Durkan Wants Seattle 'Domestic Worker Bill of Rights'

SEATTLE, WA - In her first State of the City address, Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan will outline two major goals for 2018: giving free unlimited ORCA card to every public school student, and creating a bill of rights for domestic workers.

Durkan gave the speech at Rainier Beach High School Tuesday morning. She outlined several other goals for 2018, including keeping Seattle a sanctuary city, addressing gun laws, and encouraging the building of 20 environmentally-friendly buildings.

Durkan says she will work with Councilwoman Teresa Mosqueda, a longtime labor leader, to create a bill of rights for domestic workers - typically hotel workers, nannies, and house cleaners.

“Economic opportunity and fairness means we are going to keep protecting our workers through fair wages and fair rights. Seattle led the way on the $15 minimum wage. Now, we need to lead the way on a Domestic Worker Bill of Rights, too. This year, I intend to work with Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda, employers, and others to make it a reality. The time for talk is over," Durkan will say, according to remarks released early to the press.

The labor group Working Washington last fall kicked off an effort - called the Seattle Domestic Workers Alliance - to get a city-wide domestic workers rights bill passed. The group wants domestic workers to have coverage under workers' rights laws, written contracts, and the protection of a city commission with power to set wage and benefits standards.

Photo by Neal McNamara/Patch