A RESOLUTION reaffirming City Council’s commitment to workers and supporting dairy workers and their Fast for Reconciliation.
Agenda Item 29 Resolution three 2838 reaffirming City Council's commitment to workers and supporting dairy workers and their fast for reconciliation. Councilmember Mesquita Thank you, Mr. President. As you heard from the testimony that was presented today from the United Farm Workers, folks wish that they weren't coming here after years of having conversations both at the state level and throughout Washington state. These workers are coming to us with their requests for assistance and solidarity. I've been working with the United Farm Workers and dairy workers for the last few years. And as you've heard from their personal stories, they've seen repeatedly situations where safety concerns have not been corrected, unfair working conditions continue, harassment and intimidation occur on a daily basis, and issues of sexual harassment occur for many of the women who work in the dairy industry, United Farm Workers has come to us and a call for solidarity. The city of Seattle stands in solidarity with United Farm Workers today. We stand in solidarity with unions from across Washington state, with faith groups, with businesses, with community organizations who've called for there to be reconciliation of the issues that they face on a daily basis and the call for a fast. Dairy workers around Washington state to provide the milk that is drink right here in Seattle. They provide the milk that is supplied to many of our businesses and the milk that many families rely on on a daily basis. But these dairy workers struggle to provide for their own families. While these dairy workers provide the food and the milk for families across Washington state, they struggle to put food and milk on their own tables. Today, we're standing up in solidarity with United Farm Workers, with the dairy workers, with the individuals who've called for action. Mr. President, if I may read from the resolution that's in front of us today for consideration, for the public's knowledge of what is included that would be appreciated. Please do. Comes from a mosquito. Just a few of the recitals and summary of what we are calling for. Whereas numerous dairy workers across Washington state have voiced concerns alleging hostile work environments, unsafe working conditions, wage and hour theft, sexual harassment, lack of clean drinking water, physical abuse and verbal abuse. And. Whereas, dairy workers plan to engage in a five day fast a fast for reconciliation supported by members of the faith, business and labor community. And. Whereas, Dairy Gold is headquartered in Seattle and holds its corporate offices in Seattle, the city of Seattle therefore resolves to stand in solidarity with dairy workers fighting for the right to work without fear of or intimidation, and calls on dairy, gold and other companies who purchase this product to work with dairy workers and their representatives at the United Farm Workers to ensure these protections are accomplished. Where the City of Seattle stands with dairy farm workers and dairy gold workers to provide Seattle residents with dairy products, the city of Seattle extends its full support for the upcoming Fast and Reconciliation to bring much needed attention to the issues impacting daily impacting Washington state dairy workers on a daily basis. Mr. President, these individuals have taken the courageous step to come forward and express the concerns that they see on a daily basis. And we know that here in the city of Seattle, we don't have many dairy farms, but we do have an obligation to continue to extend our commitment to the hardworking individuals who provide the milk and food for the families in Seattle. We here in Seattle have stood up courageously and asked for a higher minimum wage protections from wage theft, the ability to have a sick and safe day, the ability to be free from intimidation and harassment. These are the same protections that we expect from individuals, whether they're companies, whether they're subcontractors or whether their organizations are headquartered here in Seattle. Because our commitment to workers extends beyond our borders. And when we consume products within our city, we expect the full supply chain to be honored for the supply chain to have good labor protections at every single point along the way. I'm really honored to be able to bring this resolution forward. I was humbled by the amount of individuals who came forward and stood with us Councilmember Swan, Councilmember Gonzales. And I think every member of this body has shown support for workers in the past who have been in vulnerable situations. And today we stood with the farmworkers, with unions, with faith leaders, with individuals who've been calling for action over many years. And this last effort to try to elevate the issue, to make sure that farm workers, dairy workers, explicitly have the protections that we would expect for every worker here in Seattle. Mill Garcia's. Pursuit rabbit hole. Grasses persist when those two are Storia grass superstar kiko nosotros estamos kiko newstead grasses. Thank you. Caspian mosquito. Okay. We have a resolution. Very well. Describe a customer mosquito with any of my comments. Colleagues like to make any comments. Councilmember Bagshaw Thank. You. Councilmember Haskett I want to say thank you and a big thank you for bringing this forward. And I have been really honored working with you in the last year where your heart is to care for employees and families. And also today, as we're hearing from people in the audience about the fact that they haven't been paid, the fact that they have been harassed, that their working conditions are less than meritorious and in many cases just despicable, and that you brought it to the attention of the public. And I appreciate what you are calling for. And I just want to tell my colleagues, as we have just started this meeting today, I received an email from the legal counsel of Dairy Gould. And I'm wondering, would you like to hear what they have to say, or do you just want me to summarize that they're saying they're not part of this lawsuit. What would be useful? Councilmember Mosquito This is really your resolution. I want to be helpful because I'm going to support your resolution. Well, thank you so much. Thank you for your support. You can feel free to summarize, I think in the conversations that