>> GOOD MORNING. IT IS 9:36
A.M., FRIDAY APRIL 3rd, 2026. I
AM COUNCILMEMBER ALEXIS MERCEDES
RINCK CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLEX
>> CHAIR RINCK. JOYCE VICE CHAIR
FOSTER. COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH. COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA. CHAIR, THERE ARE FOUR
MEMBERS PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU. PLEASE LET THE
RECORD REFLECT THAT
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ IS EXCUSED.
WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO APPROVAL
OF TODAY'S AGENDA. IF THERE IS
NO OBJECTION THE AGENDA WILL BE
ADOPTED. HEARING NO OBJECTION,
THE AGENDA IS ADOPTED. WELCOME
COLLEAGUES. TO THE COMMITTEE
MEETING THIS MORNING. TODAY, WE
WILL HAVE A BRIEFING AND
DISCUSSION AND VOTE ON SEVERAL
REAPPOINTMENTS TO THE EQUITABLE
DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY BOARD AND
FOLLOWED BY THAT WE WILL HAVE A
BRIEFING AND DISCUSSION BY OUR
DOMESTIC WORKERS STANDARDS
BOARD. GIVEN TODAY'S TOPIC.
DOMESTIC WORKERS CLEAN HOMES,
LANDSCAPE TO SUPPORT ELDERS,
WORK THAT QUITE LITERALLY MAKES
ALL OTHER WORK POSSIBLE. ALL OF
THAT WHILE BEING WRITTEN OUT OF
THE VERY LABOR LAWS THAT WERE
SUPPOSED TO PROTECT WORKERS. AND
THAT WASN'T AN ACCIDENT. WHEN
THE FAIR LABOR STANDARDS ACT
PASSED IN 1938 DOMESTIC WORKERS,
FARMWORKERS AND HOME HEALTHCARE
WORKERS WERE DELIBERATELY
EXCLUDED. A CONCESSION TO
SOUTHERN DEMOCRATS IN CONGRESS
CARVING OUT THE JOBS DONE ALMOST
EXCLUSIVELY ENTIRELY BY BLACK
AND LATINO WORKERS AND THAT
SHAPED LABOR LAW IN THIS COUNTRY
FOR DECADES. BUT SEATTLE DECIDED
TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. AND IN
JULY 2018 SEATTLE BECAME THE
FIRST CITY IN THE COUNTRY TO
PASS A DOMESTIC WORKERS BILL OF
RIGHTS. AND THANK YOU TO COUNSEL
MEMBER JUAREZ FOR HER WORK ON
THAT LEGISLATION. THIS
LEGISLATION WAS NOT JUST MINIMUM
WAGE PROTECTIONS BUT SOMETHING
MORE AMBITIOUS. A DOMESTIC
WORKERS STANDARDS BOARD.
WORKERS, EMPLOYERS AND COMMUNITY
REPRESENTATIVES AT A TABLE
TOGETHER WITH THE POWER TO
EFFECTIVELY ADVISE ON INDUSTRY
STANDARDS. THAT IS A NEW IDEA.
SEATTLE SAID THE PEOPLE THAT DO
THIS WORK SHOULD HAVE A VOICE IN
SHAPING THE CONDITIONS OF THAT
WORK. AND THAT'S WHAT THAT
BOARD IS. I MET SOME OF OUR
PANELISTS THAT WE WILL HEAR FROM
TODAY AT THE ANNIVERSARY
CELEBRATION FOR DOMESTIC WORKERS
BILL OF RIGHTS JUST ABOUT TWO
YEARS AGO. REPRESENTATIVE
BREANNA THOMAS FROM THE 34th
LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT HEALING
FROM WEST SEATTLE WHO HELPED
WRITE THE WORKER PROTECTIONS IN
THE CITY MODELED THE STATE
LEGISLATION AND HER WORK
ALONGSIDE SENATOR HAILING FROM
THE 37th DISTRICT WHO INTRODUCED
THE BILL LAST YEAR, THESE TWO
WORKED OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS
TO GET IT DONE AND JUST LAST
MONTH GOVERNOR FERGUSON SIGNED
HOUSE BILL 2355 INTO LAW
ENSURING THAT NANNIES,
HOUSEKEEPERS, HOMECARE PROVIDERS
AND OTHER DOMESTIC WORKERS
ACROSS WASHINGTON STATE RECEIVE
FAIR PAY, WRITTEN AGREEMENTS,
PRIVACY PROTECTION, LEGAL
RESOURCES, RIGHTS, THEY HAVE
BEEN DENIED FOR DECADES. IT IS
THE 16th DOMESTIC WORKER
STANDARDS BILL OF RIGHTS PASSED
IN THE UNITED STATES. SO THIS
WORK THAT WE ARE GOING TO HEAR
FROM CONTRIBUTED TO THAT. EVERY
RECOMMENDATION THEY HAVE MADE,
EVERY CONVERSATION THAT
HAPPENED, THAT IS A PART OF WHAT
MADE THIS STATEWIDE BUILD NOT
JUST POSSIBLE BUT NECESSARY. NOW
FOR THE FIRST TIME HUNDREDS OF
THOUSANDS OF BOOKS ACROSS
WASHINGTON STATE HAVING STATE
LEVEL PROTECTIONS BUT A LOT IS
ONLY AS STRONG AS IMPLEMENTATION
AND THAT IS STILL IN THE WORK.
SO FOR AWARENESS FOR ALSO MY
COLLEAGUES AND THE PUBLIC,
DURING THE DOMESTIC WORKERS
BRIEFING PORTION FOR TODAY WE
WILL BE UTILIZING SPANISH
TRANSLATION SERVICES FROM ONE OF
OUR PANELISTS SO WE CAN FULLY
HAVE HER VOICE A PART OF THE
CONVERSATION. I ALSO WANT TO
NOTE FOR THE PUBLIC MY OFFICE
HAS BEEN COLLABORATING WITH THE
CITY OFFICE OF LABOR STANDARDS
WITH THE INTENT TO UPDATE OUR
LOCAL DOMESTIC WORKER STANDARD
ORDINANCE LEGISLATION AND TO
SUPPORT THIS NEXT WEEK I OFFICE
ALONGSIDE THE OFFICE OF LABOR
STANDARDS ARE COSPONSORING TWO
POLICY DEVELOPMENT MEETINGS TO
HEAR DIRECTLY FROM AFFECTED
DOMESTIC WORKERS ON WHAT THEIR
NEEDS ARE. THE FIRST IS ON
MONDAY APRIL 6th AND THE SECOND
IS ON WEDNESDAY APRIL 8th. BOTH
MEETINGS WILL BE 5:30 TO 7:30
AND TO SIGN UP PLEASE EMAIL
LABOR STANDARDS AT SEATTLE.GOV.
I AM NOW GOING TO OPEN THE
HYBRID PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
PUBLIC COMMENTS SHOULD RELATE TO
ITEMS ON TODAY'S AGENDA OR
WITHIN THE PURVIEW OF THIS
COMMITTEE. HOW MANY SPEAKERS ARE
SIGNED UP FOR TODAY?
>> CURRENTLY WE HAVE ONE IN
PERSON SPEAKER AND ZERO ONLINE.
>> THANK YOU. OUR ONE SPEAKER
WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES AND WE
WILL HAVE START WITH OUR IN
PERSON SPEAKER. WILL YOU PLEASE
READ THE PUBLIC ALMOND
INSTRUCTIONS?
>> THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
WILL BE MODERATED IN THE
FOLLOWING MANNER. UP TO 60
MINUTES, SPEAKERS WILL BE CALLED
IN THE ORDER IN WHICH THEY
REGISTERED. PLEASE BEGIN
SPEAKING BY STATING YOUR NAME
AND ITEM YOU ARE ADDRESSING. YOU
WILL HEAR A CHIME WHEN 10
SECONDS LEFT. THE PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD IS NOW OPEN AND WE WILL
BEGIN WITH THE FIRST SPEAKER ON
THE LIST.
>> THANK YOU CREEK. OUR FIRST
SPEAKER ON THE LIST IS ALEX
ZIMMERMAN.
>> 15 TIMES CANDIDATE FOR
ELECTION. THE PRESIDENT. AND I
HAVE 7000 DAY OF. NOBODY IN
AMERICA HAVE 7000 DAY OF
TRESPASS. I WANT TO SPEAK TO
PEOPLE WHO GIVE ME TRESPASS.. WE
ARE TALKING ABOUT HUMAN.
>> MR. ZIMMERMAN CAN I PAUSE
TIME. CAN I ASK YOU TO KEEP YOUR
REMARKS RELATED TO THE PURVIEW
OF THE COMMITTEE.
>> MY QUESTION TO HER IS VERY
SIMPLE ABOUT HUMAN RIGHTS. HUMAN
RIGHT. BECAUSE HE HAVE DIFFERENT
OPINION IN FIGHTING FOR HUMAN
RIGHT. SO MY QUESTION RIGHT NOW
TO PEOPLE IN SEATTLE TO COUNCIL
IN SEATTLE. GIVE ME 22 TRAFFIC
TICKETS. SO YOU CHAIR UNDERSTAND
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ALEX
ZIMMERMAN. YOU DON'T KNOW.
>> I WOULD LIKE THE RECORD TO
REFLECT THAT THOSE FINAL
COMMENTS THERE WERE
DISCRIMINATORY IN NATURE. AND
OUT OF ACCORDANCE WITH OUR
COUNCIL RULES. PARTICULARLY
BEHAVIOR SUCH AS THREATS TO
PERSONAL ATTACKS OR USE OF
RACHEL MY MISOGYNISTIC OR SLURS
OR LANGUAGE ARE CONSIDERED
DISORDERLY CONDUCT. I WOULD LIKE
THAT TO BE REFLECTED. AND WITH
THAT, DO WE HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL
SPEAKERS SIGNED UP?
>> WE HAVE NO ADDITIONAL
SPEAKERS.
>> WITH THAT, I WILL BE CLOSING
THE HYBRID PUBLIC COMMENT. AND
WE WILL MOVE ON TO OUR FIRST
ITEM OF BUSINESS. WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE READ ITEMS INTO THE
RECORD.
>> ITEM ONE EQUITABLE
DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE OVERVIEW
READING AND DISCUSSION,
APPOINTMENT 03457 APPOINTMENT OF
JUAN RODRIGUEZ AS MEMBER OF THE
EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE
ADVISORY BOARD TO A TERM FOR
FEBRUARY 29th 2028. ITEM THREE
APPOINTMENT 03458 REAPPOINTMENT
OF FYNNIECKO GLOVER TO A TERM OF
FEBRUARY 28th 2029 BRIEFING
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE VOTE.
