Last month the city released a report it commissioned on wage equity for social workers at nonprofits in Seattle. According to the report, there continues to be a significant wage gap for human services workers compared to other industries.
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Adley Shepherd case dismissed
Today a U.S. District Court judge dismissed a lawsuit filed by former SPD Officer Adley Shepherd against the City of Seattle. Shepherd was fired by the city after he punched a handcuffed suspect in the back of his squad car. He was reinstated by an arbitrator, but then a court …
Continue readingState Supreme Court ruling on Seattle “hazard pay” for delivery workers
This morning the Washington State Supreme Court issued a messy 67-page ruling on whether a lawsuit challenging the City of Seattle’s COVID-era ordinance mandating additional hazard pay for food-delivery workers can go forward. The lower court had allowed some of the claims to move forward, while dismissing others. The Supreme …
Continue readingAuditor review of Seattle’s “Secure Scheduling” ordinance
The Seattle City Auditor’s office has release a final report on employers’ implementation of the city’s “secure scheduling” ordinance. The Auditor commissioned a research group at the University of Chicago to conduct the study. I hope you found this article valuable. If you did, please take a moment to make …
Continue readingBiden administration weighs in on Seattle’s hotel worker healthcare mandate
A legal challenge to Seattle’s ordinance mandating that hotel employers provide healthcare to their employers has been in limbo for a year, waiting for the U.S. Supreme Court to decide whether to take the case. In May, it asked the Solicitor General, the official representative of the federal executive branch, …
Continue readingSPD staffing update
This week the Seattle City Council’s central staff presented a mid-year update on SPD’s staffing and budget expenditures. Their slides contain all the details, including the latest SPD 911-call response times. I hope you found this article valuable. If you did, please take a moment to make a contribution to …
Continue readingSound Transit 2023 service plan — plus a feedback survey
Sound Transit has posted information on its proposed service level plan for 2023, and is asking for feedback. According to the agency, a worker shortage has forced it to reduce service on several lines. “Sound Transit is required to formalize these levels in our 2023 Service Plan, until operator availability …
Continue readingMayor proposes to end hazard pay for grocery workers
Mayor Harrell has sent the City Council a proposed ordinance that would end the mandated COVID-related “hazard pay” for grocery workers. Under the bill’s terms, the hazard pay mandate would end on the effective date of the ordinance, typically 30 days after the Mayor signs it into law. Employers would …
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