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Letter Addressed to the Olympia City Council Regarding the Worker Bill of Rights

City of Olympia Mayor and Councilmembers

601 4th Ave E
Olympia, WA 98501

January 3, 2025

Dear Mayor Payne and Members of the Olympia City Council:

On behalf of UFCW 367, and our community partners, we urge you to take decisive action at your retreat in January to leave with a clear timeline of passing the Workers Bill of Rights in the first half of 2025. As organizations deeply invested in the well-being of Olympias workers, we believe the protections outlined in this policy are crucial for ensuring fair wages, stable employment, and safe working conditions for all.

The economic challenges facing workers in Olympia are growing. Too many people in our city are forced to work multiple jobs, live paycheck to paycheck, and navigate unsafe work environments. A Workers Bill of Rights is a comprehensive solution that will address many of the systemic issues our workers face today. Below are the key protections we urge you to support:

  1. $20.00+ Minimum Wage: Set to rise annually with inflation, this minimum wage aligns with King Countys standard and provides a crucial step toward a living wage in Olympia.

  2. Enough Hours for Livable Pay: Before hiring new staff, employers must offer current employees up to full-time hours, ensuring they can earn a livable paycheck. Workers with seniority should be prioritized for additional hours.

  3. Stable and Predictable Schedules: Workers need at least 14 daysnotice for scheduling changes, with predictable pay for last-minute cuts or changes. Workers should also have the right to refuse on-call or back-to-back shifts without penalty.

  4. Safe Workplaces: Large employers must implement violence prevention policies, provide safety training, and install panic buttons to protect employees from workplace violence.

  5. Enforcement: The City should establish strong penalties for non-compliance and create a private right of action to protect workers’ rights.

These protections will create a stronger and more just economy in Olympia. Workers are the backbone of our city, and they deserve policies that reflect their essential contributions to our community. By passing the Workers Bill of Rights, the City Council has the opportunity to take a stand for fairness, dignity, and security for all workers in Olympia.

We strongly urge you to discuss the Workers Bill of Rights and leave the retreat in January with a serious timeline to pass a Workers Bill of Rights in the First part of 2025.

Sincerely,
UFCW 367, and Community Partners including:

Thurston-Lewis-Mason-County Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO

Washington Public Employees Association (United Food and Commercial Workers Local 365)

Washington Education Association Chinook

Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1765

Washington Federation of State Employees 443

LaborersInternational Union of North America Local 252 (LiUNA 252)

International Longshore and Warehouse Workers Local 47

International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Local 15 (IATSE 15)

Orca Books

Sound and Vision Living

Rainy Day Records

Moon Child

Mossy Bottom Records

Last Word Books

Mystic Game Shop

Art Journey Studio & Gallery

Lantern Records

Deschutes River Cyclery

Popinjay

Photosynthesis

Katies Caregiving Services

YWCA of Olympia

Stonewall Youth

Parents Organizing for Welfare and Economic Rights (POWER)

Olympia Indivisible

Garden-Raised Bounty (GRuB)

Washington Community Action Network (Washington CAN)

Olympia Democratic Socialists of America (Olympia DSA)

The Clean Black Lake Alliance (CBLA)

This letter was updated 1/31/2025

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