APPOINTMENT 03459 REAPPOINTMENT
OF ELIANA HORN A MEMBER OF
EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE
ADVISORY BOARD FOR A TERM TO
FEBRUARY 28th 2029. BRIEFING,
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE VOTE
ITEM FIVE APPOINTMENT 03460 AS
MEMBER OF THE EQUITABLE
DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE ADVISORY
BOARD FOR A TERM TO FEBRUARY
28th 2029. ITEM SIX APPOINTMENT
03461 REAPPOINTMENT OF STEPHANIE
LACHMAN AS A MEMBER OF THE
EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE
ADVISORY BOARD BRIEFING
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE VOTE.
>> WONDERFUL. AT THIS TIME, I
BELIEVE OUR FOLKS ARE JOINING US
VIRTUALLY.
>> GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING. WE ARE JUST
GETTING READY TO BE ABLE TO SEE.
GIVE US ONE MOMENT. WE WILL BE
AT EASE FOR ONE MOMENT.
>> SO I CAN, I AM HERE TO
PRESENT ON FIVE BOARD MEMBERS
WHO ARE LOOKING FOR
REAPPOINTMENT FOR THE EBI
ADVISORY BOARD. JUST A QUICK
OVERVIEW THE EDI ADVISORY IN
TERMS OF THE PURPOSE OF ADVISORY
BOARD WAS ESTABLISHED TO REALLY
HELP RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE CITY
AROUND CONNECTING WITH EQUITABLE
DEVELOPMENT, STRATEGIES AND
GOALS AND TO SUPPORT GUIDANCE,
RECOMMENDATIONS AND FUNDS TO THE
PUBLIC. AND REALLY THIS ADVISORY
BOARD IS FOR HISTORICALLY
MARGINALIZED COMMUNITY GROUPS,
IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES AND THE
LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITIES AND
PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN THE
SEATTLE AREA. PROVIDING SUPPORT
TO THE BOARD AND PARTICULARLY MY
POSITION. FOR THE ADVISORY BOARD
WE HAVE OUR TEAM BOARD MEMBERS
ALL DUE TO OUR ORDINANCE SUBJECT
TO CITY COUNCIL CONFIRMATION AND
ALL BOARD MEMBERS TERMS ARE UP
TO THREE YEARS. WE CAN'T DO
MORE THAN TWO CONSECUTIVE YEARS.
AND THREE OF THEM ARE CITY
COUNCIL APPOINTED, THREE ARE
MAYOR APPOINTED AND SEVEN OUR
ADVISORY BOARD APPOINTED. AND WE
HAVE SIDE FIVE BOARD MEMBERS
JUST LETTING YOU KNOW THAT
POSITION IS A BOARD MEMBER WHO
WAS FILLING A VACANT SEAT FROM A
PREVIOUS PROGRAM AND LEFT THERE
TERM EARLY SO THEY WERE FEELING
IN A WEIRD GAP AND FOR POSITION
THREE, 59 AND 11 ARE SEEKING
THEIR SECOND TERM WITH US.
WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, I WOULD
LOVE TO MOVE ON TO TALK ABOUT
OUR AMAZING BOARD MEMBERS. NOT
QUITE SURE IF THIS IS FOLLOWING
IN YOUR PACKET BUT I WILL START
WITH POSITION TO WHICH IS A
MAYOR APPOINTED POSITION.
STEPHANIE IS A SENIOR BUSINESS
FINANCE OFFICER WHO USED TO WORK
WITH THE PEOPLE SOLAR ENERGY
FUND AS A LOAN OFFICER WHICH IS
A MEMBER DRIVEN NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATION THAT SUPPORTS
COMMUNITY GROUPS AROUND
AFFORDABLE FINANCING, TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE TO ADVANCE COMMUNITY
AND CLEAN ENERGY PROJECTS. AND
PRIOR TO ALL THAT STEPHANIE HAS
EXPERIENCED AS A BUSINESS LENDER
SUPPORTING SMALL BUSINESSES AND
MISSION-BASED NONPROFITS.
STEPHANIE HAS SUPPORTED OWNED
BUSINESSES AND STARTUP EXPANSION
LOANS, SOCIAL IMPACT AND CLIMATE
LENS TO HER WORK AND HAS WORKED
IN SENEGAL IN BOTH SERVICES IN
THE PEACE CORPS WHERE SHE ALSO
WORKED WITH YOUNG FOLKS AROUND
ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND HAS DIVIDED
INCOME ACTIVITIES FOR WOMEN
GROUPS AND AT THE SAME TIME
ONE-ON-ONE MENTORSHIP FOR
BUSINESS OWNERS. SHE HOLDS AN
MBA FROM COLORADO STATE AND HAS
REALLY FOCUSED ON AND SHE HAS A
BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN FINANCE
AND MINOR IN FRENCH FROM
WASHINGTON STATE. JUAN RODRIGUEZ
FOR POSITION THREE WHICH IS A
MAYOR APPOINTED POSITION.
ORIGINALLY FROM THE DOMINICAN
REPUBLIC, RAISED IN NEW YORK
CITY AS WELL AND RECENTLY HAS
CALLED SEATTLE HOME FOR THE LAST
FEW YEARS. WITH THAT, HAS MORE
THAN 15 YEARS AS BEING A HUMAN
RIGHTS ADVOCATE PARTICULARLY
WITH THE LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY
AND HAS WORN MANY DIFFERENT
HATS. HIS PROFESSIONAL
BACKGROUND REALLY RANGES FROM
BUSINESS CONSULTANT AND
NONPROFIT DEVELOPMENT,
COMMUNICATIONS, MISMANAGEMENT,
HE HAS BEEN PART OF A DIFFERENT
ADVISORY BOARDS AND AN INVOLVED
PARTICULARLY WITH THE DOMINICAN
ASSOCIATION OF WASHINGTON STATE,
AN ORGANIZATION HE FOUNDED IN
SEATTLE. SUPPORT THE NETWORK,
AGAIN REALLY CONNECTING WITH THE
LGBTQ COMMUNITY. ALSO SERVED AS
THE COCHAIR FOR SEATTLE LGBTQ
COMMISSION FROM 2019 TO 2020.
AND HAS SERVED AS THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR FROM THE SEATTLE
CHAPTER OF LGBTQ MORMONS
FAMILIES AND FRIENDS. AN
ORGANIZATION THAT SUPPORTS LGBTQ
MEMBERS AND EX-MEMBERS OF THE
LDS CHURCH AND FAITH AND FOUND
FOUNDED THE DOMINICAN CHAPTER
FOR THIS ORGANIZATION. AND HE
WAS ALSO A HUMAN RIGHTS
AMBASSADOR WITH UNITED NATIONS
IN THE CARIBBEAN. IF HE DIDN'T
ALREADY HAVE SO MANY HATS ON HE
CURRENTLY SERVES AS EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR FOR THE IT GETS THAT
HER PROJECT AFFILIATED WITH THE
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC AND COCHAIRS
ADVISORY COMMITTEES AROUND
PROVIDERS FOR LOCAL AND REGIONAL
HEALTH PROGRAM SERVING SNOHOMISH
AND THE ISLAND COUNTIES. AND HE
FOCUSES ON SUPPORTING PEER
SUPPORT GROUPS AROUND SPIRITUAL
AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT AROUND
SUICIDE PREVENTION FOR THE LGBTQ
YOUTH IN SEATTLE AND IS FLUENT
IN BOTH ENGLISH AND SPANISH.
FYNNIECKO GLOVER FOR POSITION
NUMBER FIVE AND THAT ONE IS A
CITY COUNCIL APPOINTED POSITION
IS A LOCAL COMMUNITY LEADER WITH
MORE THAN A DECADE OF EXPERIENCE
AROUND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT,
FOCUSING ON INCLUSIVE
INITIATIVES THAT UPLIFT
UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. HE HAS
HE WAS A FORMER CITY EMPLOYEE AS
AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
AND DID A LOT OF WORK IN THE
AREA. HE DID A LOT OF WORK ON
THE AREA THROUGH JOB CREATION,
PLANNING, BUILDING KEY COMMUNITY
PARTNERSHIPS AND IN THAT PROCESS
HE HAS WORKED WITH A LOT OF
LOCAL KING COUNTY SOCIAL
SERVICES AROUND BUDGETING
EFFORTS TO MAKE SURE LOCAL
RESIDENTS HAD A DIRECT VOICE IN
PUBLIC INVESTMENT. HE IS A LOCAL
COMMUNITY LEADER MEAN HE ALSO
HAS DEEP ROOTS IN SOUTH SEATTLE
YOUTH EMPOWERMENT AND EXPANDING
ANY SORT OF OPPORTUNITIES TO
REALLY UPLIFT THE COMMUNITIES IN
THE AREA. HE HAS COFOUNDED A LOT
OF GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATION
REALLY FOCUSING ON COMMUNITY
SPACES AND INVOLVED IN LOCAL
COMMUNITY GROUPS REALLY FOCUSING
ON LAND STEWARDSHIP AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT. HE HOLDS A DEGREE
FROM AN URBAN AND REGIONAL
PLANNING FROM ALABAMA
AGRICULTURE AS WELL AS ARIZONA
STATE UNIVERSITY. SO BEING LOCAL
WITH HIS BACKGROUND HE IS REALLY
EXCITED TO CONTINUE TO BRING
THOSE SCHOOLS TO THE ADVISORY
BOARD. TIFFANY KELLY-GRAY FOR
POSITION NINE AND THIS IS A
BOARD APPOINTED POSITION.
