.
>>> SO GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.
TODAY IS JULY 2ND, 2015 AND
SPECIAL MEETING OF THE ENERGY
AND WORKERS RIGHTS COMMITTEE
WILL COME TO ORDER.
IT'S 5:03.
I'M TERESA MOSQUEDA AND I'M WITH
BAGSHAW, PA CHECK COAT AND
GONZALEZ.
I KNOW OTHERS ARE ON THEIR WAY.
I THANK INCREDIBLY TO THE IN
CAPACITY AUDIENCE WE HAVE UP
STAIRS AND DOWNSTAIRS, THE
SECURITY OFFICERS AND THANK YOU
VERY MUCH SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE
INTO THE EVENING.
THEY HAVE INFORMED US THERE IS
FOLKS IN THE OVERFLOW ROOM AS
WELL.
SO AS FOLKS FILTER OUT, WE ARE
BRINGING MORE IN.
P YOU HAVE GIVEN YOUR PUBLIC
TESTIMONY AND NEED TO TAKE OFF
OR WATCH THE REST FROM
DOWNSTAIRS, WE ASK FOLKS TO
SWITCH OFF AS WE GET OTHER FOLKS
IN THE ROOM.
I WOULD ASK FOR A -- A LOT OF
PEOPLE WORKING DAY AND NIGHT IN
THIS INDUSTRY.
SO WE KNOW THERE IS NO OPTIMAL
TIME TO HAVE A CONVERSATION, BUT
THANK YOU FOR MAKING THE ATTEMPT
TO BE HERE THIS EVENING AND TO
SHARE YOUR TIME WITH US.
COUNCIL MEMBER GONZALEZ AND I
HAVE THE COSPONSORS OF THIS
LEGISLATION AND WE APPRECIATE
THE FEEDBACK WE HAVE RECEIVED SO
FAR AND ALL OF THE COUNSEL OVER
THE LAST FEW YEARS HAVE BEEN
ENGAGED ON THIS ISSUE.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT
ALSO FOR BEING HERE.
I WANT EVERYBODY TO KNOW THERE
IS SPANISH INTERPRETATION.
SO JUST LET US KNOW IF YOU NEED
A SPANISH INTERPRETATION, AND I
AM ASSURED THAT THERE IS FOLKS
DO YOU KNOW STAIRS THAT THIS IS
BEING BROADCAST TO AS WELL.
IF ANYBODY DOWNSTAIRS NEED
INTERPRETATION, PLEASE LET US
KNOW.
IF ANYBODY NEEDS HEARING
ASSISTANCE, WE ALSO HAVE THE
MONITORS UP HERE.
AARON HOUSE, WHO IS OUR CLERK
CAN HELP YOU WITH THAT.
AND ANONE WHO NEEDS PARKING
ASSISTANCE, WE HAVE A DISCOUNTED
RATE, UNDERSTANDING EVERYBODY
HAS DIFFERENT MOBILITY NEEDS AND
FOR THOSE WHO NEEDED TO DRIVE,
WE DO HAVE PARKING ASSISTANCE.
ONLY $5 AT C PARK AND WE DO HAVE
THAT PARKING LOT THAT CLOSES AT
10 P.M., SO WE WILL GET FOLKS
OUT OF HERE BY THEN.
LET US KNOW IF YOU NEED A
PARKING -- A VOUCHER.
I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE
FOLKS WHO HAVE JOINED US,
INCLUDING THE INTERPRETERS.
WE HAVE PABLO AND ALLISON WHO
HAVE HELPED US WITH THE
INTERPRETATION.
THEY WERE HERE LAST YEAR AS WE
WORKED ON THE DOMESTIC BILL OF
RIGHTS.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AGAIN
TODAY.
I WANT TO LET FOLKS KNOW IF YOU
NEED CHILD CARE, WE HAVE
PROVIDED THAT AT NO COST.
IF YOU ARE DOWNSTAIRS AND YOU
NEED CHILD CARE, PLEASE LET US
KNOW.
SO LET US KNOW IF YOU NEED
ASSISTANCE FOR CHILD CARE.
WITH THAT, WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE
A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE SIGNED
UP TO TESTIFY.
I HAVE CHECKED IN WITH A FEW
FOLKS WHO HAVE HELPED TURNOUT.
WE ARE DOING A MINUTE AND A
HALF.
I KNOW THAT'S DIFFERENT FROM THE
2 MINUTE NORMAL.
I KNOW WHEN I HAVE BEEN IN THE
AUDIENCE AND HAD A CUT OFF, IT
CHANGED THINGS FOR ME, SO WE ARE
GIVING MINUTE AND A HALF.
OH, I NEED TO SLOW DOWN.
I'M SORRY.
I DO TALK FAST.
FOR THE INTERPRETATION I'M GOING
TO SLOW DOWN.
WE ARE GOING TO DO A MINUTE AND
A HALF INSTEAD OF TWO MINUTES.
THANK YOU MEMBER GONZALEZ.
WITH THAT, I JUST HAVE A FEW
OPENING COMMENTS.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE
VERY CLEAR AS WELL ABOUT THE
UPCOMING SEATTLE COUNCIL.
THIS COMES ON THE HEELS AFTER
HAVING DISCUSSION WITH INDUSTRY
AND WORKERS TALKING ABOUT THE
PASSAGE OF INITIATIVE 124,
TALKING ABOUT IT PASSING WITHIN
77% OF THE VOTERS IN SEATTLE AND
PROUD TO BE ONE MEMBER THAT
WORKED ON GETTING THAT OVER THE
BALLOT AND ALSO PROUD TO NOW BE
HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE LESSONS
LEARNED, IMPLEMENTATIONS
CRITICAL, AS WE THINK ABOUT THE
IMPLEMENTATIONS, WHAT IS THE
LESSONS WE NEED TO LEARN TO GO
BACK IN FRONT OF THE LEGISLATION
IN FRONT OF US.
WE KNOW THIS IS
DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTING
PEOPLE OF COLOR, IMMIGRANT
WORKERS AND WE WILL HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE SURE THE
WILL OF THE VOTERS IS CARRIED
OUT AND IMPLEMENTABLE, WORKABLE
FOR THE VARIOUS FOLKS WHO ARE
WORKING IN THE INDUSTRY.
EXCITEDED TO HEAR FROM YOU AND
EXCITED TO GET TO THE HEART OF
THE PUBLIC TESTIMONY HERE AND I
WANT TO SEE IF THERE ARE ANY
OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO HAVE
ANYTHING ELSE TO SAY BEFORE WE
LAUNCH -- YES.
>> VOTING SCHEDULE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER
BAGSHAW.
BEFORE WE GET INTO THE PUBLIC
TESTIMONY, JUST AS A REMINDER
FOR FOLKS.
WE HAVE A FULL SCHEDULE IN FRONT
OF US, AND I WILL START AT THE
VERY BEGINNING.
ON MARCH 21ST, WE HAD OUR
OVERVIEW OF THE STATUS
INITIATIVE 124, THERE IS A MEMO
FROM CENTRAL STAFF AVAILABLE IN
THE PUBLIC RECORD AND WE CAN
MAKE THAT AVAILABLE FOR FOLKS
HERE AS WELL, IF FOLKS ARE
INTERESTED.
ON APRIL 4TH WE HAD AN
OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR FROM THE
HOTEL WORKERS AND THEIR STORIES
IN THE INDUSTRY.
ON MAY 2ND WE HEARD FROM THE
INDUSTRY MANAGERS AND BEST
PRACTICES AND SOME OF THEIR
THOUGHTS ON INITIATIVE 124 AND
PROCESS FOR MOVING FORWARD IN
TERMS OF RECOMMENDATIONS.
ON JUNE 24TH, THE LEGISLATION
WAS REFERRED TO THE FULL
COMMITTEE FOR CONSIDERATION AND
ON JUNE 27TH WE HAD THE
OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A FULL
DISCUSSION IN OUR COMMITTEE
HEARING THAT WAS LAST WEEK, AND
HAVE A DISCUSSION ON THE
LEGISLATION.
TODAY WE ARE HAVING A PUBLIC
HEARING IN THE EVENING TO TRY TO
ACCOMMODATE A FULL ROOM, LIKE WE
SEE TODAY AND WE WILL ALSO HAVE
A DISCUSSION ABOUT THE
LEGISLATION AND ISSUE
IDENTIFICATION, WHICH IS OUR WAY
OF SORT OF IDENTIFYING VARIOUS
POSSIBLE POLICIES AND AMENDMENTS
THAT PEOPLE MAY WANT TO FLAG FOR
THE FUTURE ON JULY 11TH, THAT'S
NEXT THURSDAY.
AFTER THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE
ANOTHER DISCUSSION ON JULY 18TH.
AND THEN WE WILL NOT BE
POTENTIALLY HAVING A VOTE UNTIL
AUGUST 1ST, ADDING AN ADDITIONAL
WEEK WITH THE OPPORTUNITY THEN
TO COME BACK IN AUGUST AND HAVE
A FINAL VOTE.
PROBABLY THAT SECOND MONDAY
PRIOR TO US COMING ON LEAVE.
I WANT TO GIVE EVERYBODY THAT
UPDATE AND LET FOLKS KNOW THAT
INFORMATION CAN BE POSTED ON OUR
WEBSITE.
THANK YOU FOR THAT REMINDER.
ANY COMMENTS, COLLEAGUES.
>> JUST THAT I'M GOING TO HAVE
TO EXCUSE MYSELF FOR ONE HOUR.
I HAVE A 6:30 IN ANOTHER
DISTRICT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER
BAGSHAW.
AARON, IF YOU COULD, PLEASE PUT
A MINUTE AND 30 SECONDS ON THE
CLOCK AND WE WILL GET STARTED.
WE ARE GOING TO DO OUR BEST TO
MAKE SURE WE GO -- A HANDFUL OF
INDUSTRY PANELS,ND WORKER AND
HANDFUL OF INDUSTRY PANELISTS
AND WORKER.
WE WILL GO THROUGH IT THAT WAY.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND THE
FIRST PERSON TO SIGN UP -- AND
I'M GOING TO CALL A FEW.
SO IF FOLKS CAN LINE UP.
ANNA VANDRE FROM HILTON, DAN
AUSTIN, AND JESSICA HORTON.
AND JUST MAKE SURE YOU GET CLOSE
TO THIS MICROPHONE HERE AND
THERE IS TWO DIFFERENT HEIGHTS
AND YOU ARE ALL WELCOME TO LINE
UP AND THERE ARE TWO
MICROPHONES.
>> GOOD EVENING.
MY FIRST JOB IN THE INDUSTRY IS
AS A STEAL SALES SECRETARY BACK
IN THE DAY WHEN WE WERE STILL
CALLED SECRETARIES.
I HAVE BEEN IN THE INDUSTRY 35
YEARS AND I HAVE WORKED IN A
NUMBER OF DIFFERENT CAPACITIES,
ON PROPERTY AT A NUMBER OF
HOTELS OF VARIED BRANDS AND I
HAVE ALSO WORKED IN GLOBAL SALES
AND AS A REGIONAL DIRECTOR OF
SALES FOR AN OWNERSHIP
MANAGEMENT COMPANY.
WE CARE DEEPLY ABOUT OUR
EMPLOYEES, THEIR HEALTH, WELFARE
AND SAFETY.
THAT'S WHY I AND OUR COLLEAGUES
SUPPORTED THE STATEWIDE PANIC
LEGISLATION FOR OUR STAFF.
WE ARE PROUD STATEWIDE, SO WHY
IS IT PART OF THIS LEGISLATION?
PEOPLE IN BUSINESSES ARE
AFFECTED.
WHY THE RUSH?
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
DAN, FOLLOWED BY JESSICA AND
THEN LINDA MORTON.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
DAN AUSTIN.
OWNER OF PEE LAND PRESS.
AND WEST SEATTLE DISTRICT 5,
WELCOME TO WEST SEATTLE, I
UNDERSTAND.
I'M HERE SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF
THE WEST SEATTLE CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE.
I OPERATED MY BUSINESS ON WEST
SEATTLE COMING UP ON FIVE YEARS
WITH A 4.1 RETENTION RATE FOR MY
EMPLOYEES.
IF WE WERE TALKING ABOUT PANIC
BUTTONS ONLY, I WOULDN'T BE HERE
TODAY.
THE WRAPUP OF THE ANCILLARY
BUSINESSES IS MY CONCERN.
SO BUSINESSES BEING ADDED IN
THAT ARE NOT HOTEL OPERATED
BUSINESSES, LEASE SPACE FROM
OPERATE WITHIN.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE ARE
ADDING SMALL BUSINESSES THAT ARE
NOT IN THE LEGISLATION THAT WAS
PASSED WITH 70-PLUS PERCENTFUL
WE ARE ADDING ADDITIONALLY TO
IT.
THAT'S A BIG CONCERN OF MINE.
LOOKING AT THE HEALTHCARE
EXPENDITURE THAT WOULD BE
REQUIRED FROM THOSE PEOPLE,
$1,680 IS IS $26 ON A 20-HOUR
EMPLOYEE.
THAT WOULD IMMEDIATELY TAKE MY
BUSINESS IF I RAN THOSE NUMBERS
WITHIN A HOTEL, I WOULD GO
PROFITABLE TO NEGATIVE $38,000
IN THAT YEAR.
THAT'S NOT AN EXPENSE TO BE
TAKEN BY SMALL BUSINESS.
AGAIN, IF WE ARE TALKING ABOUT
PANIC BUTTONS, FULL SUPPORT.
I SUPPORTED THE LEGISLATION
PREVIOUS.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY SMALL
BUSINESSES ARE BEING BROUGHT
INTO THIS LEGISLATION.
I WOULD LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING
FROM THAT OR HAVING IT REMOVED.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WELCOME, JESSICA, FOLLOWED BY
LINDA AND THEN MASABA HEMERE, I
APOLOGIZE FOR ANY --
>> GOOD EVENING, MY NAME IS
JESSICA HORTON AND I'M FOR THE
PAN PACIFIC HOTEL IN LAKE UNION.
I WORKED IN VARIOUS INDUSTRIES
IN SEATTLE TO INCLUDE LAW
ENFORCEMENT, SOCIAL SERVICE,
EDUCATION, AND SUPPLY CHAIN
MANAGEMENT.
I HAVE BEEN IN HOSPITALITY FOR
THE LAST TWO YEARS, WE CARE
DEEPLY ABOUT THE HEALTH, WELFARE
OF OUR ASSOCIATES.
AS SUCH WE PROVIDE TOP TIER
HEALTH COVERAGE WHICH SOOEDZ
EXCEEDS THE GOLD LEVEL ON THE
EXCHANGE.
WE PAY 89% OF THE COST OF THE
HEALTHCARE COVERAGE ONLY AND 80%
OF FAMILY COVERAGE.
DESPITE THIS, THIS PIECE OF
LEGISLATION REQUIRES AN
ADDITIONAL CASH EXPENDITURE FROM
INFORMATION TAKEN FROM THE
EXCHANGE WHOSE RATES ARE NOT
NEGOTIATED , NOR ARE THEY
ACCURATELY DEPICTED AT THE COST
OF GOLD LEVEL.
ADDITIONALLY, OVERTIME
REQUIREMENTS PROPOSED ARE
NONSENSICAL.
IF AN EMPLOYEE EXCEEDS THE
MANDATORY WORKLOAD BY A SINGLE
SQUARE FOOT, WE PAY OVERTIME FOR
ALL HOURS WORKED.
TELL ME ONE OTHER INDUSTRY THAT
PAYS OVERTIME FOR THE ENTIRE
DAY'S WORK.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT FROM MY
EXPERIENCE IN GOVERNMENT,
NONPROFIT, AND BIG BOX SUPPLY
CHAINS, THEY CERTAINLY DO NOT.
BYPASSING THIS LEGISLATION, YOU
ARE CRIPPLING THE HOSPITALITY
INDUSTRY AND ESPECIALLY SMALL
BUSINESSES.
THANK YOU.
.
>> HI, LINDA.
>> THAT'S A HARD ACT TO FOLLOW.
FOLLOWING YOU, WILL BE MASAB AND
ALSO TWO PEOPLE AFTER THAT,
STEFAN MORITZ AND JANUARY JING.
WELCOME, LINDA.
>> THANK YOU.
HI, I'M LAIN DA DELL MORTON,
COOWNERER OF TERAPATA RESTAURANT
AND SEATTLE RESTAURANT ASHRINES
SUPPORTS MORE THAN 2700
RESTAURANTS IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE, MOST OF WHICH ARE SMALL
BUSINESSES.
OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS WE
HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY CONCERNED
ABOUT THE BARRIERS THAT HAVE
BEEN IMPOSED ON SMALL BUSINESSES
IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE THIS
LEGISLATION YOU ARE DISCUSSING
ISN'T JUST ABOUT HOTELS.
