT ACTION BECOMES THE MODEL
FOR WOMEN IN THE TRADES AS
WELL.
SO I WILL TALK ABOUT HERE IS A
FIGHT AT SEATTLE'S CITY LIGHT
WHERE A GROUP OF RADICAL WOMEN
WERE ABLE TO ARTICULATE THEIR
RIGHTS AND HOW TO FIGHT FOR
EQUAL RIGHTS WITHIN THE
UTILITY.
SO IN 1973, THERE'S A GROUP OF
FEMINIST SOCIALIST ORGANIZERS
LED BY CLARA FRAZIER.
IT IS CALLED RADICAL WOMEN.
AND, SHE BECOMES THE HEAD --
SHE'S A LONG TERM LEFTY --
BECOMES THE HEAD OF THIS
ELECTRICAL TRAINEE PROGRAM IN
TITLE NINE COMPLIANCE.
A GROUP OF TEN WOMEN START TO
GET TRAINED TO BECOME ELECTRIC
WORKERS.
THEY SUPPORT A WALK-OUT.
CLARA FRAZIER ORGANIZES THE
TRAINEES.
THEY WALK OUT AS WELL AND RUN
AFOUL OF THE THE HEAD OF STIFF
LIGHT.
AND, WHAT HAPPENS IS.
>> LOOK AT NICOLE GRANT RIGHT
THERE.
>> OH YES.
NICOLE WROTE AN ARTICLE ABOUT
THIS ON THE SEATTLE HISTORY
PROJECT.
THERE IS A FORTHCOMING BOOK
ABOUT THIS.
THERE WILL BE A BOOK LAUNCH
EVENT CALLED HIGH VOLTAGE
WOMEN.
ON MARCH 9. ALL ABOUT THIS
HISTORY.
ONE THING WE HAVE TRIED TO DO
IS TO ALSO COLLECT NEW RECORDS
AROUND THIS.
SO WE BROUGHT IN COLLECTIONS
THAT RELATE TO CLARA FRAZIER
WHO I JUST MENTIONED AS WELL AS
MEGHAN CORNISH AND HEIDI DURHAM
WHO WAS ANOTHER ONE OF THE
TRAINEES.
THEY EXPERIENCE BASICALLY A
PATTERN OF INTIMIDATION BY THE
SUPERINTENDENT OF CITY LIGHT
WHO CURTAILED THEIR PROGRAM
WHICH WOULD BE A CERTAIN COURSE
OF TIME.
WAS GOING TO HAVE PHYSICAL
CONDITIONING ASPECT.
HE WINDS UP ENDING THE PROGRAM
TO MAKE IT GO OUT OF EXISTENCE.
THE TEN WOMEN WOULD CONTINUE TO
WORK AT CITY LIGHT.
IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A
PIPELINE SO OTHER WOMEN WOULD
CONTINUE TO DO IT.
BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T AS
COMPLIANT AS VICKERY WOULD HAVE
LIKED, THEY WIND UP GETTING
DISMISSED SPECIALLY AT THE END.
HE RETAINS TWO OF THEM TO MAKE
SURE IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE A
DISCRIMINATION.
EVENTUALLY, THEY VERY
SKILLFULLY ORGANIZE AND
úARTICULATE THEIR CASE TO THE
PUBLIC AND CONTINUE TO BRING
THEIR CASE AGAINST SEATTLE.
IT GOES ON FOR YEARS AND
EVENTUALLY CLARA FRAZIER IS
VINDICATED.
THIS IS ONE OF THE PRESS
CONFERENCES THEY CALLED.
>> YOU SAID SHE WAS VINDICATED
BUT GOT A CHECK FOR $409?
>> WELL, I THINK THAT WAS BACK
PAY.
>> NICOLE?
>> HESHE GETS SOME BACK PAY AND
THE ELECTRIC TRAINEES.
IT GOES ON FOR YEARS.
THEY DO WIND UP GETTING -- THE
OTHER THING, SO, ANYWAY, ALL
THESE RECORDS ARE AT THE LABOR
ARCHIVES.
IT IS REALLY A COMPLEX STORY OF
THE INS AND OUTS OF IT.
IT IS VERY WELL TOLD IN THIS
NEW BOOK WRITTENLY ELLIE BALOO
IN COORDINATION WITH RADICAL
WOMEN.
HIGH VOLTAGE WOMEN.
SHE DOES A GREAT BLOW BY BLOW
ACCOUNT OF THIS.
ONE OF THE OTHER PROJECTS WE
HAVE DONE IS TO DOCUMENT MORE
RECENT HISTORY.
MANY OF Y'ALL REMEMBER THE
MINIMUM WAGE CAMPAIGN.
AND SEATAC AND SEATTLE.
SO --
>> I DON'T THINK ANY OF US WERE
HERE.
>> RIGHT.
SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS A
CHALLENGE IN MORE RECENT
HISTORY IS HOW DO YOU MAKE SURE
YOU BRING THESE THINGS IN WHEN
PEOPLE DON'T ACTUALLY THINK OF
IT AS HISTORY?
WITHIN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS
WE HAVE DONE A COLLABORATIVE
JOINT WITH ANOTHER PERSON THAT
IS BRIDGES CHAIR.
MICHAEL MCCANN.
WE DID AN ORAL HISTORY PROJECT
TO INTERVIEW OVER 60 PEOPLE.
THIS WAS HEADS OF NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATIONS.
POLITICIANS.
RANK AND FILE TRADE UNION
ACTIVISTS.
AN ARCHIVE WHERE YOU CAN LEARN
ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE
CAMPAIGNS.
ONE OF THE REASONS WE WANTED TO
MAKE SURE WE DID THAT IS
BECAUSE I THINK THIS WAS
ANOTHER CAMPAIGN THAT WAS AN
INTERSECTIONAL MOMENT.
IT IS AN INSTANCE WHERE MANY OF
THE UNIONS THAT WERE INVOLVED
DIDN'T HOPE TO ORGANIZE WORKERS
AT THE AIRPORT FOR EXAMPLE.
BUT, ESSENTIALLY WOUND UP
LEGISLATING A UNION CONTRACT SO
THAT PEOPLE COULD BENEFIT AND
IT WASN'T JUST MINIMUM WAGE.
IT IS SIX DAYS AND WHERE A
VENDOR WENT OUT OF BUSINESS IN
THE AIRPORT, THEY WOULD HAVE TO
GET UNION STAFF AGAIN.
YOU CAN'T HIRE A BUNCH OF
WORKERS WITHOUT GIVING PEOPLE
THE OPTION TO WORK FULL TIME IF
THEY WANTED TO.
IT PLAYED OUT DIFFERENTLY IN
SEATTLE.
AND UNDERSTANDING THE
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SEATTLE AND
SEATAC IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE
THEY WERE RELATED BUT DIFFERENT
CAMPAIGNS AND THIS IS WHERE WE
GET THE PHRASE 15 NOW.
IT LEADS THE WAY IN THE ERA OF
THE GENERAL STRIKE.
THIS IS WHAT THE WEB ARCHIVE
LOOKS LIKE.
ALL OF THESE ARE ALSO
TRANSCRIBED.
I WOULD INVITE YOU TO TAKE A
LOOK AT THE DIGITAL COLLECTIONS
PORTAL WHICH HAS TOPICAL CHUNKS
RELATED TO THE STRIKE THE
CANNERY WORKERS UNION.
OUR DIGITAL COLLECTIONS PORTAL,
AS WELL AS THIS ORAL HISTORY
PROJECT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE
ABOUT THIS.
>> EXCELLENT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I AM VERY, VERY HAPPY THAT YOU
WERE ABLE TO GIVE US THIS
CONTEXT.
THERE'S A FEW SLIDES WE HAD AN
EARLIER PRESENTATION AS WELL I
WONDER IF YOU CAN COMMENT ON
BEFORE WE OPEN IT UP TO OUR
ELECTED LEADERS AT THE LABOR
MOVEMENT HERE LOCALLY.
COULD YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT THE FARM WORKER MOVEMENT?
THE CANNERY WORKERS AND SOME
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE WTO
EFFORTS AS WELL.
WE ARE JUST GOING TO PULL UP
THE PRESENTATION.
>> YOU EXPECT ME TO REMEMBER?
>> AS CONNOR WAS TALKING ABOUT,
THE WONDERFUL SLIDE THAT SHOWS
THE LINKAGE TOWARD SO MANY
ORGANIZATIONS AND MOVEMENTS IN
THE 60S AND THE 70s , IT IS
REALLY QUITE REMARKABLE.
MOST CITIES, THE DIFFERENT
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR DIDN'T
OPERATE THE SAME WAY THEY DID
HERE AND ORGANIZED LABOR IN
MANY CITIES WAS OPPOSITIONAL.
AND, AS IT WAS HERE, THE
CONSTRUCTION TRADES WERE
BLOCKING ACCESS FOR APPRENTICES
OF COLOR.
SO MUCH OF WHAT WAS GOING ON
INVOLVED THESE WONDERFUL
ALLIANCES.
, THE UNITED FARM WORKERS WAS
BORN AND BASED IN CALIFORNIA.
LINKED UP TO UFW.
THEY WEREN'T OFFICIALLY PART OF
UFW.
THEY SET UP FARM WORKER CO-OPS
AND ORGANIZED A STRIKE IN I
THINK IT WAS 1971?