TIFFANY IS CONSIDERED A
COMMUNITY ADVOCATE AND COMMUNITY
LEADER WITH VAST EXPERIENCE
AROUND ADVOCATING FOR EQUITY
COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT. CURRENTLY
SHE IS IMPACT AND STRATEGIC
INITIATIVE DIRECTOR AND THIS IS
A NONPROFIT IN A ESSENTIAL
DISTRICT THAT PROVIDES SAFETY
NET SERVICES TO SEATTLE
RESIDENTS OR ANYONE WHO WALKS
THROUGH THEIR DOORS IN NEED OF
SERVICES WITHOUT THE STIGMA. SHE
LEADS THE FUND DEVELOPMENT
PARTNERSHIP STRATEGIES THAT
COMBAT DISPLACEMENT AND REALLY
ADDRESS THE SYSTEM INEQUALITIES
WELL STAYING IN THE CENTRAL
DISTRICT. PART OF HER EXPERTISE
AND EXPERIENCE, SHE USED TO WORK
FOR MERRILL LYNCH AS A COMMUNITY
LENDER AT THE FIFTH AND THIRD
BANK AND REALLY ALIGNED WITH
GOALS. WITH ALL OF THAT SHE
STILL SERVES AS A BOARD OF
TRUSTEE AT THE THE LOCAL SCHOOL
WHERE SHE ALSO SHARES DIVERSITY
AND A: EQUITY COMMUNITY. SHE
ALSO IS A LONG-TERM RESIDENT AND
SHE IS REALLY DEEPLY COMMITTED
TO EXPANDING ANYTHING AROUND
BUILDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE
COMMUNITY FOR MARGINALIZED
COMMUNITY GROUPS AND ANY SORT OF
DISPLACEMENT AND ADVANCING
EQUITABLE AND COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT IN THE AREA. LAST
BUT NOT LEAST, WE HAVE ELIANA
HORN FOR POSITION 11 . A
ATTORNEY, COMMUNITY ADVOCATE AND
POLICY ANALYSIS WITH ANOTHER
EXTENSIVE BACKGROUND. AND ELIANA
HAS OVER A DECADE OF EXPERIENCE
SUPPORTING COMMUNITY STEWARDSHIP
OF LAND, PATHWAY TOWARDS RACIAL,
ECONOMIC AND GENDER AND CLIMATE
JUSTICE. AND CURRENTLY AROUND
CLOSELY WORKING WITH LOCAL
GROUPS TO ADVANCE DEMOCRATIC
CONTROL THEY ARE CURRENTLY THE
POLICY ANALYSIS AND NOT ONLY
THAT THEY HAVE FOUNDED A
INTERDEPENDENT LAW OF POLICY
RESEARCH ADVANCING CAMPAIGNS AND
LEGAL COUNCIL FOR
COMMUNITY-BASED PROJECTS. AND SO
THEY LET DISPLACEMENT EFFORTS
AND MARGINALIZED COMMUNITY
GROUPS. TO ADVANCE EQUITABLE
DEVELOPMENT THROUGH COMMUNITY
LEADERSHIP. THOSE WERE THE BOARD
MEMBERS WE ARE SEEKING FOR
REAPPOINTMENT THROUGH THE
ADVISORY BOARD. THAT WAS A CLICK
SNAPSHOT WITH THAT, WE ARE GOING
TO TAKE THESE APPOINTMENTS UP AS
A PACKAGE TO MOVE THEM FORWARD.
SO I MOVED THAT THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMEND THE APPOINTMENT FOR
CONFIRMATION. IS THERE A SECOND?
IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED.
ANY FINAL COMMENTS? ALL RIGHT.
WILL THE COMMITTEE CLICK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL ON THE
RECOMMENDATION TO CONFIRM THE
APPOINTMENTS?
>> CHAIR RINCK. VICE CHAIR
FOSTER. COUNCIL PRESIDENT
HOLLINGSWORTH. COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA. THERE ARE FOUR IN FAVOR
AND ZERO POST AND ZERO
ABSTENTIONS.
>> THE MOTION CARRIES AN
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION THAT
THE APPOINTMENT BE CONFIRMED
WILL BE SENT TO THE APRIL 14th
CITY COUNCIL MEETING. AND NOW WE
ARE GOING TO MOVE TO OUR NEXT
ITEM OF BUSINESS. WILL THE
COMMITTEE CLICK EASE READ ITEM
SEVEN INTO THE RECORD?
>> ITEM SEVEN. DOMESTIC WORKERS
STANDARDS BOARD OVERVIEW
BRIEFING AND DISCUSSION.
>> AS OUR GUESTS COME UP TO THE
TABLE AGAIN WANT TO TAKE A
MOMENT TO JUST CELEBRATE THE
WORK THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR
YEARS FROM DOMESTIC WORKERS
STANDARDS BOARD BUT ALSO MANY
ORGANIZATIONS FROM THE
WORKCENTER TO HAVE BEEN PART OF
THESE EFFORTS. WE ARE GOING TO
BE HEARING DIRECTLY FROM THEM
TODAY ABOUT THE SCOPE OF THEIR
WORK, A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY
AND WHERE WE ARE GOING NEXT.
REALLY EXCITED TO BE HAVE THEM
ALL IN COMMITTEE THIS MORNING.
WHEN FOLKS GET SETTLED AND IF
YOU CAN TAKE A MOMENT AND
INTRODUCE YOURSELF BY STATING
YOUR NAME AND ORGANIZATION INTO
THE MICROPHONE. WELCOME AGAIN.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE INVITATION
FOR US TO PRESENT TO THE
DOMESTIC WORKERS STANDARDS BOARD
IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
>> MY NAME IS SILVIA GONZALEZ. I
AM ONE OF THE CHAIRS OF DWSB .
MANAGER OF THE ORGANIZATION. I
AM A REPRESENTATIVE OF DOMESTIC
WORKERS OF CASA LATINA. THESE
ARE MY COLLEAGUES.
>> HI EVERYBODY. MY NAME IS
JORDAN GOLDWARG , I USE HE HIM
PRONOUNS AND I HAVE BEEN A
RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 4 FOR 16
YEARS. I ALSO SERVE ON THE
DOMESTIC WORKERS STANDARDS BOARD
AND ONE OF THE EMPLOYER SEATS. I
EMPLOYEE A HOUSECLEANER IN MY
HOME AND I GOT CONNECTED TO
DOMESTIC WORKERS STANDARDS BOARD
THROUGH THE ORGANIZATION
HAND-IN-HAND WHICH IS A NATIONAL
ORGANIZATION THAT ORGANIZES
EMPLOYERS AND DOMESTIC WORKERS
TO BE IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE
DOMESTIC WORKERS MOVEMENT.
>> BOARD LIAISON BETWEEN THE
DOMESTIC WORKERS STANDARDS BOARD
AND HAPPY TO BE HERE TODAY.
>> I LIKE TO KICK US OFF BY
SHARING A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE
PURPOSE OF OUR PRESENTATION
TODAY. WE WILL START OFF BY
GOING INTO A LITTLE BIT MORE
DETAIL INTO THE ROLE OF THE
STANDARDS BOARD. WE WILL PROVIDE
A HISTORY AND OVERVIEW AND MAKE
SURE WE SHARE SOME OF THE
ONGOING WORK THAT IS HAPPENING
AND SOME OF THE FUTURE WORK THAT
WE ARE MOVING TOWARDS. WE WANT
TO THE RECENT STATE LAW WHEN
EMMA AND THEN OF COURSE WE WANT
TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE TIME FOR
QUESTIONS AS WELL. SO JUST TO
START OFF WITH SOME BACKGROUND,
THIS IS A TIMELINE GOING BACK TO
WHEN THE CITY PASSED THE
ORDINANCE IN 2018. WE ARE STILL
THE ONLY JURISDICTION TO HAVE
PASSED THE BILL OF RIGHTS THAT
ALSO INCLUDES AN OVERSIGHT BOARD
TO DOMESTIC WORKERS STANDARDS
BOARD. AND ALSO JUST WANT TO
HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE THINGS HERE
IN TERMS OF SUPPORT THAT COUNCIL
HAS GIVEN TO THE BOARD IN THE
PAST TWO CONTINUE FURTHERING OUR
WORK. AND SO BOTH IN THE FALL OF
2021 AND ALSO AGAIN IN 2023. TO
SUPPORT THE WORK OF THE BOARD IN
2021 THAT WAS TO SUPPORT
SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS THAT
THE BOARD MADE TO COUNCIL AND
THAT WAS PART OF THE INITIAL
CHARTER OF THE BOARD. WE WERE
GRATEFUL TO COUNCIL FOR THE
FINANCIAL SUPPORT THEY GAVE
INCLUDING GRANTS TO COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS FOR FURTHER
ORGANIZED WORKERS IN THE SPACE.
AND THEN AGAIN IN FALL 2023
COUNCIL ALLOCATED FUNDING TO
SUPPORT A REPORT, THE CREATION
OF A REPORT ON EXPANDING PAID
TIME OFF BENEFITS TO WORKERS AND
ALSO SUPPORTED A GRANT TO AN
ORGANIZATION TO DO AWARENESS OF
EMPLOYERS OF DOMESTIC WORKERS.
AND WITH THAT I WILL PASS IT TO
DIANA TO TALK ABOUT OUR
RELATIONSHIP WITH OLS.
>> WHAT YOU SEE IN FRONT OF YOU
TODAY IS OUR STANDARD
ENFORCEMENT MODEL OR PROCESS FOR
OUR LABOR STANDARDS THAT WE
ENFORCE. IT TYPICALLY STARTS
WITH A WORKER COMING TO US TO
MAKE A COMPLAINT AND
INVESTIGATOR FROM OUR
ENFORCEMENT TEAM WILL THEN MEET
WITH THAT WORKER, REVIEW ANY
DOCUMENTS IF THEY BROUGHT ANY
DOCUMENTS LIKE A PAYSTUB AND IF
THE NEXT STEP IS TO OPEN
INVESTIGATION WE WILL PROVIDE A
NOTICE TO THE HIRING ENTITY OF
THAT INVESTIGATION AND REQUEST
ANY RECORDS SO THAT THE
INVESTIGATOR CAN CONDUCT A
PROPER INVESTIGATION. WHERE OUR
OFFICE IS ABLE TO ASSESS
PENALTIES AND FINES FOR THE
ORDINANCE WHERE WE ALSO ANNOUNCE
THE RESOLUTION PUBLICLY. IT'S
ALSO AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE.
AS STANDARD, WE NEVER ASK ABOUT
IMMIGRATION STATUS, WE ARE ABLE
TO PROVIDE INTERPRETATION AND
TRANSLATION IN ALL OF OUR
SERVICES. IN THE CLOSE TO SEVEN
YEARS OF ENFORCING THIS LAW WE
HAVE LEARNED A LOT ABOUT WHAT IT
MEANS TO ENFORCE A DOMESTIC
WORKERS ORDINANCE AND FOR THE
MANY REASONS THAT COUNCILMEMBER
MERCEDES RINCK ALREADY MENTIONED
WHY DOMESTIC WORKERS HAVE A HARD
TIME COMING FORWARD TO US. IT'S
INCREDIBLY HARD FOR ALL WORKERS
TO FILE A COMPLAINT ESPECIALLY
RIGHT NOW GIVEN EVERYTHING
THAT'S GOING ON AT THE FEDERAL
LEVEL. BUT IT'S ALSO
EXCEPTIONALLY HARD FOR DOMESTIC
WORKERS AGAIN FOR THE REASONS
THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN
MENTIONED. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT
A WORKFORCE THAT HAS BEEN
HISTORICALLY EXCLUDED AT THE
NATIONAL LEVEL. PROTECTION SET
ALL OTHER WORKERS ALREADY HAVE
AND HAVE HAD FOR CLOSE TO 100
YEARS. AND THIS AGAIN IS ROOTED
IN MISOGYNY, SEXISM AND RACISM
AND ALSO ANTI-IMMIGRANT. WE ARE
ALSO TALKING ABOUT A WORKPLACE
THAT IS PEOPLE'S HOMES.