IT IS ABOUT SMALL BUSINESSES AND
RESTAURANTS LIKE MINE.
I'M ALSO PRIVILEGED TO SERVE ON
MAYOR DIRT KIN'S SMALL BUSINESS
ADVISORY COUNSEL AND WITH YOU,
MS. MOSQUEDA.
WE HAVE NEVER HAD THIS ISSUE
BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION FOR
ISSUES OR FEEDBACK.
YOU KNOW THIS IMPACTS SMALL
BUSINESSES.
YOU WROTE THE LEGISLATION THAT
WAY, YET THE DECISION WAS MADE
NOT TO SEEK INPUT FROM THE SMALL
BUSINESS COMMUNITY.
THE LEGISLATION PUT SIGNIFICANT
HEALTHCARE EXPENDITURE
REQUIREMENTS ON RESTAURANTS AND
OTHER SMALL BUSINESSES FAR
EXCEED EGG WHAT'S REQUIRED BY
THE ACA SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY
LEASE SPACE FROM A HOTEL.
THE EXPENSE TO THESE SMALL
BUSINESSES IS UP TO $1,680 FOR A
PART-TIME EMPLOYEE.
THAT'S QUITE EXCESSIVE.
THAT MEANS A RESTAURANT OR SMALL
BUSINESS WILL HAVE COMPLETELY
DIFFERENT REQUIREMENTS IF THEY
ARE IN A HOTEL, RATHER THAN AN
OFFICE BUILDING ACROSS THE
STREET.
SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITY STANDS
TOGETHER WITH THE RESTAURANT
COMMUNITY, THE RESTAURANT
BUSINESS IS A VERY TOUGH
BUSINESS, I CAN TELL YOU THAT
FROM EXPERIENCE.
AND IT'S ALSO A VERY IMPORTANT
PART TO THE HEART OF OUR CITY.
>> LINDA CAN I HAVE YOU WRAP UP
FOR US AND WE WILL TAKE YOUR
WRITTEN TESTIMONY.
>> THAT SOUNDS GREAT.
WHAT DID YOU SAY.
>> IF YOU WRAP IT UP, WE WILL
TAKE YOUR WRITTEN TESTIMONY.
>> I WILL WRAP IT UP RIGHT
AWAY.
BASICALLY I'M ASKING THAT THE
FINAL LEGISLATION DOES NOT
INCLUDE RESTAURANTS AND SMALL
BUSINESS IN HOTELS AND FAMILY
HOTELS IN THE SAME CATEGORY OF
CORPORATE HOTELS.
WE SHOULD ENCOURAGE FAMILY
BUSINESSES TO THRIVE, AND THIS
DOES JUST THE OPPOSITE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> FOLLOWING YOU WILL BE STEFAN
YEN AND THEN SHAWN VINK.
>> HI, MY NAME IS MASAB,
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS AT
SEATTLE MARRIOTT WATERFRONT.
I HAVE BEEN IN THIS INDUSTRY FOR
OVER 15 YEARS, WORKED VARIOUS
DEPARTMENTS, VARY ROLES.
MOST OF MY TIME HAS BEEN SPENT
IN THE SEATTLE AREA SMALL
HOTELS, LARGE HOTELS, AND I
DON'T THINK I HAVE MET ANY
LEADER IN THIS INDUSTRY THAT
DOES NOT CARE ABOUT THEIR
ASSOCIATES.
THEY ARE AN EXTENSION OF OUR
FAMILY.
WE CARE DEEPLY FOR THEM.
WE COME TO WORK EVERY SINGLE DAY
TO INTERACT THEM, TO BE WITH
THEM.
SOMETIMES E ARE WITH OUR
ASSOCIATES LONGER THAN WITH OUR
OWN FAMILY MEMBERS.
AND OUR ESTABLISHMENT ALREADY
HAD PANIC BUTTONS IN PLACE AND
WE ARE VERY HAPPY IT WENT
STATEWIDE, BUT WE NEED TO
REALIZE THIS IS A LOT MORE THAN
JUST PANIC BUTTONS.
IT'S MADE TO BE THAT IT IS ABOUT
PANIC BUTTONS, BUT AS WE HEARD
TODAY, EVERYBODY SUPPORTS PANIC
BUTTONS, THERE IS NO QUESTION
THERE.
THIS DOES QUIRE ARBITRARY CASH.
WE ARE URGING PEOPLE TO DECLINE
HEALTHCARE COVERAGE IN ORDER TO
PUT CASH IN THEIR POCKET AND I
DON'T THINK THAT IS WHAT IT WAS
INTENDED FOR AND WHAT THE VOTERS
WANTED WHEN THEY VOTED, BUT THAT
IS WHAT WE ARE ENCOURAGING
ASSOCIATES TO DO.
I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE
QUALITY OF THE COVERAGE, NOT
JUST THE COST.
WITH REGARDS TO OVERTIME, I
THINK WE JUST WANT TO BE IN LINE
WITH ALL OTHER COMPANIES, ALL
OTHER INDUSTRIES.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY
THAT DOES WORK OVERTIME IS PAID
FOR THATOVER TIME, BUT I THINK
WE ARE PUNISHING THE
ESTABLISHMENT FOR THE FULL DAY
AND THAT'S MY TIME.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
.
>> NEXT WE HAVE STEFAN MORITZ.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNSE
MEMBERS, I'M NOT SURE I CAN GET
THROUGH THIS IN THE NEXT MINUTE
AND A HALF AND I WANT TO GIVE A
SHOUT OUT TO THOSE THAT WORKED
ALL DAY TODAY AND ARE IN THE
OVERFLOW ROOM DOWNSTAIRS
WATCHING THIS ON A SCREEN,
WHICH, YOU KNOW, IS
UNFORTUNATELY A LITTLE SYMBOLIC.
SO GOOD EVENING.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE WORK
THAT YOU HAVE PUT INTO THIS AND
THE COMMITMENT THAT YOU HAVE
SHOWN TO PROTECTING HOTEL
WORKERS AND TO IMPLEMENTING AND
CARING FOR THE VISION THAT THE
VOTERS APPROVED WITH 124.
WORKERS ARE HERE TO DEMAND
ACTION IN 2016 VOTERS HEARD
HOTEL WORKERS STORIES AND ACTED
TO IMPROVE 124.
IN THE WAKE OF THE CHRISTMAS EVE
APPELLATE DECISION, HEARD AND
YOU ACTED AND THAT IS REALLY,
REALLY APPRECIATED.
THE FOUR ORDINANCES NOW
DISCUSSED REFLECT DEEP LISTENING
OPERATING WHILE INTOXICATED OF
THE CITY ON 124, WORKPLACE
VIOLENCE, HARASSMENT, LIMITS ON
HOUSEKEEPING WORKLOAD AND
AFFORDABLE FAMILY HEALTHCARE.
TWO ELEMENTS ARE OF CRUCIAL
IMPORTANCE AND HAVE BEEN
PRESERVED IN THE LEGISLATION ARE
COVERAGE OF ANCILLARY HOTEL
BUSINESSES AND ACCESS OF GOLD
LEVEL EQUIVALENT HEALTHCARE.
GIVEN THE STAGGERING PUBLIC
INVESTMENT IN PROMOTING BUSINESS
TRAVEL IN SEATTLE AND MASSIVE
PROFITS ACCRUING TO THE PRIVATE
EQUITY COMPANIES AND TRUSTS AND
OTHERS OF SEATTLE REAL ESTATE,
COVERAGE OF ANCILLARY HOTEL
ENSURES THIS PUBLIC INVESTMENT
GOES TO CREATING MORE GOOD JOBS
AND CAPTURES HOTELS IN THE FORM
OF BENEFITS OF WORKERS.
THE HEALTHCARE EXPENDITURE TO
THE COST OF A GOLD LEVEL PLAN
HELPS ENSURE WORKERS WILL BE
ABLE TO AFFORD A QUALITY
HEALTHCARE PLAN WITH A
DEDUCTIBLE AND COSTS THAT ARE
LOW ENOUGH SO WORKERS WILL BE
ABLE TO GET TO THE DOCTOR WHEN
THEY NEED TO.
THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION --
>> STEFAN, IF YOU COULD WRAP UP
FRP US AND WE WILL TAKE YOUR
WRITTEN TESTIMONY.
>> WE WILL SUBMIT THAT IN
WRITING, BUT, YOU KNOW, I JUST
HAVE TO SAY THAT THIS IS THE
RIGHT THING TO DO, AND WE REALLY
APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP ON
THIS ISSUE.
>> THANK YOU.
FOR ANYBODY THAT HAS WRITTEN
TESTIMONY, WE WILL TAKE THAT
PACKET.
I KNOWLIN DA, YOU HAD SOME
TESTIMONY TOO.
IS YEN UP HERE?
I THINK SHE IS COMING.
OKAY.
SIR , WHY DON'T WE GO AHEAD WITH
YOU AND IF YAN IS AVAILABLE, IS
THAT YOU, YAN?
WELCOME.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
>> HI, EVERYONE.
>> CAN YOU PULL JUST A LITTLE
BIT CLOSER TO YOU?
YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO PULL IT
DOWN.
THANK YOU
>> MY NAME IS YEN.
SEATTLE HOTEL, I AM THE
HOUSEKEEPER.
I WANT TO LET YOU KNOW HEALTH
INSURANCE IS SEVERELY IMPORTANT
FOR OUR FAMILY AND ME, SO WE
HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE AT MY
HOTEL BECAUSE WE ARE UNION
HOTEL, BUT MY SISTER, THEY DON'T
HAVE THE GOOD HEALTH INSURANCE
AT THEIR HOTEL TOO.
SO I WANT TO BEST HEALTH
INSURANCE PROTECTING IS VERY
GOOD FOR THEIR FAMILY.
SO THAT'S WHY I AM COMING HERE
TO LET YOU GUYS KNOW, THIS I
WANT THE LAW IS IMPORTANT TO GET
PASSED AND TO UNION -- OR UNION
WORKER OR BOTH.
THANKS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANKS FOR WAITING, SHAWN.
FOLLOWING SHAWN, BRAXTON AND
DESTINY.
>> MY LAST NAME IS WORK.
>> I'M SORRY ABOUT THAT.
>> SHAWN WORK, I'M THE OWNER OF
ROMEO'S PIZZA.
ROMEOS HAS BEEN IN SEATTLE FOR
THE LAST 39 YEARS.
I GOT INTO IT 12 YEARS AGO.
AND WE ARE ON THE GROUND FLOOR
OF HOME WOOD SUITES ANCILLARY
BUSINESS.
WE WERE NEVER INFORMED OF THIS.
I JUST FOUND OUT A COUPLE DAYS
AGO.
WHAT I WANT TO SAY IS I
UNDERSTAND ALL THE EMPLOYEES I
HAVE HAVE BEEN WITH ME FOR
YEARS.
EVERYBODY IS LIKE FAMILY TO US.
WE TAKE CARE OF THEM AND I
UNDERSTAND THEY NEED HEALTHCARE.
WE ARE A SMALL BUSINESS.
I SMART 8:00 IN THE MORNING AND
END UP 11 P.M.
MY KIDS ARE NOW
OLDER.
I USUALLY SEE THEM ONLY WHEN
THEY ARE SLEEPING, AND WE TRY TO
WORK HARD.
THE PROPOSAL HERE IS BASICALLY I
GET IT, IT'S JUST SAYING THAT WE
NEED TO PROVIDE HEALTHCARE.
NOW, THE QUESTION COMES IS -- I
WAS DOING MATH.
I HAVE 12 EMPLOYEES, AT $560, WE
ARE PAYING THEM $80,000 A YEAR
IN BENEFITS AND AT $1,680, WE
ARE PAYING THEM 240,000 A YEAR.
I MYSELF DON'T MAKE THAT KIND OF
MONEY.
MY QUESTION IS WHERE DOES THIS
MONEY COME FROM?
WHERE DO YOU THINK THE MONEY
COMES FROM AND HOW DO YOU ANSWER
THAT?
IN 12 YEARS IN THE CITY I DON'T
SEE THE CITY DO ANYTHING FOR US
SMALL BUSINESSES.
YOU THINK WE COME AND GO, BUT WE
EMPLOY PEOPLE.
I UNDERSTAND IF YOU WANT TO --
FOR CORPORATE BUSINESSES, BUT
FOR US IT IS NOT.
WE CHARGE 12 OR $14 FOR A FULL
SANDWICH.
IF I CHARGE YOU $20, YOU WILL
NOT COME TO MY PLACE AND HAVE
THAT SANDWICH.
I WILL WRAP UP.
I JUST WANT TO SEE WHEN THIS
INITIATIVE STARTED, YOU GUYS
SAID THAT THIS WAS FOR SAFETY.
ALL OF A SUDDEN THIS IS
HEALTHCARE AND YOU ARE ASKING
MONEY FROM US.
HOW DO WE COME UP WITH ALL THIS
MONEY?
THAT MEANS WE ARE FORCED TO
CLOSE ALL OUR BUSINESSES AND YOU
GUYS ARE PUSHING US OUT OF THE
CITY.
THAT IS NOT RIGHT.
WE HAVE BEEN PART OF THIS CITY
FOR A LONG TIME.
WE ARE SMALL BUSINESSES AND WE
NEED TO BE TAKEN IN THAT
CONSIDERATION.
>> THANK YOU.
>> SO JUST HELP US IN THAT
SENSE.
>> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
APPRECIATE IT.
SHANNON, FOLLOWED BY BRAXTON,
FOLLOWED BY DESTINY SUN.
>> GOOD EVENING.
MY NAME IS SHANNON SHARON.
I'M A BOARD MEMBER WITH THE
SEATTLE HOTEL ASSOCIATION.
I AM ALSO THE MANAGERING
DIRECTOR FOR HOTELS DIRECT OR.
I STARTED MY CAREER AS A BUS
PERSON.
IT WAS BUSBOY AT THAT TIME.
I ALSO WORKED FRONT DESK AND
WORKED MY WAY UP.
I FEEL PROUD ABOUT MY ASCENSION
AND THE EXPERIENCE I HAVE.
AND IN THAT EXPERIENCE, THAT
COMES WITH UNDERSTANDING WHAT
GOES INTO EVERY SINGLE CATEGORY
OF JOB BECAUSE I HAVE DONE EVERY
JOB, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF
ENGINEERING.
SO THAT 20 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
HAS BROUGHT ME PERSPECTIVE.
SO M PERSPECTIVE IS I HAVE MET
WITH EVERYONE SITTING AT THE
TABLE WITH THE EXCEPTION OF
COUNCIL PERSON SAWANT.
I HAVE MET WITH YOU AND WROTE
20, 30, 40, 50 LETTERS.
I HAVE GIVEN YOU MY HONEST,
TRUTHFUL OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY
SHOW YOU AND TELL YOU HOW WE
WORK IN OUR INDUSTRY BECAUSE
THROUGH THIS PROCESS WE HAVE NOT
SINCERELY BEEN INCLUDED.
WE HAVE BEEN INVITED TO MEETS
WHERE THERE WAS COPIOUS NOTES
TAKEN AND THEN WHEN THE RULES
CAME OUT, THERE WAS REALLY NO
IDENTIFICATION OR REPRESENTATION
FOR WHAT WE NEEDED, AND THE
SOLUTIONS THAT WE REALLY BROUGHT
FORTH THAT WERE GENUINE, EARNEST
AND HELPFUL.
SO AS WE LOOK AT THIS NOW, THIS
BRAND-NEW PIECE OF LEGISLATION,
WHICH IS THOUGH THE MILESTONES
AND MARKERS HAVE UNEQUIVOCALLY
BEEN MOVED AND EXPANDED.
I FEEL THIS NEW BRIEF IS
ARBITRARY AND I THINK IT HAS --
REQUIRES ANOTHER GENUINE SITDOWN
WHERE WE REALLY CARE ABOUT WHAT
WE ARE SAYING.
WE WORK IN TANDEM AS A GROUP.
THERE IS A PATHWAY, BUT THAT
DOES REQUIRE THAT YOU UNDERSTAND
THE IMPLICATIONS AND IMPACTS OF
OUR BUSINESS AND THAT INCLUDES
THE FINANCIAL RAMIFICATIONS AND
CARE ABOUT THAT BECAUSE THAT
TRICKLE DOWN THAT DIRECTLY
CORRELATES TO THE SMALL BUSINESS
IS DIRECT.
SO I ASK THAT YOU THINK ABOUT
SMALL BUSINESSES AND LARGE
BUSINESSES AS YOU CHARGE YOUR
COURSE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, SHANNON.
.
>> BRAXTON FOLLOWED BY DESTINY
FOLLOWED BY SONIA.
