AN ORDINANCE relating to the Human Rights Code; broadening coverage of unfair practices to include domestic workers and hiring entities; extending protections to domestic workers and extending obligations to hiring entities; amending Sections 14.04.020 and 14.04.030 of the Seattle Municipal Code (SMC); and adding a new Section 14.04.230 to the SMC.
The reported Civil Rights, Utilities, Economic Development and Arts Commission that in six Kasapa 119 351 relate to the Human Rights Code, broadening coverage of unfair practices to include domestic workers in hiring entities, extending protections to domestic workers workers, and extending obligations to hiring entities. Amending Sections 14.0 4.0 20 and point zero 30 zero. Mr. Code and adding a new section 14.0 4.2 30 of the USMCA. The committee recommends the bill passed as amended. Councilmember Herbold, appreciate it. So I want to thank everybody who's joined us here again today to talk about the need for this bill. I was first approached about this legislation by Councilmember Mosquito during the Domestic Workers Bill of Rights deliberations. You've all shared with us your heartbreaking stories of sexual harassment and discrimination in the workplace. And I'm honored to play play this small part in addressing this horrible problem in your workplaces and in the workplaces of your coworkers. This legislation is designed to help protect domestic workers from the forms of abuse that we've heard about today and to ensure that when it does happen, that you are able to bring these claims to the Office of Civil Rights, the in particular, their legislation extends the recourse available to the Office of Civil Rights to include domestic workers who are identified as independent contractors. Domestic workers who are considered employees already have the protection. The legislation amends the Fair Employment Practices Section 14.04 of the Municipal Code to add a section reflecting that the chapter covers domestic services and amends the declaration of policy and the definition sections. The amendment to the Declaration of Policy section states that the chapter applies to hiring entities, domestic workers and employees. The definitions section adds in the definition of hiring entity and domestic worker and adds in those terms and domestic service to the existing definitions as applicable. Lastly, the Municipal Code also adds that if an individual or household contracts with a separate hiring entity, that hiring entity is solely liable for any violations of the chapter unless the individual or household interferes with any rights established. This provision ensures that the correct entity will be held liable if the chapter is violated. One amendment to the bill that I would like to to move forward. I moved to amend Council Bill 11 9351 by adding a new Section five entitled Sections one, two, three and four of the ordinance six shall take effect on July 1st, 2019. Second. Thank you. The the amendment to the bill accomplishes a couple of different things. The legislation that I referred to earlier to council councilmember Mosquitoes, Domestic Workers Bill of Rights legislation goes into effect on July 1st, 2019. This allows for a implementation that will be led by members of the workers board. It's going to be important to also include discussion around this element. In addition, the there are some there are some funding issues associated with this legislation. There's a fiscal note that the implementation of this legislation, education and outreach, is about $75,000. And that's something that I'm hoping that will take up in the budget. So there's both sort of a bureaucratic and technical reason for aligning the implementation date, but there's also an important fiscal reason for it. So we have first an amendment before we speak to the base. Legislation in council member Herbold amended the Section five, which is basically sections one, two, three and four. The ordinance today, the effective date. And I assume implicit in that is the re numbering and the remaining sections accordingly. Correct that amendment. So just on the amendment, any questions on the amendment? I'm just on the amendment. All those in favor of the amendment. Please vote I. I oppose. The ayes have it. So we have now base legislation. There's been a minute. Councilmember skater, would you like to speak to it? Thank you, Mr. President. I do want to start with a huge appreciation, a note of appreciation for Councilmember Horrible. She's taken this incredible component of the policy and made sure that it was expedited, that we had the full stakeholders at the table for conversations, that we work with the domestic workers and the hiring entities to make sure that this critical component was part of the Domestic Workers Bill of Rights. You called that a small part of the solution. But in essence, this is the backbone of the domestic worker protections that I think many domestic workers wanted to see. Every single story, yes. Included stories about wage theft, included stories about the need for rest breaks and meal breaks, protection from having documents withheld, the desire to have a table so there could be ongoing negotiation. But every single story included an element of harassment, intimidation and retaliation. And what you've been able to pass today really completes this puzzle. I just want to say thank you for your steadfast leadership, also for taking a critical look at what legislation or what words we needed to have in this component of the legislation so that we could align the implementation of midyear next year so that the domestic workers board can think through the outreach plan, which is going to be critical with Office of Labor Standards and the Office of Civil Rights to work directly with our community partners, many of whom are here today, so we can do the outreach needed so that we can avoid confusion and not knowing which policies apply at which time , and also making sure that the department really thinks through rulemaking with the stakeholders at the table, as you heard, and the national vice president for the United Farm Workers, Eric Nicholson, say these policies, the reason that we need these policies today is because domestic workers and farm workers were intentionally left out of national, state and local labor protections, left out for racist and sexist reasons. I wish we could implement these yesterday. I wish we can implement them tomorrow. But I think through the legislation that you've created, the ability for us to make sure that stakeholders are at the table, we will implement these in 2019 with the thoughtful, proactive approach that the stakeholders have been able to bring to the table. So for me, this is a huge component that would not have been possible without your leadership. Council Member Herbold Thank you. And without the leadership of the direct lives experience from the lives that you've heard have been impacted without this legislation. So mill grass has been a level what is that, a kick or nosotros? Grass there's been a level versus a is eagerness to pursue courage. Communities encouraged by law to take DNA. And in this day in the moment though and so and so be a great supporter. Thank you so much for all of your courage that you showed today and every day of your life. This is possible because of your work and your words. Thank you. Kathryn Skeeter. Would anyone like to say some closing words? And then, if not, Councilmember Herbert would like to close the discussion. I just want to give some additional thanks. So just echoing councilman mosquitoes words about your lived experiences, you are truly the best advocates for your cause. And thank you so much again for the courage and humbling us all with sharing your stories. In addition to thanking Councilmember Skated for her, for her leadership and her giving me this opportunity to take to play a role in this policy. I also want to thank a couple other folks. I want to thank Lauren often from the Office of Civil Rights. I want to thank Asha, then cut to Ramon. I get that one of these days from council central staff, I want to thank Shannon Perez Darby from my office and Central Perk from Councilmember Muscat, his office and the many, many advocates that have been working on this legislation. Very good. Thank you very much. Okay. Please call the role on the passage of the amended bill. Badger Gonzalez be herbold i. Johnson Macheda. I. O'Brien Somewhat. President Harrell. High. Eight in favor and. Unopposed bill passed in Cheryl Senate. Who? The three item seven through 11.