TYPICALLY WHEN WE TALK ABOUT
WORKPLACES WE THINK OF
RESTAURANTS OR HOTELS OR
BUILDINGS DOWNTOWN WE OFTEN
TIMES DON'T THINK ABOUT OUR
HOME BEING A WORKPLACE. AND THAT
IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO DO
A CULTURAL SHIFT. AND THEN
LASTLY I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE
REFERRAL ECONOMY THAT HAPPENS IN
THE DOMESTIC WORKER SPACE. MOST
OF THE WORKERS GET JOBS THROUGH
FACEBOOK GROUPS, THROUGH
WORD-OF-MOUTH THROUGH PARENT
GROUPS, IN PARTICULAR NANNIES.
THE NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS LIKE
SOMEBODY REALLY ENJOYED THEIR
LANDSCAPER THAN THEY WILL TELL
THEIR NEIGHBOR. AND HAVE LED
INTO LOW COMPLAINT RATES IN OUR
OFFICE. AND THAT IS CONSISTENT
WITH WHAT THE STATE WE HAVE SEEN
AT THE STATE LEVEL. TWO REMEDY
THEIR SITUATION. SO WHAT WE DID
IS THE PARTNERSHIP OF THE
DOMESTIC WORKERS STANDARDS BOARD
IS WE REALLY WANTED TO ASK
OURSELVES WHAT DOES SUCCESS LOOK
LIKE OR HOW CAN WE MEASURE OUR
IMPACT BEYOND CASES. BEYOND HOW
MANY FOLKS COME FORWARD AND WE
REALLY WANTED TO THINK
CREATIVELY AND STRATEGICALLY
ABOUT HOW WE ENFORCE THIS LAW.
THE FIRST WHAT WE'VE LEARNED IN
OUR BEST PRACTICE IS INVEST IN
COMMUNITY EXPERTISE. TALKING
ABOUT WORKERS THAT OFTEN ARE DUE
INVISIBLE WORK ARE OFTEN
IMMIGRANT BLACK WOMEN, PEOPLE OF
COLOR WHERE ENGLISH MAY NOT BE
THEIR MAIN LANGUAGE OR THE
LANGUAGE THEY FEEL MOST
COMFORTABLE IN SO IN ORDER TO
CAN DO THAT WELL WE NEED TO
CENTER LANGUAGE ACCESS AND
LANGUAGE JUSTICE. AND THAT
INCLUDES TRANSLATING ALL OF OUR
MATERIALS, ALL OF OUR RESOURCES
INTO VARIOUS LINKAGES. I BELIEVE
WE HAVE 20+ AVAILABLE INCLUDING
MY PARENTS INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE
WHICH I WAS VERY SURPRISED. WE
ARE MOSTLY IN CALIFORNIA. BUT
THAT JUST SHOWS THE INTENTIONAL
AND COMMITMENT THAT WE HAVE TWO
REALLY MAKE SURE THAT OUR
RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE TO
EVERYBODY IN THE CITY. OUTREACH
AND EDUCATION HAS BEEN CRITICAL.
IN GETTING THE WORD OUT. AGAIN
TALKING ABOUT A WORKPLACE THAT
THEY PERFORM WORK IN PEOPLE'S
HOMES AND SO WE HAD TO DO A LOT
OF EDUCATION TO CAN AND YOU TO
DO EDUCATION FOR HIGHER ENTITIES
TO THINK ABOUT THEIR HOME AS A
WORKPLACE. WHAT WE FOUND IS THAT
HIGHER ENTITIES WANT TO COMPLY.
THAT THEY WANT TO DO THE RIGHT
THING. I WILL LET THE BOARD
DISCUSSED MORE ABOUT THE
CAMPAIGN THAT THEY'VE DONE AND
REACHING OUT TO DIFFERENT HIGHER
ENTITIES ACROSS THE CITY. BUT WE
DO SEE THAT TRANSLATE INTO
SEEKING RESOURCES. AND ACCESSING
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT OTHER
LAWS THAT THEY MAY BE REQUIRED
TO COMPLY. FOR EXAMPLE THE PAID
SICK AND SAFE TIME LAW. SO WE
ARE HOPING TO LEAD INTO A
SOCIETAL SHIFT AND PERCEPTION OF
WHO IS WHO ARE DOMESTIC WORKERS,
WHERE DO THEY WORK AND AS
COUNCILMEMBER MERCEDES RINCK
SAID DOMESTIC WORKERS MAKE ALL
OTHER WORK POSSIBLE. ALL OF THIS
WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE
WITHOUT THE PARTNERSHIP THAT IS
THE BOARD. SO I WILL PASS IT
BACK TO THE BOARD.
>> THANKS SO MUCH FOR PROVIDING
THAT OVERVIEW. BEFORE I PASS IT
OVER TO SYLVIA TO GO INTO A LOT
MORE DETAIL ABOUT THE WORK OF
THE BOARD, I DID JUST WANT TO
HIGHLIGHT ONE THING FROM THE
MUNICIPAL CODE AND LIQUIDS THAT
AUTHORIZE THE CREATION OF THE
BOARD WHICH IS THAT WHEN IT
TALKS ABOUT MAKING
RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE CITY THE
CITY HAS BEEN INTERPRETED VERY
BROADLY TO INCLUDE ALL PARTS OF
THE CITY AND SO THE BOARD HAS
WORKED CLOSELY WITH THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE AND CITY COUNCIL OVER THE
YEARS TO TRY TO ADVANCE OUR
WORK.
>> THANK YOU, JORDAN. I AM GOING
TO SPEAK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE BOARD.
>> THIS HAS A MEMBERSHIP AND THE
MEMBERSHIP IS REPRESENTED FOR
DOMESTIC WORKERS IN EVERY SECTOR
SUCH AS NANNIES, HOUSECLEANERS,
CARETAKERS FOR OTHER PEOPLE AND
ALSO THAT HAVE HIRING ENTITIES
AND DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE
COMMUNITY. THIS BOARD OF THE
LABOR STANDARDS HAS BEEN ONE OF
THE PIONEERS IN LANGUAGE JUSTICE
GIVING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL THE
WORKERS TO BE ABLE TO EXPRESS
THEMSELVES IN THEIR OWN
LANGUAGE. AT THE BEGINNING, IT
WAS ONLY TWO LANGUAGES. ENGLISH
AND SPANISH. BUT NOW THE
MEETINGS ARE IN ENGLISH, SPANISH
AND UKRAINIAN. THIS IS VERY
POWERFUL.
>> THE BOARD IS THE MAIN ACTOR.
THEY ARE THE ONES THAT MADE THE
RECOMMENDATIONS TO OLS AND AT
THE SAME TIME THEY DO ALL THE
PRESENTATIONS TO THE COUNCIL AND
ALSO TO THE OFFICE OF THE MAYOR.
IN OTHER WORDS WE ARE WORKING.
ANOTHER CHARACTERISTIC OF THE
BOARD IS THAT WE ARE THE UNIQUE
MODEL AND THE WHOLE NATION.
WE'VE BEEN CONTACTED FROM OTHER
STATES LIKE THE WORKERS
COALITION, DOMESTIC WORKERS
COALITION OF NEW YORK, ALSO
UNIONS FOR NAIL SALONS AND ALSO
MASSAGE PARLORS. THEY WANT US TO
SHARE STRATEGIES, IMPROVEMENTS
AND CHALLENGES. AND HOW CAN THEY
CREATE A STANDARD BOARD LIKE FOR
A MECHANISM TO IMPROVE AND
ENFORCE ALL THE RIGHTS OF
DOMESTIC WORKERS AND OTHER LABOR
SECTORS. WE ARE VERY PROUD OF
EVERYTHING THAT WE DID IN THIS
BOARD AND OF THE RESULTS THAT WE
ACHIEVED.
>> RECENTLY WE WERE INVITED BY
UCLA LABOR CENTER. THEY WANTED
TO KNOW WHAT IS IT WE ARE DOING
HERE IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE THAT
IS HAVING SUCH A BIG IMPACT. NOT
ONLY THE STATE LEVEL BUT THE
WHOLE NATION WE ARE IMPACTING.
SO WE HAVE A BIG IMPACT
NATIONALLY BUT IT'S ALSO
BECAUSE OF THE BOARD. A FORMAL
MECHANISM FOR A UNIQUE AND
CONTINUOUS ADVOCACY. IT'S
IMPORTANT BECAUSE THIS IS THE
ONLY WAY TO GET BETTER RESULTS.
IT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE THIS IS
THE VOICE OF THE DOMESTIC
WORKERS. THIS IS A PLACE WHERE
THEY HAVE THEY CAN BE HEARD AND
THIS IS A SAFE PLACE FOR THEM.
THIS ALSO INFORMS AND EDUCATES
HIRING ENTITIES FOR THEM TO KNOW
THAT THEIR HOME IS A PLACE OF
WORK. THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE
IT CREATES A STRUCTURE FOR
GOVERNING IN A WAY THAT IS MUCH
MORE INCLUSIVE BECAUSE LANGUAGE
JUSTICE. AND ALSO GRANTS FOR THE
REPRESENTING ALL THE DOMESTIC
WORKERS. JORDAN SPOKE A LITTLE
BIT ABOUT TIMELINE. I'M GOING
TO STOP A LITTLE BIT AND TALK
ABOUT 2021. IN 2021 THE BOARD
HAD THREE VERY IMPORTANT
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE COUNCIL.
THE FIRST RECOMMENDATION WAS TO
INVEST MORE IN THE COMMUNITY
EXPERIENCE. THE COUNCIL THEY
GAVE MORE GRANTS FOR THESE
ORGANIZATIONS FOR DOMESTIC
WORKERS SO THEY COULD GET MORE
OUTREACH AND EDUCATION FOR MORE
OF THE DOMESTIC WORKERS AND ALSO
THE HIRING ENTITIES.
>> THE SECOND RECOMMENDATION WAS
TO PROVIDE MORE MATERIALS AND
RESOURCES FOR THE ORDINANCE OF
DOMESTIC WORKERS FOR THEM TO
CONTINUE DOING MORE OUTREACH AND
EDUCATION. ALSO WE GOT MORE
FLYERS, INFORMATION, VIDEOS,
MORE PROMOTIONAL STUFF WITH THE
GRANT ABOUT THE DOMESTIC WORKERS
ORDINANCE AND ALSO ON THE RADIO.
WE HAVE A LOT OF ADS ON THE
RADIO. THE THIRD ONE WAS TO
ESTABLISH BENEFITS FOR ALL THE
DOMESTIC WORKERS. THE OFFICE OF
LABOR STANDARDS OLS IN A
PARTNERSHIP WITH MEMBERS OF THE
COMMUNITY AND THE PUBLIC GOOD.