IF FOLKS WITH TRY TO KEEP WITHIN
THE MINUTE AND 30.
I KNOW IT'S HARD, BUT WE WILL
HAVE MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR
TESTIMONY AND I APOLOGIZE IN
ADVANCE FOR NOT ALLOWING THE
FULL 2.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING
HERE, BRAXTON, THANK YOU FOR
WAITING.
>> I WILL DO MY BEST.
MY NAME IS BRAXTON MYERS.
I REPRESENT THE FAMILY THAT OWNS
THE QUALITY INN AND SUITES BY
THE SPACE NEEDLE.
THIS WAS OWNED BY A FAMILY
IMMIGRANTED TO THE UNITED
STATES.
PATE REIT ARC
THE LEGISLATION YOU ARE
CONSIDERING WILL IMPACT
RESTAURANTS THROUGHOUT THE CITY
BY SIMPLY HAVING A HOTEL HAS A
LANDLORD, YOU ARE IMPOSING
INCLUDING THE HOTEL WORKERS
LEGISLATION.
THIS DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.
WE ALL SUPPORT MAKING SURE THE
HARDWORKING EMPLOYEES IN SEATTLE
ARE SAFE FROM HARASSMENT AND
VIOLENCE.
AS YOU KNOW, THE STATE PASSED
PANIC BUTTON REQUIREMENTS FOR
ALL HOTELS ACROSS WASHINGTON AND
IS GREAT TO SEE THAT THIS ISSUER
HAS ALREADY BEEN ADDRESSED.
AS WE TAKE A CLOSER LOOK, WE SEE
IT IS NOT JUST FOCUSED ON
SAFETY, BUT EXTENDS JOB
RETENTION AND HEALTHCARE
EXPENDITURE REQUIREMENTS TO
NONHOTEL EMPLOYEES AND SMALL
BUSINESSES WITH NO RELATIONSHIP
TO THE HOTEL'S CORE OPERATION.
WHAT IMPACTS ONE RESTAURANT IN
SEATTLE IMPACTS US ALL.
WE ARE A COMMUNITY.
WE ARE JOB CREATORS.
I KNOW DIRECTLY THAT RUNNING A
SMALL BUSINESS, INCLUDING
RESTAURANT IN SEATTLE IS NOT
EASY.
I ALSO KNOW MANY OF YOU SAY YOU
CARE ABOUT SMALL BUSINESSES, AND
I THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
SO WE HAVE SONIA, ROSEMARY.
I'M GOING TO TRY THIS.
I APOLOGIZE ANYONE KNOWS ANYBODY
FROM LULE, THANK YOU FOR READING
MY MIND AND THEN MICHAEL CLARK,
APPRECIATE YOUR UNDERSTANDING.
HI, WELCOME.
>> HI.
MY NAME IS SONIA.
I'M A HOUSEKEEPER.
HOTEL WORKERS NEED THIS
PROTECTION BECAUSE -- AND WE
HAVE FOUGHT FOR A LONG TIME TO
GET THEM.
HOUSEKEEPING IS A VERY DIFFICULT
JOB.
HOUSEKEEPERS ARE HELPING IN
INJURIES BECAUSE WE ARE REQUIRED
TO DO TOO MANY ROOMS IN A SHORT
AMOUNT OF TIME.
MY MOM AND I BOTH ARE WORKERS,
WORK AS HOUSEKEEPERS AND I DID
THE JOB EVEN WHILE I WAS
PREGNANT WITH MY DAUGHTER ZOEY
BECAUSE I NEED TO WORK AND
SUPPORT MY FAMILY.
WE HAVE LIMITS ON THE NUMBER OF
ROOMS.
WE ARE REQUIRED TO CLEAN BECAUSE
WE HAVE A UNION, BUT ALL HOTEL
WORKERS NEED THE SAME
PROTECTIONS.
HOUSEKEEPING IS ALSO A DANGEROUS
JOB.
WE HAVE NEVER KNOW IF A GUEST
WILL COME BACK TO THEIR ROOM OR
WHAT THEY MIGHT DO.
WITHOUT THIS LAW IN PLACE, WE
ALSO DON'T KNOW WHAT OUR BOSS
MIGHT DO IF WE REPORT SEXUAL
HARASSMENT.
HOTEL COMPANIES ARE TAKING PANIC
BUTTONS AND SEXUAL HARASSMENT
SERIOUSLY, BUT THEY ARE ONLY
DOING IT BECAUSE WORKER HAVE
PUSHING IT IN.
WE NEED TO KEEP PUSHING THEN TO
TAKE ACTION AND KEEP THEIR
EMPLOYEES SAFE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
ROSEMARY ALEGRIA, FOLLOWED BY
OUR FRIEND, AND THEN MICHAEL
CLARK FOLLOWED BY STEVE
VESCOSKY.
WE WILL GIVE THE FULL TIME FOR
TRANSLATION AS WELL BECAUSE IT'S
IN SIMULTANEOUS, SO WE WILL DO
THREE MINUTES, RECOGNIZING A
MINUTE 30 AS THE AMOUNT YOU ARE
SPEAKING FOR.
.
>> GOOD EVENING TO EVERY ONE OF
YOU.
MY NAME IS ROSE MARIE ALEGRIA.
I WORK AT WESTING HOTEL.
I'M A HOUSEKEEPER.
I HAVE BEEN WORKING HERE IN
SEATTLE FOR 10 YEARS.
AND 15 YEARS IN PERU.
HOUSEKEEPING IS ONE OF THE
HARDEST JOBS ANY WOMAN CAN DO,
SPECIFICALLY WOMEN.
BECAUSE IF YOU GO TO DIFFERENT
HOTELS, WE FIND WOMEN DOING
HOUSEWORK.
IN DECEMBER 2016, WE HAD A
LEGISLATION E 154 APPROVED.
THAT LAW BROUGHT US A LOT OF
BENEFIT TO US AS HOUSEKEEPER
WORKERS.
SO I HAVE BEEN WONDERING, WHY IS
IT THROUGH THIS LAW THEY WANT TO
TAKE AWAY ALL THESE BENEFITS.
I FEEL POWERLESS AND UNSECURE AS
A WOMAN, AS A MOTHER.
AND PRECISELY BECAUSE OF THE
PLACE WHERE I WORK, THERE ARE
MANY RISKS AND THROUGH THIS LAW,
I WAS FEELING VERY SECURE AND
PROTECTED.
AND THERE ARE SEVERAL THINGS
THAT I WOULD LIKE TO UNDERSTAND.
ONE OF THOSE IS WHY THERE ARE
PEOPLE WHO WOULD LIKE TO TAKE
AWAY THE BENEFITS OF A WOMAN
WORKER.
THAT BRINGS A SECURITY TO WOMEN
WHO WORK DAY-TO-DAY IN A PLACE
IN SUCH A HARD JOB THAT WE DO.
I HAVE COME HERE REPRESENTING
ALL OF THESE WOMEN WHO WORK IN
HOTELS DOING THIS HARD WORK, TO
ASK YOU TO PLEASE UNDERSTAND
THIS.
HOW WE FEEL AS WOMEN.
IF YOU ARE PLANNING TO REMOVE OR
TAKE AWAY THIS LAW, THIS LAW
THAT BRINGS US BENEFITS AND
SAFETY AND THAT ALLOWS US TO
ACHIEVE EVERYTHING THAT WE NEED
AS WOMEN, WE HAVE A PROBLEM
PROGRAM AT THE HOTEL CALLED
GREEN CHOICE.
THIS ALLOWS THE CLIENTS TO GO
INTO THE ROOM SO THAT THEY
WOULDN'T NEED TO HAVE DAILY
SERVICE.
>> WE ARE SHORT ON TIME.
AND THANK YOU FOR THE TIME THAT
YOU HAVE GIVEN TO ME.
THIS IS ALL THAT I WANT TO ASK
TO EACH ONE OF YOU.
WE NEED RIGHTS THAT BENEFIT
WOMEN WORKERS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
ROSEMARY, WELCOME.
I'M SORRY IF I MISPRONOUNCED
YOUR NAME.
FOLLOWED BY MICHAEL CLARK AND
STEVE AND MAURICE DERAS.
>> HELLO.
MY NAME IS TERRY ROCHERO.
>> TERRY.
>> YES.
>> PEOPLE SOMETIMES CALL ME
TERRY.
>> OR CHEF IN THE HAT.
I'M THE OWNER OF LULU KITCHEN
AND BAR.
I HAVE HAD MY BUSINESS DOWNTOWN
FOR ABOUT FIVE AND A HALF YEARS.
I EMPLOY ABOUT 59 PEOPLE AND
CURRENTLY LEASE THE SPACE IN THE
SHERATON GRAND AND MY RELATION
WITH THE HOTEL.
I HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH HOTEL
HOUSEKEEPING, AND I'M DEFINITELY
BACKING UP THE NEED OF
PROTECTING ANYONE WHO IS WORKING
AT ANY PLACE, SO I'M ON THE BALL
WITH THAT ONE.
I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND --
AND I READ THROUGH THE
HEALTHCARE REQUIREMENT, AND I
CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY YOU WOULD
FORCE MY SMALL BUSINESS TO PAY
UP ALL THE WAY TO 1680 FOR PART
TIME EMPLOYEE PER MONTH.
I'M CONFUSED ABOUT WHY I'M HERE
TONIGHT IN TERMS OF TRYING TO
UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU GUYSES ARE
TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH HERE.
SO IT COULD BE VERY HELPFUL IF
IT COULD BE CONCISELY SAID THAT
WHAT YOU ARE TRYING TO
ACCOMPLISH AND HOW, BECAUSE I
DON'T KNOW THAT I SHOULD BE
INVOLVED WITH THIS.
AND I CERTAINLY DON'T LIKE IT
WHATSOEVER.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
LET'S GET BACK TO WORK.
>> THANK YOU.
WELCOME.
>> GOOD EVENING.
MY NAME IS MICHAEL CLARK.
I'M THE GENERAL MANAGER OF THE
RENAISSANCE SEATTLE HOTEL AND
SERVE ON THE BOARD OF THE
SEATTLE HOTEL ASSOCIATION.
I HAVE WORKED IN THE HOSPITALITY
INDUSTRY FOR 31 YEARS.
I STARTED MY CAREER AS A
DISHWASHER, BUSBOY, BUS PERSON,
SERVER, WORKED UP ALL THE WAY
THROUGH THE RANKS UNTIL THE TIME
I BECAME A GENERAL MANAGER.
I WORK VERY HARD EVERY DAY TO
FOSTER A CULTURE OF FAIRNESS,
COMMUNICATION AND RESPECT WITHIN
THE HOTEL.
I'M PROUD TO SUPPORT THE 250
HOTEL EMPLOYEES THAT WE HAVE AT
RENAISSANCE SEATTLE.
I THINK OF THEM AS FAMILY.
I'M INTERESTED IN THEM BOTH
PERSONALLY, PROFESSIONALLY,
THEIR WELL-BEING MEANS MORE TO
ME THAN ANYTHING THEY DO IN
THEIR WORKDAY.
THIS LEGISLATION IS ABOUT FAR
MORE THAN PANIC BUTTONS, AS WE
ALL KNOW.
THE LAW REQUIRES AN ARBITRARY
CASH EXPENDITURE TO PROVIDE
ACCESS TO MEDICAL CARE AND HOW
MUCH YOU SPEND DOES NOT
DETERMINE THE QUALITY OF
COVERAGE.
I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING
IMPORTANT FOR THE COUNCIL TO
CONSIDER.
WE SHOULD BE TALKING ABOUT THE
TYPE OF COVERAGE AND NOT THE
COST.
IT'S TIME TO PAUSE AND GET THIS
RIGHT.
WE ARE HAPPY TO PAY OVERTIME FOR
HOURS WORKED.
BUT THERE IS NO INDUSTRY THAT
PAYS OVERTIME FOR THE ENTIRE DAY
BECAUSE SOMEONE GOES OVER 1%.
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT HOTEL
EMPLOYEES, BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT
THIS LEGISLATION IS ABOUT.
IT'S TIME TO PAUSE AND GET THIS
RIGHT.
IT'S FAR MORE SWEEPING THAN
HOTELS.
WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE SMALL
BUSINESSES THAT WORK WITHIN THE
HOTELS AND THIS WAS JUST
INTRODUCED LAST MONDAY.
I KNOW YOU ARE GOING ON
VACATION, BUT WE DON'T WANT A
REPEAT ON WHAT'S WORKING IN OUR
COURT SYSTEM.
IT'S TIME TO PAUSE AND GET THIS
RIGHT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THE NEXT PERSON WE HAVE SHOULD
BE STEVE.
STEVE FROM HYATT, NORIS, AND
FOLLOWED BY JESSICA.
>> HI, HOW ARE YOU, I'M STEVE
AND I'M THE GRAND MANAGER OF THE
GRAND HYATT AND HYATT ELEVATE.
I HAVE BEEN PART OF THE INDUSTRY
FOR 40 YEARS, ALL OF IT WITH
HYATT.
TODAY IS MY 40TH ANNIVERSARY.
I'M PROUD TO BE WITH THE COMPANY
AND, YOU KNOW, I TAKE OFFENSE OF
SMALL BUSINESS OR LARGE.
WE ARE ALL VERY IMPORTANT TO THE
VITAL ECONOMY OF SEATTLE.
AND I ALSO TAKE OFFENSE TO HOW
IT HAS BEEN AT LEAST PORTRAYED
THAT WE DON'T CARE ABOUT OUR
EMPLOYEES.
EVERYTHING I STAND FOR,
EVERYTHING OUR COMPANY STANDS
FOR SURROUNDS OUR EMPLOYEES.
WE WERE VOTED ON THE BUSINESS
JOURNAL AS THE 4TH BEST PLACE TO
WORK IN SEATTLE.
THAT DIDN'T CUMBIE ITSELF.
THAT WAS NOT AN IN-HOUSE.
THAT WAS AN OUTSIDE SERVICE THAT
PROVIDED THAT.
EVERYTHING WE DO IS ABOUT THE
EMPLOYEES.
AND WHEN THIS WHOLE INITIATIVE
START AND IT WENT THROUGH, IT
WAS ABOUT THE PANIC BUTTONS.
FROM THAT STANDPOINT YOU WILL
FIND A UNANIMOUS APPROVAL FROM
THE HOTEL ASSOCIATION THAT THE
SAFETY AND SECURITY OF OUR
EMPLOYEES IS OF THE PARAMOUNT.
WE SUPPORT THE PANIC BUTTONS AND
THAT HAS BEEN ECHOED WITH THE
VOICES YOU HAVE HEARD.
NOT ONLY THAT, BUT IT GOES
BEYOND THAT.
AND WE'RE TALK ABOUT THE ADJUNCT
BUSINESSES, THOSE ARE PART OF
OUR NETWORK OF FAMILY.
WE SUPPORT LOCAL ENDEAVORS TO
MAKE SURE THAT THEY CAN GIVE THE
FLAVOR OF SEATTLE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> PLEASE, PLEASE TAKE A LOOK
AT THIS BECAUSE WE ARE MAKING
WAY TOO RUSH DECISION.
WE HAVE TO SIT DOWN, UNDERSTAND
WHAT IT IS.
IT'S AFFECTING SMALL AND LARGE
BUSINESSES.
IT'S ABOUT THE ECONOMY.
>> THANK YOU, STEVE.
NEXT WE HAVE NORIS ADERIS
FOLLOWED BY LOU.
DO WE HAVE FOLKS THAT HAVE COME
FROM DOWNSTAIRS THAT WE ARE
WAITING FOR POTENTIALLY?
NORIS DERAS?
WELCOME.
GO AHEAD AND TAKE ANY MICROPHONE
YOU PREFER.
>> .
GO AHEAD.
>> OKAY.
HI, MY NAME IS RULA, I'M FROM
EAST AFRICA, EMPLOY AT AGE WATER
HOTEL.
I WORK IN THE HOUSEKEEPING
DEPARTMENT.
I TALK, I'M ASKING FOR THE
HISPANIC BUTTON, WHATEVER
HOUSEKEEPING WE NEED.
I KNOW ALL OF YOU GUYS, ALL OF
THEM TALKING ABOUT THE MONEY,
HOW THEY WILL AFFORD US MORE
BUSINESS.
WHAT ABOUT US?
WE NEED -- TOO.
WE NEED SAFETY.
WE DON'T DO SOMETHING TO MAKE
THEM SUFFER OR SOMETHING TO MAKE
THEM PAY MONEY, WHATEVER.
BUT EVERYONE -- SAFETY, WE DO A
GOOD JOB MORE AND MORE GUESTS
COMING.
THEY MAKE IT.
BUT THE THING, THIS IS THINKING
ABOUT US TOO.
