Seattle Mayor Murray signs I-124 into law to protect hotel workers

The following is from UNITE HERE Local 8:

SEATTLE (Dec. 5, 2016) — Mayor Ed Murray issued a proclamation on Thursday declaring citizen-led Initiative 124 to be an ordinance of the City of Seattle. Following the endorsement of the Mayor, the City Council, and numerous community organizations, I-124 passed overwhelmingly with 76.59% of the vote in the Nov. 8 election. I-124 will henceforth appear as Municipal Code Chapter 14.25, the Seattle Hotel Employees Health and Safety Initiative.

The Seattle Protects Women campaign, hotel workers, and labor, community and political supporters will celebrate the passage and enactment of I-124 at the 2016 M.L. King County Labor Council’s annual Winners’ Ball from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 7 in Hall 1 of the Seattle Labor Temple, 2800 1st Ave. All are invited to attend. RSVP on Facebook.

Following is the Proclamation signed by Mayor Murray:

I, Edward B. Murray, Mayor of the City of Seattle, certify and declare that Initiative Measure No. 124, entitled: “Initiative 124 concerns health, safety, and labor standards for Seattle hotel employees.

If passed, this initiative would require certain sized hotel-employers to further protect employees against assault, sexual harassment, and injury by retaining lists of accused guests among other measures; improve access to healthcare; limit workloads; and provide limited job security for employees upon hotel ownership transfer. Requirements except assault protections are waivable through collective bargaining. The City may investigate violations. Persons claiming injury are protected from retaliation and may sue hotel-employers. Penalties go to City enforcement, affected employees, and the complainant.”

I-124 was submitted to the qualified electors (voters) of the City of Seattle for their ratification or rejection at the General Election held on Tuesday, November 8, 2016; and received the approval of a majority of the qualified electors voting thereon; Now, Therefore, the results of said election having been duly certified,

I PROCLAIM that said Initiative Measure No. 124, by virtue of such approval by the electors, is now an ordinance of the city of Seattle and is in full force and effect from this day.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have signed this Proclamation and caused the corporate seal of the City of Seattle to be affixed hereto and attested by the City Clerk of The City this 30th Day of November 2016.

ALSO at The Stand:

YES on Seattle I-124 to protect hotel workers (by Jeff Johnson, Oct. 12)