THEY PUBLISH AND RESULTS IN
2025. IN THIS STUDY THERE WAS A
LOT OF PARTICIPATION OF
DIFFERENT GROUPS. FOCUS GROUPS,
HOUSECLEANERS, NANNIES,
CARETAKERS AND ALSO GARDENERS.
WHAT ARE WE DOING NOW? WHAT
OTHER PROJECTS THAT WE ARE DOING
AND THEY ARE ONGOING. AT THE
MOMENT THE ONGOING PROJECTS OF
THE BOARD ARC TO CONTINUE
WORKING WITH TWO COMMITTEES. ONE
IS THE POLICY COMMITTEE AND THE
OTHER IS THE OUTREACH COMMITTEE
SO WE CAN CONTINUE WITH OUR
WORKPLAN. WE ARE ALSO ENGAGED
AND WE WANT TO KNOW MORE
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE BUDGET.
>> THANKS SILVIA. AS SILVIA WAS
SPEAKING I WAS REMINDED THAT
OFTEN TIMES WHEN PEOPLE ASK ME
ABOUT THE STANDARDS BOARD I TOLD
HIM THAT IT HAS BEEN ONE OF THE
MOST MEANINGFUL CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
EXPERIENCES I'VE EVER HAD AND
ONE OF THE MOST MEANINGFUL
VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCES. MAC. AND
I THINK THAT IS COMING THROUGH
IN TERMS OF WHAT YOU SEE AROUND
THINGS LIKE LANGUAGE JUSTICE,
ACCESSIBILITY, INCLUSIVITY AND
THE ABILITY TO ACTUALLY ATTACK
AFFECT CHANGE. PARTICULARLY OVER
THE LAST FEW YEARS ANY SORT OF
WORK AROUND IMMIGRANT RIGHTS AND
WORKER RIGHTS AT THE NATIONAL
LEVEL HAS BEEN SO DIFFICULT. THE
WORK WE ARE DOING IN THE CITY
HAS A TANGIBLE, REAL IMPACT ON
PEOPLE'S LIVES AND NOT ONLY FOR
WORKERS BUT I THINK THE DOMESTIC
WORKER MOVEMENT IS ONE OF THE
FEW TRULY CROSS CLASS CROSS
RACIAL ORGANIZING SPACES OF
SOLIDARITY THAT WE SEE IN THE
COUNTRY RIGHT NOW. AND THAT'S
BEEN REALLY POWERFUL IN TERMS OF
BRINGING EMPLOYERS INTO THE
MOVEMENT AS WELL AND RECOGNIZING
THAT JUSTICE IS NECESSARY FOR
ALL OF US TO HAVE TOGETHER. SO I
WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
FUTURE WORK THAT IS COMING UP
FOR THE BOARD. AND WE'VE SHARED
SOME OF THIS INFORMATION WITH
COUNCILMEMBERS THAT WE'VE HAD
THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH IN
THE LAST FEW MONTHS BUT THE BIG
THING COMING UP IS BACK IN
NOVEMBER THE BOARD VOTED TO
RECOMMEND THREE PROPOSED
AMENDMENTS TO THE ORDINANCE. AND
OLS IS CURRENTLY WORKING ON
DRAFTING THOSE AMENDMENTS AND
OUR HOPE IS THAT THOSE
AMENDMENTS WILL BE APPROVED BY
COUNCIL AT SOME POINT IN 2026.
SO THE FIRST OF THOSE AMENDMENTS
IS TO MANDATE WRITTEN AGREEMENTS
BETWEEN EMPLOYERS AND WORKERS.
AND THIS REFLECTS A REAL SHIFT
IN WHAT WORKERS WANT AND WHAT
HAS BEEN CONSIDERED BEST
PRACTICE SINCE THE ORIGINAL
ORDINANCE WAS DRAFTED. AT THAT
TIME A LOT OF WORKERS
PARTICULARLY ONES WHO WERE
FEARFUL ABOUT IMMIGRATION STATUS
WERE CONCERNED ABOUT HAVING A
REQUIREMENT FOR PARTICULARLY
WRITTEN CONTRACT AND THAT COULD
INVOKE FEAR FOR PEOPLE. BUT OVER
THE YEARS WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IS
THAT WORKERS REALLY HAVE COME TO
BELIEVE THAT THE BENEFITS OF
HAVING WRITTEN AGREEMENTS AND
THE TERMS OF THEIR WORK
FORMALIZED WITH THEIR EMPLOYER
OUTWEIGH ANY ANY POTENTIAL RISK
THAT COMES FROM THAT
DOCUMENTATION. AND SO THERE IS
STRONG AGREEMENT NOW AMONG
WORKERS THAT THE ORDINANCE
SHOULD BE AMENDED TO INCLUDE
WRITTEN AGREEMENTS. IT THE
SECOND AMENDMENT WHICH REALLY
COMES OUT OF SOME OF THE
EXPERIENCE THAT OLS HAS HAD ON
THE ENFORCEMENT SIDE WOULD
REQUIRE EMPLOYERS TO MAINTAIN
RECORDS OF HOURS WORKED. AND
OBVIOUSLY THIS IS SOMETHING THAT
MOST WORKERS AND MOST SECTORS
TAKE FOR GRANTED. THAT THERE IS
GOING TO BE A RECORD OF TIME
SHEETS AND HOURS THAT PEOPLE
HAVE WORKED. BUT THAT IS NOT
CURRENTLY REQUIRED IN THE
ORDINANCE. AND WHAT THAT HAS
MEANT IS THAT WHEN THERE ARE
ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS PARTICULARLY
AROUND WAGE THEFT EMPLOYERS CAN
JUST DENY THAT THERE IS NO
RECORD OF THIS AND SO THE WORKER
HAS NO PROOF THAT THEY ARE OWED
THESE HOURS. AND SO THE SECOND
AMENDMENT IS TO REQUIRE
EMPLOYERS TO MAINTAIN RECORDS OF
HOURS WORKED. AND THEN THE THIRD
AMENDMENT RELATES TO THE
QUESTION OF PAID TIME OFF WHICH
IS SOMETHING THAT WE WILL KEEP
GOING BACK TO. BUT THIS
AMENDMENT WOULD INCLUDE
ANTI-RETALIATION PROTECTION FOR
WORKERS WHO USE TIME OFF. MANY
WORKERS DON'T EVEN HAVE ACCESS
TO TIME OFF FOR PAID TIME OFF
BUT WHEN THEY DO OR EVEN IF
WORKERS WANT TO TAKE UNPAID TIME
OFF FEAR OF RETALIATION IS ONE
OF THE THINGS THAT STOPS WORKERS
FROM DOING THAT. AND SO WE WANT
TO INCLUDE ANTI-RETALIATION
PROTECTION. THOSE THREE
AMENDMENTS ARE IN PROCESS AS
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK MENTIONED.
THERE ARE TWO LISTENING SESSIONS
HAPPENING TO GET PUBLIC FEED
BOOK FEEDBACK AND INPUT ON THOSE
AND WE HOPE THAT COUNCIL WILL
TAKE THOSE UP AND PASS THEM
BEFORE THE END OF 2026. OUTSIDE
OF THOSE AMENDMENTS, I WANT TO
SPEAK JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE
BROADLY ABOUT PAID TIME OFF. SO
THIS HAS BEEN A MAJOR FOCUS OF
WORK BECAUSE SO MANY WORKERS DO
NOT HAVE ACCESS TO PAID TIME
OFF. IN SOME CASES THERE ARE
WORKERS, CLASSIFIED AS W-2
EMPLOYEES NANNIES WHO WORK MANY
HOURS FOR A SINGLE EMPLOYER AND
THOSE WORKERS ARE COVERED UNDER
THE CITY EXISTING ORDINANCE. BUT
AGAIN, BECAUSE OF THE INFORMAL
NATURE OF THE WORK, BECAUSE
EMPLOYERS DON'T OFTEN RECOGNIZE
THAT THEY ARE EMPLOYERS IN THE
WAY WE TYPICALLY THINK OF IT
WORKERS ARE NOT ACCESSING THAT
BENEFIT AND SO THERE IS A NEED
TO DO CONTINUED OUTREACH AND
EDUCATION ALONG THOSE LINES. BUT
THEN THERE ARE SO MANY DOMESTIC
WORKERS PARTICULARLY THOSE WHO
WORK A FEW NUMBER OF HOURS FOR
MANY EMPLOYERS OVER THE COURSE
OF THE MONTH LIKE HOUSECLEANERS
AND THOSE EMPLOYERS CURRENTLY
GENERALLY DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO
ANY KIND OF PAID TIME OFF
BENEFIT AND THAT IS GOING TO
REQUIRE CREATIVITY AND
INNOVATION, LOOKING AT THINGS
LIKE A PUBLICLY MANAGED FUND TO
PROVIDE PAID TIME OFF BENEFIT.
AND OLS PUBLISHED TWO REPORTS AT
THE END OF LAST YEAR THAT GO
INTO A LOT MORE DETAIL ABOUT
PASSABLE PATH FORWARD FOR
EXPANDING PTO ACCESS TO DOMESTIC
WORKERS. NEXT, THERE NEEDS TO BE
CONTINUED CREATIVITY AND
INNOVATION FOR ALL THE REASONS
THAT WE TALKED ABOUT. HAS USED
SO MANY STRATEGIES TO TRY TO
REACH EMPLOYERS AND HAS
EVERYTHING FROM PRESENTATIONS
AND WHAT WE HAVE DONE TO SHARE
INFORMATION ABOUT THE ORDINANCE
WITH EMPLOYERS. BEST PRACTICES
CHANGE AND WHAT WORKERS WANT CAN
CHANGE OVER TIME AND SO HAVING
THIS FORMAL STRUCTURE OF THE
BOARD AND OUTREACH THAT THE
BOARD HELPS TO FACILITATE IS ONE
OF THOSE THINGS THAT REALLY
HELPS TO INFORM THE WORK MOVING
FORWARD. SYLVIA TALKED A LITTLE
BIT ALREADY ABOUT THE MANY WAYS
IN WHICH THE BOARD HAS BEEN A
NATIONAL LEADER. THERE IS A FEW
MORE BULLET POINTS THAT SHARE
THAT. I CAN ALSO INCLUDE THAT
LAST YEAR SYLVIA AND I WERE
INVITED TO PRESENT TO THE NEW
YORK DOMESTIC WORKER COALITION
ABOUT THE WORK OF THE STANDARDS
BOARD AS THEY TRY TO BRING A
SIMILAR BOARD INTO THAT
JURISDICTION. AND THINGS THAT WE
CAN BE DOING BETTER. ONE
CONTINUAL AREA FOR IMPROVEMENT
IS CONTINUING TO EXPAND FOR
REPRESENTATION AND THE VOICES OF
THE WORKERS FROM COMMUNITIES
THAT ARE NOT CURRENTLY ON THE
BOARD. WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE GOOD
REPRESENTATION FROM
SPANISH-SPEAKING COMMUNITIES AND
AS SILVIA MENTIONED WE NOW HAVE
A UKRAINIAN BOARD MEMBER AND WE
ARE DOING INTERPRETATION. BUT
JUST AS ONE EXAMPLE WE HAVE NO
ASIAN AMERICAN REPRESENTATION ON
THE BOARD CURRENTLY. AND WE KNOW
THAT THERE ARE MANY OTHER
COMMUNITIES WHOSE MEMBERS ARE
ENGAGED IN DOMESTIC WORK SO
THERE IS A NEED FOR US TO
CONTINUE DOING OUTREACH TO
ENSURE THAT MORE COMMUNITY
VOICES ARE INCLUDED. ANOTHER
THING WE WANT TO KEEP WORKING ON
IS CONTINUING TO SORT OF
DEMYSTIFY CITY GOVERNANCE
PROCESSES TO INCLUDE
ACCESSIBILITY AND MAKE IT EASIER
FOR PEOPLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE
WORK WE KNOW THAT COMING TO A
PUBLIC MEETING FOR A BOARD OR
COMMISSION WHEN YOU ARE NOT
FAMILIAR WITH THE PROCESS CAN BE
VERY INTIMIDATING. THERE'S LOTS
OF ACRONYMS, LOTS OF LANGUAGE
THAT IS USED AND IT TAKES A LOT
OF WORK TO BUILD TRUST AND
SAFETY AND TO MAKE PEOPLE FEEL
WELCOME AND INCLUDED IN THAT.