AND, THE UFW IN TURN WAS
CONNECTED TO THE CHICANO
MOVEMENT ORGANIZING IN SEATTLE
AND THE UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON CAMPUS.
SO, THE YOUNG PEOPLE FROM THE
VALLEY WERE GOING TO CLASSES AT
UW AND THEN ORGANIZING IN THE
COMMUNITY HERE AS WELL AS GOING
BACK AND FORTH TO CREATE A
QUITE VIBRANT MOVEMENT IN A
STATE THAT HAD A TINY LATINO
POPULATION.
WASHINGTON GAINED AN IMPORTANT
REPUTATION FOR THIS KIND OF
ACTIVISM.
THE LAWYERS AT THE UCWA WERE
LINKED PRETTY TIGHTLY WITH UFW.
AND THEN ALSO WITH CANNERY
WORKERS.
SO IT IS REALLY THIS VIBRANT
AND EXCITING MULTIRACIAL LEFT
WING ACTIVISM IN THE LATE 60s
AND EARLY 70s.
>> I SPEAK TO THE RECORD?
IT WAS VERY CLEAR WHEN WE
STARTED THAT THERE WASN'T
HISTORY OF THE FARM WORKER'S
MOVEMENT AT THE UW SPECIAL
COLLECTIONS AND WHEN YOU KNOW
THERE IS IMPORTANT HISTORY OUT
THERE, AND THE COLLECTIONS
DON'T LOOK LIKE THE COMMUNITIES
YOU ARE TRYING TO REPRESENT,
THAT'S A SIGNIFICANT GAP YOU
HAVE THE TRY TO ADDRESS.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE DONE
IS BROUGHT IN COLLECTION OF
FARM WORKER ACTIVISM FROM 1997
TO 1995 CAMPAIGN AT CONTRACT
SAN MICHELLE.
>> ONLY UNIONIZED WINE AT
WASHINGTON STATE.
>> AND, THE CHIEF ORGANIZER IN
THAT CAMPAIGN DONATED HER
PAPERS SEVERAL YEARS AGO.
WE HAVE HER COLLECTION WHICH
RELATE TO THAT AND WE DIGITIZED
A LOT AND WE BROUGHT IN THE
RECORDS OF THE SKAGIT COUNTY
FARM WORKER'S ORGANIZATION WHO
BOYCOTTED SACUMA BROTHER'S
BERRIES.
SO WE ARE WORKING TO BRING MORE
COLLECTIONS.
WE ARE ADDRESSING THE GAPS IN
THE HISTORY AND CONTINUE TO
BUILD THE COLLECTIONS SO WE CAN
UNDERSTAND IT BETTER.
AND WE CAN KEEP PARTNERING WITH
THEM TRYING TO BRING IN MORE
RECORDS.
>> EXCELLENT.
AND TWO SLIDES AHEAD.
WE WILL GET TO THE SLIDE ON THE
CANNERY WORKERS.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD ANY
ADDITIONAL CONTEXT TO THE
COMMENTS YOU MADE, I KNOW THEY
ARE PART OF YOUR COUNCIL.
AND COUNCILMEMBER BAGSHAW TEED
UP SOMETHING.
>> SURE, YOU MIGHT REMEMBER THE
ALASKA CANNERY WORKERS
ASSOCIATION.
THESE TWO REFORM ACTIVISTS,
DOMINGO AND VIERNE SEATTLE
GENERAL WERE STUDENT ACTIVISTS
WHO CREATED THAT ORGANIZATION
TO BE AN ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION.
BUT THEY CREATED A RANK AND
FILE COMMITTEE THAT TAKES OVER
OFFICE REINVIGORATING THE
LEFTIST.
SOME OF THE STRIDENT ADD
ADVOCACY HAD BEEN A LITTLE
DEPLETED BECAUSE OF THE PURGES
OF THE COLD WAR.
THEY BROUGHT THE KIND OF
ENTHUSIASM AND ENERGY OF THE
NEW LEFT AS WELL AS THE ASIAN
AMERICAN RIGHTS MOVEMENT INTO
THE UNION.
THERE IS SORT OF A DEPOSED
GROUP OF UNION OFFICERS
INCLUDING THIS GUY NAMED TONY
BARUSO WHO IS THE HEAD OF THE
UNION WHO IS CONNECTED TO LOCAL
THUGS AND VICE AND GAMBLING
RACKET THAT IS GOING ON.
AND HE IS ALSO FRIENDS WITH
MARCOS.
THE DICTATOR OF THE PHILIPPINES
WHO WAS STRONGLY ANTILABOR AND
ANTIRADICAL.
NOW, DOMINGO AND VIERNES ARE
ALSO LEADERS IN THE KDP WHICH
IS A FILIPINO AMERICAN
ORGANIZATION TRYING TO ADVOCATE
FOR THE DEPOSING MARCOS.
ONE OF THE THINGS THEY DO IS
BRING TO THEM, LONG SHORE
UNION.
WHICH IS A PROGRESSIVE UNION
WITH A LONG HISTORY OF MILITANT
LABOR AND A LONG HISTORY OF
TAKING STANDS AGAINST
DICTATORSHIPS, REFUSING TO LOAD
SCRAP IRON DURING WORLD WAR II
OR LEADING UP TO WORLD WAR II
TO WARTIME JAPAN BECAUSE THEY
KNOW IT WILL COME BACK AS
BOMBS.
THEY REFUSE TO DO IT IN SOME
INSTANCES.
THEY DECIDE TO SEE IF THEY CAN
GET THE INTERNATIONAL UNION TO
REFUSE TO LOAD CARGO ON THE
WEST COAST WHICH WOULD HAVE
BEEN DISASTROUS FOR THE
PHILIPPINES AND HIS REGIME.
HE WINDS UP PAYING, IN CAHOOTS
WITH BARUSO, SOMEBODY TO
ASSASSINATE THEM.
SO HE KILLS THEM IN THEIR
PIONEER SQUARE OFFICE IN 1981.
THROUGH A LONG, CONVOLUTED
INVESTIGATION, IT IS PROVEN
HE'S THE ONE WHO DEAD IT AND
THAT MARCOS WAS THE ONE WHO WAS
RESPONSIBLE.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME A
FOREIGN DICTATOR IS FOUND
CRIMINALLY CULPABLE IN A U.S.
COURT OF LAW.
THIS HAPPENS IN THE 90s . AND
EVENTUALLY, MARCOS IS ALREADY
DEAD AT THIS POINT.
THE ESTATE IS HELD RESPONSIBLE
FOR IT.
SO THIS IS PART OF THE
COLLECTIONS WE HAVE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER BAGSHAW?
>> AT THIS POINT, TO SAY IT IS
NOT FULLY BAKED IS AN
UNDERSTATEMENT.
BUT I HAVE AN IDEA AND A
PROPOSAL THAT COULD BUILD ON
THIS.
DOWN ON THE OTHER HAND SECOND
AND MAIN IS THE OLD CANNERY
BUILDING AND IT HAS BEEN LEFT
TO JUST FALL APART THE LAST 30
YEARS.
I RECENTLY TALKED WITH THE
OWNER OF THAT BUILDING.
HIS NAME IS RON AMONSON.
HE IS INTERESTED IN BUILDING.
WE REZONED SO IT CAN GO UP TO
100 FEET.
THE IDEA OF HAVING AFFORDABLE
HOUSING FOR PEOPLE WHETHER IT
IS STUDIOS OR ONE BEDROOMS.
OF COURSE, IF YOU COULD MAKE IT
MULTIFAMILY, FABULOUS.
BUT, IN THE MEANTIME, IT'S A
QUARTER OF A BLOCK SO IT IS NOT
A BIG PARCEL OF PROPERTY.
BUT MY OBJECTIVE AND HE SAID
THAT HE WOULD BE INTERESTED IN
WORKING WITH US TO REALLY
HIGHLIGHT WHAT HAPPENED AT THAT
SITE.
AND, TO BE ABLE TO ACKNOWLEDGE
THE MURDERS BUT THE VALUE OF
THE CANNERY WORKERS, HE THE
TALKING ABOUT PHOTOGRAPHS.
I THINK I'M TALKING A LITTLE
BIT MOREMENT BUT, THE IDEA THAT
WE ALL COULD WORK TOGETHER IN A
WAY THAT COULD GET THAT
REBUILT, THERE ARE A COUPLE OF
PROBLEMS WITH IT RIGHT NOW.
FIRST OF ALL, IT IS 30 YEARS
OLD AND IT IS FALLING APART.
BUT, WE HAVE RECEIVED WORD THE
FIRE DEPARTMENT IS SAYING IT'S
A DANGEROUS BUILDING.
WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING.
PIONEER SQUARE ASSOCIATION IS
COMMITTED TO MAKING SURE IT IS
DONE IN A WAY THAT BLENDS IN
WITH PIONEER SQUARE.
SO YOU CAN'T JUST MOW IT DOWN
AND PUT UP A PARKING LOT.
WE WANT TO REBUILD.
THE MAJOR PROBLEM I HAVE GOT IS
AROUND HISTORICAL PRESERVATION.
THERE ARE TWO WALLS OF THIS
BUILDING REMAINING.
THE REST OF IT IS COLLAPSED.
BUT THERE ARE SOME THAT SAY WE
HAVE TO PRESERVE THE WALLS.