NOT ONLY ABOUT YOU.
AND BUSINESS, MAYBE MONEY COST,
WHAT ABOUT US?
WE BE HUMAN BEINGS, WE ARE HUMAN
TOO.
WE ARE WOMAN.
WE NEED PROTECTION.
THIS I 24 WE NEED IT.
STILL YOU GUYS FIGHTING FOR US,
NOT TO GIVE US SOME OF YOU.
SOME OF YOU GIVE US BAD -- UNTIL
I GET ACCIDENT OVER THERE.
SO I NEED THIS ONE HOTEL MEMBER
OR NOT HOTEL MEMBER OR UNION
MEMBER OR NOT UNION MEMBER, WE
NEED IT.
SO, PLEASE, YOU LISTEN TO US AND
DON'T FIGHT ON US YOU GUYS,
PLEASE, WE STILL HUMAN BEING.
EVEN WE ARE IMMIGRANTS HERE.
WE DESERVE THIS I 24.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT WE HAVE JESSICA HORTON
FOLLOWED BY JERAMI, FOLLOWED BY
RICARDO ORTEGA AND THEN MACK MA
GRAT.
DID I MISPRONOUNCE THAT?
DO WE HAVE JESSICA HERE?
OKAY.
I'M GOING TO GO PAST JESSICA.
JERAMI ODDEN?
NO JERAMI.
OH, JERAMI, GREAT.
THANK YOU.
DIDN'T SEE YOU BACK THERE.
WELCOME.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE
COUNSEL FOR THEIR -- I WOULD
LIKE TO THANK THE COUNSEL FOR
THEIR HARD WORK ON THIS ISSUE.
MY NAME IS JERAMI ODEN.
I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF IOTSY
LOCAL 15.
LOCAL 15 STANDS FOR THEIR FIGHT
FOR BASIC PROTECTIONS SUCH AS
ANTI-HARASSMENT MEASURES, SAFE
WORKLOADS AND HEALTHCARE.
WE BELIEVE THAT IT'S
REPREHENSIBLE THAT THESE
MULTIBILLION HOTEL CHAINS
BELIEVE THAT THEIR WORKERS, THE
PEOPLE WHO MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR
THEIR HOTELS TO EVEN EXIST
AREN'T WORTH HEALTHCARE AND
HUMANE WORKING CONDITIONS.
THESE EMPLOYERS CAN EASILY
AFFORD TO GIVE THESE PROTECTIONS
TO THEIR WORKERS.
THEY ARE VENTING BENNIES TO THE
EXPENSE OF THE HARD WORKERS THAT
MAKE THE MAGIC HAPPEN.
IOTSY KNOWS ABOUT MAKING THE
MAGIC HAPPEN.
WE ARE STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH
OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS
REPRESENTED AND UNREPRESENTED
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
REALLY APPRECIATE YOU BEING
HERE, JERAMI.
RICARDO?
HI.
>> HI, GOOD AFTERNOON.
MY NAME IS RICARDO ORTEGO.
I'M WITH -- QUALITY LEADERSHIP
AND ORGANIZATION.
WE ARE AN ORGANIZATION OF PEOPLE
OF COLOR AND WOMEN WHO ARE
FIGHTING TO IMPROVE THE WORKING
AND LIVING CONDITIONS IN OUR
COMMUNITY.
I AM HERE TO SUPPORT THE WORKERS
FROM THE HOTEL INDUSTRY
THE WOMEN ARE FACES VIOLENCE,
HARASSMENT AND MORE THAN HALF
WILL NOT REPORT BECAUSE THEY ARE
AFRAID OF RETALIATION, NOT BEING
BELIEVED AND ALSO THESE WORKERS
NEED OUR SUPPORT OF THE CITY,
OUR COMMUNITY.
ALSO WE HAVE THE POWER AND YOU
HAVE THE POWER AND POLITICAL AND
MORAL RESPONSIBILITY TO STOP THE
HOTEL INDUSTRY TO CONTINUE TO
ACCOMMODATE SEXUAL HARASSMENT
AND VIOLENCE AT THE EXPENSE OF
THE HOTEL WORKERS.
THIS LEGISLATION IS SUPPOSED TO
SEND STRONG MEASURES TO THE
HOTELS -- AND WHEN THE HOTEL HAS
PERPETRATE VIOLENCE, TAKE ACTION
BAN AGAINST THE PERSON WHO
CANNOT RETURN FOR THE HOTEL FOR
A PERIOD OF FIVE YEARS.
BECAUSE OF HEALTHCARE IS ONE OF
THE MAIN REASONS OF THE -- IN
THIS COUNTRY, THIS LEGISLATION
IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT IS
PROVIDING HEALTHCARE ACCESS FOR
HOTEL WORKERS AND THEIR
FAMILIES.
ALSO IT SIMPLIFIES THE
ADMINISTRATION FOR HOTEL
EMPLOYERS AND SOLIDIFY THE LAW
AGAINST LEGAL CHALLENGES FROM
HOTEL INDUSTRY WHILE UPHOLDING
INTENT OF THE ORIGINAL
INITIATIVE.
ALSO I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU
EVERYBODY WHO IS HERE BECAUSE
THIS IS AN ISSUE IMPORTANT FOR
OUR COMMUNITY THAT WE HAVE TO
RESOLVE.
THE HOTEL WORKERS DESERVE NOT
JUST RESPECT, BUT ALSO OUR
SOLIDARITY IN THEIR FIGHT FOR
BETTER WORKING AND LIVING
CONDITIONS.
>> THANK YOU, RICARDO AND HAPPY
TO TAKE YOUR WRITTEN TESTIMONY
TOO.
MACK MAGRATH.
.
>> HONORABLE COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS MACK MCGRAW.
I WISH TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THE
HOTEL WORKER SAFETY ORDINANCES.
REGULATION THAT IS SIDE WITH THE
WORKER IN CASES OF SEXUAL
HARASSMENT AND ASSAULT FROM
GUESTS ARE ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT
FOR MEMBERS OF THE MARGINALIZED,
IMMIGRANTS AND HOTEL WORKERS,
SUCH AS FEAR OF RETALIATION OR
NOT BEING BELIEVED.
THESE ARE THE FEARS OF MY
COWORKER RUIZ WHEN HE WAS AHA
RASZED BY A GUEST IN THE
BREAKFAST RESTAURANT WHERE WE
WORK.
THE GUEST'S RUDE LANGUAGE WAS
WITNESSED BY OTHER WORKERS.
BUT WHEN THE REOFFENDER REAFEAR
PEERED.
ED WE BELIEVED THE MANAGEMENT
COULD NOT BE TRUSTED TO DO THE
RIGHT THING ON THEIR OWN
VOLITION.
LOUISE FELT HE WOULD NEED TO
REPORT SICK TO AVOID THE GUEST.
I WAS ANGRY THE HOTEL'S INACTION
PUT HIM IN THIS POSITION.
INSTEAD WE PERSISTED,
DEMONSTRATING THAT WE KNEW OUR
RIGHTS UNDER THE LAW AND WE
DEMANDED THE GUEST BE BANNED.
IN THE PROCESS WE LEARNED THE
OEVENDER'S HUSBAND WAS A HIGHLY
VALUED DIAMOND MEMBER AND IT WAS
CLEAR WHY MANAGEMENT WAS
DRAGGING THEIR FEET.
THEY WILL ALWAYS SIDE WITH HIGH
RANKING GUESTS OVER US.
BECAUSE OF I 24, WE GOT THE
GUEST REMOVED AND BANNED FROM
THE HOTEL.
HAVING HIM REMOVED AND KNOWING
HE COULDN'T COME BACK, MADE US
ALL FEEL POWERED AND SAFER,
LOUISE ESPECIALLY.
WE COULD NOT BE REASSIGNED TO
ANOTHER HOTEL TO AVOID CERTAIN
GUESTS.
THE ONLY WAY TO FEEL SAFE WAS TO
HAVE HIM BANNED FROM RETURNING.
>> THANK YOU.
AND WE ARE HAPPY TO TAKE YOUR
WRITTEN TESTIMONY AS WELL.
WELCOME.
HONG ZING.
>> THANK YOU.
I'M A HOUSEKEEPER IN THE HOTEL
AIRPORT.
I HAVE BEEN WORKING THERE AS
HOUSEKEEPER FOR FIVE YEARS
ALREADY AND IN MY HOTEL, IT IS A
UNION HOTEL AND WE HAVE UNION
HEALTH PLAN.
MY THREE KIDS AND MY HUSBAND,
ALL FIVE OF US ARE COVERED BAH
BECAUSE OF MY UNION PLAN.
IT IS VERY IMPORTANT AND HELPFUL
FOR MY FAMILY.
SO MY FAMILY -- MY HUSBAND CAN
DO FLEXIBLE WORK AND BOTH OF US
CAN LOOK AFTER OUR TWO LITTLE
KIDS SO WE DON'T HAVE BURDEN FOR
THE COMMUNITY AND WE ARE MORE
INDEPENDENCE.
SO IT IS FOR ALL OF OUR WORKERS
INDEPENDENCE SO WE CAN EARN OUR
RESPECT FROM THIS COUNTRY.
WE DON'T WANT TO RELY ON IT.
I JUST HEAR ABOUT THE OWNERS,
THE QUALITY OF THE HEALTH
INSURANCE, THE MONEY
COMPENSATEDED TO THEIR WORKERS,
SO OUR HEALTH PLAN IS VERY
IMPORTANT, THE QUALITY IS
IMPORTANT.
OUR WORKERS ONLY PAY $40 A MONTH
AND EMPLOYER PAYS THE REST OF
THE PREMIUM.
AND THE PHYSICAL IS FREE FOR ALL
OF THE FAMILY MEMBERS AND THERE
IS ONLY $20 FOR COPAY, NO
DEDUCTIBLE AND INSURANCE PAYS
90 AND COVERS VISION AND
DENTAL.
THIS IS PERFECT HEALTH PLAN.
SO IF THEY WORRY ABOUT THE
QUALITY OF THE HEALTH INSURANCE,
IT IS OUR HEALTH PLAN.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
BRIANNA FOLLOWED BY YOSHI,
FOLLOWED BY JERAMI.
THANK YOU.
>> MY NAME IS BRIANNA FOX, I'M
THE MANAGER FOR HOSPITALITY.
WE WORK WITH THREE HOTELS AND
ONE RESTAURANT.
COLLECTIVELY WE EMPLOY OVER 200
PEOPLE IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
ONE OF THE AREAS I'M MOST
CONCERNED BY THESE BILLS IS THE
MINIMUM REQUIRED THE EMPLOYERS
WOULD BE REQUIRED TO PAY.
I DO NOT BELIEVE THE NUMBERS
OUTLINED IN THIS BILL ACCURATELY
REPRESENT ACTUAL COSTS FOR AN
EMPLOYER TO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE
COVERAGE TO THEIR EMPLOYEES.
WE ABSOLUTELY WANT TO CREATE A
SAFE WORKING ENVIRONMENT FOR OUR
EMPLOYEES.
WE WANT TO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE
HIGH QUALITY HEALTHCARE FOR OUR
EMPLOYEES.
I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THIS -- THE
COST OUTLINED IN THIS BILL WOULD
ACHIEVE THAT.
I THINK IT WOULD PUT UNDUE
HARDSHIP ON THE EMPLOYER TO PUT
COST AT THIS COVERAGE.
WE PROVIDE 100% EMPLOYER PAID
GOLD LEVEL COVERAGE TO OUR
EMPLOYEES.
THE EMPLOYEE PAYS NOTHING AND WE
ARE ABLE TO DO THAT $427 PER
EMPLOYEE PER MONTH.
IT IS CLEAR THESE DO NOT
ACCURATELY SHOW WHAT IT COSTS
FOR EMPLOYER TO PAY COVERAGE FOR
EMPLOYEES.
THIS LEGISLATION IS TO
AFFORDABLE MEDICAL COVERAGE AND
TO CREATE A SAFER WORKING
ENVIRONMENT.
I THINK IF THAT WERE TRUE, THE
UNION WOULD NOT BE EXEMPT FROM
THESE BILLS.
.
>> YOSHI, YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED
BY JEREMIAH AND LISA CRUZ AND
SEATTLE RAGING GRANNIES, WHO I
THINK JUST LEFT.
IF THEY CAN HEAR ME, THEY ARE UP
NEXT IF ANYONE WANTS TO GRAB
THEM.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE YOSHI.
>> MY NAME IS YOSHI, AREA
MANAGER FOR THE THREE IHG IN
SEATTLE.
I HAVE BEEN AN EMPLOYEE FOR 23
YEARS.
OF THAT I HAVE BEEN IN
HOUSEKEEPING.
I LOVE HOUSEKEEPING JOB.
IT'S PASSIONATE FOR ME.
I WANT TO MAKE MY EMPLOYEES
HAPPY AND I TAKE PRIDE TO BEING
FAIR TO MY EMPLOYEES.
IT'S -- I'M SURE EVERYONE AGREES
WE PROVIDE NUMBER OF CHECKUS,
NUMBER -- SMALL DETAILS, BUT WE
WANT TO BE FAIR TO EVERYONE AND
THIS INITIATIVE RIGHT NOW IS
PROPOSING THAT WHAT ROOM HASN'T
BEEN CLEANED FOR 2 H HOURS COUNT
AS EXTRANEOUS ROOM BECAUSE
PREVIOUS GUEST PUT A DO NOT
DISTURB SIGN OR HOUSEKEEPER
SUZIE DOESN'T WANT TO GO 5
MINUTES LATER AND WE GET
PENALIZED FOR THAT AND THAT'S
NOT FAIR.
DO YOU GUYS TELL MCDONALD'S HOW
TO MAKE BIG MACKS?
THERE IS NO RULE ON THAT ONE, SO
WHY DOES THE HOTEL INDUSTRY GET
PENALIZED BY THAT.
I WANT YOU TO THINK HARD ON THAT
AND BE PATIENT, THINK THROUGH
AND LET US KNOW HOW WE CAN HELP
YOU GUYS.
WE ARE HERE.
MAKE SURE EMPLOYEES ARE SAFE AND
HAPPY AT WORK.
THANK YOU.
.
>>> THANK YOU, YOSHI.
NEXT WE HAVE JEREMIAH FOLLOWED
BY LISA CRUISE AND RAGING
GRANNIES AND FOLLOWED BY
KIMBERLY SPICE.
>> GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL
MEMBERS, MY NAME IS JEREMIAH.
I WORK IN THE RESTAURANT, HOTEL
INDUSTRY FOR 15 YEARS NOW.
I TELL YOU, IT'S HARD TO FIND A
FULL-TIME GOOD PAYING JOB THAT
OFFERS BENEFITS.
AT TIMES I HAD FOUR PART-TIME
JOBS TO SUPPORT MY FAMILY.
I HAVE BEEN A RESTAURANT SERVER,
BANQUET BARTENDER, BARTENDER,
ROOM SUPERVISOR.
CURRENTLY AT THE EDGEWATER HOTEL
FOR 13 YEARS.
IT IS ABOUT 3 YEARS THAT I HAVE
BEEN ABLE TO GET ENOUGH HOURS
IT'S MY ONLY JOB.
IT OFFERS MEDICAL BENEFITS IF
THE EMPLOYEE MAKES 80 HOURS A
MONTH.
FOR THIS PAST YEAR EVEN
MAINTAINING 80 HOURS AVERAGE IS
IMPOSSIBLE: THERE WERE TWO,
THREE MONTHS I LOST MY
INSURANCE.
THIS IS MY STORY WITH 13 YEARS
HISTORY WITH A UNION HOTEL.
PREDOMINANTLY NONUNION HOTEL
MARKET SUPPOSED TO GET HEALTH
INSURANCE.
WE CAN WORK 60 HOURS AND STILL
NOT HAVE ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE
BENEFITS.
THAT IS WHY IT IS SO IMPORTANT
HEALTHCARE ACCESS BE MADE TO
EMPLOYEES MAKE 80 HOURS AND
HOTEL ANCILLARY GET IT AS WELL.
DISQUALIFYING A VAST MAJORITY OF
WORKERS WHO WORK THE SAME HOURS
I DO.
DON'T FORGET HOTEL HOURS CAN AND
DO DISTRIBUTE SHIFTS TO AVOID
MEETING THE HEALTHCARE.
THIS WOULD PROVIDE ANOTHER
INCENTIVE FOR HOTELS TO
OUTSOURCE THEIR OPERATIONS.
THIS WOULD DENY MORE OF US TO
HEALTH INSURANCE.
DO NOT FORGOT ABOUT US, BANQUETS
AND HOTEL WORKERS DESERVE DIGIT
DIGITTY FOR THE HOTEL WORKERS.
>> THANK YOU, JEREMIAH.