THAT EXTENDS ALSO TO SOME CITY
PROCESSES. AS ONE EXAMPLE THE
REQUIRED TRAINING THAT BOARD
COMMISSION MEMBERS ARE REQUIRED
TO ATTEND WERE OFFERED IN
ENGLISH UNTIL JUST RECENTLY WHEN
THANKS TO THE EFFORTS WE WERE
ABLE TO HOST A TRAINING FOR ALL
MEMBERS. INTERPRETATION INTO
SPANISH. WE RECORDED THAT
MEETING AND I BELIEVE THE CITY
CLERK IS NOW USING THAT
RECORDING TO TRAIN OTHER BOARDS
AND COMMISSIONS AS NEW MEMBERS
JOIN. THAT'S GREAT THAT WE'VE
GOT SPANISH BUT WE KNOW THERE
ARE SO MANY OTHER LANGUAGES
PEOPLE SPEAK AND SO CONTINUING
TO INCREASE ACCESSIBILITY AND
INCLUSION AND DEMYSTIFYING THE
PROCESS IS IMPORTANT. I WILL
TURN IT BACK TO SYLVIA.
>> THANK YOU JORDAN. NOW I'M
GOING TO TALK ABOUT SOMETHING
THAT I'M STILL CELEBRATING AND
I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE. THAT IS
THE VICTORY OF THE STATE LAW FOR
ALL THE DOMESTIC WORKERS. FOR
THE RISE OF THE DOMESTIC
WORKERS. VERY IMPORTANT FOR ALL
THE VOICES, FOR ALL THE DOMESTIC
WORKERS AND IN COLLABORATION
WITH THE COALITION OF THE MYSTIC
WORKERS OF THE STATE OF
WASHINGTON THAT CONSISTS OF FAIR
WORK CENTER. NATIONAL DOMESTIC
WORKERS ALLIANCE AND 775. BUT I
WANT TO EMPHASIZE ALSO THE ROLE
THAT THE BOARD, VARIOUS MEMBERS
OF THE BOARD THAT REPRESENTS
DOMESTIC WORKERS AND THERE WERE
ALSO SOME KEY ORGANIZERS AND
ALSO THE SUPPORT OF SEATTLE THAT
WAS VERY IMPORTANT POINT FOUR
THE STATE BILL. AND ALSO THE
TESTIMONY THAT WAS SHARED WAS
VERY IMPACTFUL IN THE EXPERIENCE
FOR THE CITY OF SEATTLE. WE ARE
THE 13th STATE TO HAVE A BILL OF
RIGHTS FOR DOMESTIC WORKERS.
COUNCILMEMBER ALEXIS ALREADY
MENTIONED IT BUT WHAT DID WE
WIN? DOMESTIC WORKERS THAT WORK
WITH A HYBRID ENTITY FOR MORE
THAN FOUR HOURS PER MONTH THEY
HAVE THE FOLLOWING RIGHTS.
MINIMUM WAGE. THE STATE MINIMUM
WAGE. THEY ALSO HAVE THE RIGHT
TO HAVE A FORMAL CONTRACT WITH
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THEIR
RIGHTS. THEY ARE NOT ALLOWED. IT
IS FORBIDDEN FOR THE ENTITY TO
TAKE THE PERSONAL DOCUMENTS AND
CONFISCATE THEM. THEY HAVE
PROTECTIONS AGAINST RETALIATION.
IF THEY ARE GOING TO BE FIRED IF
THEY NEED TO HAVE RIGHTS FOR
DIRECT ACTION AND ENFORCEMENT BY
THE WASHINGTON LABOR AND
INDUSTRIES. THIS NEW STATE LAW
WILL START ON JULY 1st OF 2027.
WE HAVE HERE ARE TWO PICTURES
THAT THEY SHOW A VERY IMMENSE
ENERGY. ALL THOSE WERE TAKEN ON
MARCH 9th AND THERE WAS NOT
ENOUGH SPACE FOR ALL OF THEM.
BEFORE THE SIGNING OF THIS WILL
THERE WAS ANOTHER ONE. A
PREVIOUS ONE. I WAS PRESENT AT
THE SIGNING OF THE PREVIOUS
BILL. THERE WAS ALMOST NOBODY
THERE. THERE WAS SO MUCH EMPTY
SPACE BUT THIS SHOWS SO MUCH
ENERGY. SO MUCH POWER.
REPRESENTATIVE BREANNA THOMAS
SHE SAYS EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO
KNOW ABOUT IN THAT PICTURE. BUT
WE HAVE THIS YEAR IS GOING TO BE
A LOT OF WORK. WE NEED TO CREATE
MORE FOCUS GROUPS AND OUTREACH
EVERY SINGLE COUNTY IN THE STATE
OF WASHINGTON THANK YOU. I LOVE
THESE PICTURES. THANK YOU DIANA.
THESE ARE PICTURES OF THE PLACES
WE WORK TOGETHER. WITH THE
BOARD. QUESTIONS? RECOGNIZING
VICE CHAIR FOSTER.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH CHAIR, AND
THANK YOU FOR PRESENTING TO US
TODAY. I REALLY APPRECIATED THE
BRIEFING THAT WE HAD A FEW WEEKS
AGO TO HEAR ABOUT YOUR WORK. AND
I JUST APPRECIATE THE ENERGY,
HARD WORK AND FOR JOY ESPECIALLY
IN THE PICTURES THAT YOU SHARED
IN THE PRESENTATION. MY QUESTION
IS, I KNOW YOU WALKED THROUGH
THOSE THREE POTENTIAL UPDATES TO
THE ORDINANCE. ONE OF THEM BEING
AROUND REQUIRING A WRITTEN
CONTRACT. AND I WANTED TO HEAR
MORE ABOUT HOW YOU ARE THINKING
ABOUT WHAT WOULD CONSTITUTE A
CONTRACT. ESPECIALLY KNOWING
THIS WORK AS YOU DESCRIBED IT IS
SOMETIMES FORMAL AND SOMETIMES
INFORMAL. AND SO FOR EXAMPLE A
TEXT MESSAGE CONFIRMING WE WILL
SEE YOU NEXT TUESDAY OR ET
CETERA. JUST CURIOUS IF THERE'S
MORE THAT YOU CAN SHARE. I KNOW
IN OTHER COURT CASES THAT'S
BEEN ENOUGH FOR A CONTRACT.
THERE WAS A CASE ON A PODCAST
WHERE THERE WAS THAT THUMBS-UP
EMOTING THAT CONSTITUTED A
CONTRACT. SO I WOULD LOVE TO
HEAR MORE ABOUT HOW THAT IS
BEING CONCEPTUALIZED.
>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
THAT IS ONE OF THE POINTS OF THE
STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS NEXT WEEK
IS TO HEAR FROM WORKERS. FOR
EXAMPLE, AS JORDAN MENTIONED WE
ARE CALLING IT WRITTEN
AGREEMENTS BECAUSE CONTRACT DOES
HAVE, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE
TRANSLATE DOES HAVE A DIFFERENT
TONE. AND FOR THAT ONE OF THE
QUESTIONS IS HOW DO YOU
TYPICALLY REACH AN AGREEMENT
CURRENTLY. IS IT TEXT MESSAGE,
EMAIL, ULTIMATELY WE JUST WANT
TO MAKE SURE THAT THE HIGHER
ENTITIES AND DOMESTIC WORKERS
ARE AWARE OF WHAT THEIR
RESPONSIBILITIES ARE. WHAT IS
EXPECTED WHEN THEY ARRIVE TO
PERFORM THEIR WORK AND THEIR
PAY. AS SILVIA MENTIONED THE
STATE RECENTLY DID ADD A
REQUIREMENT FOR WRITTEN
AGREEMENTS WITH THE STATE SO
THERE IS LANGUAGE WE CAN LOOK AT
AS WELL FOR SOME GUIDANCE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. I
APPRECIATE THE CORRECTION TO
WRITTEN AGREEMENTS. I WILL USE
THAT LANGUAGE MOVING FORWARD AND
LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING MORE.
>> THANK YOU VICE CHAIR FOSTER.
RECOGNIZING COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
>> I'M ALSO GOING TO ASK A
QUESTION ABOUT A CONTRACT. AND
AS A NONPRACTICING LAWYER
COMMERCIAL LAWYER WHO HAS
NEGOTIATED COUNTLESS
MULTIMILLION DOLLAR COMPLEX
LICENSING DEALS AND ALSO
REPRESENTED INDIVIDUALS AND
COMMUNITIES AND SMALL BUSINESSES
PRO BONO HELPING THEM ESTABLISH
AND GROW THEIR BUSINESSES, I
HAVE A LOT OF PERSONAL INSIGHT
AND EXPERTISE WITH CONTRACTS IN
PARTICULAR AND SO WHEN
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER WAS TALKING
ABOUT CONTRACTS EARLIER I WAS
TRAUMATIZED A LITTLE BIT OF MY
THROWBACK TO MY FIRST YEAR OF
LAW SCHOOL AND MY CONTRACT
CLASS. GENERALLY REQUIRE OFFER
ACCEPTANCE AND CONSIDERATION. GO
DEEP ON WHAT THAT MEANS. BUT IT
IS A GREAT AND VALID POINT ABOUT
CONTRACTING . I WOULD BE CURIOUS
TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE PURPOSE
AND GOAL OF THAT BEYOND
PROTECTION OF THE WORKERS DID
BECAUSE I SOMEONE WHO HAS
DRAFTED, STRUCTURED, NEGOTIATED,
HELPED INTERPRET AND ADVISE ON
CONTRACTS FOR PEOPLE THESE
CONTRACTS CAN BE VERY COMPLEX.