OUR OWNER CURRENTLY IS TELLING
ME IT IS WAY TOO EXPENSIVE TO
DO THAT.
SO, I'M WORKING THE PROBLEM
RIGHT NOW, BUT I JUST WANT TO
BRING THIS TO YOUR ATTENTION.
HOW GREAT IT COULD BE TO BE
ABLE TO HAVE AT THAT SITE
SOMETHING THAT REALLY
ACKNOWLEDGES THE HISTORY HERE.
AND, PROVIDES AFFORDABLE
HOUSING IN A CONNECTION THAT IS
SO CLOSE TO LIGHT RAIL AND
TRANSIT.
SO, THAT'S MY PITCH.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE IT'S GOING
YET.
I JUST WANT TO BRING IT TO YOUR
ATTENTION.
I THINK THERE IS SOME
OPPORTUNITIES.
>> I LOVE THAT.
AND IT'S A GOOD WAY TO HONOR
LABOR HISTORY AS WE THINK ABOUT
HOW HE HOUSE FOLKS IN RESPONSE
OF TODAY'S NEEDS.
SPEAKING OF WORKER'S TODAY,
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I THINK WE WILL TRANSITION TO
THE PRESENT DAY LABOR
PRESENTATION.
THAT CONTEXT IS SO VERY
HELPFUL.
VERY EXCITED TO HAVE THE NEWLY
ELECTED PRESIDENT LARRY BROWN
AND EXECUTIVE SECRETARY NICOLE
GRANT WITH US TO GIVE US A
FLAVOR OF THE STATE OF LABOR
AND WE REALLY WANT TO DO THIS
EVERY YEAR AT THE BEGINNING OF
THE YEAR TO HONOR THE WORKERS
WHO MAKE THE CITY RUN.
SO, PRESIDENT BROWN, WHY DON'T
YOU GIVE US AN UPDATE ON THE OF
LABOR AND WELCOME.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH
COUNCILMEMBER, CHAIRPERSON
MOSQUEDA.
AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THE
HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE WHEN YOU
ARE NAVIGATING A BOAT, YOU HAVE
TO LOOK BEHIND YOU TO KNOW THE
DIRECTION YOU ARE TRAVELING.
BUT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE
FUTURE AND WHERE WE ARE TODAY.
AS PRESIDENT OF WASHINGTON
STATE LABOR COUNCIL, I
REPRESENT THE LARGEST LABOR
ORGANIZATION IN WASHINGTON
STATE.
WITH MORE THAN 600 LABOR UNION
ORGANIZATIONS.
AND, APPROXIMATELY 550,000
UNIONIZED WORKERS UNDER THE
WASHINGTON STATE LABOR COUNCIL.
100 YEARS AFTER WHAT HAS BEEN
CALLED LABOR'S MOST SPECTACULAR
REVOLT, I'M HERE TO REPORT THAT
UNIONS IN SEATTLE AND ACROSS
WASHINGTON STATE ARE STRONG AND
GETTING STRONGER.
OUR STATE IS BUCKING NATIONAL
TRENDS.
AND, MORE AND MORE WORKING
PEOPLE ARE SEEING THE REAL
VALUE OF JOINING TOGETHER IN
UNIONS.
THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
REPORTS THE NUMBER OF UNION
MEMBERS IN WASHINGTON STATE
GREW BY MORE THAN $65,000.
EXCUSE ME, 65,000 MEMBERS LAST
YEAR.
THAT IS MORE THAN A 10%
INCREASE.
THERE ARE NOW AN ESTIMATED
649,000 UNION MEMBERS HERE IN
THE STATE.
WHICH REPRESENTS ALMOST 20%.
19.8% OF THE STATE'S WORK
FORCE.
THAT MAKES US NUMBER THREE IN
THE NATION FOR UNION DENSITY
RIGHT BEHIND HAWAII AND NEW
YORK.
THIS IS GREAT NEWS FOR UNION
MEMBERS.
A REPORT FOUND THAT UNION WAGES
ARE 22% HIGHER THAN NONUNION
WAGES.
FOR EXAMPLE, FULL TIME UNION
MEMBERS MAKE MORE THAN $54,000
PER YEAR ON AVERAGE HERE IN
WASHINGTON STATE.
WHICH IS ABOUT 10,000 MORE THAN
NONUNION WORKERS.
THAT'S THE POWER OF JOINING
TOGETHER WITH YOUR COWORKERS TO
NEGOTIATE A FAIR RETURN FOR THE
WORK YOU PROVIDE.
AND THAT'S THE POWER OF
SOLIDARITY.
WHEN ORGANIZED WORKERS ARE FED
UP WITH UNFAIR TREATMENT AS
THEY DID IN 1919, OR LOW PAY,
THEY CAN WALK OFF THE JOB, JUST
LIKE THEY DID 100 YEARS AGO.
IN THE PAST YEAR, PUBLIC
SCHOOLTEACHERS AND SUPPORT
STAFF ACROSS THE STATE, HEAVY
CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT
OPERATORS IN WESTERN WASHINGTON
AND SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS IN
SEATTLE HAVE ALL GONE ON
STRIKE.
AND ALL OF THEM HAVE ACHIEVED
IMPORTANT GAINS.
IN MANY OTHER CASES AS WELL AS
THE WESTON HOTEL WORKERS, THE
WASHINGTON ACADEMIC STUDENT
EMPLOYEES AND AMR'S EMERGENCY
MEDICAL TECHNICIANS, THE VERY
THREAT OF A STRIKE HELPED TO
WIN GOOD CONTRACTS WITH WAGE
INCREASES AND BETTER BENEFITS.
THE TRUTH IS, THE INCREASE IN
WASHINGTON'S UNION MEMBERSHIP
IS GREAT NEWS FOR ALL WORKERS.
BECAUSE, WE KNOW THAT UNION AND
NONUNION BENEFIT.
WE FIGHT FOR AND WIN LABOR
STANDARDS AND PROTECTIONS THAT
BENEFIT EVERYONE JUST AS WE DID
IN SEATTLE.
IN THE LAST FEW YEARS.
WASHINGTON'S LABOR MOVEMENT LED
THE CHARGE FOR RAISING THE
STATE'S MINIMUM WAGE.
ALLOWING ALL WORKERS TO EARN
PAID SICK LEAVE, AND HISTORIC
NEW FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE
BENEFITS TO NAME A FEW.
THE NATIONAL FIGHT FOR 15.
ORIGINATED RIGHT HERE IN SEATAC
AND SEATTLE.
UNIONS AND ADVOCATES FOR
QUALITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS,
AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE FOR ALL,
AND WORK FORCE TRAINING AND
DEVELOPMENT.
THE SAFETY NETS FOR WORKERS ON
THE JOB.
AND LAID OFF WORKERS THROUGH NO
FAULT OF THEIR OWN.
WE PARTNERED WITH COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS TO FIGHT FOR
IMMIGRATION RIGHTS.
RACIAL JUSTICE AND
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS.
AND AGAINST DISCRIMINATION OF
ALL KINDS.
WHAT'S REMARKABLE, THOUGH, IS
THAT UNIONS IN WASHINGTON STATE
HAVE ACHIEVED THESE GAINS
DESPITE STRONG NATIONAL HEAD
WINDS.
WEAK AND OUTDATED FEDERAL LABOR
LAWS MAKE IT WAY TOO HARD FOR
WORKERS TO JOIN A UNION IN THIS
COUNTRY.
A MULTIBILLION DOLLARSDOWNON
AVOIDANCE INDUSTRY ADVISES
CORPORATIONS TO FLOUT OR IGNORE
LAWS INTENDED TO PROTECT THE
FREEDOM TO CHOOSE THE UNION.
THEY DO SO BECAUSE THE
PENALTIES FOR BREAKING THESE
LAWS ARE FAR CHEAPER THAN
HAVING TO RAISE THE WAGES OR
BENEFITS.
AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL, UNION
MEMBERSHIP HAS DROPPED THE LAST
FEW DECADES AND THAT DECLINE
PRECISELY MIRRORS THE STEADY
DECLINE IN AMERICAN MIDDLE
CLASS.
WEALTH INEQUALITY IS AT A LEVEL
NOT SEEN SINCE THE GUILDED AGE.
GALLOP APPROVAL RATINGS OF
UNIONS HAVE RISEN 62%.
WHILE JUST 30% DISAPPROVE.
ABOUT HALF OF THE NONUNION
WORKERS SURVEYED SAY THAT THEY
WOULD JOIN A UNION RIGHT NOW IF
THEY COULD.
WHICH IS SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER
THAN IT WAS JUST A MERE COUPLE
OF DECADES AGO.
BUT CONSERVATIVE POLITICIANS
WITH THEIR CAMPAIGNS,
BANKROLLED BY BILLIONAIRE
INDUSTRIALISTS LIKE THE KOCH
BROTHERS, HAVE SUCCEEDED IN
DISCOURAGING UNIONIZATION
THROUGH SO-CALLED RIGHT TO WORK
LAWS AND THE CONSERVATIVE
MAJORITY IN THE U.S. SUPREME
COURT CONTINUES TO ISSUE ANTI-
UNION DECISIONS.
AFTER LAST YEAR'S JANICE
DECISION FORCING PUBLIC
EMPLOYEE UNIONS TO PROVIDE
SERVICES TO NONUNION MEMBERS
FOR FREE, MANY WERE PREDICTING
THE END OF ORGANIZED LABOR.