LISA CRUZ?
HI, LISA.
>> HI, GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.
I'M LISA CRUZ.
I'M WORKING AT THE EMBASSY SUITE
HOUSEKEEPING.
I REALLY SUPPORT THIS LAW
BECAUSE I AM A SINGLE MOM AND I
GET PAID FOR MY WORKERS, SO WE
ALL KNOW HOTEL IS LIKE
HOSEKEEPING HEART OF THE HOTEL.
SO IF YOU CARE FOR THE GUESTS IN
THE HOTEL, WE REALLY CARE TOO.
THAT'S WHY WE WORK HARDER, EVEN
WE GET THE RELIEF PAIN BECAUSE
THIS JOB IS NOT EASY.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, LISA.
DO WE HAVE SEATTLE RAGING
GRANNIES?
I THINK WE WOULD SEE THEM IF
THEY ARE IN THE AUDIENCE.
THEY MAY HAVE LEFT.
WHILE WE TAKE A QUICK PAUSE TO
WE WANT TO LET DOWNSTAIRS KNOW
WE MAYBE HAVE 8 SEATS UP HERE,
IF YOU DO WANT TO COME UP, WE
HAVE SOME SPOTS.
KIMBERLY, IS THAT YOU?
THANKS FOR BEING HERE.
>> I'M KIMBERLY SPICE AND I'M
THE OWNER OF BISCUIT BIP.
>>> YOU TESTIFIED HERE BEFORE.
THIS MIGHT BE A FIRST FOR
SEATTLE CHANNEL TO HEAR THIS
LANGUAGE.
WE CAN START YOUR TIME OVER,
KIMBERLY.
>> THANK YOU.
I HAVE OWNED AND OPERATED MY
BUSINESS IN SEATTLE.
I HAVE 52 EMPLOYEES NOW AND I
LEASE A SPACE IN THE BELLTOWN
INN AND THAT IS THE EXTENT OF MY
BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE
HOTEL.
I HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH HOTEL
HOUSEKEEPING AND I DON'T
UNDERSTAND THE REASON ANCILLARY
BUSINESSES ARE INCLUDED IN THIS
LEGISLATION.
NOW, I DO BELIEVE IN TAKING CARE
OF MY EMPLOYEES AND I BELIEVE IN
PROTECTIONS FOR THE
HOUSEKEEPERS.
I FULLY SUPPORTED THE MINIMUM
WAGE LAW.
I BELIEVE EVERYONE HAS A RIGHT
TO HEALTH INSURANCE.
I STAND FOR THE HOUSEKEEPERS AND
THE HOTEL WORKERS.
AND I WANT THEM TO HAVE THEIR
PROTECTIONS AND THEIR
HEALTHCARE, BUT I CAN'T
UNDERSTAND WHY MY SMALL BUSINESS
IS BEING BROUGHT INTO THIS.
I CURRENTLY PAY 75% OF THE COST
FOR HEALTHCARE FOR MY STAFF AND
THAT IS ONLY $470 A MONTH FOR AN
EXCELLENT KEISER GOLD PLAN WITH
DENTAL AND VISION TO ALL
EMPLOYEES WORKING 20 OR MORE
HOURS PER WEEK.
I MATCH -- I HAVE A 3%
RETIREMENT PLAN MATCH.
I DO PROFIT SHARING BONUS.
I SHARE ALL THE PROFIT OVER
SUMMER.
CLOSED OVER CHRISTMAS AND NEW
YEAR'S AND EVERYBODY GETS A PAID
VACATION.
IN ORDER TO BE FAIR FOR ALL 52
OF MY EMPLOYEES I WOULD HAVE TO
PAY THE HIGHEST COST FOR
EVERYONE WHICH WOULD FORCE ME TO
TAKE AWAY THE OTHER BENEFITS WE
OFFER.
WE HAVE A TWO AND A HALF YEAR
RETENTION RATE.
WE HAVE HAPPY EMPLOYEES.
I DON'T WANT TO DO THAT, SO THAT
WOULD FORCE ME TO VACATE MY
LEASE AT BELLTOWN INN.
WHAT I AM HERE TO ASK YOU IS
PLEASE REWRITE THIS LEGISLATION
TO TAKE THE NONHOTEL EMPLOYEES
AND SMALL BUSINESSES LIKE MINE
OUT OF IT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
KIMBERLY.
NEXT WE HAVE BRANDY MITCHELL,
FOLLOWED BY SELANO, FOLLOWED BY
EARNNY BERTON.
SORRY AGAIN ABOUT THE
PRONUNCIATION.
I FEEL LIKE GORGE W. BUSH UP
HERE.
FEEL FREE TO CORRECT ME.
BRANDY MITCHELL, FOLLOWED BY
STELANO.
BRANDY, DID I GET YOUR NAME
RIGHT.
>> YOU DID.
I'M AREA MANAGER OF IHG
PROPERTIES IN SEATTLE.
WE AGREE WITH HOTEL EMPLOYEES
NEED TO BE SAFE.
THEY NEED TO BE PROTECTED SO WE
DON'T DISAGREE WITH THAT AT ALL.
WE HAVE PROCESSES AND PROCEDURES
AND TRAINS TO HELP OUR STAFF
AVOID INJURIES.
THAT WAS PART IN THE
LEGISLATION.
IF INJURY DOES OCCUR TO A TEAM
MEMBER WE TAKE THAT SERIOUSLY.
WE WANT THEM TO REPORT IT.
WE WANT THEM TO GO TO THE
HOSPITAL AND BE LOOKED AT.
AND THERE IS AN EXISTING SYSTEM
TO COVER THOSE SITUATIONS.
THEY ARE COVERED BY OUR WORKMAN
COMP STATION CLAIMS.
THAT'S IN ADDITION TO THE
HEALTHCARE WE ALREAD PROVIDE TO
OUR STAFF.
THE LEGISLATION REQUIRES
OVERTIME FOR ALL HOURS WORKED,
EVEN IF THE EMPLOYEE EXCEEDS THE
MANDATORY MINIMUM WORKLOAD BY
ONE SQUARE FOOT.
WE ARE HAPPY TO PAY OVERTIME,
BUT THIS IS EXTREME FOR OUR
BUSINESSES AND CAUSES A LOT OF
UNNECESSARY TRACK RECORDKEEPING
FOR THE STAFF AND WHATNOT.
AND WE JUST WANT YOU TO BE
THOUGHTFUL IN THIS PROCESS FOR
EVERYONE, THE EMPLOYEES,
BUSINESSES AND SMALL BUSINESSES.
>> THANK YOU.
STELIANO FOLLOWED BY ERNIE
FOLLOWED BY BRIAN, LOOKS LIKE A
GROUP, BRIAN, SHEILA AND A TEAM
FROM MEDITERRANEAN INN.
HI.
>> HI AGAIN.
MY NAME IS STELIANO.
I WORK AT EMBASSY SUITES
DOWNTOWN.
WE CAME YEARS AGO AND REALIZE
SEATTLE NEEDS JOB MANAGEMENT.
AS WE ARE TALKING, I'M HAVING
FIVE DAYS OFF THIS WEEK AND FOUR
OF THEM LAST WEEK.
I PAY CRAZY EXPENSIVE MEDICAL
PLAN SUCH AS FOR LAST YEAR $156
PER PAYCHECK, $312 PER MONTH,
WHICH MEANS 3,754 PER YEAR.
THIS YEAR I CHANGE TO A CHEAPER
ONE, 111 PER PAYCHECK, 222 PER
MONTH, $2,664 PER YEAR, SO I CAN
SAVE LIKE 1,000 PER YEAR.
NOW IT'S GOING TO BE 1200 PER
MONTH.
MY TOTAL MEDICAL EXPENSES LAST
YEAR WITHOUT INCLUDING THE
MEDICINE OR DRUGS WERE $3,500.
I EVEN HAVE PAYCHECK WITH ME
FROM LAST YEAR, WHICH IS $73.
$73 FOR MY FULL-TIME JOB.
I'M ONE OF THE FULL TIMERS THERE
AT EMBASSY SUITES THAT NEED TO
WORK AT OTHER DEPARTMENTS,
SERVER, BREAKFAST ATTENDANCE,
DISHWASHER, MOP, SWEEP, AND DEEP
CLEAN JUST TO GET HOURS WHENEVER
IT'S SLOW OR HAVE A SECOND JOB,
WHICH I DO.
AND THIS INFORMATIONS I HAVE
WITH ME, INCLUDING THE BILLS,
CAN BE VERIFIED AND THERE WE
NEED TO CHANGE.
I DON'T HAVE ANY WIFE AND KIDS,
SO I CAN GET BENEFITS FROM THEM.
BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN I DON'T
HAVE A FAMILY BACK HOME.
SO I SAY BEFORE SEATTLE NEEDS
CONTROL OF JOBS AND ESPECIALLY
IN THE HOTELS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
ERNIE BURTON, FOLLOWED BY THE
GROUP FROM MEDITERRANEAN INN AND
THEN GEORGE CRONE.
>> MY NAME IS ERNIE BURTON I
WORK AT THE EDGEWATER HOTEL PART
TIME AND I HELP SUPPORT ALL THE
UNION MEMBERS AROUND TOWN FOR
ALL WHAT THEY DO AND WHAT THEY
ARE DOING IN THE HOTEL INDUSTRY.
AND I'M TURNING IT OVER TO JOSE.
>> OKAY.
GREAT.
>> THANK YOU, ERNIE AND I'M
HERE STANDING WITH NORTHWEST
RICE PROJECT AND WE WANTED TO
EXPRESS OUR SUPPORT FOR THE
LEGISLATION AND HERE IN
SOLIDARITY WITH ERNIE.
MANY OF OUR CLIENTS ARE PEOPLE
WHO SURVIVED DOMESTIC VIOLENCE,
SEXUAL ASSAULT AND OTHER CRIMES
AND WE HAVE HAD A NUMBER OF
CLIENTS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED
SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND SEXUAL
ASSAULT IN THEIR WORKPLACE, SO
WE WANT TO APPRECIATE THE WORK
THAT COUNCIL HAS DONE IN THIS
ISSUE AND SUPPORT THE
LEGISLATION ALONG WITH ERNIE
HERE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
IF THE GROUP FROM MEDITERRANEAN
INN IS HERE.
>> MY TEAM IS STILL --
>> YOU NEED A MINUTE?
YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.
CAN WE GO WITH GEORGE CRONE?
HI, THANKS FOR BEING HERE.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
GOOD EVENING.
THANK YOU FOR HEARING ME.
AS BEEN THE THEME HERE, MY
NAME -- I'M SORRY.
GORGE CHRONIC, I'M THE GENERAL
MANAGER AT THE HOTEL 1,000.
A LOT OF US HAVE COME UP THROUGH
THE BUSINESS, OBVIOUSLY, AND,
YOU KNOW, WE CONTINUE TO TALK
ABOUT EMPLOYEE SAFETY, WHICH
OBVIOUSLY IS CRUCIALLY IMPORTANT
TO EVERY ONE OF US.
I STAND IN FRONT OF MY GROUP OF
EMPLOYEES ON A DAILY BASIS, AND
I WILL TALK THROUGH MAKING SURE
THAT THEY ARE CLOSING DOORS
BEHIND THEM, MAKING SURE THEY
HAVE EVERYTHING THEY NEED TO BE
SUCCESSFUL IN THEIR DAILY JOB.
BUT, YOU KNOW, THE -- AND
OBVIOUSLY WE WANT TO PROVIDE
HEALTHCARE, THE HEALTHCARE
THAT'S BEING PROPOSED, THE
DOLLAR AMOUNT IS -- EXCEEDS WHAT
IS NECESSARY TO GET QUALIFIED
HEALTH INSURANCE.
OF COURSE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE
THEY HAVE QUALIFIED HEALTH
INSURANCE, SOMETHING THEY CAN
ALL AFFORD.
YOU KNOW, WE CONTINUE TO TALK
ABOUT THE OVERTIME.
THE OVERTIME, YOU KNOW, FOR ONE
PORTION OVER THAT SQUARE FOOTAGE
IS JUST -- YOU KNOW, TO PAY A
FULL DAY'S OVERTIME IS SOMETHING
THAT WE JUST, YOU KNOW, IS JUST
TOO MUCH.
WE REALLY NEED TO, YOU KNOW,
LOOK AT HOW WE ARE IMPACTING.
YOU KNOW, WE TALK ABOUT SMALL
BUSINESS.
WE TALK ABOUT HOTELS.
WE REALLY NEED TO LOOK AND MAKE
SURE WE ARE DOING THE RIGHT
THING FOR ALL PARTIES.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
AFTER THE MEDITERRANEAN INN, WE
WILL BE HEARING FROM NICOLE
KEENAN AND TOBIAS GRILL AND JIM
GREGORSON.
>> HI.
WE ARE THE MEDITERRANEAN ILLINI
AND BELLTOWN INN.
I THOUGHT IF WE WERE A GROUP WE
WOULD GET MORE.
>> SINCE WE TOOK 30 SECONDS
OFF, WE WILL TAKE A MINUTE OFF
THE ENTIRE TIME.
SO YOU HAVE 4 MINUTES.
>> WE ARE ALSO THE
MEDITERRANEAN INN AND THE
BELLTOWN INN.
WHICH WILL NOT BE IF THIS
LEGISLATION PASSES AS IS.
I STARTED THE INDUSTRY IN THE
'90s.
I STARTED AS A NIGHT CLERK
OVERNIGHT GRAVEYARD.
I WORKED DAY SHIFT, EVENING
SHIFT.
I CLEANED HUNDREDS OF ROOMS.
I HAVE DONE HUNDREDS OF HOURS OF
MAINTENANCE.
EVERY SINGLE MEMBER ON MY TEAM
STARTED AS AN ENTRY LEVEL
EMPLOYEE, ONE OF THE
BUREAUCRACIES LEFT.
I'M DEEPLY OFFENDED AT THE
ATTITUDE YOU THINK WE HAVE
TOWARDS OUR TEAM AND I HAVE
INVITED EACH OF YOU INDIVIDUALLY
EXCEPT MS. SWAN TO CUMBIE THE
PROPERTY, GET A FULL TOUR, SEE
HOW THE BUSINESS WORKS AND TALK
TO THE EMPLOYEES AND EDUCATE
YOURSELVES.
WE HAVE NEVER BEEN ASKED TO
PARTICIPATE IN THIS LEGISLATION
AND YOU ARE ON AN EXPRESS TRAIN
RUN WITH IT.
BOTH HOTELS ARE SMALL FAMILY
OWNED HOTELS THAT HAVE ALREADY
TAKEN TWO, 300,000 ADDITIONAL
EXPENSES WITH SOME OF THE
LEGISLATION YOU GUYS HAVE PASSED
WITHOUT CONSULTING US IN ANY
MEANINGFUL WAY.
WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT NOW
IS ANOTHER 500, 600000 A YEAR.
NOT WHAT IT COSTS TO PROVIDE
QUALITY INSURANCE, BUT YOU ARE
NOT INTERESTED IN THAT.
AT ANY RATE, THIS SMALL FAMILY
OWNED BUSINESSES LIKE OURS --
AND BY THE WAY, THESE FAMILIES
HAVE OWNED THESE SINCE THEY
BUILT THEM FROM THE GROUND UP.
SMALL COMPANIES LIKE US WILL
DISAPPEAR AND YOU WILL BE LEFT
WITH WHAT YOU WANT, NO FAMILY
BUSINESSES WITHIN THE CITY
LIMITS.
WE CERTAINLY WON'T HAVE COFFEE
SHOPS OR RESTAURANTS OR THINGS
LIKE THAT IN HOTELS AND THESE
THAT PAY RENT AND MORTGAGES AND
TAKE CARE OF THEIR FAMILIES ON
THESE JOBS WON'T HAPPEN AND
EVERY PERSON ON OUR TEAM HAS AN
OPPORTUNITY IN OUR BUSINESSES.
IT'S GROSSLY UNFAIR, HAPPENING
MUCH TOO QUICK AND HAPPENING
WITHOUT ANY MEANINGFUL INPUT
FROM THE REAL STAKE HOLDERS AND
I STILL EXTEND THAT INVITATION
IF YOU WANT TO EDUCATE
YOURSELVES ON WHAT GOES ON.
WE HAD PANIC BUTTONS.
I PUT THEM IN IN "99, 2000, WE
TAKE CARE OF OUR PEOPLE.
WE DON'T HAVE THE CONTEMPT FORM
YOU GUYS SEEM TO THINK WE HAVE.
IT'S REALLY SAD.
.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NICOLE KEENAN, FOLLOWED BY
TOBIAS GIRL AND JIM AND AMANDA
PARSONS.
I WANT TO REMIND YOU FOLKS WE DO
WANT TO ACCOMMODATE GROUPS.