AND IT CAN BE IN THE FORM OF A
TEXT MESSAGE, WRITING ON A
NAPKIN OR A FORMAL LEGAL
DOCUMENT OR AGREEMENT. BUT WHEN
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT SOMEONE
GENERALLY HIRING A WORKER
ESPECIALLY ONE FROM IMMIGRANT
AND REFUGEE BACKGROUNDS AND
COMMUNITIES MANY OF WHICH I HAVE
REPRESENTED IN MY PREVIOUS WORK.
THESE ARE NOT WHAT'S KNOWN AS
AN ARM LENGTH TRANSACTION.
MEANING IN AN ARMS LENGTH
TRANSACTION IT ASSUMES MULTIPLE
THINGS INCLUDING THAT EACH PARTY
HAS EQUAL BARGAINING POWER.
EQUAL BARGAINING POSITION.
THAT'S NOT THE CASE IN THESE
SITUATIONS GENERALLY. WHAT DOES
THAT MEAN? IT MEANS THERE IS A
LOT OF ASYMMETRY. IN THE
BARGAINING POWER AND POSITION OF
THE RESPECTIVE PARTIES. THE
ULTIMATE RESULT OF WHICH CAN
LEAD TO VERY UNFAVORABLE AND
VERY CONFUSING TERMS FOR
WORKERS. AND IF THOSE TERMS IN
THE CONTRACT ARE IN COURT CAN
LEAD TO FINDINGS OF
UNCONSCIONABILITY OR THE NOTION
THAT THE CONTRACT IS NOT
ENFORCEABLE BECAUSE THE TERMS
ARE JUST SO UNFAIR AND
ONE-SIDED. WHICH MANY OF THEM
ARE. SO BEYOND THE REQUIREMENT
OF HAVING A CONTRACT OR WRITTEN
AGREEMENT OF SOME SORT IN
WHATEVER FORM. WOULD JUST LOVE
TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE PURPOSE
AND GOAL HERE AND AS A LAWYER
JUST TRAINED TO THINK AROUND
CORNERS AND ANTICIPATE ISSUES.
ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT FOR
EXAMPLE AS PART OF THIS NEW
LEGISLATION ADDING A MODEL
CONTRACT, MODEL PROVISIONS OF
SOME SORT INCLUDING MINIMUM.
THESE ARE JUST ILLUSTRATIVE
EXAMPLES. MINIMUM REQUIRED TERMS
THAT WORKERS NEED AND WANT LIKE
THE TERM OF THE CONTRACT WHEN IT
STARTS WHEN IT ENDS, THE PAY.
HOW IT CAN BE TERMINATED OR
ENDED. THOSE STRIKE ME AS KEY
TERMS THAT ARE MORE FAVORABLE
AND WORKERS WOULD WANT MORE
CERTAINTY AROUND AND CLARITY
UP-FRONT. HOW ARE WE THINKING
ABOUT PURPOSE AND GOAL. AND
POTENTIALLY IMPLEMENTING THIS.
IT'S A GREAT IDEA BY THE WAY
BUT I JUST WANT TO HELP US THINK
AROUND SOME CORNERS HERE. A LOT
OF ISSUES LURKING THERE.
>> MAYBE I CAN START AND THEN I
WOULD LOVE BOTH OF YOU TO JUMP
IN ALSO. THOSE ARE GREAT
QUESTIONS AND ON A PRACTICAL
LEVEL YES TO MODEL AGREEMENTS
AND OLS ALREADY PUBLISHES A
MODEL AGREEMENT THAT IS
CURRENTLY ENTIRELY OPTIONAL.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WOULD
MAKE THAT REQUIREMENT. MAYBE
JUST SOME EXAMPLES THAT WE HEAR
ABOUT ON THE BOARD FROM AN
EMPLOYER PERSPECTIVE. I THINK
THAT OFTEN TIMES THE VALUE OF A
WRITTEN AGREEMENT JUST REALLY
HELPS TO BRING CLARITY AND
TRANSPARENCY TO WHAT THE
EXPECTATIONS ARE EVEN FOR LIKE A
ONE TIME HOUSECLEANING. AND SOME
WORKERS PREFER TO WORK BY CHARGE
A SPECIFIC AMOUNT FOR A JOB AND
SAY I WILL CHARGE X DOLLARS TO
CLEAN YOUR HOME. SOME PEOPLE
HAVE AN HOURLY RATE. AND YOU
KNOW, THAT CAN LEAD TO A LOT OF
CONFUSION IN TERMS OF IF WE ARE
DOING THE HOURLY RATE BUT YOU
HAVE AN EXPECTATION THAT I'M
GOING TO BE CLEANING THE INSIDE
OF YOUR REFRIGERATOR AND I
DIDN'T KNOW THAT WITH THE
EXPECTATION. THAT'S GOING TO
TAKE MORE TIME. AND SO WE NEED
TO KNOW AHEAD OF TIME WHAT ARE
THE SPECIFIC TERMS OF WHAT'S
GOING TO BE DONE DURING THE JOB.
AND I THINK WHAT I HEAR ON THE
BOARD AS WELL IS THAT CONTRACTS
BECOME A TOOL OF EDUCATION AND
EMPOWERMENT FOR WORKERS AS WELL
AND KNOWING THAT THIS IS AN
EXPECTATION MANY WORKERS FEEL
MORE EMPOWERED TO HAVE THAT
CONVERSATION UP FRONT BEFORE
ACCEPTING A JOB TO KNOW WHAT
SPECIFICALLY IS BEING EXPECTED
OF THEM. AND SO IT BECOMES A
TOOL FOR EMPOWERMENT, FOR
TRANSPARENCY, FOR EDUCATION ON
BOTH SIDES. JUST THE LAST THING
I WILL ADD BEFORE I PASS IT OVER
IS WE ARE IN THE FORTUNATE
POSITION OF EVEN THOUGH WE WERE
THE FIRST CITY TO PASS A BILL OF
RIGHTS MAINLY SUBSEQUENT BILLS
OF RIGHTS HAVE ASKED IN OTHER
JURISDICTIONS AND REQUIRED
WRITTEN AGREEMENTS. SO WE HAVE
OTHER EXAMPLES TO LEARN FROM AND
TO MY KNOWLEDGE I DON'T KNOW OF
ANY LEGAL CASES THAT HAVE BEEN
BROUGHT RELATED TO WRITTEN
AGREEMENTS FOR DOMESTIC WORK.
>>
>> PART OF OUR THINKING AND
AGAIN THE BOARD VOTED ON THIS,
DOING OUR POLICY ANALYSIS TO
PROVIDE SOME GUIDANCE AND HEAR
FROM STAKEHOLDERS SO THERE IS
DEFINITELY A LOT OF IDEAS AND
EXPERIENCE AND IDEAS. BUT WE
WOULD ALSO MAKE SURE THE WRITTEN
AGREEMENT FOR THE DOMESTIC
WORKER A CONSISTENT PRACTICE
WITH THE OTHER ALSO WHAT THE
STATE HAS PROVIDED TO BOTH
PARTIES ARE FULLY AWARE OF WHAT
WE HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY ARE.
WE CURRENTLY ENFORCE ANOTHER LAW
THAT HAS TO DO WITH INDEPENDENT
CONTRACTORS WITH CONTRACT
REQUIREMENTS AND WE CAN ALSO
LEAN ON OUR EXPERIENCE IN
ENFORCING THAT LAW FOR WRITTEN
AGREEMENT REQUIREMENTS IN THE
WORKPLACE.
>> I APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S
PERSPECTIVE. TAKING A STEP BACK
FROM A MORE STRATEGIC
PERSPECTIVE THE OVERARCHING
CONCERN THAT I HAVE AND AM
ELEVATING TO YOUR ATTENTION IS
CONTRACTS ARE TERRIFIC. THEY
BRING CLARITY, PREDICTABILITY
BUT THEY CAN ALSO BE INCREDIBLY
CONFUSING. EVEN FOR
SOPHISTICATED PARTIES THEY ARE
OFTEN LADEN WITH LEGALESE. A
MULTIPAGE DOCUMENT WITH ALL OF
THIS LEGALESE THAT CAN BE VERY
CONFUSING. AND SO AS A STARTING
POINT PUTTING THEM IN THE
PREFERRED LANGUAGE IS A STARTING
POINT. A LOT OF QUESTIONS AROUND
LEGAL ADVICE. HIGH-LEVEL
CONCERN. HOW WE IMPLEMENT THIS
IN A MANNER THAT STILL PROTECTS
WORKERS AND THEIR INTERESTS. AT
ARMS LENGTH TRANSACTIONS THERE
IS NO SYMMETRICAL BARGAINING
POSITIONS. THEY PROBABLY CARE A
LOT ABOUT THINGS LIKE
LIMITATIONS AND LIABILITY AND
THINGS THAT ARE HIGHLY COMPLEX
AND THAT THE WORKER IS GOING TO
CARE LESS ABOUT. WHAT ARE THE
MINIMUM THINGS THAT YOU WANT TO
INCLUDE TO PROTECT THE WORKERS?
SOUNDS LIKE YOU GUYS ARE THROUGH
ALL THE PROCESSES AND FIRST-HAND
EXPERIENCES ALREADY THINKING
ABOUT SOME OF THESE THINGS BUT I
JUST ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONTINUE
TO THINK ABOUT HOW YOU CAN
ADDRESS THE HIGHER-LEVEL CONCERN
AROUND MAKING SURE WE MINIMIZE
CONFUSION. AND AVOID
UNCONSCIONABLE SITUATIONS AND
DEALS FOR OUR WORKERS.
>> YOU WANT TO RESPOND TO ANY OF
THOSE POINTS RAISED AROUND
CONTRACT.
>> THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR
RECOMMENDATIONS BECAUSE AS
WORKERS WE CAN ALWAYS ASK AND
ASK AND ASK. BECAUSE WE NEED TO
SEE HOW IS THE PROCESS THAT
GUIDE US. MAYBE NOT THE EASIEST
WAY TO DO IT THAT SOMETHING THAT
IS EASY ACCESS OR BETTER ACCESS.