NOT SO.
BUT, INSTEAD, HERE IN
WASHINGTON, WE ARE GROWING.
WE HAVE DOUBLED DOWN ON
INTERNAL ORGANIZING.
WE REENGAGED OUR MEMBERS TO
MAKE SURE THEY UNDERSTAND THE
IMPORTANCE OF STICKING
TOGETHER.
AND KEEPING THEIR UNIONS
STRONG.
AND I THINK OUR MEMBERSHIP
GROWTH IN WASHINGTON SHOWS HA
WE ARE SUCCEEDING AT THAT.
SO 100 YEARS LATER IN SEATTLE
AND THROUGHOUT WASHINGTON, THE
STRUGGLE CONTINUES FOR THE
WORKING CLASS TO GET A GREATER
SHARE OF THE WEALTH THEY
CREATE.
AND DESPITE SERIOUS HEAD WINDS,
OUR STATE'S UNIONS ARE WINNING
IMPORTANT VICTORIES FOR THE
PEOPLE OF OUR STATE.
THANK YOU.
>> CAN I ASK YOU A QUESTION
LARRY?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> I'M GLAD YOU BROUGHT UP THE
JANICE CASE.
ARE YOU SAYING THAT HASN'T
IMPACTED OR WHAT HAS BEEN THE
RESPONSE OF UNIONS?
THEN THIS JANICE THING WAS
ANOTHER BLOW.
IS IT TOO EARLY TO TELL WHAT
THE IMPACT WOULD BE?
>> I BELIEVE THE EVIDENCE SO
FAR SINCE THE JANICE DECISION
HAS PROVEN THAT OUR UNIONS ARE
FULLY ENGAGING WITH THE
MEMBERS.
OUR PUBLIC SECTOR UNIONS TO
CREATE A STRONGER RELATIONSHIP.
I DO BELIEVE IT COMES AT A COST
DOING THE COMMUNITY WORK THAT
RESOURCES ARE BEING DEVOTED TO
THIS REENGAGEMENT WITH MEMBERS.
WE WILL SEE IN THE LONG RUN.
WE WILL CONTINUE THE WORK IN
THE COMMUNITY WITH
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE.
BUT WE ARE FULLY ENGAGING OUR
MEMBERS IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR.
>> YOU HAVEN'T SEEN A MASS
EXODUS OF CITY EMPLOYEES
LEAVING.
>> THAT IS EXACTLY THE CASE.
OUR MEMBERS ARE STICKING WITH
THE UNION AND OUR UNIONS ARE
STICKING WITH THEIR MEMBERS.
>> IT HAS BEEN A PLEASURE.
I WAS DRAFTING IT.
IT BECAME A MODEL AND I JUST
WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE WHAT GREAT
PARTNERS THAT OUR LABOR FRIENDS
HAVE BEEN.
AND, I'M SO APPRECIATIVE.
ANY TIME YOU OR NICOLE OR DAVE
STOOD UP.
YOU WERE STRONG REPRESENTING
YOUR MEMBERS AND HELPING TO
SOLVE PROBLEMS IN WAYS THAT
MADE THINGS HAPPEN.
I JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE
THAT.
THAT ALL OF THE WORKERS, THE
WOMEN AND MEN WHO WORKED ON THE
TUNNEL AS AN EXAMPLE, THE
SEAWALL.
OFTENTIMES THEY DIDN'T GET THE
R RECOGNITION THEY DESERVED.
BECAUSE YOU HELPED AND STEERED,
WE MADE AMAZING PROGRESS WITH
CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS THAT
COULD HAVE BEEN DELAYED FOR
YEARS BUT WEREN'T YEARS.
HOW CRITICAL THAT IS.
I WAS SPEAKING TO A WOMAN
YESTERDAY WHO WAS OFFERING
PREAPPRENTICESHIP TRAINING AT
ONE OF HER PROGRAMS SO IT IS
GETTING PEOPLE THROUGH HIGH
SCHOOL.
BUT, WITH THE VOCATIONAL FOCUS
THEY HAVE THE MATH SKILLS THAT
THEY NEED TO ACTUALLY JOIN A
TRADE.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU.
FOR YOUR FRIENDSHIP AND YOUR
PARTNERSHIP.
>> THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER.
I JUST HAVE TO SAY THAT ONE OF
THE GREAT VALUES THAT OUR
UNIONS BRING EVERY DAY IS THAT
FOCUS ON WORK FORCE TRAINING,
EXCELLENCE, HIGH QUALITY
STANDARDS THAT MAKE UNIONS AND
THE WORK THEY DO STAND APART.
>> UH-HUH.
EXCELLENT.
AND, WELCOME EXECUTIVE
SECRETARY TREASURER NICOLE
GRANT.
GOOD TO SEE YOU.
THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING US WITH
THE STATE OF LABOR IN SEATTLE.
>> YES.
AND I WANT TO USE THIS
OPPORTUNITY OF BEING AT THE 100
YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE 1919
SEATTLE GENERAL STRIKE TO TALK
A LITTLE BIT ABOUT STRIKES IN
THE MODERN SENSE.
AND OUR MODERN SEATTLE KING
COUNTY ECONOMY AND JUST TALK A
LITTLE BIT ABOUT UNIONS AND THE
WORKER POWER MOVEMENT IN THE
SEATTLE KING COUNTY TODAY.
SO, I THINK I WILL START
TALKING A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
STRIKES THAT WE HAVE SEEN IN
OUR AREA.
IN THE LAST FEW YEARS.
BECAUSE I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE
THESE WORKERS.
IT IS THE BIGGEST SACRIFICE
THAT A WORKER CAN MAKE.
I MEAN, BESIDES PERHAPS THE
SACRIFICE OF THEIR LIFE THAT
TOO MANY WORKERS MAKE IN
WASHINGTON STATE EVERY YEAR,
BUT IN TERMS OF CONSCIOUSLY,
KNOWINGLY, TAKING A RISK TO
YOUR EMPLOYMENT.
AND, YOUR STANDING AND YOUR
CAREER IS A PRETTY BRAVE MOVE.
SO I WANTED TO JUST NAME SOME
OF THE UNIONS AND WORKERS THAT
HAVE DONE THAT.
RECENTLY.
AS LARRY MENTIONED, THERE IS AN
UNPRECEDENTED CONSTRUCTION BOOM
HAPPENING AS OUR ECONOMY BROAD
BY BOOMS IN KING COUNTY.
BOTH THE CEMENT TRUCK DRIVERS
AND I THE HEAVY EQUIPMENT
OPERATORS IN THE LAST YEAR HAVE
GONE ON STRIKE FOR BETTER
WORKING CONDITIONS.
BETTER SAFETY.
AND, TO HAVE A REAL PIECE OF
THE ECONOMIC PIE TO STAKE THEIR
CLAIM THAT WE ARE THE ONES WHO
BUILD THESE BUILDINGS.
MATERIALLY.
HOURLY.
WITH THEIR BODIES.
AT THE EXPENSE OF THEIR BODIES
SO THAT WE CAN HAVE THINGS LIKE
SKYSCRAPERS.
FULL OF PROFITABLE COMPANIES
THAT HIRE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE
SO THAT WE CAN HAVE, YOU KNOW,
BRILLIANT INFRASTRUCTURE AND
BIG RECREATIONAL FACILITIES
THAT DON'T ERUPT FROM THE EARTH
LIKE MUSHROOMS.
THEY ARE BUILT.
AND THOSE WERE THE WORKERS FROM
TEAMSTERS 174 OPERATING
ENGINEERS LOCAL 302.
AND, IN BOTH CASES, THOSE
WORKERS TOOK TREMENDOUS RISK.
BECAUSE, THEY ARE AT WILL.
YOU KNOW.
A CONSTRUCTION COMPANY CAN DROP
ANYBODY THEY WANT WHEN EVER
THEY WANT.
BECAUSE YOU DON'T GET PAID WHEN
YOU ARE ON STRIKE.
EVERYBODY HAS A MORTGAGE.
AND, IF THEY ARE LUCKY, THEY
ALSO HAVE TUITION PAYMENTS FOR
THEIR KIDS GOING TO COLLEGE.
ANOTHER WORK FORCE THAT I WOULD
LIKE TO ACKNOWLEGE IS THE PINK
COLLAR WORKERS IN THE INSURANCE
INDUSTRY.
COUNCILWOMAN TERESA MOSQUEDA'S
UNION OPEIU LOCAL 8 WHICH IS A
LARGELY WOMAN MEMBERSHIP UNION
WENT ON STRIKE RECENTLY OVER
VERY LOW PAY.
AND, THREATS TO THEIR CONTROL
OVER THEIR DAY AND THEIR WORK
LIFE AT WPAS WHICH IS AN
INSURANCE ADMINISTRATOR IN
MERCER ISLAND.
THEY STRUCK FOR WEEKS.
THEY HAD TEN WORKERS FIRED BY
THE COMPANY IN REALUATION
RETALIATION FOR STRIKING.
AND THROUGH THEIR SOLIDARITY,
THEY WERE ABLE TO GET
IMPROVEMENTS IN THEIR CONTRACT.
AND, GET SOME JUSTICE FOR THE
WORKERS THAT RISKED IT.
>> WHO REPRESENTS THE TEACHERS
AT THE UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON?