WE DO ASK FOLKS TO HAVE MORE
THAN ONE PERSON SPEAK IF YOU ARE
COMING UP AS A GROUP.
NICOLE AND WE WILL GO THROUGH.
>> HI, MY NAME IS NICOLE.
I AM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF
PUJT SOUND SAGE.
I COME FROM FOUR GENERATIONS OF
BUSINESS OWNERS AND ON TOP OF
THAT I SPENT THE BETTER PART OF
THE LAST 10 YEARS EITHER PASSING
LABOR STANDARDS OR PASSING AND
ENFORCING THEM AND ONE OF THE
THINGS I NOTICED WHEN I WAS
DOING A LOT OF LABOR STANDARDS
ENFORCEMENT WAS ONE OF THE
COMMON TRAITS AND DISSONANCE
BETWEEN EMPLOYEES AND PEOPLE WHO
PAY THEIR PAYCHECKS AT TIMES ARE
AN ASSUMPTION ABOUT THE
RELATIONSHIP.
A LOT OF TIMES I HEAR A LOT OF
BOSSES SAY WE ARE LIKE FAMILY.
WE ARE FAMILY AND I HEAR WORKERS
SAY I'M SO AFRAID OF THEM I
DON'T KNOW HOW TO APPROACH THIS
BECAUSE THEY THINK WE ARE LIKE
FAMILY.
IF YOU COME FROM ANY KIND OF
FAMILY, YOU KNOW FAMILIES OFTEN
HAVE BOUNDARIES THAT ARE
UNCLEAR.
THERE IS A LOT OF TIMES WHEN
MAYBE FAMILIES ARE ABUSIVE.
SO DON'T JUST THINK THAT IS A
GREAT METAPHOR TO TALK ABOUT
WHAT IT MEANS TO HAVE AN
EMPLOYER, EMPLOYEE RELATIONSHIP.
I'M THE BOSS OF 15 PEOPLE.
I WOULD NEVER CALL THEM FAMILY,
BUT I RESPECT THEIR RIGHTS
GREATLY.
I ENCOURAGE THE PASSAGE OF LABOR
LAW AND SUPPORTING WORKERS ANY
WAY WE CAN.
THIS IS VITAL FOR THE PROTECTION
IN PARTICULAR TO WORKERS SUBJECT
TO SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND SEXUAL
ASSAULT.
IT IS RARE THERE IS A FALSE
ACCUSATION, SO STATISTICALLY
RARE THAT THERE IS A FALSE
ACCUSATION, SO ANY TIME A WOMAN
COMES FORWARD, WE HAVE TO
BELIEVE THEM.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, NICOLE.
TBIAS, THANK YOU FOR WAITING
AND JIM, AMANDA PARSONS FOLLOWED
BY DUSTIN AND NATHAN.
>> MY PLEASURE.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE
TODAY.
I'M TOBIAS GIRL.
I'M THE ECONOMIC PROGRAM KOORD
FOR LGBT Q PLUS ECONOMIC JUSTICE
ORGANIZATION REPRESENTING OVER
3700 COMMUNITY MEMBERS HERE IN
THE PUJIT SOUND AREA.
WE WORKED HARD TO PASS 124
BECAUSE HOTEL RIGHTS ARE LGBTQ
RIGHTS AND MORE LIKELY TO
EXPERIENCE THE DISCRIMINATION
THIS LAW IS INTENDED TO COMBAT.
ADDITIONALLY WE WORK CLOSELY
WITH THE WORKERS.
WE HEAR THEIR COMPLAINTS AND
HEAR THEIR LACK OF EDUCATION
AROUND THEIR RIGHTS.
THESE VRY SAME MANAGERS WHO ARE
TALKING ABOUT THEIR WORKERS AS
THEIR FAMILY OFTEN NEGLECT TO
INFORM THEM THAT NICE THINGS
LIKE PANIC BUTTONS ONLY APPEAR
WHEN LAWS ARE PASSED.
THEY DO NOT INFORM THEM THAT
THEY ARE LEGALLY MANDATED.
SO WE CANNOT URGE STRONGLY
ENOUGH THAT OLS ENFORCEMENT BE A
PART OF THIS LAW.
IT HAS BEEN MORE THAN PROVEN
NECESSARY.
WE URGE THE MEMBERS OF THE
HOUSING, HEALTH, ENERGY, AND
WORKERS RIGHTS COMMITTEE AND THE
CITY COUNCIL AS A WHOLE TO STAND
AS HOTEL WORKERS AND SUPPORT
THIS LEGISLATION IN ITS ENTIRETY
ALONG WITH ANY NECESSARY
AMENDMENTS BROUGHT FORWARDY
COMMITTEE CHAIR MOSQUEDA.
WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND
THAT CONCLUDES MY SPEECH ON
BEHALF OF THE REAL STAKE
HOLDERS.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WELCOME, JIM, FOLLOWED BY JIM IS
GOING TO BE AMANDA, DUSTIN AND
THEN NATHAN.
>> MY NAME IS JIM GREG SON I'M
INSURANCE BROKER FOR, PAER SMITH
AND GREEK.
WE SIT DOWN BEHIND CLOSED DOORS
AND HAVE THE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT
WHAT WE FEEL AND WHAT THEY FEEL
IS BEST FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES.
THEY ARE IN A VERY COMPETITIVE
BUSINESS, FINDING TALENT
PARTICULARLY IN THIS MARKET IS
VERY DIFFICULT AND SPEND A LOT
OF TIME AND ENERGY TRYING TO DO
WHAT IS BEST FOR THEIR
EMPLOYEES.
I CAN SAY THAT FROM PERSONAL
EXPERIENCE.
I KNOW EXACTLY HOW THEY THINK
BECAUSE I HAVE SAT DOWN BEHIND
THE CLOSED DOORS THAT I THINK
THERE IS A LOT OF CONCERN ABOUT
THE FOCUS OF THE EMPLOYERS.
I WOULD ALSO SAY THAT THE WAY
THE PRICING IS STRUCTURED IS NOT
REFLECTIVE OF HOW INSURANCE
PRICING REALLY WORKS.
HAVING A FLAT DOLLAR AMOUNT IS
IN FACT PROBABLY THE WORST WAY
TO BUY INSURANCE.
THE APPROPRIATE WAY IS FIND THE
RIGHT LEVEL OF COVERAGE, LOOKING
FOR AFFORDABILITY, LOOKING FOR
QUALITY OF COVERAGE AND MATCHING
THAT WITH WHAT EMENT PLEAS NEED.
I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO SIT
DOWN WITH FOLKS IN THE INSURANCE
BUSINESS, FIGURE OUT HOW PRICES
ARE INDICATE AND DETERMINE IF
THERE IS FAIRNESS IN ALL OF
THIS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
HI, AMANDA.
>> GOOD EVENING.
MY NAME IS AMANDA PARSONS,
GENERAL MANAGER OF THE THOMPSON
SEATTLE.
I WORKED IN THE HOSPITALITY FOR
20 YEARS AND STARTED MY CAREER
AS MANY HAVE HAD TODAY AS A
SERVER IN A FAMILY OWNED
RESTAURANT AND COMMIT MY CAREER
TO THIS INDUSTRY IN A VARIETY OF
ROLES.
IN MY EXPERIENCE THIS
LEGISLATION WILL BRING
ADDITIONAL UNINTENDED
CONSEQUENCES.
THIS IS BEING RUSHED.
THIS INDUSTRY IS UNIQUE BECAUSE
OF ITS INTERDEPENDENCE.
THERE IS NO ONE DEPARTMENT OR
DISCIPLINE THAT CAN SURVIVE
WITHOUT THE OTHERS.
EVERYTHING WE DO DAY IN, DAY OUT
IS AS OF TEAM.
THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT WE CARE
ABOUT OUR EMPLOYEES.
WE WORK TOGETHER EVERY SINGLE
DAY.
WE HAVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH EACH
OTHER.
WE CELEBRATE OUR SUCCESSES AND
LIFE'S MILESTONES.
I SLEEP WITH MY PHONE NEXT TO
THE BED AND ANSWER IT ALL HOURS.
I'M AVAILABLE FOR MY TEAM FOR
ANY REASON.
OUR FOCUS TO SAFETY FOR TEAM
MEMBERS IS BECAUSE WE CARE, NOT
BECAUSE WE HAVE TO.
THIS IS WHY WE HAVE ALREADY
ACCOMPLISHED ANTI-HARASSMENT
POLICIES, SUPPORT COMMITE MEETS
AND HOTEL WIDE SAFETY TRAINING
REGULARLY.
WE ALSO SUPPORTED THE PASSAGE OF
STATEWIDE PANIC BUTTON
REQUIREMENTS AND PROUD TO
PROVIDE THEM TO OUR TEAM
MEMBERS.
HOW MUCH YOU SPEND FOR INSURANCE
DOES NOT DEPEND THE QUALITY.
WE SHOULD BE TALKING ABOUT THE
TYPE OF COVERAGE, NOT THE COST.
THERE ARE LONG TERM IMPACTS THAT
WOULD IMPACT ALL INDUSTRIES AND
THIS HAS NOT BEEN EXPLORED
ENOUGH.
THIS IS RUSHED.
THIS IS ESSENTIALLY LIKE TELLING
THE USED CAR SALESMAN HOW MUCH
YOU HAVE TO SPEND BEFORE THEY
SHOW YOU THEIR CARS.
PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO LEARN
MORE AND UNDERSTAND THE IMPACTS.
WE NEED THAT.
>> THANK YOU, AMANDA.
HI, DUSTAN, FOLLOWING YOU WILL
BE NATHAN, FOLLOWED BY JEREMIAH
AND MACK.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR TERRY AND
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE.
I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF TEAMS
STERS LOCAL 117 AND ALSO ELECTED
PRESIDENT OF THE MARTIN LUTHER
KING LABOR COUNCIL.
>> CONGRATULATIONS.
>> THANK YOU.
THIS LEGISLATION IS NOT RUSHED.
THIS -- WE HAVE HAD THREE
YEARS -- OVER THREE YEARS TO
THINK ABOUT THIS LEGISLATION.
I WAS -- I WAS A VOTER IN 2016,
I GOT MY VOTERS PAMPHLET
STATEMENT AND THE LEGISLATION
INITIATIVE 124 SAID MORE THAN
JUST PANIC BUTTONS.
THIS IS NOT RUSHED.
THIS HAS BEEN THOUGHTFUL.
I KNOW THE HOTEL INDUSTRY CHOSE
NOT TO FIGHT THIS THREE YEARS
AGO BECAUSE THEY KNEW THE
POLLING WAS REALLY BAD.
AND SO NOW YOU ARE TRYING TO --
AND YOU SUED FOR THREE YEARS AND
NOW YOU ARE TRYING TO ENCOURAGE
COUNSEL NOT TO PASS THIS
LEGISLATION.
THIS IS IMPORTANT.
THAT ROOM DOWNSTAIRS IS FULL OF
WOMEN AND PEOPLE OF COLOR WHO
WORK IN YOUR HOTELS AND I JUST
STRONGLY ENCOURAGE YOU-ALL,
MANAGERS FROM THE HOTELS TO
THINK ABOUT OPTICS AND I
UNDERSTAND IT'S THE LAST
MERITOCRACY, BUT MAYBE HAVE SOME
WOMEN AND PEOPLE OF COLOR
PROMOTED TO MANAGEMENT.
THANK YOU: .
>> THANK YOU, DUSTIN.
NATHAN?
OKAY.
FOLKS, ALL RIGHT.
I'M GOING TO SAY THIS, AND I WAS
GOING TO SAVE IT FOR THE END,
BUT I APPRECIATE HOW FOLKS HAVE
BEEN RESPECTFUL TO LET PEOPLE
HAVE THEIR MINUTE AND A HALF.
WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO GO
THROUGH.
I AM FINE WITH APPLAUSES, BUT WE
ARE GOING TO KEEP THIS IN A
RESPECTFUL MANNER.
I KNOW THERE IS THING THAT IS
HAVE BEEN SAID THAT OTHER PEOPLE
DON'T AGREE WITH.
I APPRECIATE THE APPLAUSE, BUT
I'M NOT GOING TO APPRECIATE
BOOS.
>> OKAY.
MY NAME IS NATHAN RODKEY.
I WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS FOR
HAVING ME HERE TODAY.
THIS COUNTRY IS WAY BEHIND ON
HEALTHCARE.
I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT
HEALTHCARE.
WE ARE WAY BEHIND AS A COUNTRY.
IT'S REALLY UNCONSCIONABLE.
MY ORGANIZATION STANDS ON THE
BELIEF THAT HEALTHCARE IS A
HUMAN RIGHT.
I ACTUALLY WANT TO THANK THOSE
OF YOU WHO SHOWED UP THAT ARE
LEADING ON THAT, THAT ARE
PROVIDING GOLD LEVEL INSURANCE
FOR YOUR EMPLOYEES.
THAT'S REALLY COOL.
THAT'S A GOOD THING.
YOU GUYS SHOULD FEEL GOOD ABOUT
THAT AND I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS
HAVE DONE THAT.
HOWEVER, WE WOULDN'T BE HERE
TODAY IF RESTAURANT EMPLOYEES OR
HOTEL EMPLOYEES ALL HAD GREAT
HEALTH INSURANCE.
THEY CLEARLY DON'T.
THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS THAT
PIECE IS IN THAT LEGISLATION.
SO I WANT PEOPLE TO EXAMINE THAT
AS YOU ENGAGE WITH ONE ANOTHER
TO MAKE SURE WE ARE ALL
COLLECTIVELY LEADING ON THIS.
AND I WANT TO APPLAUD FOLKS IN
CITY COUNCIL WHO THE WORKERS AND
EMPLOYEES.
I STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH THEM
BECAUSE I HEAR THE WORD DIGNITY
BEING THROWN AROUND HERE AND I
APPRECIATE EVERYONE SAYING THAT
IN EARNEST ESPECIALLY WHEN IT
COMES TO HEALTH.
NOBODY SHOULD BE MAKING ANY
SORTS OF DECISIONS FOR MEDICAL
CARE, WITH THE FEAR OF THE BILL
IN MIND.SO AGAIN, IF YOU GUYS
ARE SERIOUS ABOUT LEADING ON
HEALTHCARE, MAKE SURE YOU
PRESENT SOMETHING WHERE YOU ARE
ABLE -- WHERE ALL OF YOU ARE
ABLE TO PROVIDE GOLD LEVEL
COVERAGE FOR YOUR EMPLOYEES.
THANKS, EVERYBODY.
>> ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU.
ONE MORE REMINDER, WE HAVE
JEREMIAH, FOLLOWED BY MACK,
FOLLOWED BY KITTY AND AS FOLKS
ARE POTENTIALLY MAKING THEIR WAY
UP FROM DOWNSTAIRS, I WANT TO
ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO DIRECT
YOUR COMMENTS TO US, AS CITY
COUNCIL MEMBERS.
THAT'S SOMETHING WE HAVE DONE IN
THE PAST AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE
EVERYBODY KNOWS WE ARE HERE TO
RECEIVE THOSE COMMENTS.
AND JUST A REMINDER TO FOLKS,
COMING UP, WE ARE LOOKING FOR
JEREMIAH, MACK MCGRATH.
>> I BELIEVE JEREMIAH AND MACK
HAVE ALREADY SPOKEN.
>> I'M SORRY.
THANK YOU FOR TELLING ME, IF
THAT'S THE CASE, WE WILL MOVE ON
TO KATIE AND FOLLOWED BY
CHRISTY, LEAH, AND MICHAEL.
YOU WANT ME TO SAY THOSE AGAIN?
IF JEREMIAH AND MACK ARE HERE,
YOU ARE UP.
KATIE CHRISTY SMITH, AND MICHAEL
BUNE.
>> HI.
MICHAEL, I RECOGNIZE YOU.
WHY DON'T YOU COME ON UP AND AS
FOLKS MAKE THEIR WAY IN, WE WILL
GET THEM TO THE MICROPHONE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I'M MICHAEL DIRECTOR OF A
COMPANY THAT REACHES OVER 35,000
FOLKS EACH YEAR.
I'M HERE TONIGHT TO ASK COUNCIL
TO PROVIDE SAFETY FROM
HARASSMENT AND HARM FOR OUR
HOTEL WORKERS AND TO ENSURE THAT
THEY HAVE ACCESS TO MEDICAL CARE
THAT YOU AND I ENJOY.
A MAJORITY OF NONMANAGEMENT
HOTEL WORKERS LIKE HOUSEKEEPERS
ARE IMMIGRANTS, ABOUT 56%.
THEY HAVE AN AVERAGE AGE OF 40
AND ARE THE MAIN SUPPORT FOR
THEIR FAMILY.