THIS IS THINKING A LOT ABOUT
THIS. BUT I KNOW THAT WORKING
TOGETHER WE CAN FIND SOLUTIONS.
>> IT SOUNDS LIKE WE HAVE SOME
FOLLOW-UP WORK TO DO AROUND SOME
OF THE EXISTING CONTRACTS THAT
EXIST. AND WE CAN DO SOME
FOLLOW-UP WORK TO SORT THIS OUT.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR RESPONSES
TO THAT. RECOGNIZING VICE CHAIR
FOSTER. REMOVING CONTRACT FROM
MY LANGUAGE. SO I'M LOOKING
FORWARD TO HEARING THE
RECOMMENDATIONS THAT COME FROM
THE ENGAGEMENT. WE HAVE DOES
THAT COUNT AS A WRITTEN
AGREEMENT, I AM HERE THINKING
ABOUT THAT AND I REALLY
APPRECIATE YOUR CLARITY AS WELL
AROUND THE PRIMARY LANGUAGE
BEING A KEY PORTION AS WELL AS
JUST HAVING SOMETHING WRITTEN
DOWN THAT FOLKS CAN GO BACK AND
REFER TO SO THAT THEY HAVE
SOMETHING IF THERE IS A DISPUTE
BETWEEN THE EMPLOYER AND
EMPLOYEE FEELS REALLY IMPORTANT.
I'M REALLY EXCITED TO ENGAGE ON
THIS. I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY
THE INTENT OF MY PREVIOUS
QUESTION.
>> I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS
AND I KNOW WE HAVE SOME EXTRA
TIME SO I INVITE YOU TO CHIME IN
IF YOU HAVE ADDITIONAL
QUESTIONS. UNDERSTANDING THAT
NOW THE STATE LEGISLATION HOW
ARE WE GOING TO BE DELINEATING
AND DIRECTING PEOPLE. ARE WE
HAVING FOLKS NOW GO UP TO THE
STATE LEVEL ONCE THIS GOES INTO
EFFECT.
>> WE ARE IN CONSTANT
COMMUNICATION ON OTHER SIMILAR
LABOR STANDARDS THAT WE MAY BE
ALIGNED IN. ONE POTENTIAL
OUTCOME IS IF YOU ALL DECIDE TO
AMEND THE DW OH IT WOULD BE
CONSISTENT IF NOT MORE
PROTECTIVE THAN THE STATE DID
FOR EXAMPLE IN SEATTLE WE DON'T
HAVE THRESHOLD FOR COVERAGE.
HOWEVER THE STATE DOES SO AGAIN
WE WOULD WANT TO ENSURE THAT
WHATEVER IS THE MOST PROTECTIVE
LAW IS WHAT WE CAN ENFORCE HERE
IN SEATTLE. ALSO SIMILAR TO WHAT
WE ARE THINKING ABOUT IF THE
AMENDMENT GO THROUGH WE WOULD
REALLY LIKE TO PARTNER WITH
RULEMAKING SO WE CAN HAVE
CONSISTENT RULES FOR BOTH THE
CITY AND THE STATE AND HAVE BOTH
THE STATE LAW AND AMENDED
VERSION GO INTO EFFECT AT THE
SAME TIME. IF WE NEED TO THEN
DIRECT FOLKS ELSEWHERE WE WANT
TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE
CONSISTENT REINFORCEMENT
PROTECTIONS.
>> THE LEGISLATION GOES INTO
EFFECT JULY NEXT YEAR. BEYOND
THE THREE AMENDMENTS WHAT
FURTHER PREPARATION WORK IS
THERE ANYTHING YOU NEED SUPPORT
FROM COUNCIL ON. FOR WORKERS AND
ALSO 40 HIRING ENTITIES. AND
WHEN I MENTIONED BUDGET ALSO TO
BE ABLE TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS
AT WORK WITH DOMESTIC WORKERS.
THE MAJORITY OF WORKERS FEEL
MORE COMFORTABLE APPROACHING
COMMUNITIES CENTERS. THAT'S
WHAT I THINK. I DON'T KNOW WHAT
ELSE TO ADD. AS FAR AS OLS I
HAVE OUR OUTREACH SPECIALIST WHO
IS CURRENTLY WORKING ON
PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL AND PUBLIC
FACING MATERIALS ON THE
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN DOMESTIC
WORKERS ORDINANCE AND STATE LAW
AND HIGHLIGHTING THE
SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES TO
MAKE SURE THE PUBLIC IS AWARE OF
THE DISTINCTION AND WHERE THEY
CAN GO FOR SUPPORT.
>> ONE MORE DETAIL TO WHAT SHE
SHARED WEIRD WHEN IT COMES TO
BUDGET THERE ARE SOME FORMAL
STRUCTURES TO DO THAT
COMMUNITY-BASED OUTREACH AND
EDUCATION. THERE ARE TWO FUNDS
THAT OLS ADMINISTERS. TWO
PROVIDE THAT OUTREACH TO
BUSINESSES. WE ARE REALLY
GRATEFUL FOR THE FUNDING
ALLOCATED IN THE BUDGET FOR
THOSE AND I JUST WANTED TO
EMPHASIZE HOW ESSENTIAL THOSE
FUNDS ARE BECAUSE AS AMAZING AS
OLS IS AND ALL THE WORK THEY DO
AND TO BE ABLE TO SHARE THIS
MESSAGE.
>> THAT IS A PERFECT DOVETAIL
FOR MY NEXT QUESTION. BECAUSE OF
THE INFORMAL NATURE OF THIS WORK
I'M ALWAYS CONCERNED THAT WE
ARE NOT REACHING THE WORKERS
THAT WE NEED TO BE AND SO WE
TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
LANGUAGE ACCESS. PREVIOUS
COUNCIL FUNDING. ARE THERE NEW
STRATEGIES WITH THINKING ABOUT
IN TERMS OF EXPANDED OUTREACH.
WHILE I'M ON THIS POINT I WOULD
BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T RECOGNIZE
THE MOMENT OF EXTREME
IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT THAT WE
ARE IN AND HOW THAT IS
EXPECTING-- AFFECTING EVERYBODY.
SPEAK TO THAT AS WELL. WE GOT A
GREAT PRESENTATION FROM JENNIFER
AND SHE WAS SOLICITING FEEDBACK
FROM BOARD MEMBERS AROUND WHAT
ARE ADDITIONAL CREATIVE WAYS TO
DO OUTREACH AND ENFORCEMENT. SO
ONE EXAMPLE WAS TALKING ABOUT
SCHOOL, EDUCATION THROUGH
SCHOOLS AND PARTNERING WITH SPS
KNOWING THAT OBVIOUSLY SO MUCH
DOMESTIC WORK HAPPENS IN A
FAMILY SETTING AND THAT SCHOOLS
ARE A WAY THAT WE CAN REACH A
LOT OF FAMILIES IN THE CITY.
BOTH EMPLOYERS AND WORKERS. SO
THAT CAN BE ONE POSSIBILITY. WE
TALKED ABOUT PARTNERING MORE
WITH THE LIBRARY AND COMMUNITY
CENTERS TO DO OUTREACH IN THOSE
SETTINGS. ONE THING THAT OLS HAS
ALREADY BEEN DOING WHICH IT CAME
FROM THE ENFORCEMENT SIDE BUT I
THINK ALSO IS APPLICABLE TO
OUTREACH AND EDUCATION IS OLS
HAS STARTED BUILDING
RELATIONSHIPS WITH A LOT OF
LOCAL CONSULATES KNOWING THAT
NATIONALS OF THOSE COUNTRIES
OFTEN SEEK SERVICES FROM THE
CONSULATE IF THEIR RIGHTS HAVE
BEEN VIOLATED. AND SO BY
BUILDING THOSE RELATIONSHIPS
LETTING CONSULATES KNOW WHAT
RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE THROUGH
OLS THAT HOPEFULLY BECOMES A WAY
TO REACH MORE PEOPLE AS WELL.
THIS IS ONE OF THE KEY
CHALLENGES OF THIS WORK IS HOW
DO YOU REACH PEOPLE, HARD TO
REACH POPULATIONS. SO IT
REQUIRES JUST CONTINUAL CREATIVE
THINKING AND IDEAS FROM AS MANY
STAKEHOLDERS AS WE CAN. I THINK
ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES
FOR OUTREACH FOR DOMESTIC
WORKERS IS CLIMATE JUSTICE.
THAT'S ALWAYS ONE OF THE MOST
DIFFICULT THINGS. BECAUSE WE
KNOW THAT WE WERE NOT ABLE TO
REACH THE ASIAN COMMUNITY OR
SOMALI COMMUNITY AND THEY WORK A
LOT AS CAREGIVERS SO WE KNOW
THAT WE HAVE DONE A LOT THAT WE
CAN STILL INFORM.
>> I WILL JUST ADD THAT OUR
OFFICE IS IN CLOSE COLLABORATION
COMMUNICATION WITH THE OFFICE OF
IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE AFFAIRS.
WE ARE CONSTANTLY TALKING ABOUT
HOW WE CAN SUPPORT THE OVERLAP
OF IMMIGRANT WORKERS AND REFUGEE
WORKERS BUT IN GENERAL WHAT ARE
BEST PRACTICES, WHAT ARE YOUR
OUTREACH ACTIVITIES THAT WE CAN
SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER OR WHAT ARE
SOME POLICY CHANGES THAT WE WANT
TO DISCUSS OR WHAT ARE YOU
HEARING AS WELL AS OTHER
DEPARTMENTS. HAPPY TO CONTINUE
THAT CONVERSATION BUT AS THE
COLLEAGUES FROM THE BOARD SAID
THIS CONTINUES TO BE A PRIORITY
AND AN ISSUE THAT IS ONGOING.
>> THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. ANY
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS FOR OUR
PANEL TODAY BEFORE I CLOSE THIS
OUT? AGAIN, I WILL VOICE MY
APPRECIATION TO THE PANEL AND
CLOSE WITH THIS. THANK YOU
COLLEAGUES FOR YOUR TIME AND
ENGAGEMENT ON THIS. IT'S
TREMENDOUSLY APPRECIATED. AND
WITH THAT, I WILL THINK OUR
PANEL AND I HOPE YOU HAVE A
WONDERFUL WEEKEND. ALL RIGHT
COLLEAGUES. WE HAVE REACHED THE
END OF TODAY'S AGENDA. IS THERE
ANY FURTHER BUSINESS TO COME
BEFORE THE COMMITTEE BEFORE WE
ADJOURN? HEARING AND SEEING
NONE. THE NEXT HUMAN SERVICES,
LABOR AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
COMMITTEE IS SCHEDULED FOR
FRIDAY, APRIL 17th. IT IS 11:14
A.M. HEARING NO FURTHER
BUSINESS, WE ARE ADJOURNED.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU CHAIR.