Today Seattle’s Office of Labor Standards (OLS) announced the availability of $1.5 million (proposed) to expand outreach, education, and technical assistance to Seattle’s workers about their rights under Seattle’s Minimum Wage and other labor standards.
The Community Outreach and Education Fund will support community-based organizations to contract with the City to educate workers and provide technical assistance, including intake and complaint resolution services, and deepen partnerships between community organizations and OLS to reach a diverse range of vulnerable workers. Funding will support groups that work with low-wage working communities who experience the highest rates of workplace violations, including female workers, workers of color, immigrant and refugee workers, workers with disabilities, LGBTQ workers and youth workers.
“We want all workers in Seattle to understand their rights under Seattle’s progressive labor standards ordinances,” said Mayor Ed Murray. “People must know how much they are entitled to be paid, how much sick and safe leave they are entitled to use, and the other workplace protections that may apply to them under Seattle’s labor standards. Every worker in Seattle deserves to get the wages, benefits, and workplace protections that they’re entitled to.”
OLS, charged with enforcing Seattle’s Minimum Wage ordinance, Wage Theft ordinance, Paid Sick and Safe time ordinance, Fair Chance Employment ordinance, and newly passed Secure Scheduling ordinance, views the expansion of worker outreach and community based partnerships as critical to implementation of Seattle’s labor standards.
“We are building off a year of successful efforts in labor standards enforcement and community collaboration,” said Dylan Orr, Director of the Seattle Office of Labor Standards. “Our community partners will help us ensure that our most vulnerable worker communities have trusted community spaces to learn about their rights that can also assist if those rights get violated.”
OLS plans to award 2-year contracts to funded entities, and encourages organizations to apply in partnership.
The deadline for organizations to submit written submissions and request oral presentation is Tuesday, December 2nd at 5 pm. For more information and the full RFP package, visit http://www.seattle.gov/laborstandards/outreach/community-fund/2017-2019-community-outreach-and-education-fund
November 15th workshop for potential applicants
A workshop for potential applicants is scheduled for Tuesday, November 15th, 9 am to 12 noon at Rainier Beach Community Center on 8825 Rainier Ave South Seattle, WA 98118. The workshop will include training on labor standards, guidelines on the goals of the grant and group sessions to encourage partnerships and joint proposals. The Office of Labor Standards will provide technical assistance on request throughout the application process. To RSVP, visit https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2017_OLS_COMMUNITY.
For more information about the workshop, contract process and Seattle’s labor standards, or to report a labor standards violation, call 206-684-4500 or visit http://www.seattle.gov/laborstandards.