80% ARE WOMEN.
THE 2012 IMF CHIEF COMS OF THE
HOUSEKEEPER IS ONE EXAMPLE AND
REMINDER OF WHY THE LEGISLATION
AS CURRENTLY PROPOSED SENDS A
STRONG MESSAGE TO HOTELS SHOULD
TRUST WORKERS AND WHEN A HOTEL
GUEST HAS PERPETRATED VIOLENCE,
TAKE ACTION TO BAN THAT PERSON.
IN THE AREA OF HEALTHCARE
ACCESS, HOTEL WORKERS FACE A
DAUNTING CHOICE OF PAYING XOB
TAN PREMIUM FOR EMPLOYEE BASED
PLANS OUT OF REACH DEDUCTIBLE
VERSUS FOOD FOR FAMILY AND
HOUSING.
IN MANY INSTANCES HOTEL WORKERS
ARE NEEDING TO COVER 40% OF
THEIR MEDICAL COSTS THEY CAN'T
AFFORD.
SO THEY OPT NOT TO ENROLL OR
THEY MAKE A DIFFICULT CHOICE OF
WHO IN THEIR FAMILY SHOULD GO
WITH OR WITHOUT COVERAGE.
THESE AREN'T THE DECISIONS WE
WANT HARDWORKING PEOPLE TO MAKE.
WE URGE THIS COMMITTEE HERE TO
VOTE IN SUPPORT OF THIS IN THIS
LEGISLATION.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
MICHAEL.
>> HI, GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL
MEMBERS.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO
ADDRESS YOU.
MY NAME IS KATIE.
I'M THE DEPUTY EXECUTIVE DIRECT
TORE OF MLK LABOR.
THIS WEEKEND WHILE TALKING TO MY
MOM ABOUT HER GENERAL
HOPELESSNESS URN PRESIDENT
TRUMP, SHE ASKED ME WHY I DON'T
FEEL DEFEATED.
I TOLD HER I KEEP MY ATTENTIONS
WHOLLY ON LOCAL EFFORTS.
ELECTING A RAPIST HOTEL MOWGUL,
PROTECTS WOMEN OF COLOR FROM
SEXUAL HARASSMENT.
THESE STORIES TELL THE BEST OF
WHO WE ARE.
DUE TO DEEP POCKET KETS THEY
HAVE BLOCKED THE ROLE OF VOTERS,
BUT WORKERS HAVE NEVER DEPENDED
ON ANY COURT TO DECIDE OUR FATE
AND WE AREN'T ABOUT TO NOW.
I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THE
SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL -- EXCUSE
ME -- I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU
FOR THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL FOR
FINDING A WINDOW WHEN THE DOOR
WAS CLOSED.
I HAVE HEARD A LOT OF CONCERNS
ABOUT THE WAYS THIS INITIATIVE
BELIEVES WOMEN SUPPORT SEXUAL
HARASSMENT, DUE PROCESS FOR THE
ACCUSED THEY SAY.
BUT DOES A PERSON WITH NO SHOES
ON GET DUE PROCESS WHEN A
RESTAURANT REMOVES THEM FOR
BEING BAREFOOT?
NO.
THIS GIVES ACCUSED GUESTS TO AN
INVESTIGATION AND APPEAL.
FOR WHITE LIBERALS WHO ARE
HORRIFIED BY DONALD TRUMP'S
RACIST BEHAVIOR TOWARD
IMMIGRANTS AND PEOPLE OF COLOR,
SUPPORTING THIS LEGISLATION IS
ONE OF THE BEST WAYS WE CAN SHOW
ALLIED SHIP.
THANK YOU.
>> HI, WELCOME AND IF FOLKS DO
WANT TO LEAVE WRITTEN COMMENTS,
WE WILL DEFINITELY TAKE THOSE.
>> HI, I'M LEELA.
I HAVE BEEN IN HOSPITALITY FOR
23 YEARS.
ED I HAD MANY JOBS AS A FRONT
DESK AGENT, HOUSEKEEPING WHEN
HOUSEKEEPING WENT HOME AND
ENGINEERING AND HOUSEKEEPING AND
LAUNDRY AND ULTIMATELY MOVED
INTO HR.
FOR ME AND THE TEAMS I HAVE BEEN
LUCKY TO WORK WITH, THE PEOPLE
WE HAVE WORKED WITH AND SUPPORT
HAVE KEPT ME IN HOSPITALITY.
FULLY SUPPORT PANIC BUTTONS,
NEVER SUPPORTED THE HARASSMENT
AND MISTREATMENT OF ANYONE,
WHETHER THAT WILL VENN TORTS OR
EMPLOYEES, AND WE HAVE PRACTICES
TO DEAL WITH THAT.
I DO THINK THERE IS PART OF THE
LEGISLATION THAT WE NEED TO LOOK
AT AND HOW WE IMPLEMENT IT.
I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE MEDICAL
LEGISLATION AND ILLUSTRATE WHAT
I FORESEE IN MY EXPERIENCE IN HR
AS AN UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCE OF
THE LAW.
THE INTENT OF THE LAW IS TO
PROVIDE QUALITY HEALTH COVERAGE
AT AN AFFORDABLE PRICE.
PUTTING A SET DOLLAR AMOUNT ON
THE COVERAGE IN MY OPINION TAKES
AWAY OUR ABILITY ON THE HR
EMPLOYER SIDE TO NEGOTIATE A
PLAN THAT WORKS FOR OUR TEAMS.
WE KNOW OUR TEAMS.
WE KNOW WHAT AILS THEM.
WE KNOW WHOSE CHILD HAS AUTISM.
WE KNOW WHO IS FIGHTING CANCER
AND WE ARE ABLE TO WORK WITH A
BROKER WHO DOESN'T KNOW HOW MUCH
WE HAVE TO SPEND ON THE PLAN TO
NEGOTIATE A PLAN TO WORK FOR
WHAT OUR TEAMS NEED.
TAKING THAT AWAY AND PRESCRIBING
AN AMOUNT IS ESSENTIALLY TELLING
THEM WHAT THEY CAN CHARGE US FOR
THE BARE MINIMUM PLAN WITHOUT
BEING ABLE TO PERSONALIZE IT FOR
OUR TEAM.
>> THANK YOU.
LEAH, IF YOU HAD MORE TO SAY AND
WE DIDN'T GET TO IT, FEEL FREE
TO LEAVE YOUR WRITTEN COMMENTS
WITH US AS WELL.
CHRISTY SMITH, JUST WANT TO MAKE
ONE LAST CALL TO SEE IF CHRISTY
IS HERE, FROM CRYSTAL PLAZA.
HI, WELCOME.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME,
COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS LORI -- TORRES, AN
ORGANIZATION THAT SERVES MIGRANT
WORKERS AND THEIR FAMILY.
ALSO THE LANGUAGE ACCESS
ORGANIZER FOR HP CHIA, SEXUAL
ASSAULT AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING,
WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORT IT IS
REINSTATEMENT OF INITIATIVE 124.
WE BELIEVE THIS LAW IS NECESSARY
IN PREVENTING WORKPLACE VIOLENCE
AS WELL AS MAKING SURE EMPLOYEES
ARE HEALTHY, ABLE TO KEEP THEIR
JOBS AND CONTINUE TO PROVIDE FOR
THEIR FAMILIES.
WE DECRY THE HOTEL AND LODGING
ASSOCIATION TO STRIKE DOWN THIS
LAW IN ATTEMPTING TO TAKE
RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE WELFARE
OF THEIR EMPLOYEES AND DEPRIVE
WORKERS OF THEIR BASIC RIGHTS TO
SAFETY AND DIGNITY.
I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND THEM AND
YOU WITHOUT WORKERS, SOME WHO
ARE SEPARATED A LONG WAY THE
FROM THEIR FAMILIES TENDING TO
GUESTS EVERY DAY, DAY IN, DAY
OUT ENSURING IT IS CLEAN.
THEY ARE THE REASON THE
HOSPITALITY BUSINESS AND ALL
BUSINESSES IN OUR WORLD CLASS
CITY THRIVES.
THE IMPACT OF THE PHYSICAL LABOR
THEY PERFORM AND THE CUSTOMER
SERVICE EMOTIONAL LABOR EVERY
DAY RESULTS IN THE NEED FOR
HEALTHCARE TO ENSURE THAT THEIR
BODIES CAN CONTINUE TO KEEP
THEIR JOBS AND PROVIDE FOR THEIR
FAMILY AND, BY THE WAY, KEEP THE
HOTELS RUNNING.
THIS IS ABOUT CREATING THE
CONDITIONS FOR WORKERS TO BE
ABLE TO DO THEIR JOBS AND KEEP
THEIR LIVELIHOODS.
ALL WORKERS OF HEALTHCARE AND
SAFETY, ESPECIALLY MIGRANT
WORKERS AND WE HOPE YOU STAND BY
THE JUST DECISION TO WITHSTAND
THIS POLICY.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
SO THE NEXT FOUR PEOPLE THAT WE
HAVE ARE VICTORIA BROOKS, STAN
SHUMA, KATIE HENDERSON, AND
ANGELITA.
IF THERE IS -- I'M GETTING TO
THE LAST LIST HERE, SO IF THERE
IS OTHER FOLKS THAT GOT INSPIRED
TO TESTIFY, WE ARE GOING TO KEEP
THE SIGN-IN SHEET UP THERE.
BUT AGAIN, VICTORIA BROOKS, ARE
YOU HERE?
HEY, THANK YOU, VICTORIA,
FOLLOWED BY VICTORIA IS STAN AND
APOLOGIES STAN FOR YOUR LAST
NAME THAT I'M SURE I PRONOUNCED
INCORRECTLY.
HI, VICTORIA.
>> THANK YOU:
I HAVE THE FORTUNE TO WORK AT
LUA, WHICH IS
AN INDEPENDENCE RESTAURANT
ATTACHED TO THE SHERATON.
WHAT I'M SEEING HERE IS THAT
THERE ARE TWO SEPARATE ISSUES
THAT ARE BEING PILED TOGETHER.
HOTEL WORKERS ABSOLUTELY DESERVE
TO BE SAFE.
I DON'T THINK THAT SHOULD BE A
QUESTION.
WHAT IS HAPPENING , THOUGH, IS
THAT A BUSINESS THAT IS MERELY
BY VIRTUE OF PROXIMITY IS BEING
IN DETRIMENT, ACTUALLY.
SO WE ARE HAVING TO PUT THAT
KIND OF IMPOSITION ON THE
BUSINESS, WHAT WILL HAPPEN IS
THE BUSINESS WILL FAIL.
AND SO IF YOU HAVE THAT
HAPPENING, YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE
UNEMPLOYED PEOPLE.
AND ALL OF THESE PEOPLE THAT WE
ARE TALKING ABOUT ARE ALL HUMAN.
THE HOTEL WORKERS ARE HUMAN AND
THE INDEPENDENCE BUSINESSES AND
THEIR EMPLOYEES ARE HUMAN TOO.
AND WE ALL DESERVE TO BE SAFE
AND WORKING.
THAT'S ALL.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
STAN FOLLOWED BY KATIE
HENDERSON, FOLLOWED BY ANGELITA,
FOLLOWED BY MICHAEL.
>> HI, THANK YOU CITY COUNCIL
FOR HAVING US HERE.
MY NAME IS STAN.
I'M A MEMBER OF THE SEATTLE
CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN CITIZENS
LEAGUE AND ALSO MEMBER OF THE
ASIAN PACIFIC LABOR ALLIANCE.
I COME HERE TO SUPPORT
REINSTATEMENT OF I 124.
I BELIEVE -- I GREW UP ON A
FARM, AND WHAT THIS REALLY
BRINGS BACK TO ME IS SOME OF
THE -- IN THE '60s MY PARENTS
OWNED A SMALL FARM.
AND THE UNITED FARM WORKERS WERE
TRYING TO ORGANIZE THE VALLEY.
AND THE FARMERS, THE GROWERS,
WERE VERY AFRAID OF WHAT WAS
GOING TO HAPPEN, AND FOUGHT
AGAINST IT QUITE A BIT.
THE FARM WORKERS UNION WANTED
HIGHER WAGES, WANTED BETTER
CONDITIONS WANTED BETTER SAFETY
AND THEY WERE AFRAID AND NOT
READY TO DEAL WITH THAT.
EVENTUALLY UNION CONTRACTS WERE
SIGN AND THE SKY DID NOT FALL.
THE FARMERS DID NOT LOSE THEIR
BUSINESSES, AND THE WORKERS GOT
BETTER CONDITIONS.
EVEN THE ONES THAT WERE
NONUNIONIZED GOT BETTER
CONDITIONS.
I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE
PEOPLE ON THE BOTTOM AND WHAT
THEY NEED AND WHAT THEY DESERVE,
AND I SUPPORT REINSTATEMENT OF
I-124.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
WELCOME.
>> THANK YOU.
>> HEM LOW, I'M KATIE HENDERSON
AND I WORK AT MLK LABOR.
I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU
MY EXPERIENCE WORKING AS A
HOUSEKEEPER.
A HOUSEKEEPER, A PERSON, NOT A
DOLLAR SIGN.
THE AMOUNT OF EFFORT REQUIRED TO
BARELY PASS MUSTER WORKING THERE
WAS NOWHERE NEAR EXCUSE MES RAT
WITH THE PAY.
I DIDN'T HAVE THE HEART TO TELL
THEM THAT THE HOTEL/HIGH END
GYM'S LOCKER ROOM ATTENDANT -- I
HAVE OPERATED SKI LIFTS IN THE
HARSHEST OF CONDITIONS AND
CLEANING HOTEL ROOMS WAS THE
HARDESTEST JOB I HAVE EVER HAD.
I WAS SO OVERWORKED AND
EXHAUSTED THAT MY SLEEP
SCHEDULE -- MY SCHEDULE WAS
WORK, SHOWER, SLEEP, REPEAT.
MY FEET WERE SO SWOLLEN THAT IT
HURT TO WALK.
I CLEANED HOTEL ROOMS IN MY
SOCKS AND MADE SURE MY MANAGER
DID NOT NOTICE.
WHERE I WORKED, BY FLOOR AND WE
WERE UNDERSTOOD STAFF AND THE
FEW WORKERS I DID HAVE WERE
SPRAED OUT OVER THE HOTEL.
SHOULD SOMEONE ASSAULTED ME, WHO
WOULD HAVE HEARD ME CRY FOR
HELP.
MANY HOUSEKEEPING EMPLOYEES ARE
IMMIGRANTS WHO STRUGGLE WITH
ENGLISH.
THE INDEPENDENCE NATURE OF
HOUSEKEEPING HELPS THEM OBTAIN
EMPLOYMENT.
ONE COWORKER FROM HONG KONG
ASKED ME IN BROKEN ENGLISH, THIS
IS HARD WORK.
WHY DO YOU WORK HERE FOR SUCH
LITTLE PAY?
THE REASON I WORK HERE IS I
CAN'T SPEAK ENGLISH.
I WORKED IN THE U.S. FOR TWO
YEARS BEFORE I FOUND A JOB AND
ONE FINAL ISSUE I NEED TO
ADDRESS DESPITE MY TIME BEING UP
IS THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH
SUICIDES, ACTUALLY, A LOT OF
PEOPLE COMMIT SUICIDE IN HOTEL
ROOMS AND THAT IS SOMETHING I
WAS VERY GRATEFUL I DID NOT
ENCOUNTER.
BUT THAT DOES HAPPEN AND FOR
THAT REASON PANIC BUTTONS ARE
VERY IMPORTANT.
>> THANK YOU.
.
>> I KNOW YOU HAD WRITTEN
TESTIMONY.
WE ARE HAPPY TO TAKE THAT AS
WELL AND SHARE IT WITH THE REST
OF THE COUNCIL IF YOU WOULD LIKE
TO LEAVE THAT.
ANGELITA FOLLOWED BY MICHAEL,
FOLLOWED BY -- I WILL READ THIS
AND MAYBE MY COLLEAGUES CAN HELP
ME.
D APPEARS TO BE THE FIRST
INITIAL.
OKAY.
DO WE HAVE ANGELITA?
.
>> HI, MY NAME IS ANGELITA I AM
A UNION LEADER FROM SIU 1199
NORTHWEST AND 25 YEARS IN
HOUSEKEEPING JOB, AND I AM
WORKER AT SWEDISH PROVIDENCE
CHERRY HILL CAMPUS.
I AM HERE TO STAND IN SOLIDARITY
WITH THE HOTEL WORKERS BECAUSE I
KNOW WHAT IT IS LIKE TO GET
INJURED ON THE JOB.