we've had over the years, we know that when it comes to contracting and subcontracting, many individuals will say this was not me as an employer directly responsible, and I can understand where their legal argument is probably coming from. Again, this is a resolution in support of the workers at every single level. So while there may not or may be a lawsuit or may not be a lawsuit that they are engaged in, what's important to know is that this issue has over many years been tried to be elevated. And I think this is a wonderful opportunity for us in Seattle to see that our same labor protections should apply throughout the supply chain, and especially when we know that there are so many individuals who do consume this product, we want those workers to be safe. So I've heard it, but I appreciate the way that they've reached out. And again, I think that this resolution is not actually commenting on that. It's commenting on the desire to make sure that every level along the supply chain we expect accountability and protection from wage theft, harassment and intimidation, and therefore, for there to be good faith negotiations so that workers voices can be elevated. But I heard her say if she could just summarize, well, maybe she does need I also heard her say she's heard it before. So I just I will just summarize this briefly. And it's only because it came to us today. And it's not that I have any knowledge, particularly of of Dairy Gould itself, but there is a lawsuit that is ongoing in eastern Washington that goes to trial soon. Gary Gould says that attempts to pull dairy gold into it, there's simply not a party to the litigation involving the farm workers and that the farm workers were not employees of Dairy Gould. So I'm not in a position where I can support this. I just want to acknowledge that it came in and I thought, in fairness, that I should at least mention that. And that said, the employees need to be cared for. Okay, I think we're prepared to vote. Councilwoman Gonzalez. I'm not quite yet. I just I just really want to thank Councilmember Mosca that for bringing this up. She's been working with farmworkers for quite some time in her prior life before she got elected to the Seattle City Council in a lot of different areas housing, health care, health care, labor rights, etc.. And so I just really want to appreciate the work that you have done and carried into these chambers as a result of that prior advocacy work that you have done on behalf of farmworkers. A lot of folks up here know that I grew up as a migrant farm worker myself, and today at 3:00, my mom started her shift at a processing plant in Sunnyside, Washington. At the age of I won't tell you because she'll kill me. But, you know, she's she's older and she still continues to work in these processing plants. The one she works at is in Sunnyside, not that far away from Dairy Gold in Sunnyside as well. And I just I just really think that regardless of whether or not this corporation is part of this particular lawsuit or any particular lawsuit, the principle of taking a position on the dignity of work that is being done by the the dairy workers is a really important position for the city of Seattle to take as one of the primary consumer markets of this product. And it really does remind me of the inception of the United Farm Workers to begin with. You know, many some people up here are old enough to have been around when there when the grape boycott was in place, and there was a massive amount of protest. And boycotting right here in our city as it should have occurred and across the country. And I just see this as the next movement and the next phase for our farm workers. You know, we've heard atrocious stories of these farm workers, dairy workers being sexually assaulted and sexually abused and harassed for no other reason than showing up to work. And that is wrong. And earlier today, I shared with the workers in Spanish that I'll say it in English. Now, is that is that really, you know, a man doesn't sexually harass women. A man doesn't disrespect. Women, a. Man does not disrespect the a woman's effort to provide for herself and her family. And the behavior that is occurring at the dairies is absolutely dishonorable and disrespectful and disgusting. And I believe we have an obligation to continue to stand in solidarity with workers across the state as consumers of this product. It just really reminds me of all of the work I used to do in the fields as a young child to buy, to pick fruit that my own family couldn't afford to buy and eat. And so I think I think for me, this is very personal and and I really do, again, appreciate bringing this to light. And I hope that some of our home grown companies like Starbucks and others will stand up and will do the right thing and and be on the right side of history, just like all those grocers who refused to carry grapes during the boycott. I hope that they choose to also not carry this these products if workers aren't being treated well. And, of course, in the fight for workers in the grape boycott. We know that groceries, you can choose to not carry the products. We demanded it and we forced them to. And it was through building the movement of farm workers. And so I want to appreciate UFW for the work they did then, because I know that we know how to do it again and we stand here with you at the ready to continue to fight for you and for workers . Thank you so much for being with us. Gracias. Good. I think that'd be a good note to close on. Thank you, Councilman Gonzalez. Okay. Those in favor of adopting the resolution. I'm sorry. I will move to adopt the resolution. 31838 second to move in second to the resolution be adopted. The reason I have to do that is because it was introduced today as well on the same day. Are there any further comments from those in favor of adopting the resolution? Please vote i. I. Those oppose vote no. The motion carries. The resolution is adopted and cha will sign it. Okay. I was along again as their journey for the business to come before the council. Mr. President. Former. Skater giving the upcoming tour that the AFL-CIO has invited me on. I would like to be excused on Monday, September 24th please. The moved in second and that comes from a skater be excused on September 24th. All those in favor say I. I opposed. The ayes have it. And the other business coming for the council. Okay, everyone, have a great rest of the day and we stand adjourned.