>>> THANK YOU, THE FEBRUARY 8,
2022 MEETING OF THE SEATTLE CITY
COUNCIL WILL COME TO ORDER.
I'M DEBORA JUAREZ, EL PRESIDENTE
OF THE COUNCIL.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL?
>> STRAUSS?
>> PRESENT.
>> HERBOLD?
LEWIS?
>> PRESENT.
>> MORALES?
>> EL PRESIDENTE.
PRESENT.
>> MOSQUEDA?
>> PRESENT.
>> NELSON?
>> PRESENT.
>> PEDERSEN?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT JUAREZ?
>> HERE.
>> EIGHT PRESENT.
>> I NEGLECTED TO SHARE WITH THE
VIEWING PUBLIC AND MY COLLEAGUES
THAT COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD HAS
INFORMED ME SHE WILL BE AN SENT
FROM TODAY'S CITY COUNCIL
MEETING.
IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION, SHE'S
EXCUSED FROM TODAY'S MEETING.
HEARING OR SEEING NO OBJECTION,
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD IS INDEED
EXCUSED FROM TODAY'S CITY
COUNCIL MEETING.
I'M NOT AWARE OF ANY
PRESENTATIONS THIS AFTERNOON.
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA.
THERE IS NO OBJECTION, THE
AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED.
HEARING OR SEEING NO OBJECTION,
THE AGENDA IS ADOPTED.
WE'LL MOVE ON TO E ON OUR
AGENDA, APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT
CALENDAR.
WILL THE CLERK READ THE ITEMS
INCLUDED ON TODAY'S CONSENT
CALENDAR?
>> TODAY'S CONSENT CALENDAR
INCLUDES THE CITY COUNCIL
MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 1, 2022 AND
THE INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR DATED FEBRUARY 8, 2022.
>> THANK YOU, MADAME CLERK.
DOES ANY COUNCILMEMBER DESIRE TO
HAVE ANYTHING REMOVED FROM
TODAY'S CONSENT CALENDAR?
HEARING OR SEEING NONE, I MOVE
TO ADOPT THE CONSENT CALENDAR.
IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU.
IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED TO
ADOPT THE CONCEPT SKAL DAR.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL ON THE ADOPTION OF THE
CONSENT CALENDAR?
>> SAWANT?
>> YES.
>> STRAUSS?
>> YES.
>> LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> MORALES?
>> YES.
>> MOSQUEDA?
>> AYE.
>> NELSON?
>> AYE.
>> PEDERSEN?
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT JUAREZ?
>> AYE.
>> EIGHT IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THE CONSENT CALENDAR WILL BE
ADOPTED.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE.
OKAY, LET'S MOVE TO PUBLIC
COMMENT.
COLLEAGUES, AT THIS TIME WE WILL
OPEN THE REMOTE PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD FOR ITEMS ON THE CITY
COUNCIL AGENDA, INTRODUCTION AND
REFERRAL CALENDAR, AND THE
COUNCIL'S WORK PROGRAM.
IT REMAINS THE STRONG INTENT OF
THE CITY COUNCIL TO HAVE THIS
INCLUDED ON MEETING AGENDAS.
AS A REMINDER, CITY COUNCIL
RESERVES THE RIGHT TO END OR
ELIMINATE THESE PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIODS AT ANY POINT WE DEEM THE
SYSTEM IS BEING ABUSED OR IS NO
LONGER SUITABLE ALLOWING OUR
MEETINGS TO BE CONDUCTED
EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY.
OUR CITY CLERK WILL MODERATE
THIS GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD.
I WILL NOW HAND IT OFF, BUT
BEFORE I DO THAT, IF THERE ARE
NO OBJECTIONS, THE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD WILL BE EXTENDED
TO 30 MINUTES.
HEARING OR SEEING NO OBJECTIONS,
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW
EXTENDED.
LET'S SEE.
MADAME CLERK, WE HAVE 25 PEOPLE
SIGNED UP?
>> CORRECT.
>> OKAY.
YOU WANT TO GO AND TAKE IT FROM
THERE, MADAME CLERK?
>> THANK YOU.
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR
THIS MEETING IS UP TO 30
MINUTES, AND EACH SPEAKER WILL
BE GIVEN ONE MINUTE TO SPEAK.
SPEAKERS ARE CALLED UPON IN THE
ORDER IN WHICH THEY REGISTERED
ON THE COUNCIL'S WEBSITE.
EACH SPEAKER MUST CALL IN FROM
THE PHONE NUMBER PROVIDED WHEN
REGISTERED AND USE THE ID AND
PASSCODE EMAILED UPON
CONFIRMATION.
THIS IS DIFFERENT FROM THE
GENERAL MEETING LISTEN LINE
LISTED ON THE AGENDA.
PLEASE CHECK YOUR SPAM OR JUNK
EMAIL FOLDERS.
ONCE A SPEAKER'S NAME IS CALLED,
STAFF WILL UNMUTE THE
APPROPRIATE MICROPHONE AND AN
AUTOMATIC PROMPT OF YOU HAVE
BEEN UNMUTED WILL BE THE
SPEAKER'S CUE THAT IT'S THEIR
TURN TO SPEAK.
AND THEN THE SPEAKER MUST PRESS
STAR SIX TO BEGIN SPEAKING.
PLEASE BEGIN SPEAKING BY STATING
YOUR NAME AND THE ITEM THAT YOU
ARE ADDRESSING.
SPEAKERS WILL HEAR A CHIME WHEN
TEN SECONDS ARE LEFT OF THE
ALLOTTED TIME.
ONCE YOU HEAR THE CHIME, WE ASK
THAT YOU BEGIN TO WRAP UP YOUR
PUBLIC COMMENT.
IF SPEAKERS DO NOT END THEIR
COMMENT AT THE END OF THE
ALLOTTED TIME PROVIDED, THE
SPEAKER'S MICROPHONE WILL BE
MUTED TO ALLOW US TO CALL ON THE
NEXT SPEAKER.
ONCE YOU HAVE COMPLETED YOUR
PUBLIC COMMENT, WE ASK THAT YOU
PLEASE DISCONNECT FROM THE LINE,
AND IF YOU PLAN TO CONTINUE THIS
MEETING, CONTINUE FOLLOWING THIS
MEETING, PLEASE DO SO VIA
SEATTLE CHANNEL OR THE LISTENING
OPTIONS ON THE AGENDA.
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW
OPEN, AND WE'LL BEGIN WITH THE
FIRST SPEAKER ON THE LIST.
PLEASE REMEMBER TO PRESS STAR
SIX AFTER YOU HEAR THE PROMPT OF
YOU HAVE BEEN UNMUTED.
AND OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS HOWARD
GAIL, FOLLOWED BY DANIEL
CAVANAUGH.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, HOWARD GAIL,
COMMENTING ON OUR FAILED POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM.
LAST WEEK THE OPA RELEASED ITS
INVESTIGATION INTO THE SPD'S
MURDER OF DEREK HAYDEN JUST DAYS
BEFORE THE FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF
HIS MURDER.
ONCE MORE A HEARTLESS POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM THAT HAS
POLICE POLICING POLICE HAS
DETERMINED THAT A COP MURDERING
SOMEONE ONLY REQUIRES A ONE TO
THREE-DAY TIMEOUT.
IN THIS CASE, ANDREW HAS, AS HE
DID WITH THE SPD MURDER OF -- TO
SEPARATE OUT AN OFFICER'S
FAILURE TO DE-ESCALATE FROM THE
KILLING THAT RESULTED FROM IT.
IT IS AS IF KILLING A PEDESTRIAN
WITH YOUR CAR GETS YOU A SIMPLE
TRAFFIC TICKET FOR RUNNING A RED
LIGHT.
THE SPD SUPPORTED A SYSTEM THAT
DENIED DEREK HAYDEN LIFE.
THIS COUNCIL, AND THE POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM YOU
CREATED AND STILL SUPPORT HAS
CREATED AND SUPPORTED A SYSTEM
THAT HAS DENIED DEREK HAYDEN,
HIS FAMILY, AND HIS FRIENDS
JUSTICE.
WE NEED TRULY INDEPENDENT POLICE
INVESTIGATIONS AND OVERSIGHT.
GO TO SEATTLESTOP.ORG TO FIND
OUT HOW.
SEATTLESTOP.ORG.
>> THANK YOU.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DANIEL
CAVANAUGH, FOLLOWED BY KATY
GARRO.
>> HI, MY NAME'S DAN, I'VE BEEN
A BARISTA IN SEATTLE FOR TWO
YEARS, IN FOOD SERVICE FOR EIGHT
YEARS.
I KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO WORK IN
UNSAFE CONDITIONS FOR LOW PAY,
SO I STAND 100% WITH STARBUCKS
WORKERS FIGHTING FOR THEIR
UNION.
AND IT'S DISGUSTING HONESTLY
THAT RIGHT HERE IN SEATTLE
MILLIONAIRE STARBUCKS EXECUTIVES
ARE HOLDING MEETINGS TO TRY TO
CRUSH THE UNION.
AND THEY JUST FIRED
REPRESENTATIVES FOR TRYING TO
ORGANIZE.
WE CANNOT ALLOW THIS PRECEDENT
TO BE SET.