WHEN YOU HAVE TO USE YOUR BODY
REPETITIVELY, LIFT HEAVY LINEN,
PUSH HEAVY CARTS AND MOST
IMPORTANTLY HAVE TOO MUCH
WORKLOAD, YOUR BODY IS ALWAYS AT
RISK OF INJURY.
RECENTLY I HAD TO CLEAN 21 ROOMS
PLUS 4 DISCHARGES AND 10 COMMON
AREAS, PLUS HALLWAYS TO MOP ALL
IN EIGHT HOURS.
I WAS REALLY EXHAUSTED, BUT I
REALLY WANTED TO FINISH MY JOB
BEFORE THE END OF THE DAY.
AT THE END OF MY SHIFT, I HAD MY
LAST DISCHARGE TO CLEAN.
I PULLED OUT THE HEAVY LINEN
FROM THE HAMPER, WHICH IS A
NORMAL DUTY OF MY JOB, BUT THIS
TIME I TWISTED MY WRISTS AND MY
LICKMENTS.
MY FAMILY WORRY BECAUSE IF I NOT
WORK, I MAY NOT BE ABLE TO
SUPPORT MY FAMILY IN THE
PHILIPPINES.
>> CAN YOU WRAP UP FOR US JUST
BECAUSE OF THE TIME?
>> THANK YOU.
>> FEEL FREE TO LEAVE YOUR
PUBLIC TESTIMONY AS WELL AND IF
YOU HAVE ONE MORE SENTENCE, I AM
HAPPY TO TELL YOU YOU CAN TAKE
ONE SENTENCE TO WRAP UP.
>> I'M JUST HAVING SMALL WORDS
HERE.
I URGE THE MEMBER OF THE HOUSING
HEALTH, ENERGY COMMITTEE AND
CITY COUNCIL TO STAND WITH HOTEL
WORKERS AND SUPPORT THE
LEGISLATION UNIT ENTIRELY SO
THAT NO FAMILY SHOULD HAVE TO
SUFFER AND CERTAINLY ABOUT WHERE
THE NEXT PAYCHECK IS COMING WHEN
WE GET HURT AT WORK.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
MICHAEL -- MICHAEL HURSH?
AND THEN DU D. RESLEY?
ANYONE ELSE SIGN UP?
I SAW ONE MORE PERSON SIGN UP ON
THAT SHEET THERE AND MAYBE
SOMEONE IS MAKING THEIR WAY TO
THE MICROPHONE BECAUSE THEY
THINK I SAID THEIR NAME.
ARE THERE ANYBODY WHO JUST
SAID -- ANYBODY WHO HAS SIGNED
UP AND THEN WE WILL HAVE SONIA
AND ELONA KEENER.
SONIA?
SHE ALREADY TESTIFIED?
ELIONA KEENER?
HI.
THANKS FOR WAITING.
>> I JUST WALKED UP TO SIGN UP
ANYWAY.
SO MY NAME IS ELONA KEENER.
WHILE I DON'T HAVE ANY
EXPERIENCE IN THE HOTEL
INDUSTRY, I DO HAVE SOME
EXPERIENCE IN FOOD.
BUT WHAT I WANT TO SAY IS THAT
PEOPLE -- THERE ARE GOOD WORK --
GOOD ACTORS IN THE HOTEL
COMMUNITY, BUT THAT DOESN'T
COVER EVERYONE.
IT'S A FALSE EQUIVALENCY TO SAY
THAT IF I DO SOMETHING GOOD,
EVERYONE IS GOING TO DO
SOMETHING GOOD.
THE ONLY WAY WE CAN GET ACTUAL
CONCRETE GUARANTEED BENEFITS IS
THROUGH LAWS, WHICH IS WHY THIS
IS IMPORTANT.
WHILE THERE MAY BE SOME THINGS
WRONG WITH LIKE SETTING A SET
DOLLAR AMOUNT, WE SHOULD HAVE A
SET COVERAGE EMPLOYERS NEED TO
GIVE THEIR EMPLOYEES.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR PUTTING
THIS ON THE TABLE AND FOR GIVING
PEOPLE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
SO I APOLOGIZE IF I
MISPRONOUNCED YOUR NAME.
IF YOU HAVE SIGNED UP AND YOU
ARE WAITING TO TESTIFY, NOW IS
THE TIME TO LINE UP AT THE
MICROPHONE.
WE HAVE GOTTEN TO THE END OF OUR
10 PAGES OF PUBLIC TESTIMONY.
HI, DID YOU WANT TO SPEAK?
>> YES.
>> OKAY.
WONDERFUL. JUST INTRODUCE YOURSD
WE WILL GET YOU ALL
SIGNED UP.
>> GOOD EVENING.
ABBY LAWLER HERE WITH LOCAL 8.
I WANT TO TAKE A SECOND TO NOTE
A PROFOUND EXPERIENCE TO BE IN
THIS ROOM AND TO HEAR SO MANY
HOTEL WORKERS, HOTEL MANAGERS,
OWNERS AND FOLKS FROM THE CITY
PROVIDING THEIR SUP MORT FOR
PANIC BUTTONS AND I WANT TO
RECOGNIZE THE WORK AND ALL THE
WOMEN WHO SPOKE OUT ABOUT THEIR
EXPERIENCE OVER THE LAST THREE
YEARS AND HAVE COME FORWARD AND
HOW THAT'S PUSHED THE INDUSTRY
AND GOTTEN US TO WHERE WE ARE
TODAY.
SO I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT AND
RECOGNIZE THEIR BRAVERY IN WHAT
THEY HAVE DONE OVER THE LAST
THREE YEARS TO GET US TO WHERE
WE ARE TODAY AND ALSO SAY WE CAN
DO BETTER AND NEED TO DO BETTER
AND I THINK THE LEGISLATION
THAT'S BEFORE YOU IS GOING TO BE
AN IMPORTANT PATHWAY FOR US TO
DO THAT AND MAKE SURE WOMEN CAN
GO TO WORK AND FEEL SAFE AND BE
PROTECTED AND I DID WANT TO
OFFER JUST A FEW SUGGESTIONS ON
THE POLICY THAT'S BEFORE THE
COMMITTEE TO ENSURE THAT THE
OVERALL OBJECTIVES OF THE POLICY
ARE ACHIEVED IN FULL.
HOTEL WORKERS MUST HAVE ACCESS
TO LOW BARRIER PATHWAYS TO
REPORTING WORKPLACE VIOLENCE AND
HARASSMENT AND TRIGGER A
RELIABLE AND MEANINGFUL ACTION
OF THEIR EMPLOYERS AND
MEANINGFUL ADDRESS THE
CONFIDENTIALITY TO FURTHER
PROTECT WORKERS FROM RETALIATION
AND WORKERS A MECHANISM TO
RESULT INVESTIGATION AND IN THE
SAME WAY GUESTS ARE ALLOWED TO
APPEAL UNDER THE POLICY.
I ALSO WANT TO NOTE THE
RECORDKEEPING REQUIREMENTS AND
NOTICE REQUIREMENTS IN THE
LEGISLATION SHOULD BE
STRENGTHENED TO MAKE SURE
WORKERS CAN DEFEND THEIR RIGHTS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, ABBY.
LAST CALL FOR PUBLIC TESTIMONY
FOR TODAY.
THERE WILL BE AS WE TALKED ABOUT
THREE ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
AND I WILL READ THROUGH THOSE
AGAIN BEFORE WE CONCLUDE BEFORE
ANYBODY ELSE GETS UP.
ANYBODY WANT TO MAKE THEIR WAY
TO THE MICROPHONE?
AT THIS POINT BEFORE I SAY SOME
CLOSING WORDS, I DIDN'T OPEN OUR
FLOOR TO THE COLLEAGUES, IF
THERE IS ANY LAST COMMENTS YOU
FOLKS WOULD LIKE TO MAKE, FEEL
FREE TO.
COUNSEL MEMBER SA JUAN.
>> I APPRECIATE THE WORKERS AND
MEMBERS OF THE LABOR UNION THAT
TESTIFIED TODAY, ESPECIALLY THE
RANK AND MEMBERS OF THE LOCAL
AID AND NONUNION MEMBERS WHO
TESTIFIED BECAUSE IT IS NOT
EASY.
IT IS NERVE RACKING TO BE ABLE
TO SPEAK OPENLY AND BRAVELY
ABOUT WORKPLACE CONDITIONS.
I ALSO WANT TO REITERATE FROM MY
OFFICE THE COMMITMENT THAT WE
WILL ABSOLUTELY BE FIGHTING FOR
THE BEST HEALTHCARE COVERAGE FOR
ALL WORKERS UNION AND NONUNION
AND THERE WAS POWERFUL TESTIMONY
ABOUT HOW WHEN UNION MEMBERS WIN
SOMETHING, IT POSITIVELY AFFECTS
NONUNION MEMBERS.
SO IT WILL BE IMPACTED.
THE LAST THING IS TO ECHO WHAT
ABBY SAID.
IT'S INTERESTING TO SEE THE
HOTEL INDUSTRY AND THE
RESTAURANT INDUSTRY SAYING THAT
THEY ARE COMMITTED TO PANIC
BUTTONS AND HAPPY TO DO IT.
FIRST OF ALL IT WOULDN'T HAVE
HAPPENED IF WORKERS HADN'T
FOUGHT FOR IT, BUT ALSO I'M
HEARING FROM A LOT OF WORKERS IT
IS NOT BEING IMPLEMENTED ACROSS
THE BOARD.
IF YOU ARE TRULY COMMITTED TO
IT, I WOULD URGE YOU TO ACTUALLY
IMPLEMENT IT BECAUSE WE ARE
HEARING FROM WORKERS THEY DON'T
HAVE PANIC BUTTONS AND HEARING
FROM THE MANAGERIAL -- THE
BOSSES THAT IT'S GOING TO COST
THEM TOO MUCH TO DO IT AND
THAT'S WHY THEY HAVEN'T
IMPLEMENTED IT.
THEY NEED WI-FI AND THERE ARE
STUDIES THAT SAY IT IS ACTUALLY
VERY, VERY REASONABLY PRICED AND
CERTAINLY BIG ESTABLISHMENTS
LIKE HOTELS CAN CERTAINLY DO
THAT.
WE HOPE GIVEN HOW MUCH
COMMITMENT YOU HAVE ESTABLISHED,
YOU GO AHEAD AND IMPLEMENT THAT
FOR ALL WORKERS.
>> THANK YOU COUNSELOR.
SO JUST SOME PARTING WORDS.
I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR
BEING HERE.
IT'S A FULL TWO-HOUR HEARING AND
WE HAVE GOTTEN YOU OUT BEFORE
THE GARAGE CLOSES, SO THAT FEELS
GOOD.
I JUST WANT TO SAY I APPRECIATE
THE RESPECTFUL CONVERSATION
THAT'S HAPPENED TODAY.
I KNOW FOLKS HAVE VARIOUS
OPINIONS.
I WANT TO REITERATE HOW
IMPORTANT IT IS FOR PEOPLE TO BE
HEARD ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE THAT
DON'T COME HERE AND TESTIFY ON A
REGULAR BASIS.
WE KNOW THIS IS NOT EASY TO DO.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE FEEL
THEY ARE IN A SAFE SPACE WHEN
THEY DO SPEAK UP.
THANK YOU FOR ADHERING TO OUR
RULES AS WE TALKED ABOUT
COMMITTING TO A MINUTE AND A
HALF.
THAT'S NOT ENOUGH TIME, SO WE
WILL KEEP ENGAGING WITH ALL OF
YOU WHO HAVE COME TODAY.
I WANT TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBERS
BAGSHAW, PA CHECK COAT AND
SAWANT.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY
AND MULTIPLE MEETS.
WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON SOME OF
THE DETAILS YOU HAVE SEEN AND
ALL COMMITTING AS A COUNCIL TO
CONTINUE WORKING ON THIS
LEGISLATION WITH THE OFFICE OF
LABOR STANDARDS ANIME YOR'S
OFFICE, WITH CENTRAL STAFF AND
THE CITY ATTORNEY OFFICE THERE
HAVE BEEN MORE MEETS OVER THE
LAST SIX MONTHS TRYING TO PUT
TOGETHER SOME OF THE INITIAL
PROPOSALS AND WILL CONTINUE TO
HAVE THOSE DISCUSSIONS
ESPECIALLY BASED ON THE
CONVERSATIONS WE HAVE HEARD
TODAY, THE PRIORITIES FROM STAKE
HOLDERS, IDEAS WE HAVE HEARD
FROM THE VARIOUS COMMITTEE MEETS
AND TODAY'S ROBUST DISCUSSION
FROM ALL OF YOU THAT HAS HELPED
INFORM, AGAIN, THE FOUR PIECES
OF LEGISLATION, HARASSMENT AND
SAFETY OF HOTEL WORKERS,
PROTECTION OF WORKERS AND
HEALTHCARE AND THESE ARE FOUR
IMPORTANT COMPONENTS THAT
TOGETHER I THINK OVER THE NEXT
FEW WEEKS HERE WE WILL HAVE
ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO HAVE
VARIOUS DISCUSSIONS AND TODAY
AGAIN IS NOT THE VERY BEGINNING
OF THE CONVERSATION GIVEN THE ON
GOING DISCUSSION AROUND
INITIATIVE 124, THE LAST FEW
MONTHS OF ENGAGEMENT WE HAVE HAD
WITH BOTH INDUSTRY AND WORKERS.
BUT THIS IS A GOOD PLACE TO
REITERATE THAT GOING FORWARD
THERE IS AMPLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR
US TO CONTINUE TO ENGAGE.
I WANT TO REITERATE THE DATES
THAT I TALKED ABOUT AT THE
BEGINNING OF THE MEETING.
ON JULY 11TH WE WILL HAVE
CONVERSATION AROUND ISSUE
IDENTIFICATION SO WE CAN BRING
FORWARD SOME OF THE THEMES WE
HAVE HEARD, OVERTIME
CALCULATION, HEALTHCARE
CALCULATION, SMALL BUSINESS
SLASH ANCILLARY DIZ DEFINITION,
ISSUES AROUND MAKING SURE THERE
IS ENFORCEMENT AND LOW BARRIER
REPORTING FOR WORKERS ARE JUST
SOME OF THE THEMES WE HEARD
ABOUT TODAY.
ON JULY 18TH WE WILL BE SEEING
POSSIBLE AMENDMENTS AND
CONSIDERING POSSIBLY AMOUNTS FOR
THE COUNCIL'S CONSIDERATION.
WE ARE PLANNING TO ADD AN AUGUST
1ST COMMITTEE MEETING, THAT'S
THURSDAY AUGUST 1ST AT 9:30 TO
TALK MORE ABOUT THE AMENDMENTS
AND POSSIBLE VOTE AND SECOND
MONDAY OF AUGUST IS THE DATE
THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO BRING THIS
FORWARD TO FULL COUNCIL.
SO I WANT FOLKS TO KNOW WHAT THE
TIMELINE IS.
YOU ALL HAVE THAT IN YOUR
BINDERS AS WELL AND THAT HAS
BEEN MADE AVAILABLE AND WE WILL
INCLUDE THE WRITTEN TESTIMONY
THAT FOLKS HAVE GIVEN US AND IF
YOU WANT TO SEND IT, I THINK YOU
KNOW HOW TO REACH ALL OF US.
LASTLY, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU
TO THE INCREDIBLE STAFF THAT
HAVE MADE TONIGHT POSSIBLE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH TO OUR TEAM,
AARON HOUSE UP HERE.
AREIT THAT BASU.
I SAW COUNCIL, YOUR STAFF AND IF
I HAVE MISSED ANYONE, THANK YOU
TO ROXANA AND TO OUR CHILD CARE
PROVIDERS WHO WERE ON-SITE AND
PROVIDING CHILD CARE, WE REALLY
APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE AND TO
OUR INTERPRETERS FOR MAKING SURE
EVERYBODY COULD UNDERSTAND WHAT
WAS BEING DISCUSSED IN REALTIME.
THANK YOU FOR THE TRANSLATION
FOR THIS EVENING.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK.
THEIR WORK MAKES IT POSSIBLE FOR
US TO DO OUR WORK.
SO THANK YOU TO THOSE
INTERPRETERERS AND THANK YOU ALL
FOR ENGAGING WITH US.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO
HAVE THAT DIALOGUE AND ONE LAST
THANK YOU TO OUR SECURITY.
YOU GUYS, THANK YOU FOR STAYING
EXTRA AND HELPING FOLKS COME UP
IN THE EVENING AND GET UP THOSE
STAIRS WITH THE OVERFLOW ROOM.
WE REALLY APPRECIATED IT.
JUST FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER
THE NEXT HOUSING AND WORKERS
RIGHTS WILL BE THURSDAY JULY 11
AT 9:30 IN THESE COUNCIL
CHAMBERS.
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE?
OKAY.
THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED.
THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH