For Immediate Release
Contact: Cynthia Santana/Communications Manager 206-256-5219 cynthia.santana@seattle.gov
Seattle Office of Labor Standards holds citywide outreach and education event in honor of International Workers’ Day
Seattle (April 30, 2019) – Tomorrow, the Office of Labor Standards (OLS) honors International Workers’ Day and Seattle’s own tradition of protecting workers’ rights with a citywide door-to-door outreach campaign to educate workers and businesses about workplace rights.
OLS with support from Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs, Office of Economic Development, El Centro de la Raza, and members of our community will kick off the May Day 2019 event at 9:30 a.m. at The Station coffee house in Beacon Hill.
“The entire Office of Labor Standards will hit the streets tomorrow, going throughout Seattle to talk to workers and businesses. Our goal is to help businesses understand and apply Seattle‘s labor laws, and also to talk to workers about their rights. Our message is that OLS is here to help,” said Martin S. Garfinkel, OLS Director.
“El Centro de la Raza is committed to workers, immigrants and our community. International Workers’ Day is a day to celebrate and acknowledge their hard work and sacrifices that strengthen the underlying fabric of our city. It is our responsibility to support workers and empower them by providing outreach and educational opportunities,” said Estela Ortega, Executive Director of El Centro de la Raza. “This includes information through our Labor Standards Program which provides information to workers and small businesses regarding wage theft and paid sick time assistance and educating workers on other Seattle labor ordinances. A worker should never be discouraged to exercise his or her labor rights, all workers, regardless of immigration, status has the rights to fair wages, and paid sick time rights.”
“So many of Seattle’s immigrant and refugee workers are unaware that they not only have everyday rights under the Constitution, but also have rights in the workplace. Outreach and education about Seattle’s labor laws will let them know they can exercise their rights as workers and ultimately improve their lives,” said Cuc Vu Director of Seattle Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs.
Seattle has a long history of protecting worker rights through legislation. Seattle voters passed its first minimum wage in 1912, and now, 107 years later, the Office of Labor Standards is responsible for implementing eight labor laws affecting most of the 55,000 businesses and 580,000 workers in Seattle. These laws include Paid Sick and Safe Time, Minimum Wage, Wage Theft, Fair Chance Employment ordinances and the newly created Domestic Workers Ordinance effective July 1, 2019.
For more information on Seattle’s labor laws contact the Office of Labor Standards at http://www.seattle.gov/laborstandards or call 206-256-5297.
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