>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
>> I HEARD ABOUT SOME
PROFESSORS STRIKING.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
SO, THERE IS A RECENTLY
APPROVED STRIKE SANCTION TO THE
STATE EMPLOYEE'S UNION, LOCAL
1488.
IT IS A UNION THAT REPRESENTS,
I WOULD SAY OVER A THOUSAND.
I DON'T WANT TO GET IT TOO
WRONG.
BUT OVER A THOUSAND WORKERS AT
THE UW THAT DO EVERYTHING FROM
JANITORIAL SERVICES TO PLUMBING
MAINTENANCE.
AND, THAT UNION ALONG WITH THE
LARGEST UNION HALT THE
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON SEIU
LOCAL 925, AND A PROMINENT
ACADEMIC UNION THAT I WAS GOING
TO MENTION BECAUSE THEY JUST
WENT ON STRIKE.
THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON IS
A UAU LOCAL 4121.
AND, THAT UNION LED A ONE-DAY
STRIKE IN THE UNIVERSITY OVER
THE SUMMER.
AND, IT WAS A SPECIAL STRIKE.
IT WAS A SPECIAL BARGAINING
SESSION BECAUSE THEY REALLY PUT
FORWARD THEIR MEMBERS' HUMAN
INTERESTS.
AND SO, IN ADDITION TO A WAGE
INCREASE TO RESPOND TO HOUSING
COSTS, THEY HAD A FIGHT TO STOP
SEXUAL ASSAULT AND HARASSMENT
OVER ACADEMIC WORKERS.
ACCELERATED DAME YEAH IN
ACADEMIA IS THE SECOND HIGHEST
SEXUAL ASSAULT IN THE ECONOMY
AN IT IS NOT A WELL-TOLD STORY.
IT BECAUSE IT IS NOT HOLLYWOOD
AND IT'S NOT POLITICS.
BUT, THEIR FEMALE MEMBERS OF
THE UNION HAD GRAPPLED VERY
SERIOUSLY WITH SEXUAL
HARASSMENT, ASSAULT, AND
DISCRIMINATION.
THAT WAS SOMEONE THEY STRIKED
OVER, TO START A TRAINING
PROGRAM TO STOP SEXUAL
HARASSMENT AND ASSAULT THAT
THEY WOULD CREATE AND
ADMINISTER.
>> THEY ALSO STRUCK FOR
TRANSGENDER WORKER HEALTH CARE.
THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
WAS BEING SLOW AND DIFFICULT
ABOUT GOOD INCLUSIVE HEALTH
CARE FOR TRANS WORKERS.
AND, THE LAST ISSUE WAS MENTAL
HEALTH ACCESS.
AS WE SEE AN INCREASE IN RATE
OF SUICIDE AND ADDICTION IN THE
UNITED STATES.
FOR A UNION TO STEP OUT AND
FIGHT FOR THEIR WORKER'S ACCESS
TO MENTAL HEALTH THERAPY IS
SOMETHING THAT WE ARE REALLY
GOING TO SEE CATCH ON.
IT WAS SOMETHING THEY STRUCK
OVER.
YEAH.
AND IN ADDITION, THE OTHER
STRIKES I WANT TO MENTION ARE
WORKERS THAT, YOU KNOW, ARE IN
A VERY PRECARIOUS SITUATION
BECAUSE OF THEIR, WELL,
BASICALLY, I WANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THE DRIVERS WHO
WERE TAXI DRIVERS.
AND ALSO, TNC DRIVERS AND THE
ACTIONS THEY TOOK AT SEATAC
AIRPORT LAST YEAR.
THERE ARE WORKERS THAT COME
FROM AFRICA, FROM SOUTH ASIA,
FROM THE MIDDLE EAST WHO ARE
DERIDED BY RACISM.
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED
STATES.
AND, THESE WORKERS OFTEN WORK
FOR A SUB MINIMUM WAGE.
AND, NATIONAL LABOR LAW ISN'T
ALWAYS SET UP TO PROTECT THEM
AND TEAMSTERS 117 AND THE APP
BASED DRIVERS ASSOCIATION ROSE
TO THE OCCASION WITH THEIR
MEMBERS AND SUPPORTED A WORK
STOPPAGE AT SEATAC TO FINALLY
BREAK A LOG JAM ABOUT WHAT
THEIR EXPERIENCE WAS GOING TO
BE LIKE AND HOW THE PORT OF
SEATTLE WOULD SUPPORT THEM IN
THEIR CAREERS.
SO, BETWEEN THESE DRIVERS, OUR
FIRST STUDENT BUS DRIVERS WHICH
IS A LARGELY WOMAN AND PEOPLE
OF COLOR LED UNION THAT WENT ON
STRIKE, OUR TUKWILA EDUCATION
ASSOCIATION, TACOMA, TEACHERS
AND EDUCATORS.
I THINK IT'S BEEN SEEN THAT
WORKERS ARE THE PRIMARY
PRODUCTIVE CREATIVE FORCE IN
OUR SOCIETY.
AND THERE LITERALLY ARE NO
BOEING AIRCRAFT.
THERE IS NO SHIPPING INDUSTRY.
THERE ARE NO ELECTRICIANS.
THERE IS NO DRIVING, NO SCHOOL,
NO HEALTH CARE, WITHOUT
WORKERS.
WHEN THEY RISK SO MUCH TO GO ON
STRIKE, WHAT THEY ARE PROVING
TO EVERY SINGLE WORKER WHETHER
THEY HAVE A UNION OR NOT IS THE
VALUE OF THEIR WORK AND THEIR
INTRINSIC POWER IN OUR SOCIETY
AS THE PERSON THAT PROVIDES ALL
OF THOSE VALUABLE SERVICES THAT
WE TAKE FOR GRANTED.
SO, THE LAST THING I WANT TO
SAY IS THAT IN 2019, IN
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, THAT
UNIONS ARE FOR EVERYBODY.
AND THAT WORKER POWER IS FOR
EVERYBODY.
SAND I WAN TO TAKE JUST MY
DEEPIST THANKS TO ALL OF THE
CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR THE
WORK THAT YOU HAVE DONE
SUPPORTING DOMESTIC WORKERS FOR
ORGANIZING FOR WORKER POWER.
FOR ALL YOU HAVE DONE FOR TNC
DRIVERS.
FOR ALL YOU HAVE DONE TO
SUPPORT PROJECT LABOR
AGREEMENTS AND LABOR HARMONY
AGREEMENTS AS OUR CITY GROWS.
TO SAY THAT AS WE COME UP, THAT
WORKERS WILL COME UP.
>> THANK YOU FOR EDUCATING ON
THOSE LABOR PEACE AGREEMENTS.
I APPRECIATE YOUR HELP AND YOUR
PHONE CALLS.
>> COMMUNITY WORK FORCE
AGREEMENTS.
THAT IS A CRITICAL ADDITION TO
ALL OF THE THINGS WE ARE DOING.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> MAKING SURE PEOPLE WHO
HAVEN'T HAD OPPORTUNITIES
BEFORE NOW HAVE OPPORTUNITIES.
SO, THANK YOU.
>> ANY OTHER COMMENTS?
THANK YOU BOTH SO MUCH FOR THE
STATE OF LABOR.
THANK YOU BOTH SO MUCH FOR THE
HISTORY OF LABOR.
WE DO HOPE THAT THIS ENTIRE
PRESENTATION MAKES IT INTO YOUR
ARCHIVES.
BECAUSE, WE THINK THIS IS AN
EXCELLENT WAY TO NOT ONLY
COMMEMORATE WHERE WE HAVE COME
FROM, BUT WHERE WE ARE HEADED
WITH UNIONS AND LABOR MOVEMENT
AND I LOVE THAT YOU ENDED WITH
A MESSAGE TO ALL WORKERS, LABOR
IS FOR EVERYONE AND UNIONS ARE
FOR EVERYONE.
THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH.
AND WE WILL MOVE ONTO OUR LAST
LINE OF BUSINESS WHICH IS HOW
WE WILL CONTINUE TO EXPAND
LABOR PROTECTIONS TO ALL
WORKERS INCLUDING THOSE WHO MAY
BE MISCLASSIFY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING
US.
>> WORK ON THAT FLOWCHART.
>>> IF YOU COULD READ INTO THE
RECORD ITEM NUMBER 6. AS WE DO
THAT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH DAN
FOR BEING WITH US.
DAN EDER IS AT THE TABLE AND
ANYONE ELSE, COUNCIL MEMBER
HERBOLD IS ALSO COMING HERE.
WE HAVE MARTY GARFUNKEL.
YOU ARE WELCOME TO COME UP.
>> AGENDA ITEM SIX.
RESOLUTION 31863 RELATED TO
MISCLASSIFICATION OF WORKERS AS
INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS WHEN
THEY SHOULD BE DESIGNATED AS
EMPLOYEES.
FOR BRIEFING, DISCUSSION, AND
POSSIBLE VOTE.
>> WELCOME, DAN.
>> THANK YOU.
DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF COUNCIL
CENTRAL STAFF, DAN EDER.
>> AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US
MARTY.
>> MARTY GARFUNKEL, OFFICE OF
LABORS.
>> AND WELCOME BACK
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
>> WE WANTED TO GIVE DAN A
CHANCE TO PRESENT THE
RESOLUTION.
COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD AND I
WERE TALKING AND SHE MENTIONED
HER DEEP DESIRE TO MAKE SURE WE
ADVANCE LABOR PROTECTIONS
ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE WHO MAYBE
MISCLASSIFIED.
AS WE KNOW, MISCLASSIFICATION
AS YOU HEARD EARLIER TODAY AND
THROUGHOUT THE LAST YEAR
AFFECTS MANY OF THE WORKERS IN
TRADITIONAL INDUSTRIES LIKE
HOME CARE WORKERS, JANITORS,
CONSTRUCTION, SERVICE.
IT IS AN ISSUE WE HAVE GRAPPLED
WITH IN THE GIG ECONOMY AS
WELL.
MANY WORKERS ARE
INAPPROPRIATELY CLASSIFIED AS
INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS THOUGH
THEY TRULY ARE EMPLOYEES AND WE
WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE
WORKERS COMPENSATION AND ARE
DUE TO RECEIVE SO THEY ARE
TRULY BEING CLASSIFIED
CORRECTLY AND NOT JUST BEING
CLASSIFIED AS INDEPENDENT
CONTRACTORS TO AVOID CERTAIN
TAXES.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT THERE ARE
CERTAIN WORKERS TRULY
INDEPENDENT.
WE HAVE HEARD FROM MANY OF THE
WORKERS WHO ARE DOMESTIC
WORKERS WHO STARTED THEIR OWN
BUSINESSES WITH MANY CLIENTS OF
THEIR OWN.
AND WORKERS SUCH AS RETAIL, I'M
SORRY, SUCH AS REAL ESTATE
AGENTS AND OTHERS WHO WE KNOW
ARE INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS
LIKE HAIRDRESSERS WHO OWN THEIR
BOOTH AND THEY HAVE TRUE
INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR
PARAMETERS AROUND THE TYPE OF
WORK THAT THEY DO.
SO, WHILE WE RECOGNIZE
INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS, WE
WILL ALWAYS HAVE A PLACE IN OUR
ECONOMY, WE ALSO WANT TO MAKE
SURE THOSE BEING MISCLASSIFIED
TRULY DO HAVE THE PROTECTIONS.
SO I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT
WE HAVE THIS CONVERSATION ABOUT
HOW TO LOOK AS THOSE
DISTINCTIONS AND RESPECT THAT
WORK AND ENSURE ALL WORKERS
HAVE ACCESS TO WORKER
PROTECTIONS.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, ANYTHING
ELSE TO SAY?
>> REAL QUICKLY.
I APPRECIATE YOU SAYING I
IDENTIFIED THIS EARLY IN YOUR
TERM AS A LEGACY ISSUE THAT WAS
IMPORTANT TO ME AS THE FORMER
CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE WITH
OVERSIGHT ON LABOR ISSUES.
I THINK AS THE GIG ECONOMY
PERMEATES MORE AND MORE
DIFFERENT TYPES OF JOBS, AND
MORE AND MORE PEOPLE TURN
TOWARD GIG ECONOMY EMPLOYMENT,
THIS IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT
AND I REALLY, IT'S ALMOST LIKE
WE PLANNED THISMENT I REALLY
APPRECIATE THAT WE ARE HEARING
THIS TODAY.
THE DAY WE HEARD ABOUT
SEATTLE'S HISTORY IN THE LABOR
STRUGGLE AND THE DAY WE
APPOINTED THE DOMESTIC WORKERS
ADVISORY BOARD.
THESE ISSUES ARE ALL
INTERCONNECTED BECAUSE WE DO
HAVE SUCH A STRONG LABOR
HISTORY AS BEING ON THE
VANGUARD OF LABOR RIGHTS.
AND, FAIR WORKING CONDITIONS.
AND, WHAT CONTINUOUSLY DISTURBS
ME IS THAT AS THE GIG ECONOMY
BECOMES LARGER AND LARGER, IT
ACTUALLY BECOMES A MODEL OF
WORK THAT IS DESIGNED TO
CIRCUMVENT ALL THE LAWS THAT WE
HAVE BEEN ON THE VANGUARD OF
GETTING PASSED.
SO I THINK THIS IS REALLY
IMPORTANT AND THERE IS A
CONVERSATION WITHIN LABOR ABOUT
HOW TO TACKLE THESE ISSUES.
DO WE DO LIKE WE HAVE DONE WITH
THE DOMESTIC WORKERS
LEGISLATION.
DO WE ATTACK IT INDUSTRY BY
INDUSTRY, OR DO WE TRY TO DEAL
WITH IT HOLISTICALLY AND ARGUE
THE MISCLASSIFICATION ARGUMENT
THAT MANY OF THESE PEOPLE THAT
ARE BEING CALLED CONTRACTORS
ARE ACTUALLY EMPLOYEES.
I THINK UNTIL WE HAVE A WAY TO
DEAL WITH IT HOLISTICALLY, IT
IS IMPORTANT WE DEAL WITH IT
INDUSTRY BY INDUSTRY.
AND, I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT
THE WORK THAT IS HAPPENING IN
THE STATE LEGISLATURE THIS
YEAR.
AND, I THINK OUR INTEREST IN
THIS ISSUE WILL I THINK WELL
RECEIVED IN THE CONVERSATIONS
GOING ON ANT THIS VERY ISSUE.
THANKS.
>> AND DIRECTOR GARFUNKEL, I
KNOW YOU ARE HERE FOR QUESTIONS
IF THERE ARE ANY.
DAN, WALK US THROUGH THE
RESOLUTION.
>> HAPPY TO DO THAT.
AS YOU HAVE JUST BEEN
DISCUSSING, RESOLUTION 31863 IS
RELATED TO MISCLASSIFICATIONS
OF SOME WORKERS AS INDEPENDENT
CONTRACTORS.
THE RESOLUTION INCLUDES SEVERAL
REQUESTS OF THE OFFICE OF LABOR
STANDARDS.
AND, OF THE LABOR STANDARDS
ADVISORY COMMISSION.
SPECIFICALLY, THE RESOLUTION
ESTABLISHES FOUR ASKS OF THE
OFFICE OF LABOR STANDARDS
FIRST.
ONE PROPOSED POLICY SOLUTIONS
TO HELP ADDRESS THE
MISCLASSIFICATION OF SOME
WORKERS.
TWO, DEVELOP ENFORCEMENT
STRATEGIES AND SUBJECT MATTER
EXPERTISE FOR MISCLASSIFICATION
INQUIRIES AND COMPLAINTS.
THREE, WORK WITH THE ADVISORY
FOR THE OUTREACH AND EDUCATION
STRATEGIES TO INFORM WORKERS
AND EMPLOYERS ABOUT PROPOSED
POLICY SOLUTIONS.
AND, FOUR, DEVELOP POTENTIAL
STRATEGIES TO MITIGATE ADVERSE
IMPACTS OF A RECENT SUPREME
COURT DECISION.
THE RESOLUTION ALSO REQUESTS
THAT THE LABOR STANDARDS
ADVISORY COMMISSION DEVELOP A
WORK PROGRAM ABOUT ISSUES
RELATED TO MISCLASSIFICATION.
AND FINALLY, THE RESOLUTION
REQUESTS THAT THE OFFICE OF
LABOR STANDARDS SUBMIT WRITTEN
SEMIANNUAL REPORTS AND
PRESENTATIONS MEMORIALIZING ITS
PROGRESS.
>> AND JUST, I THINK, AN
IMPORTANT CLARIFICATION, THE
FIRST REPORT IS NOT DUE UNTIL
THE THIRD QUARTER.
IS THAT CORRECT?
>> YES.
>> AND THAT WAS INTENTIONALLY
DESIGNED BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW
WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE
STATE LEGISLATURE THIS YEAR.
AND WE WANT THE WORK OF THE
OFFICE OF LABOR STANDARD TO BE
INFORMED BY WHAT HAPPENS IN THE
STATE LEGISLATURE THIS YEAR.
I WANT TO ADD THAT THIS
RESOLUTION WAS BROUGHT BACK IN
AUGUST.
AND FOLKS ARE EXCITED TO WORK
ON THE ISSUES.
>> AND DO YOU WANT TO TALK A
LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE AMENDMENT
AS WELL?
>> HAPPY TO DO THAT COUNCIL
MEMBER HERBOLD.
HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO HANDLE
IT?
>> IT IS PRETTY
STRAIGHTFORWARD.
IT IS STRIKING OUT THE CURRENT
SECTION 4 WHICH MAKES REFERENCE
TO A BODY OF WORK THAT WE ARE
SWITCHING OUT FOR A MORE
APPROPRIATE TASK IN THE NEW
SECTION 4. SO WE ARE TAKING OUT
LEGAL ANALYSIS OF WASHINGTON
STATE SUPREME COURT CASE
DECISION.
AND INSERTING A REVIEW OF A
STUDY THAT HAS BEEN -- THAT THE
WASHINGTON STATE LEGISLATURE
HAS CHARGED THE DEPARTMENT OF
COMMERCE IN DELIVERING IN JUNE.
AND THAT STUDY WAS THE RESULT
OF A GOVERNOR'S APPROPRIATION
IN THE BUDGET LAST YEAR.
AND IT IS FOCUSED ON ADDRESSING
THE QUESTION OF HOW MANY
INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS THERE
ARE.
AND WHAT THEIR NEEDS ARE.
>> AND COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD,
DO YOU HAVE EXTRA COPIES?
THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
>> I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR
WEIGHING IN.
>> THANK YOU.
>> ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS?
ANYTHING?
>> I HAVE A COUPLE.
>> PLEASE.
AND MAKE SURE THE LITTLE BUTTON
IS TURNED ON, ON YOUR
MICROPHONE.
>> MAY I JUST SAY I REALLY
APPRECIATE THE FOCUS TODAY ON
SEATTLE'S PROUD UNION HISTORY.
BEFORE COMING TO THE OFFICE OF
LABOR STANDARDS, I SPENT MY
ENTIRE CAREER IN THE UNION
MOVEMENT.
SO IT IS THRILLING TO ME TO SEE
THE TIME THAT OWE FOLKS DEVOTED
TO THIS.
I APPRECIATE THE ATTENTION.
AND THE LIGHT SHINED ON THIS
ISSUE.
I THINK IT IS A VERY SERIOUS
PROBLEM THAT AFFECTS MANY, MANY
WORKERS.
AS THE COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE
MENTIONED, PARTICULARLY WITH
THE GIG ECONOMY, IT IS AN
EXPLODING PROBLEM.
THE 20th CENTURY SAW A LOT OF
BLOOD, SWEAT, AND TEARS TRYING
TO CREATE A SAFETY NET AND
PROTECTIONS FOR WORKERS THAT
WAS BASED ON A PREMISE OF
EMPLOYMENT STATUS.
UNFORTUNATELY, THERE ARE MANY
EMPLOYERS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF
LEGAL LOOPHOLES TO RIP THE
SAFETY NET OUT FROM UNDER MANY,
MANY WORKERS.
THAT'S NOT ONLY UNFAIR TO
WORKERS, IT'S ALSO UNFAIR TO
EMPLOYERS WHO PLAY BY THE
RULES.
THE ONLY OTHER THING I WILL SAY
IS ELSAC IS ALREADY WORKING ON
THIS.
WE HAVE ALREADY BEEN WORKING ON
THIS.
WE HAVE A SUBCOMMITTEE OF ELSAC
ON MISCLASSIFICATION.
AND WE ARE LOOKING VERY CLOSELY
AND WATCHING VERY CLOSELY WHAT
IS HAPPENING AT THE STATE AND
I'M HOPEFUL THAT THE STATE WILL
TAKE ON THIS ISSUE.
LIKE MANY ISSUES YOU WANT TO
SEE STATEWIDE SOLUTIONS WHEN
POSSIBLE.
WE MAY HAVE TO TAKE IT UP HERE.
THE PROBLEM IS THE TESTS
CURRENTLY USED GIVE GREAT
OPPORTUNITY FOR MISCHIEF.
BECAUSE THEY ARE EXTREMELY
DIFFICULT TO APPLY.
THEY CAUSE CONFUSION.
IT IS DIFFICULT FOR EMPLOYEES
AND EMPLOYERS SOMETIMES TO KNOW
WHETHER A PARTICULAR PERSON IS
AN EMPLOYEE OR AN INDEPENDENT
CONTRACTOR.
BECAUSE, THE TEST IS A
MULTIFACTORRED TEST.
NO ONE FACTOR IS MORE IMPORTANT
THAN ANY OTHER FACTOR.
THE COURTS HAVE STRUGGLED WITH
THOSE TESTS.
THE STATE EFFORT RIGHT NOW IS
AN ATTEMPT TO SIMPLIFY WHICH WE
WOULD WELCOME.
>> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ.
>> I WANT TO ASK YOU A
QUESTION.
THANK YOU.
I KNOW YOU DID A LOT OF WORK
BEFORE YOU SHOWED UP AT CITY
GOVERNMENT.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT
MISCLASSIFICATION, WHAT ARE THE
GROSSEST EXAMPLES IN THE 21st
CENTURY?
JUST A FEW SO WE CAN FRAME THE
NARRATIVE MOVING FORWARD: I
KNOW PEOPLE GO ON AND ON ABOUT
THE GIG ECONOMY.
WHAT IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF THAT?
>> EVEN WITHOUT THE GIG
ECONOMY, A BIG AREA IS DELIVERY
DRIVERS.
I SPENT TEN YEARS WORKING ON A
LAWSUIT AGAINST FEDEX.
AND FEDEX HAS A VERY
SOPHISTICATED SYSTEM I WOULD
SAY OF MISCLASSIFICATION.
THERE ARE MANY COURT CASES THAT
HAVE FOUND THAT NOW, AFTER MANY
YEARS, THAT FEDEX MISCLASSIFIED
ITS WORKERS.
>> THESE ARE FOLKS WHO DRIVER
DELIVERY TRUCKS.
THEY ARE REQUIRED TO OWN THE
TRUCK.
THEY ARE REQUIRED TO CARRY
THEIR OWN HEALTH INSURANCE.
THEY ARE PAID ON A PEACE RATE
BASIS.
THEY CANNOT DO OTHER WORK WHEN
PERFORMING SERVICES FOR THEIR
EMPLOYER.
AND, THEY ARE CALLED
INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS.
SO, THEY DON'T HAVE WORKER'S
COMP.
THEY DON'T HAVE THE WHOLE ARRAY
OF THE SOCIAL INSURANCE.
>> IS THAT ALSO WHAT WE SAW ON
THE TECH SIDE?
WHEN THEY WERE NOT CLASSIFIED
AS WORKER, NOT GIVEN SICK LEAVE
OR OTHER PRODUCTIONS?
>> ALL OF OUR WORKER PROTECTION
LAWS ASSUME EMPLOYMENT STATUS.
THAT'S WHY IT IS VERY ADVANCED
IN LOOKING AT WORK.
THE FUNCTIONS PERFORMED AS
OPPOSED TO EMPLOYMENT STATUS.
WE ARE SAYING ALL LAW THAT YOU
ALL PASS SAYS IF YOU PERFORM A
CERTAIN TYPE OF WORK, YOU
SHOULD GET THE MINIMUM WAGE.
AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY
ABOUT THE EMPLOYMENT STATUS.
ONE OF A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT
WAYS THAT POLICYMAKERS HAVE
ATTEMPTED TO CONFRONT THE
PROBLEM.
>> SO WHAT ARE WE CONFRONTED
WITH NOW WHEN YOU SAY THERE ARE
EMPLOYERS WHO HAVE BEEN VERY
GOOD AT FINDING LOOPHOLES?
>> THE STATE WON EFFORT IS WHAT
IS BEING CONSIDERED AT THE
STATE LEGISLATURE.
THERE'S QUITE A FEW STATES WITH
IF ABC TEST.
IT IS A PRESAGES OF EMPLOYMENT
STATUS WITH A MUCH MORE
SIMPLIFIED TEST OF WHAT THE
EMPLOYER MUST SHOW.
IT PUTS THE SHOE ON THE FOOT,
WE ASSUME THESE FOLKS ARE
EMPLOYEES UNLESS YOU CAN SHOW
A, B, AND C.
>> IT IS LIKE THE IRSFUL
EVERYTHING IS INCOME UNLESS YOU
CAN SHOW US IT ISN'T.
>> EXACTLY.
>> GREAT.
>> AND THAT WOULD HEP A GREAT
DEAL.
IT IS COMPLICATED.
THERE ARE FOLKS WHO DON'T WANT
TO BE EMPLOYEES AND THEY ARE
HAVING THAT DEBATE IN OLYMPIA.
BUT IT CAN BE WORKED OUT.
IT HAS BEEN WORKED OUT IN OTHER
STATES.
I'M HOPEFUL THAT WE WILL SEE
SOME PROGRESS IN OLYMPIA.
>> THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER BAGSHAW.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT.
I'M REALLY INTERESTED IN WHAT
IS GOING ON IN OLYMPIA.
IF YOU COULD KEEP AN EYE ON
THAT.
SPECIFICALLY THE LAST YEAR,
WHEN WE WERE LOOKING AT SICK
LEAVE.
THAT PEOPLE COULD PAY INTO SOME
KIND OF ACCOUNT THAT WOULD BE
COMPARABLE TO A HEALTH CARE
WORKER'S COMP PROGRAM.
EVEN IF YOU WERE AN INDEPENDENT
CONTRACTOR, PERHAPS YOU DIDN'T
HAVE A JOB THAT YEAR, BUT YOU
WERE FUNCTIONING AS BEST YOU
COULD TO SCRAP THINGS TOGETHER.
I'M VERY INTERESTED ABOUT THE
PORTABILITY OF THAT.
I THINK THAT WE HAVE SOME
EXAMPLES FROM RHODE ISLAND AND
NEW JERSEY THAT HAVE BEEN
SUCCESSFUL.
IF YOU JUST KEEP YOUR EYES ON
THAT FOR US.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> AND I JUST WANT TO NAME THE
TWO STATE BILLS THAT DEAL WITH
THIS ISSUE SPECIFICALLY.
TWO BILLS, ONE IN THE SENATE,
ONE IN THE HOUSE CREATES THE
EMPLOYEE FAIR CLASSIFICATION
ACT.
ONE IS SENATE BILL 5513.
THE OTHER IS HOUSE BILL 1515.
AND, AS THE DIRECTOR EXPLAINED,
THEY DEFINED INDEPENDENT
CONTRACTOR FOR PURPOSES OF THE
FAIR CLASSIFICATION ACT AND
ESTABLISHES THE SAME FOR
MINIMUM WAGE.
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE,
INDUSTRIAL INSURANCE, AND OTHER
EMPLOYMENT LAWS.
SO AGAIN CREATING SOME
CERTAINTY AROUND THE DEFINITION
SOFT WHAT AN EMPLOYEE AS
OPPOSED TO WHAT A CONTRACTOR
IS.
BEFORE I INTRODUCE THE
AMENDMENT, THERE HAS BEEN AN
AMAZON EMPLOYEE CORRESPONDING
WITH ME THE LAST COUPLE OF
YEARS.
I JUST WANT TO SHARE, YOU HEARD
ME READ THIS.
I READ THIS IN NEW YORK.
I WANT TO SHARE AN EXCEPT FROM
THE MOST RECENT E-MAIL.
THIS PERSON WRITES "WHEN I
WROTE TO YOU LAST YEAR, AMAZON
ONLY ALLOWED THOSE IN THE PRIME
NOW DIVISION TO WORK 24 HOURS A
WEEK.
THEN ALL THE SHIFTS ARE POSTED
ONCE A WEEK AND THE EMPLOYEES
COULD SIGN UP FOR THEM.
AS THERE ARE ALWAYS MORE
EMPLOYEES THAN SHIFTS
AVAILABLE, IT WAS ALWAYS
DIFFICULT TO GET MORE THAN ONE
OR TWO SHIFTS OVER THE ENTIRE
WEEK.
AMAZON IS ALL ABOUT CHANGE AND
BOY, THERE HAVE BEEN CHANGES.
NOW, SHIFTS ARE ANNOUNCED AT
RANDOM TIMES AND DAYS.
MOST ARE FOR THE NEXT DAY OR
TWO.
TO GET EVEN ONE SHIFT, ONE MUST
BE ONLINE AT THE WEBSITE 24/7.
WHEN SHIFTS ARE ANNOUNCED, THEY
ARE SIGNED UP FOR IN LESS THAN
A MINUTE."
WE TALK ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT IT
IS TO INNOVATE.
BUT WHEN INNOVATION TURNS OUR
WORKING ENVIRONMENT, IT'S NOT A
GOOD FUTURE.
IT'S A SCARY DYSTOPIAN FUTURE
AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THE
WORK HERE.
>> I THINK THE SPONSOR OF THIS
RESOLUTION FOR WORKING WITH US
AND WITH THE OFFICE OF LABOR
CENTERS AND FOR HER LEADERSHIP
ON THIS.
BEFORE WE CONSIDER THE
RESOLUTION, JUST A LITTLE BIT
OF CONTEXT AS WELL I THINK IS
SUPER HELPFUL TO PUT THIS IN
CONTEXT OF WHAT IS HAPPENING AT
THE STATE LEVEL.
OBVIOUSLY, WE WILL WATCH THAT
CONVERSATION CLOSELY.
WHAT IS REALLY EXCITING ABOUT
THIS IS YOU ARE ASKING FOLKS AT
THE LABOR STANDARDS ADVISORY
COMMITTEE WHO INCLUDE THE
VOICES OF EMPLOYERS AND
EMPLOYEES.
OR, IN THE CASE WHERE WE HAVE
MISCLASSIFIED WORKERS
ORGANIZATIONS TO.
COME UP WITH STRATEGIES
TOGETHER.
SO THIS IS REALLY AN IN SEATTLE
INTERNAL LOOKING DISCUSSION IN
ODDER CASE WITH THE MEMBERS OF
THE LABOR STANDARDS ADVISORY
COMMITTEE.
THEN TO COME BACK TO US.
IT'S A GOOD SERIES OF STEP HERE
THAT GIVE US A CHANCE TO CHART
A PATH FORWARD.
WITH THAT, WOULD YOU LIKE TO
INTRODUCE THE AMENDMENT.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE
AMENDMENT ONE TO RESOLUTION
31863.
>> SECOND.
>> ANY COMMENTS?
ALL IN FAVOR VOTE AYE.
ANY OPPOSE?
NONE.
OKAY GREAT.
THE AMENDMENT HANGS.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO MOVE THE
RESOLUTION?
>> WHY DON'T YOU DO THAT.
>> OKAY.
I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE PASSAGE OF
RESOLUTION 31863A.
ALL IN FAVOR VOTE AYE.
OPPOSE?
NONE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
WE WILL BRING THIS FORWARD TO
FULL COUNCIL ON FEBRUARY 11.
I THANK YOU DIRECTOR GARFUNKEL.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH DAN FOR
JOINING US AT THE TABLE.
AND, WITH THAT, I THINK WE HAVE
GOTTEN THROUGH OUR MARATHON
LABOR HISTORY THANK YOU
COUNCILMEMBER BAGSHAW.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE WORK
ALL FOUR OF US AT THE TABLE
HAVE DONE AROUND ENCOURAGING
CHILD CARE.
CHILD CARE IN THIS BUILDING
WITHIN A SHORT RADIUS.
I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE.
THANK YOU.
CALVIN GOINS.
BUT, WHAT WE KNOW IS THAT THE
PROBLEM OF HAVING DOWNTOWN
LICENSED GOOD CHILD CARE, IT IS
EXTREME.
AND IT IS WORSENING ACROSS THE
COUNTY.
THIS ARTICLE.
I WILL ASSUME THE NUMBERS ARE
RIGHT.
IN KING COUNTY, THAT THE NUMBER
OF LICENSED FACILITIES HAS
FALLEN IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS
LEAVING 1,939 PROVIDERS TO
WRESTLE OVER.
WITH THE INCREASE.
AND, COUNCIL MEMBER JOHNSON
BROUGHT THIS UP LAST NIGHT.
IN A FEW YEARS HE HAS BEEN ON
THE COUNCIL WE HAVE SEEN IN THE
CITY OF SEATTLE OVER 100,000
PEOPLE MOVE HERE FOR JOBS.
MANY OF THEM PEOPLE WITH YOUNG
FAMILIES.
AND MY GOAL HERE IS FOR US TO
SET UP A CHILD CARE FACILITY.
ACKNOWLEDGING THAT IT IS NOT
CHEAP, BUT DO IT IN THIS CITY
HALL AS REALLY A REFLECTION OF
THE NEED AND THE FACT WE HAVE
MANY PEOPLE WHO WOULD USE IT.
TO THE EXTENT THAT AGAIN
SIGNALING TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE
EXECUTIVE AS PARTNERS, THAT I
DON'T KNOW WHAT THE INCENTIVES
ARE.
THERE IS A FEDERAL TRACKS
CREDIT.
THERE ARE 100% TAX CREDITS AND
THEY POINT TO GEORGIA FOR DOING
THIS WORK.
I WANT TO SAY I KNOW WE HAVE
BEEN LOOKING AT THIS BUILDING
AND PEOPLE SAY THE COFFEE CART
AREA IS TOO SMALL.
BUT WHAT IF WE DID INFANT CARE
IN ONE SPACE?
WE ARE LOOKING AT L2 WHICH IS
NOT UTILIZED 100% OF THE TIME.
THE POTENTIAL FOR THE 1 WILL 4s
. I BELIEVED THIS IS SOMETHING
WE CAN DO.
WE HAVE TO BUCKLE OUR SEAT
BELT.
THERE'S A MILLION REASONS IN
THE WORLD NOT TO DO IT.
BUT, THERE IS ALL THE BEST
REASON TO DO IT.
AND THAT'S THAT WE NEED TO
INCREASE THE SUPPLY.
SO, THANK YOU THAT YOU HAVE
BEEN WORKING WITH ME.
MY BUDGET BUDDY ON THIS.
AND I KNOW COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ, IT IS SOMETHING YOU
SUPPORT AS WELL.
>> LET ME JUST ADD THIS.
YOU KNOW, EVERYONE IS TALKING
DEVELOPMENT, HOUSING.
WE HAVE MADE A BIG PUSH IN THE
NORTH END THAT THERE SHOULD BE
TRANSIT ORIENTED CHILD CARE.
THAT IS NOT JUST AN AMENITY.
WHEN WAS TALK TO FOR PROFIT AND
NONPROFIT DEVELOPERS, IF YOU
ARE GOING TO BE PROVIDING PREK
OR CHILD CARE, THOSE ARE
INCENTIVES YOU GET EXTRA POINTS
FOR PROVIDING THAT.
THAT IS WHAT WE ARE TALKING
ABOUT.
WE WILL CERTAINLY KEEP PUSH TAG
AS WELL.
>> LOVE THAT.
I COULD TALK ABOUT THAT ALL
DAY.
LET'S DO THAT.
>> NO, LET'S ADJOURN.
I THINK WE ARE GO AHEAD AND
ADJOURN.
I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR
THEIR PARTICIPATION.
WE WENT ABOUT 15 MINUTES OVER.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE WITH
US, OUR NEXT MEETING IS
FEBRUARY 21 AT 93:00 A.M.
WE ARE FINALIZING THE AGENDA
AND WE WILL GET THE INFORMATION
OUT TO YOU PRETTY SOON.
I APPRECIATE YOU MY TWO
COLLEAGUES ON THE LABOR
COMMITTEE.
WE WILL SEE YOU IN TWO WEEKS
AND THANK YOU.
SEE EVERYBODY LATER.