WE NEED A NATIONAL ORGANIZED
MEETING OF STARBUCKS WORKERS TO
RESPOND, BUT THESE STARBUCKS
WORKERS FILED FOR THEIR UNION ON
MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY BECAUSE
THEY KNEW THAT DR. KING WAS
ORGANIZING WITH STRIKING
SANITATION WORKERS IN MEMPHIS
WHEN HE WAS KILLED.
ONE WORKER POINTED OUT THE
ABSURDITY OF STARBUCKS TWEETING
OUT QUOTES FROM DR. KING.
WE DON'T NEED EMPTY WORDS, WE
EXPECT ACTION.
I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT FOR HER RESOLUTIN AND
ALSO FOR BEING THE ONLY ONE WHO
DID NOT VOTE TO END HAZARD PAY.
TO THE DEMOCRATS ON THIS CITY
COUNCIL, VOTE YES WITHOUT DELAY
ON THIS RESOLUTION.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS KATY
GARRO, FOLLOWED BY MICHAEL.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON,
COUNCILMEMBERS.
MY NAME IS KATY.
THANK YOU, DAN, FOR YOUR
TESTIMONY.
MLK LABOR REPRESENTS MORE THAN
150,000 UNIONIZED WORKERS HERE
IN KING COUNTY, AND WE WOULD
LIKE TO OFFER OUR UNEKWIFABLE,
UNANIMOUS SUPPORT OF STARBUCKS
WORKERS ORGANIZING A UNION.
LAST WEEK OUR BOARD ADOPTED A
RESOLUTION AND ENDORSED
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT'S
RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF
ORGANIZING STARBUCKS WORKERS.
IT WAS BROUGHT FORWARD BY THE
UNIONS WHO CURRENTLY REPRESENT
STARBUCKS WORKERS IN OUR REGION,
WHICH INCLUDES UNITE HERE LOCAL
EIGHT AND TEAMSTERS LOCAL 117.
THEY DID SO BECAUSE THEY HAVE
EXPERIENCED THE LIFE-CHANGING
BENEFITS AND STABILITY THAT A
UNION OFFERS.
I AM A 33-YEAR-OLD LABOR LEADER,
A MILLENNIAL, AND I RAN ON AN
EXPLICITLY MILLENNIAL PLATFORM,
AND I WANT TO THANK THE YOUNG
WORKERS WHO ARE ORGANIZING AND
WHO ARE ENERGIZING A WHOLE LABOR
MOVEMENT ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
>> THANK YOU.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MICHAEL,
FOLLOWED BY DANIEL W.
>> HI, MY NAME IS MICHAEL, I'M A
RENTER IN DISTRICT THREE, AND
I'M CALLING ON THE COOLDOWN
STOIL VOTE YES ON THE STARBUCKS
RESOLUTION TO STAND WITH ITS
WORKERS.
FOR A COMPANY THAT IS SO
EXPLICITLY LINKED TO OUR CITY ON
THE NATIONAL STAGE, WE SHOULD BE
SEEN SUPPORTING ITS WORKING
PEOPLE AND NOT SIDING WITH THE
UNION BUSTING EFFORTS OF ITS
MULTIMILLION CEOs.
THANK YOU, I YIELD MY TIME.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DANIEL
W., FOLLOWED BY MARGO STEWART.
>> HI, I'M DANIEL A RENTER IN
DISTRICT FOUR.
LIKE MANY OTHERS, I'M HERE TODAY
TO DEMAND COUNCILMEMBERS VOTE
YES ON COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT'S
RESOLUTION CALLING ON STARBUCKS
TO STOP ITS UNION BUSTING.
SIMILAR RESOLUTIONS HAVE BEEN
INTRODUCED IN CHICAGO AND
MINNEAPOLIS.
THE URGENT NEED FOR THESE IS
CLEARER THAN EVER.
STARBUCKS FIRED THE ENTIRE UNION
ORGANIZING COMMITTEE IN MEMPHIS.
IT IS DISGUSTING AND STRAIGHT UP
ILLEGAL.
WE CANNOT RELY ON THE COURTS.
STARBUCKS HAS THE RESOURCES AND
LAWYERS TO STALL THINGS OUT, TO
INTIMIDATE, AND DEMORALIZE THE
WORKERS IN ORDER TO KILL THIS
EFFORT.
BECAUSE THEY KNOW IT'S A UNION
THAT CAN WIN A LIVABLE WAGE,
COMPREHENSIVE HEALTHCARE, AND
REASONABLE SCHEDULING FOR
WORKERS, ALL THINGS THAT WOULD
CUT INTO STARBUCKS' BILLIONS IN
PROFITS.
IT IS YOUR DUTY TO STAND IN
SOLIDARITY WITH THEM.
THE ABSOLUTE BARE MINIMUM IS
VOTING YES ON THIS RESOLUTION TO
SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR THIS
NATIONAL UNIONIZATION MOVEMENT.
IT'S CLEAR WHOSE INTEREST YOU
REPRESENT IN THE STRUGGLE
BETWEEN WORKING PEOPLE AND BIG
BUSINESS.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MARGO
STEWART, FOLLOWED BY SHIRLEY
HENDERSON.
>> MY NAME IS MARGO, I'M A
WORKER AND RENTER IN FIRST HILL.
I'M CALLING IN SOLIDARITY WITH
UNIONIZING STARBUCKS WORKERS
AROUND THE COUNTRY, AS WELL AS
THE HUNDREDS OF FOLKS AROUND THE
COUNTRY AS WELL THAT HAVE STOOD
IN SOLIDARITY WITH THEM, SIGNED
PETITIONS AND THE LIKE.
TODAY STARBUCKS SHAMEFULLY FIRED
A NUMBER OF UNIONIZING WORKERS
IN MEMPHIS OVER MADE UP
ALLEGATIONS.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT COULD HAPPEN
AT A STORE HERE NEXT IN SEATTLE.
SO COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT'S
RESOLUTION IN SOLIDARITY WITH
STARBUCKS WORKERS IS MORE URGENT
THAN EVER, AND IT NEEDS TO BE
VOTED ON TODAY.
YOU KNOW THE QUESTION BEFORE
DEMOCRATIC COUNCILMEMBERS IS
REALLY EASY, DO YOU ENDORSE
THIS?
LIKE DO YOU ENDORSE FIRING
WORKERS OVER MADE UP CHARGES?
MANY OF THESE WORKERS ARE LIVING
ONE OR TWO PAYCHECKS AWAY FROM
NOT MAKING RENT, OR WORSE AS THE
EVICTION MORATORIUM NEARS.
OR DO YOU SUPPORT WORKERS
DEMANDING FAIR COMPENSATION,
COMPREHENSIVE HEALTHCARE?
IF YOU'RE TRULY FRIENDS OF
LABOR, YOU'RE GOING TO VOTE YES
CAN NO DELAY.
WE NEED A MOVEMENT TO REINSTATE
THESE WORKERS.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SHIRLEY
HENDERSON, FOLLOWED BY BARBARA
FINNY.
>> -- SMALL COFFEE SHOP IN
SEATTLE'S DISTRICT THREE, AND AS
SOMEONE WHO IS IN THE COFFEE
INDUSTRY, I STAND IN SOLIDARITY
WITH THE COURAGEOUS STARBUCKS
WORKERS WHO ARE FIGHTING FOR
BETTER WORKING CONDITIONS AND A
UNION.
AND I'M CALLING -- ALL EIGHT
DEMOCRATS FROM CITY COUNCIL TO
ALSO SUPPORT STARBUCKS WORKERS
IN THEIR UNIONIZATION EFFORT BY
VOTING YES ON THE RESOLUTION
TODAY WITHOUT DELAYS.
PEOPLE HAVE MENTIONED THE
HEINOUS FIRING OF UNIONIZING
MEMBERS IN MEMPHIS, WHICH ONLY
MAKES IT MORE CLEAR THAT MEMBERS
NEED A DESERVING UNION.
-- DEMOCRATS ON THE CITY COUNCIL
HAVE REMAINED CONSPICUOUSLY
SILENT IN THE FACE OF STARBUCKS
UNION BUSTING.
THERE ARE MANY COUNCILMEMBER WHO
IS CALL THEMSELVES PROGRESSIVE,
PRO-WORKER, PRO-UNION, BUT ALL
COUNCILMEMBERS ACCEPT SAWANT
VOTED IN DECEMBER TO END THE $24
AN HOUR GROCERY WORKER HAZARD
PAY.
COUNCILMEMBERS NEED TO VOTE YES
IF THEY CONSIDER THEMSELVES
PROGRESSIVE ON THIS RESOLUTION
TODAY AND STAND WITH STARBUCKS
WORKERS.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS BARBARA
FINNY, FOLLOWED BY BRAD.
>> HI, I'M BARBARA FINNY,
DELEGATE TO THE MLK LABOR
COUNCIL FOR AMERICAN FEDERATION
OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES 3197,
MEMBER OF THE DEMOCRATIC
SOCIALISTS OF AMERICA, AND
SPEAKING IN A PERSONAL CAPACITY
TODAY.
LOCAL STARBUCKS BARISTAS HAVE
REQUESTED SUPPORT FROM ELECTED
OFFICIALS TO DEMAND STARBUCKS
LET THE WORKERS FREELY DECIDE
WITHOUT ANY INTERFERENCE,
THREATS, OR INTIMIDATION.
YOU, CITY COUNCIL, AS ELECTED
OFFICIALS IN THE CITY WHERE
STARBUCKS WAS FOUNDED HAVE AN
EVEN GREATER RESPONSIBILITY TO
SUPPORT STARBUCKS WORKERS WHO
WANT A UNION.
SO I RISE TO CALL ON YOU TO VOTE
YES ON COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT'S
RESOLUTION EXPRESSING SUPPORT
FOR WORKERS AT STARBUCKS IN
SEATTLE WHO ARE IN THE PROCESS
OF FORMING A UNION CALLING ON
STARBUCKS TO ACCEPT CARD CHECK
NEUTRALITY, SUPPORT THIS
RESOLUTION FROM COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT, DON'T WATER IT DOWN.
SOLIDARITY WITH UNIONIZING
STARBUCKS WORKERS.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS BRAD,
FOLLOWED BY SYDNEY DURKAN, WHO
IS SHOWING AS NOT PRESENT.
AND BRAD, YOU WANT TO PRESS STAR
SIX.
>> HELLO, THIS IS BRAD
AUGUSTINE, I'M A SEATTLE CITY
RESIDENT FOR THE LAST 60 YEARS.
SMALL BUSINESS OWNER.
I'M SORRY I'M CONTRARION TO THE
OTHER SPEAKERS, BUT I DON'T
BELIEVE ANY CITY COUNCILMEMBER
SHOULD TAKE A POSITION EITHER
FOR OR AGAINST UNIONIZATION OF
STARBUCKS.
AS I BELIEVE THIS IS A CONFLICT
OF INTEREST AS CITY
COUNCILMEMBERS.
THIS IS NOT ABOUT BIG BUSINESS,
THE WORKING PEOPLE, IT'S ABOUT A
BUSINESS AND THE SEATTLE CITY
COUNCIL SHOULD STAY OUT OF THAT.
WE DERIVE TAX REVENUE FROM
STARBUCKS AND A LOT OF THAT, AND
OUR CITY DOESN'T WORK WITHOUT
TAX REVENUE.
I'D LIKE TO SEE THE CITY COUNCIL
SPEND SIGNIFICANTLY MORE TIME ON
AREAS THAT ARE WAY MORE
IMPORTANT, SUCH AS THE FACT THAT
IN 2021, 30,000 PEOPLE MOVED TO
SEATTLE AND IN 2021 ONLY 20,000
NEW DWELLING UNITS WERE CREATED.
THIS IS A SIMPLE SUPPLY AND
DEMAND PROBLEM, AND WE NEED MORE
HOUSING.
AND WE NEED TO SIMPLIFY THE
PROCESS IN THE BUILDING
DEPARTMENT.
THANK YOU.
>> THE NEXT FEW SPEAKERS WE HAVE
ARE SYDNEY DURKAN AND GENE.
AND THEY ARE NOT SHOWING AS
PRESENT, SO WE WILL MOVE ON TO
PARK, WHO WILL BE FOLLOWED BY
MEGAN MURPHY.
>> MY NAME IS PARK Z I'M AN
ORGANIZER AND VICE PRESIDENT OF
UAW 4121, THE UNION OF 6,000
ACADEMIC EMPLOYEES AND STAFF AT
UNIVERSITY O WASHINGTON.
I'M HERE IN SOLIDARITY WITH
STARBUCKS WORKERS AND URGE
MEMBERS TO -- IT'S IMPORTANT FOR
PROTECTING WORKER DEMOCRACY,
WHEN THE MAJORITY OF STARBUCKS
EMPLOYEES SIGN THEIR UNION
CARDS, THE UNION SHOULD BE
RECOGNIZED, AND THE WORKERS
SHOULD HAVE -- AWAY FROM
THREATS, INTIMIDATION OR
ANTI-UNION PROPAGANDA OR
LAWSUITS.
UNIONIZATION MEANS EVERY WORKER
HAS A FAIR SAY IN THE WORKPLACE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, AND
AGAIN, I URGE YOU TO VOTE YES ON
THE RESOLUTION.
THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MEGAN
MURPHY, FOLLOWED BY JEFF
FERNANDEZ.
AND MEGAN, YOU WANT TO PRESS
STAR SIX.
OKAY, PERHAPS WE CAN MOVE ON TO
JEFF FERNANDEZ.
IF HE'S AVAILABLE.
>> HELLO, COUNCILMEMBERS, THIS
IS JEFF FERNANDEZ FROM DISTRICT
FIVE.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT
POLITICIANS LIKE YOU WHO
ADVOCATE FOR MORE WEALTH AND
RACIAL INEQUALITY HAVE FAILED TO
REMEDY THE WEALTH AND CLIMATE
DESTRUCTION WITH AMERICAN
CAPITALISM PRODUCES.
BECAUSE OF YOUR FAILURE AS
DEMOCRATS, LABOR ORGANIZING IS
ONE OF THE FEW REMAINING PATHS
TO CREATE A MORE EQUITABLE
SOCIETY FROM OUR CURRENT
ECONOMIC DISTAUPE YA.
IT IS VITAL YOU DECLARE YOUR
ALLEGIANCE WITH THE WORKING
CLASS PEOPLE OF SEATTLE, AND NOT
WITH THE OWNER OF THE CORP RAT
CLASS.
YOU MUST DECLARE YOUR POSITION
TO BE ON THE SIDE OF LABOR, AND
NOT THE SIDE OF THOSE WHO
EXPLOIT LABOR FOR THEIR PERSONAL
ENRICHMENT.
I AM DEMANDING YOU SUPPORT
SAWANT'S RESOLUTION TO SUPPORT
THE UNIONIZING STARBUCKS
WORKERS, AND ALL WORKERS WHO
FIGHT BACK AGAINST CORPORATE
UNION BUSTING, WHICH CREATES
POVERTY AS EFFICIENTLY AS IT
MAKES ESPRESSO.
I WOULD CALL OUT DEBORA JUAREZ,
NELSON, AND PEDERSEN --
>> MARK TAYLOR CANFIELD.
ANDREW, YOU WANT TO PRESS STAR
SIX.
>> ALL RIGHT, I'M THE PRESIDENT
OF THE LAKE CITY HOUSE RESIDENT
COUNCIL IN A SEATTLE HOUSING
AUTHORITY LOW-INCOME BUILDING.
I HAVE A MILLENNIAL CHILD THAT
USED TO WORK FOR STARBUCKS AS A
STORE MANAGER.
I LOOKED UP AT WILL EMPLOYMENT,
AND IN THE UNITED STATES LABOR
LAW, AT WILL EMPLOYMENT IS AN
EMPLOYER'S ABILITY TO DISMISS AN
EMPLOYEE FOR ANY REASON.
THAT IS WITHOUT HAVING TO
ESTABLISH JUST CAUSE FOR
TERMINATION AND WITHOUT WARNING,
AS LONG AS THE REASON IS NOT
ILLEGAL, SUCH AS RACE, RELIGION,
SEXUALITY, ET CETERA.
WHEN AN EMPLOYEE IS ACKNOWLEDGED
AS BEING HIRED AT WILL, COURTS
DENY THE EMPLOYEE ANY CLAIMS
RESULTING FROM THE DISMISSAL.
THE RULE IS JUSTIFIED BY
PROPONENTS ON THE BASIS THAT THE
EMPLOYEE MAY BE SIMILARLY
ENTITLED TO LEAVE THEIR JOB
WITHOUT REASON OR --
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MARK
TAYLOR CANFIELD, FOLLOWED BY
RICHIE TAI.
>> MY NAME IS MARK LOR CANFIELD,
I'M EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR
DEMOCRACY WATCH NEWS.
IN OUR COVERAGE OF PRO-DEMOCRACY
MOVEMENTS AROUND THE WORLD, IT'S
BECOME CLEAR IT REQUIRES THE
RIGHT FOR WORKERS TO ORGANIZE
FOR BETTER WAGES AND WORKING
CONDITIONS.
I'M SPEAKING IN FAVOR OF
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT'S
RESOLUTION TO SUPPORT STARBUCKS
EMPLOYEES IN THEIR EFFORTS TO
ORGANIZE A UNION IN THE FACE OF
MAJOR OPPOSITION FROM THE
COMPANY.
WE'RE LIVING IN A STATE WITH THE
MOST REGRESSIVE TAX SYSTEM IN
THE U.S. SEATTLE HAS A 10% SALES
TAX.
BILLIONAIRES LIKE HOWARD
SCHULTZ, BILL GATES, AND JEFF
BEZOS BENEFIT.
THEY'VE ACQUIRED MORE WEALTH
THAN ANYONE HAS EVEN IMAGINED
WAS POSSIBLE.
GATES AND BEZOS MAKE MORE MONEY
PER MINUTE THAN MOST MAKE IN AN
ENTIRE YEAR.
AS POVERTY INCREASES, WITH
MILLIONS LEFT WITHOUT ADEQUATE
HOUSING OR HEALTHCARE, WE OWE IT
TO CAFE WORKERS TO MAKE ENOUGH
TO SUPPORT THEMSELVES AND THEIR
FAMILIES.
IF YOU'RE WE'RE GOING TO ALLOW
THE RENTS TO SKYROCKET, WE MUST
ALLOW WORKERS TO MAKE ENOUGH
MONEY TO LIVE WHERE THEY WORK.
THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS RICHIE
TAI, FOLLOWED BY RACHEL IBARRA.
>> HI, MY NAME IS RICHIE TAI, A
SEATTLE DISTRICT THREE RESIDENT
AND A RANK AND FILE MEMBER OF
THE ALPHABET WORKERS UNION.
I'M COMMENTING TO CALL ON OUR
COUNCILMEMBERS TO VOTE YES ON
THE RESOLUTION TO STAND WITH
UNIONIZING STARBUCKS WORKERS,
BECAUSE EVERY WORKER DESERVES A
VOICE IN THEIR WORKPLACE, AND
STARBUCKS WORKERS DESERVE A REAL
LIVING WAGE.
AT THE VERY LEAST STARBUCKS
SHOULD PRACTICE CARD CHECK
NEUTRALITY AND ACCEPT THE
OUTCOME OF ANY UNION VOTE
WITHOUT UNION BUSTING.
WE'VE HEARD PREVIOUSLY ABOUT THE
UNION BUSTING TACTICS STARBUCKS
HAS ENGAGED IN.
BUT LIKE SOME PEOPLE MENTIONED,
I HEARD ABOUT STARBUCKS FIRING
UNIONIZING MEMBERS IN MEMPHIS.
BEFORE THAT, A MANDATORY CAPTIVE
AUDIENCE MEETING, WHERE
STARBUCKS TOLD WORKERS HOW BAD
UNIONS ARE.
THAT'S EVEN -- CONSISTENTLY HAD
BETTER WAGES AND WORKING
CONDITIONS THAN OTHER WORKERS.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS RACHEL
IBARRA, WHO IS FOLLOWED BY
TAYLOR HORNER, WHO IS SHOWING AS
NOT PRESENT.
AND THEN THE NEXT SPEAKER, WHO
IS PRESENT, WILL BE MATTHEW
SMITH.
SO RACHEL IBARRA IS UP.
THANK YOU.
>> MY NAME IS RACHEL IBARRA, AND
I'M AN EMPLOYEE AT STARBUCKS.
I'M URGING THE COUNCIL TO VOTE
YES ON THE RESOLUTION PRESENTED
BY COUNCILMEMBER KSHAMA SAWANT.
WHETHER SYMBOLIC OR NOT,
SUPPORTING US IN THIS WAY IS A
WAY TO SHOW WORKERS THAT YOU ARE
ON OUR SIDE.
STARBUCKS HAS BEEN GETTING AWAY
WITH CALLING ITSELF PROGRESSIVE
FOR DECADES.
THEIR ALLEGEDLY GREAT BENEFITS
ARE BEYOND WHAT MANY OF US CAN
AFFORD.
THEIR CONCERNS OVER SAFETY
EXTEND AS FAR AS REQUIRED BY
LAW, ALLOWING EACH OF US TO
CATCH COVID ONE BY ONE AND
SPREAD IT.
EVEN THEIR CLAIMS TO A FAIR AND
BIAS-FREE WORKPLACE HAVE BEEN
PROVEN TO BE LITTLE MORE THAN
LIP SERVICE WITH INCONSISTENT
POLICY ENFORCEMENT.
I'M UNIONIZING NOT BECAUSE I
HATE STARBUCKS BUT BECAUSE I
BELIEVE STARBUCKS HAS THE POWER
AND INFRASTRUCTURE TO BE AN
INCREDIBLE PLACE TO WORK.
IT COULD BECOME A POWERFULLY
BENEFICIAL PART OF A COMMUNITY
BY ACTING ON ITS MISSION TO PUSH
THE SERVICE INDUSTRY TO BE
BECOME THE RESPECTED CAREER IT
SHOULD BE AND TO WORK ALONGSIDE
TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MATTHEW
SMITH, FOLLOWED BY CARL THOMAS.
>> HEY, MY NAME'S MATT SMITH,
I'M A RENTER AND WORKER IN
DISTRICT TWO.
STARBUCKS IS WAGING JUST AN
ABSOLUTELY BRUTAL ANTI-UNION
CAMPAIGN AROUND THE COUNTRY,
ORGANIZING TO FORM A UNION,S
ICLUDING STARBUCKS IS FIRING
WORKERS, AS WE'VE HEARD, WHO ARE
SUPPORTING THE UNION.
THIS ISN'T NEW.
WHEN HOWARD SCHULTZ BOUGHT
STARBUCKS IN 1987 IN SEATTLE,
HIS FIRST ACT WAS TO BREAK A
UNION HERE IN SEATTLE THAT
WORKERS HAD FORMED, ORGANIZED
WITH UFCW.
THAT BREAKING OF THE UNION, THE
FIRST ACT OF HOWARD SCHULTZ AS
CEO, LAID THE GROUNDWORK.
THEY'VE CONTINUED TO BUST UNIONS
EVERY TIME THEY CROPPED UP IN
THE '90ST AND 2000s.
THAT HAS ALLOWED SCHULTZ TO
BECOME A BILLIONAIRE.
THE NEW CEO OF STARBUCKS, KEVIN
-- I CAN'T REMEMBER HIS LAST
NAME -- KEVIN JOHNSON, HAS MADE
$20 MILLION EXPLOITING WORKERS.
WORKERS DESERVE A UNION.
COUNCILMEMBERS NEED TO VOTE YES
ON THIS RESOLUTION TO STAND WITH
WORKERS, NOT WITH BILLIONAIRES
AND CEOs.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS CARL
THOMAS, FOLLOWED BY EMMY
McARTHUR.
>> HI, I'M CARL THOMAS, A MEMBER
OF UAW 4121 AT THE UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON.
I WANT TO CALL ON THE CITY
COUNCIL TO VOTE YES ON THE
RESOLUTION IN SUPPORTING
STARBUCKS WORKERS IN THEIR FIGHT
TO UNIONIZE IN SEATTLE.
AT UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON AND
IN UAW WE STAND SHOULDER TO
SHOULDER WITH WORKERS IN THEIR
FIGHT FOR BETTER CONDITIONS.
WORKERS AT STARBUCKS NEED
SUPPORT FROM THE BROAD COMMUNITY
AS THEY GO UP AGAINST A MASSIVE
UNION BUSTING CORPORATION, AND
WE NEED TO PRESSURE STARBUCKS TO
STOP THEIR ANTI-UNION CAMPAIGN.
ANY COUNCILMEMBER WHO CLAIMS TO
STAND WITH WORKERS HAS A
RESPONSIBILITY TO VOTE YES ON
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT'S
RESOLUTION.
THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS EMILY
McARTHUR, FOLLOWED BY JANE FOY.
>> HI, WE LIVE IN KING COUNTY.
WE PUT MLK ON OUR BUSES, OUR
LETTERHEAD, ET CETERA.
EASY TO PULL DURING BLACK
HISTORY MONTH DURING A
PLATITUDE.
ONE QUOTE, IN THE END YOU WILL
REMEMBER NOT THE WORDS OF OUR
ENEMIES, BUT THE SILENCE OF OUR
FRIENDS.
MUCH AS GROCERY WORKERS REMEMBER
TE SILENCE, QUIETLY SIDING WITH
THE BOSSES AS DEMOCRATS REPEALED
IT LAST YEAR.
WE HAVE A CHANCE TO CHANGE
COURSE.
STAND WITH STARBUCKS WORKERS,
PASS THE RESOLUTION.
WORKERS NEED SOLIDARITY, AND
SEATTLE IS STARBUCKS' HOMETOWN.
OTHERS HAVE SPOKEN TO STARBUCKS
LABOR AND UNION BUSTING SO I
WON'T SPEAK TO THAT HERE, BUT WE
DO KNOW THAT IF THIS UNION
SUCCEEDS, THIS WILL BE THE FIRST
EVER UNION IN STARBUCKS
CORPORATION.
IT WILL INSPIRE OTHER COMPANIES.
THIS IS WHY STARBUCKS IS USING
THESE BLATANT UNION BUSTING
TACTICS, INCLUDING FIRING
WORKERS OF CHLORIN MEMPHIS WHO
FILED ON MLK DAY.
SO YES, STAND WITH WORKERS.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JANE FOY,
WHO IS FOLLOWED BY ALEXANDER
STEIN, WHO IS SHOWING AS NOT
PRESENT.
GEORGE WILLIS, WHO IS NOT
PRESENT, AND ALEXANDER, WHO'S
NOT PRESENT.
PLEASE GO AHEAD, MISS FOY.
>> MY NAME IS JANE FOY, I'M A
CONSTITUENT OF DISTRICT THREE,
AND I AM VOICING MY SUPPORT FOR
THE UNIONIZATION OF STARBUCKS
STORES AND OTHER PRIVATE FAST
FOOD INDUSTRIES.
IT IS SHAMEFUL THAT WORKERS ARE
BEING INTIMIDATED BY THE
STARBUCK ELITE.
ALL JOBS HAVE DIGNITY.
IF THE POLICE CAN HAVE A UNION,
THEN STARBUCKS EMPLOYEES CAN
HAVE A UNION.
UNIONS HAVE IMPROVED THE LIVES
OF WORKERS.
PLEASE, CITY COUNCIL, VOTE YES
FOR THE WORKERS.
THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING PEOPLE
OVER PROFIT.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SYDNEY
DURKAN, AND SYDNEY WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY MEGAN MURPHY.
>> MY NAME IS SYDNEY DURKAN, I
AM A WORKER AT STARBUCKS AND A
CONSTITUENT OF DISTRICT THREE.
AND I'M CALLING IN TO URGE THE
COUNCIL TO VOTE YES ON KSHAMA
SAWANT'S RESOLUTION TO SUPPORT
STARBUCKS WORKERS.
WE ARE FACING UNPRECEDENTED
INTIMIDATION JUST FROM TODAY
FROM THE COMPANY.
FIRING WORKERS WHO ARE STANDING
UP FOR THEIR RIGHT TO UNIONIZE.
STANDING IN SOLIDARITY WITH US
SHOWS YOU ARE WILLING TO PUT
YOUR NECKS OUT IN SUPPORT OF
WORKERS.
NOW MORE THAN EVER IT IS SUPER
NECESSARY IN ORDER TO STRIKE
WHILE THE IRON IS HEART AND
CONTINUE TO FUEL THIS MOVEMENT
OF WORKERS ON THE GROUND
FIGHTING FOR RIGHTS THAT ARE
ESSENTIAL WILL TO ALL WORKERS,
NOT JUST ALL WORKERS IN
STARBUCKS.
WE URGE YOU TO VOTE YES ON THIS
RESOLUTION, NOT ONLY AS AN ACT
OF SOLIDARITY BUT AS A REAL ACT
OF SOLIDARITY.
THANK YOU AND PLEASE VOTE YES.
>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS MEGAN
MURPHY, AND OUR LAST SPEAKER IS
TAYLOR.
AND MEGAN, YOU WANT TO PRESS
STAR SIX TO BE UNMUTED.
OKAY, MAYBE WE CAN MOVE ON TO
TAYLOR LATRICE WARNER.
>> HI, MY NAME IS TAYLOR, AND
I'M A MEMBER OF THE IBEW LOCAL
46.
I'M CALLING TO URGE THE COUNCIL
TO PASS KSHAMA SAWANT'S
RESOLUTION TO STAND WITH
STARBUCKS WORKERS AND AS A BODY
THAT REGULARLY COLLABORATES WITH
UNIONS TO CONDEMN STARBUCKS'
UNION BUSTING.
DECLARING YOURSELF PRO LABOR OR
PRO PARTNER DOES NOT MAKE IT SO.
AS PROGRESSIVES I'M SURE YOU
DON'T NEED ME TO EXPLAIN HOW
STARBUCKS' CONCERN FOR HOW
UNIONS MAY HURT THEIR
PARTNERSHIP ARE A DUPLICATE OF
THE STRATEGIES BY AMAZON, DELTA,
TARGET, AND COUNTLESS OTHERS.
INDEED, WHAT MAX MALLY
PROFITABLE BEHEMOTH CORPORATION
WOULD WANT THEIR WORKERS TO FORM
A UNION?
UNIONS PUMP THE BRAKES ON THEIR
ANARCHISTIC EXPLOITATIONS.
OF COURSE STARBUCKS DOESN'T WANT
A UNION, BUT THEY HAVE TO PLAY
BY THE RULES.
I'M ASKING YOU TO USE YOUR
COUNCIL SEATS TO DEMAND IT.
AM I CUT OFF?
?
>> AND IT LOOKS LIKE ONE OF OUR
SPEAKERS WHO WERE NOT SHOWING AS
PRESENT IS NOW PRESENT, AND
THAT'S ALEXANDER STEIN.
OKAY, LET'S HEAR FROM MR. STEIN.
>> HEY, GUYS, IT'S ME.
>> MR. STEIN CAN YOU PRESS STAR
SIX, PLEASE?
MR. STEIN, JUST PUSH STAR SIX.
>> YES, CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> SURE CAN.
>> YO, IT'S ME, PRIMETIME 99,
ALEX TIME.
I APPRECIATE IT.
I GOT SOME COMPLAINTS.
LIKE I'M COMING FROM -- I MOVED
TO SEATTLE FROM OREGON, AND I
HAVE TO SAY, THE OREGON POLICE
DEPARTMENT IS WAY MORE CHILL
THAN THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT.
I MEAN, FULL STOP, I'LL BE
HONEST, I'M A MEMBER OF ANTIFA,
AND PART OF WHAT WE DO IS WE
FIGHT FACH SHICHL.
WE CAME TO SEATTLE BECAUSE
THERE'S A HIGH POPULATION OF
FASCISTS UP HERE.
I'M DOING EVERYTHING I CAN TO
STOP THESE PEOPLE, BUT LOCAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT IS TERRIBLE.
I MEAN, THERE SHOULD BE A PLACE
WHERE PEOPLE CAN CLEANLY USE
HEROIN OR USE FENTANYL, BUT ALL
MY FRIENDS, ALL MY COMRADES ARE
COB STANTLEY GOING TO JAIL.
IN PORTLAND, THEY HAVE SAFE USE
SPOTS.
YOU CAN DO HEROIN ALL DAY LONG.
BUT THERE'S NOT ENOUGH SAFE USE
SPOTS IN SEATTLE.
LISTEN, I'M DOING FENTANYL.
I'M DOING HEROIN ALL DAY LONG,
AND WE'RE GETTING JACKED UP BY
THE COPS.
JOE BIDEN'S GIVING FREE --
>> HOW ARE YOU DOING, MADAME
CLERK?
>> I BELIEVE THAT'S END OF THE
LIST.
>> OKAY.
ARE YOU SURE?
BECAUSE WE CAN JUST MOVE FORWARD
THEN.
IF SOMEBODY NEEDS TO -- IF WE
MISSED SOMEBODY, THEY GET BACK
ON, MADAME CLERK, YOU'LL LET US
KNOW, CORRECT?
>> CORRECT.
>> OKAY, GOOD.
SO WITH THAT, MADAME CLERK, WE
HAVE REACHED THE ALLOTTED TIME,
CORRECT?
>> YES, WE HAVE.
>> OKAY, THANK YOU.
AS I'VE SHARED, WE'VE REACHED
THE ALLOTTED TIME FOR PUBLIC
COMMENT TODAY, AND THE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW CLOSED.
THANK YOU FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO
CALLED IN TODAY TO GIVE PUBLIC
COMMENT.
SO MOVING ON ON THE AGENDA,
LET'S GO TO PAYMENT OF THE
BILLS.
PAYMENT OF THE BILLS, MADAME
CLERK, PLEASE READ THE TITLE.
>> COUNCIL BILL 120263, AUD TIF
CLAIMS FOR WEEK OF JANUARY 24,
2022 THROUGH JANUARY 38, 2022
AND ORDERING THE PAYMENT
THEREOF.
>> THANK YOU.
I MOVE TO PASS COUNCIL BILL
120263, IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU.
IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED
THAT THE BILL PASS.
ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS?
SEEING NOR HEARING NONE, MADAME
CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON
THE PASSAGE OF THE BILL.
>> SAWANT?
>> YES.
>> STRAUSS?
>> YES.
>> LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> MORALLESS?
>> YES.
>> MOSQUEDA?
>> AYE.
>> NELSON?
>> AYE?
>> PEDERSEN?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT JUAREZ.
>> AYE.
>> EIGHT IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THE BILL PASSES.
THE CHAIR WILL SIGN IT.
MADAME CLERK, PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION ON
MY BEHALF.
SO LET'S MOVE ON TO THE AGENDA
TO COMMITTEE REPORTS.
ITEM NUMBER ONE, COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT, THIS IS YOURS, BUT WILL
THE CLERK PLEASE READ IT INTO
THE RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEM ONE, RESOLUTION
32041.
A RESOLUTION EXPRESSING THE
SEATTLE CITY COUNCILb
FOR WORKERS AT STARBUCKS IN
SEATTLE WHO ARE ATTEMPTING TO
FORM A UNION, AND URGING
STARBUCKS TO ACCEPT CARD CHECK
NEUTRALITY.
>> THANK YOU.
I MOVE TO ADOPT RESOLUTION
32041, IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> GREAT, IT'S BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED.
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT, AS SPONSOR
OF THE RESOLUTION, YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED.
PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU.
THIS IS THE RESOLUTION IN
SUPPORT OF STARBUCKS WORKERS WHO
ARE STRUGGLING TO FORM A UNION
IN SEATTLE AS WELL AS AT
LOCATIONS AROUND THE COUNTRY.
JUST THIS MORNING WE HEARD THAT
STARBUCKS EXECUTIVES ARE FIRING
WORKERS WHO ARE PART OF THE
UNION ORGANIZING LEADERSHIP IN
MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE.
IF THIS DOESN'T SHOW WHY
REPRESENTATIVES NEED TO TAKE A
STAND AGAINST THE COMPANY'S
SHAMEFUL UNION BUSTING, I DON'T
KNOW WHAT WILL.
SEATTLE IS THE HEADQUARTERS, SO
THIS CITY'S ELECTED OFFICIALS
HAVE A SPECIAL RESPONSIBLE.
AS GIANNA REEVE, A BUFFALO
WORKER WHO SPOKE TWO WEEKS AGO
SAID, STARBUCKS PRIDES SEATTLE
ON BEING THEIR HOMETOWN, BUT
THEY WILL RAKE THEIR EMPLOYEES
THROUGH THE MUD.
RATHER THAN ESSENTIALLY
REQUIRING A SECOND ELECTION
AFTER MONTHS OF THREATS,
ANTI-UNION PROPAGANDA,
ANTI-UNION MEETINGS AND LAWSUITS
WITH THE IDEA THAT WORKERS CAN
BE INTIMIDATED BY THE TIME THAT
SECOND VOTE HAPPENS.
IF STARBUCKS WORKERS IN SEATTLE
UNIONIZE, THE RESOLUTION FURTHER
URGES STARBUCKS TO BARGAIN A
FAIR CONTRACT, SUCH THAT THE
WORKERS CAN HAVE GOOD STANDARDS
OF LIVING AND THE COMPANY'S
MASSIVE WEALTH DOES NOT FLOW
JUST TO THE TOP EXECUTIVES AND
SHAREHOLDERS.
AND THE RESOLUTION RECOMMENDS
ALL WORKERS IN SEATTLE ORGANIZE
IN UNIONS TO COLLECTIVELY FIGHT
FOR BETTER WAGES, BENEFITS, AND
WORKING CONDITIONS.
AS THE MEMPHIS STARBUCKS WORKERS
WROTE IN THEIR RECENT LETTER TO
CEO KEVIN JOHNSON, QUOTE, WE ARE
HERE TO FIGHT FOR OUR SAFETY AND
OUR RIGHTS AS WORKERS THAT HAVE
BEEN DENIED AND SHOVED AWAY FROM
US.
PLEASE DO NOT BRING YOUR
SO-CALLED PRO-PARTNER,
ANTI-UNION CAMPAIGN TO MEMPHIS,
END QUOTE.
WHICH SIDE WILL COUNCILMEMBERS
STAND ON, WITH WORKERS LIKE
THESE OR THE VICIOUSLY
ANTI-UNION EXECUTIVE WHO IS AT
THIS VERY MOMENT ARE TRYING TO
FIRE THEM?
STARBUCKS WORKERS HAVE ALREADY
DEMONSTRATED THE IMPORTANCE OF
HAVING A UNION AND A FIGHTING
APPROACH AROUND CONCRETE
DEMANDS.
THE BUFFALO WORKERS WENT ON A
FIVE-DAY STRIKE AND FORCED THE
COMPANY TO CONCEDE ON THE
COLOSSAL DEMAND TO GIVE ALL
STARBUCKS WORKERS PAID TIME FOR
QUARANTINE AND SELF-ISOLATION IF
THEY ARE EXPOSED TO COVID.
I THANK MY SISTER KATY AND ALL
MY SIBLINGS AT THE MARTIN LUTHER
KING LABOR COUNCIL FOR THEIR
FULL SUPPORT.
I THANK THE WASHINGTON CHAPTER
OF THE NATIONAL WRITERS UNION
WHO WROTE THE CITY COUNCIL
URGING A YES VOTE MENTIONING HOW
WOMEN, LGBTQ WORKERS, AND
WORKERS OF COLOR MAKE UP MUCH OF
STARBUCKS' WORK FORCE.
ACROSS THE UNITED STATES, UNION
DENSITY IS AT A HISTORIC LOW OF
10.3%.
SUPPORT FOR UNIONS IS HIGHER
THAN IT HAS BEEN SINCE 1965.
68% OF WORKERS WANT A UNION.
HOW CAN 68% WANT A UNION BUT
ONLY 10% HAVE ONE?
IT IS BECAUSE BIG BUSINESS IS
IMMENSELY POWERFUL AND USES THAT
POWER TO CRUSH UNION DRIVES,
EXCEPT WHEN WORKERS FIGHT BACK,
WHICH IS WHAT STARBUCKS WORKERS
ARE DOING.
TO BE CLEAR, THERE ARE UNIONIZED
WORKERS IN GROCERY STORES OR AT
THE AIRPORT WHO ARE BARISTAS
UNDER THE STARBUCKS LABEL AND
THIS IS IMPORTANT, BUT THEY ARE
NOT EMPLOYED BY STARBUCKS.
THE SUCCESSFUL UNIONIZATION IN
BUFFALO LAST DECEMBER REPRESENTS
THE ONLY UNITED STATES EMPLOYEES
OF THIS MULTINATIONAL
CORPORATION TO BE UNIONIZED
ANYWHERE IN THIS COUNTRY.
AND SO IF THIS UNION MOVEMENT
SUCCEEDS NATIONWIDE, IT WILL BE
NOTHING SHORT OF AN EARTHQUAKE,
AND THAT'S WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO
HAVE THE SUPPORT FROM LABOR
UNIONS THAT WE HAVE, AND IT'S
ALSO NO SURPRISE THAT STARBUCKS
EXECUTIVES AND BILLIONAIRES LIKE
FORMER CEO HOWARD SCHULTZ ARE
ENGAGED IN VICIOUS UNION
BUSTING.
THEY SENT LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF
MANAGERS INTO THE BUFFALO STORES
TO TRY TO INTIMIDATE AND
BROWBEAT WORKERS INTO VOTING NO.
AFTER THE MAJORITY OF WORKERS AT
FOUR STORES SIGNED UNION CARDS,
STARBUCKS BEGAN A SERIES OF
LAWSUITS TO ATTEMPT TO BLOCK
THOSE WORKERS FROM EVEN HAVING
THE RIGHT TO VOTE.
STARBUCKS WENT TO A NATIONAL
LABOR RELATIONS BOARD COURT TO
DEMAND THAT THE VOTE HAD TO
INCLUDE WORKERS OUTSIDE THOSE
LOCATIONS WHO HAD NOT HAD A
CHANCE TO TALK TO THE UNION YET.
STARBUCKS LOST THAT LAWSUIT,
WHICH THEY ARE STILL APPEALING.
STARBUCKS WENT SO FAR AS TO
TEMPORARILY CLOSE TWO BUFFALO
STARBUCKS LOCATIONS THAT WERE IN
THE PROCESS OF UNIONIZING.
ONE OF WHICH WAS, QUOTE,UNQUOTE,
RE-OPENED AS A TRAINING CENTER.
AS SYDNEY DURKAN A SEATTLE
STARBUCKS WORKER AT THE BROADWAY
AND DENNY STORE WHO JUST SPOKE
SAID, QUOTE, WE ARE DEALING WITH
MEETINGS AND INTIMIDATION.
I PERSONALLY HAVE RECEIVED FINAL
WRITTEN WARNING FOR UNION
ACTIVITY, AND THEY WILL CONTINUE
TO ESCALATE.
STARBUCKS IS TRYING TO PUSH THE
ENVELOPE OF WHAT THEY CAN GET
AWAY WITH IN THEIR UNION
BUSTING.
THEY WILL CONTINUE TO DO THIS
UNTIL THERE IS INTENSE PUBLIC
OUTCRY.
END QUOTE.
THAT IS WHY THIS RESOLUTION IS
BEING PUT FORWARD.
AND WHAT STARBUCKS IS DOING IN
MEMPHIS, ESPECIALLY OUTRAGEOUS.
STARBUCKS BARISTAS IN MEMPHIS
DEMANDED UNION RECOGNITION ON
MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY, MLK DAY,
THIS YEAR, NOTING THAT MLK WAS
ASSASSINATED WHILE SUPPORTING
STRIKING MEMPHIS SANITATION
WORKERS.
THE FORMER STORE MANAGER AT THE
STARBUCKS THERE SAYS SHE HAD TO
QUIT HER JOB BECAUSE SHE WAS
ORDERED TO LIE ABOUT UNION
ORGANIZERS AND HER CONSCIENCE
WOULD NOT ALLOW IT.
WE LEARNED THAT STARBUCKS HAS
FIRED THE ENTIRE ORGANIZING
COMMITTEE.
WE NEED WALKOUTS AND SOLIDARITY
RALLIES IN CITIES ACROSS THE
NATION, INCLUDING SEATTLE, TO
DEMAND THAT STARBUCKS EXECUTIVES
GIVE THE FIRED MEMPHIS WORKERS
THEIR JOBS BACK.
HERE IN SEATTLE, BARISTAS AT
THREE LOCATIONS HAVE BEGUN
ORGANIZING DRIVES ACROSS THE
COUNTRY, OVER 60 LOCATIONS HAVE
BEEN ORGANIZING SINCE DECEMBER.
TWO WEEKS AGO, I JOINED
STARBUCKS WORKERS FOR AN
IMPORTANT RALLY ON CAPITOL HILL,
WHICH MY OFFICE COHOSTED WITH
STARBUCKS WORKERS UNITED, THE
UNION THAT THE WORKERS ARE
UNIONIZING WITH, AND LOCAL
UNIONS, CW 7800, THE BOOK
WORKERS UNION, AND MEMBERS FROM
MANY OTHER UNIONS, AROUND 200,
JOINING US DESPITE THE COLD AND
RAINY WEATHER.
WE JUST HEARD FROM PARK OF UAW
4121 IN PUBLIC COMMENT TODAY.
OVER 800 COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE
EMAILED THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL
URGING A YES VOTE ON THIS
RESOLUTION.
I JOIN THEM IN URGING
COUNCILMEMBERS TO VOTE YES
WITHOUT WATERING IT DOWN.
THANK YOU, AND I WILL, OF
COURSE, HAVE COMMENTS LATER.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT.
SO WITH THAT, COLLEAGUES, ARE
THERE ANY OF OUR COLLEAGUES HERE
WHO WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE
RESOLUTION?
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
I AM DELIGHTED TO SUPPORT THIS
RESOLUTION TODAY AND ALSO TO
OFFER ONE FRIENDLY AMENDMENT TO
THE RESOLUTION THAT'S BEEN
DISCUSSED WITH THE COUNCIL
ALREADY.
THE AMENDMENT I'M HAPPY TO SPEAK
TO, MADAME PRESIDENT, IF YOU'D
LIKE ME TO FIRST MOVE IT.
>> YES.
>> OKAY, COLLEAGUES I MOVE TO
AMEND RESOLUTION 32041 AS
PRESENTED ON AMENDMENT ONE ON
THE AGENDA.
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU.
SHALL I PROCEED, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT?
>> YES, IT'S BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED.
GO AHEAD, COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
COLLEAGUES, I WANT TO JUST ADD
TO THE COMMENTS FROM THE PRIME
SPONSOR HERE TODAY AND BOTH OUR
EXCITEMENT ABOUT THIS RESOLUTION
AND OUR CALL TO ACTION HERE IN
OUR CITY AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY
FROM STARBUCKS WORKERS,
PARTNERS, MEMBERS OF THE LABOR
MOVEMENT AND THE COMMUNITY AT
LARGE.
I'M PROUD TO STAND IN SOLIDARITY
WITH FOLKS WHO ARE CALLING FOR
THIS RESOLUTION, BUT MORE
IMPORTANTLY, THE CALL FOR
UNIONIZATION ACROSS STORES
ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
IN ABOUT HALF OF THE STATES IN
THIS COUNTRY, INCLUDING THOSE
RIGHT HERE IN SEATTLE, WORKERS
ARE FIGHTING FOR BETTER WAGES,
STAFFING, TRAINING, AND
BENEFITS.
WHILE THIS FIGHT IS GAINING
MOMENTUM IN HARD TO ORGANIZE
AREAS LIKE ORGANIZING SHOP BY
SHOP, THE FIGHT ISN'T NEW TO US.
I'M PROUD TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT
THIS RESOLUTION HERE TODAY IN
OUR CITY AND IN OUR STATE, IN A
STATE WITH THOUSANDS OF
STARBUCKS WORKERS AND PARTNERS
IN AN INDUSTRY AFFILIATED WITH
THE EFFORTS HERE TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE'RE FIGHTING FOR STRONGER
UNION PROTECTIONS.
FOLKS AT TEAMSTERS LOCAL 117,
UNITE HERE, AND THOSE WHO ARE
MEMBERS OF MLK LABOR ARE
SUPPORTIVE OF THIS RESOLUTION
AND EXCITED TO MAKE SURE WE ARE
RECOGNIZING THE EXISTING
STARBUCKS WORKERS IN STORES IN
OUR REGION AND STANDING IN
SOLIDARITY WITH THEIR SIBLINGS
ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND IN
SEATTLE WHO ARE FIGHTING FOR
MORE UNIONIZATION DIRECTLY WITH
THE LARGE CORPORATION AND TO
BRING MORE UNIONIZED MEMBERS
INTO THE LABOR MOVEMENT.
I WAS PROUD TO STAND WITH FAST
FOOD AND COFFEE WORKERS IN OUR
FIGHT FOR 15 IN 2013.
I WAS PROUD TO WORK WITH OVER
HALF A MILLION WORKERS WHEN I
WORKED WITH THE WASHINGTON STATE
LABOR COUNCIL AFL CIO FOR ABOUT
EIGHT YEARS PRIOR TO JOINING
COUNCIL, AND I'M PROUD TO STAND
WITH MLK LABOR AS WE FIGHT TO
EXPAND AND BROADEN LABOR
PROTECTIONS AND THE RIGHT TO
ORGANIZE.
AS THIS AMENDMENT NOTES, MEMBERS
OF THE LABOR -- EXCUSE ME, AS
THIS RESOLUTION NOTES, AND AS
THE SPONSOR HAS NOTED AS WELL,
MEMBERS OF LABOR HAVE GROWN
WITHIN WASHINGTON STATE.
THE STAND, WHICH IS THE
STATEWIDE PUBLICATION THAT AFL
CIO PUTS OUT THROUGH THE
WASHINGTON STATE LABOR COUNCIL,
THEY NOTED THAT 72,000 MORE
MEMBERS HAVE JOINED UNION RANK
AND FILE PARTICIPATION WITHIN
UNIONS IN WASHINGTON STATE, AND
NOW WASHINGTON STATE RANKS THIRD
IN UNION MEMBERSHIP IN THE
ENTIRE COUNTRY.
JUST THIS MORNING WE SAW THAT
THE NUMBER OF STORES THAT ARE
UNIONIZING IN NOW 20 STATES AND
68 STORES, THAT NUMBER WAS JUST
UPDATED TO SEVEN YEARS AGO,
INDICATING THE SUPPORT FOR THIS
UNIONIZING EFFORT.
I BRING FORWARD THIS AMENDMENT
TO SHOW THE STRENGTH IN NUMBERS
WITH EXISTING MEMBERSHIPS AND
THOSE WELCOMED INTO THE FOLD BY
THIS UNIONIZING EFFORT ACROSS
THE COUNTRY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA.
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT IS THE
PRIME SPONSOR OF THE BASE
LEGISLATION.
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA JUST
INTRODUCED AN AMENDMENT.
SO RIGHT NOW WHAT WE'RE GOING TO
DO, IS THERE ANY COMMENTS TO THE
AMENDMENT AT THIS TIME?
OKAY, NOT SEEING ANY COMMENTS OR
RAISED HANDS, WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE
ADOPTION OF AMENDMENT NUMBER
ONE?
>> SAWANT?
>> YES.
>> STRAUSS?
>> YES.
>> LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> MORALES?
MOSQUEDA?
>> YES.
>> THANK YOU.
>> AYE.
>> NELSON?
>> AYE.
>> PEDERSEN?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT JUAREZ?
>> AYE.
>> EIGHT IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU, THE MOTION
CARRIES.
THE AMENDMENT IS ADOPTED.
THE AMENDED RESOLUTION IS BEFORE
THE COUNCIL.
SO ARE FROM ANY FURTHER COMMENTS
ON THE AMENDED RESOLUTION BEFORE
WE GO FORWARD?
OKAY, NOT SEEING ANY.
SO I'M GOING TO GO --
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT JUAREZ, I
THOUGHT I COULD MAKE SOME
CLOSING REMARKS?
>> RIGHT --
>> AFTER THE COUNCILMEMBERS
SPEAK.
>> YEAH.
SO I'M SORRY, GO AHEAD.
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON, AND THEN
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN.
I'M SORRY, GO AHEAD.
CAN'T HEAR YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
I WAS ELECTED TO WORK WITH MY
COLLEAGUES ON THE ISSUES WE KNOW
ARE PRIORITIES FOR THE PEOPLE OF
SEATTLE -- HOMELESSNESS, POLICE
REFORM, PUBLIC SAFETY, HOUSING
AFFORDABILITY, BASIC SERVICES,
AND SO ON.
I WAS NOT ELECTED TO TAKE VOTES
ON ISSUES THAT FALL BEYOND THE
PURVIEW OF CITY BUSINESS.
AND I BELIEVED THAT A VOTE ON
RESOLUTION 32041 WOULD BE JUST
MERELY SYMBOLIC, BECAUSE THIS IS
AN EXTERNAL LABOR ISSUE.
AND WE HAVE NO AUTHORITY OVER
STARBUCKS OR THEIR EMPLOYEES.
AND WE HAVE A LABOR MOVEMENT FOR
THAT.
AND LET ME BE CLEAR, I AM
PRO-LABOR.
I SUPPORT WORKER'S RIGHTS TO
UNIONIZE, AND I OPPOSE UNION
BUSTING, OR I WOULD NOT HAVE
RECEIVED SUPPORT OF THE SEATTLE
FIREFIGHTERS, THE BUILDING AND
CONSTRUCTION TRADES COUNCIL AND
ITS AFFILIATES, BUT WE HAVE TO
STAY IN OUR LANE AND SPEND OUR
TIME AND ENERGY DOING THINGS WE
KNOW WE WILL DIRECTLY HELP THE
PEOPLE AND THE WORKERS OF
SEATTLE.
FOR EXAMPLE, BUILD MORE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND WORK
FORCE HOUSING, CREATE MORE
CAREER PATHWAYS FOR OUR YOUNG
PEOPLE, FIX OUR ROADS AND
BRIDGES THAT ARE WORKERS USE TO
TRAVEL ON TO GET TO THEIR JOBS,
AND ALSO ELIMINATE THE VIOLENCE
AND THREATS AGAINST OUR
FRONTLINE WORKERS WHO ARE
VICTIMIZED BY ESCALATING CRIME
AT THEIR WORKPLACES.
AND THAT WILL BE THE TOPIC OF MY
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
MEETING TOMORROW MORNING.
SO THIS RESOLUTION, I BELIEVE,
IS A DISTRACTION FROM THAT KIND
OF WORK.
NOW, I UNDERSTAND THAT PRESIDENT
JUAREZ DOESN'T WANT TO BE THE
GATE KEEPER ON WHAT COUNTS AS
MATERIAL CITY BUSINESS, AND I DO
RESPECT THAT COUNCIL HAS ADOPTED
RESOLUTIONS LIKE THIS IN THE
PAST.
BUT PERSONALLY, I WOULD LIKE TO
SEE COUNCIL CONDUCT ITS BUSINESS
A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY GOING
FORWARD.
BECAUSE I WAS ELECTED BY PEOPLE
WHO WANT TO SEE PROGRESS ON OUR
MAJOR ISSUES.
AND I MADE A PROMISE TO FOCUS ON
DOING THAT.
SO I CAN'T VOTE YES ON THIS.
MY VOTE MATTERS TO ME, AND I
JUST DON'T WANT TO START MY TERM
WITH A SYMBOLIC VOTE ON MY
RECORD.
BUT I ALSO DON'T WANT TO HAVE A
VOTE THAT COULD BE MISUNDERSTOOD
AS ANTI-WORKER ON MY RECORD, SO
I AM GOING TO JUST WITHHOLD MY
VOTE ON THIS RESOLUTION.
>> OKAY.
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN?
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT,
COLLEAGUES.
IN HOPES OF INCREASING THE
PRODUCTIVITY AND FOCUS ON THE
CITY COUNCIL, WE RECENTLY
UPDATED OUR PARLIAMENTARY
PROCEDURES AND RULES TO PROVIDE
COUNCILMEMBERS WITH THE OPTION
TO ABSTAIN FROM CERTAIN
RESOLUTIONS RATHER THAN TAKING
TIME AWAY FROM THE CORE
FUNCTIONS OF CITY GOVERNMENT
WORK.
WE KNOW IT TAKES PRECIOUS TIME
TO THOROUGHLY REVIEW ISSUES
OUTSIDE OF CITY GOVERNMENT.
TODAY IS THE FIRST TEST OF THIS
NEW RULE, AND I SUSPECT WE MIGHT
WANT TO FURTHER REFINE THIS RULE
BY MAKING IT MORE CLEAR.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING
WITH OUR COUNCIL PRESIDENT AND
COLLEAGUES TO REFINE IT AGAIN.
AS THE CO-AUTHOR OF THAT
AMENDMENT, I BELIEVE THIS
RESOLUTION BEFORE US TODAY IS
THE KIND OF RESOLUTION ON WHICH
COUNCILMEMBERS WOULD IDEALLY BE
FREE TO ABSTAIN.
THIS RESOLUTION DOES NOT PROVIDE
POLICY GUIDANCE TO CITY
DEPARTMENTS, THE RESOLUTION DOES
NOT EXPRESS COUNCIL'S PRIORITIES
ON ITS $6.6 BILLION BUDGET.
THE RESOLUTION IS NOT REQUIRED
BY THEIR CITY OR STATE LAWS.
INSTEAD, THE RESOLUTION IS AN
IMPORTANT STATEMENT IN SUPPORT
OR OPPOSITION TO THE ACTIONS OF
PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS, EXTERNAL
TO CITY GOVERNMENT.
WE IN THE CITY COUNCIL HAVE NO
FORMAL ROLE IN THESE ACTIONS.
MOREOVER, THIS RESOLUTION HAS
NOT BEEN LOOKED OVER.
THIS RESOLUTION REGARDING
STARBUCKS ADDRESSES AN IMPORTANT
ISSUE, AND I THINK WE ALL AGREE
THERE ARE SO MANY IMPORTANT
ISSUES ACROSS THE NATION AND
AROUND THE GLOBE THAT ARE WORTHY
OF COMMENT.
AT THE SAME TIME, CITY HALL HAS
A BACKLOG OF CITY GOVERNMENT
PRIORITIES IMPACTING OUR
DISTRICTS AND ALL OF SEATTLE,
WHICH I BELIEVE SHOULD BE
COMMANDING OUR FULL ATTENTION,
SUCH AS THE NEED TO WORK WITH
OUR NEW MAYOR TO REDUCE CRIME
AND HOMELESSNESS.
THOSE ISSUES ALSO IMPACT
FRONTLINE WORKERS.
THAT'S WHY I'M IN MY DISTRICT
RIGHT NOW.
I ABSOLUTELY SUPPORT THE RIGHT
OF WORKERS TO ORGANIZE.
IT'S ALREADY WELL KNOWN THIS
CITY COUNCIL STRONGLY SUPPORTS
LABOR, BUT WHAT'S NOT WELL
KNOWN, AND WHAT'S NOT GETTING
ENOUGH ATTENTION, ARE OUR OERTS
TO REDUCE CRIME AND TO REDUCE
HOMELESSNESS AND DEAL WITH THE
SCORES OF OTHER PRIORITIES AND
RESPONSIBILITIES GIVEN TO US BY
OUR CITY CHARTER, AND UPON WHICH
I BELIEVE WE SHOULD BE FOCUSSING
OUR TIME AND LEGISLATIVE
SCHEDULES.
IN ADDITION TO USING THIS
OPPORTUNITY TO SIMPLY STATE MY
STRONG SUPPORT FOR WORKERS, I
WANT TO ENFORCE MY STRONG
SUPPORT FOR HAVING CITY HALL GET
BACK TO THE WORK OF REDUCING
CRIME, HOMELESSNESS, MONITORING
OUR CITY'S $6.6 BILLION BUDGET,
AND ADDRESSING THE MANY OTHER
PROBLEMS LEFT UNSOLVED BY OUR
CITY.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN.
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA, IS THAT
A NEW HAND OR AN OLD HAND?
>> IT IS A NEW HAND, MADAME
PRESIDENT.
I'LL BE BRIEF BECAUSE I KNOW THE
SPONSOR IS LOOKING FORWARD TO
WRAPPING THIS UP.
I DO FEEL COMPELLED TO SAY THAT
THIS IS AN IMPORTANT RESOLUTION.
THIS IS OUR LANE.
THIS IS PART OF OUR JOB
RESPONSIBILITIES.
AND I THINK AS NOTED WITH THE
HEADQUARTERS BEING WITHIN
SEATTLE, THIS IS AN IMPORTANT
OPPORTUNITY FOR US AT THE
NATIONAL LEVEL TO SHOW
SOLIDARITY WITH WORKERS ACROSS
OUR REGION AND OUR COUNTRY.
I DON'T THINK THERE IS REALLY
ANOTHER POINT IN RECENT HISTORY
THAT WE CAN POINT TO THAT SHOWS
HOW IMPORTANT UNIONIZING IS FOR
FRONTLINE WORKERS.
THEIR HEALTH AND SAFETY IS
CONSTANTLY ON THE LINE.
AS ALREADY NOTED, THEIR HEALTH
AND WELL BEING ALONG WITH THEIR
LIVELIHOOD IS ON THE LINE WHEN
THEY ORGANIZE.
THE SPONSOR NOTED THE FIRINGS
THAT JUST HAPPENED THIS MORNING
IN MEMPHIS, LEAVING PEOPLE
WITHOUT JOBS AND A PAYCHECK FOR
SIMPLY SPEAKING UP ON -- AT THE
WORKPLACE, WHICH IS A RIGHT THAT
ALL WORKERS SHOULD HAVE.
EARLIER THIS WEEK, AS NOTED IN
THE STAND AS WELL AS IN THIS
MORNING'S PUBLICATION, THEY
NOTED THAT A MAN OPENED FIRE IN
A FRED MEYER STORE IN WASHINGTON
STATE HERE.
AND OFTEN FRED MEYERS HAVE
STARBUCKS WITHIN THEM AS WELL.
I THINK THAT AS WE SEEK TO SEND
A MESSAGE OF SOLIDARITY WITH
WORKERS WHO SHOULD HAVE THE
RIGHT TO SPEAK UP AND UNIONIZE
IN EVERY WORKPLACE, THIS IS JUST
AS MUCH PART OF OUR
RESPONSIBILITY AS IT IS
RESPONDING TO HOUSING NEEDS
ACROSS OUR CITY, INCREASING
HOMELESSNESS, WORKER
PROTECTIONS, AND EXPANDING
PROTECTIONS FOR WORKING
CONDITIONS IN ALL INDUSTRIES.
THIS ABSOLUTELY IS WITHIN OUR
LANE, AND PEOPLE GETTING FIRED
FOR ORGANIZING, PEOPLE SPEAKING
UP AND FACING REPERCUSSIONS AND
RETALIATION, THAT IS BAD FOR THE
HEALTH AND SAFETY OF THAT
WORKER.
IT IS ALSO BAD FOR THE HEALTH
AND SAFETY OF OUR LOCAL ECONOMY.
IF WE CARE ABOUT A FUNCTIONING
ECONOMY AND A MORE QUICK AND
SWIFT RECOVERY AND MORE
EQUITABLE RECOVERY, THAT IS
CENTERED ON PEOPLE HAVING THE
RIGHT TO SPEAK UP IN THE
WORKPLACE AND HAVE GOOD LIVING
WAGE JOBS AND ACCESS TO
UNIONIZATION AND REPRESENTATION.
AGAIN, I WILL CONCLUDE MY
COMMENTS AND LOOK FORWARD TO
VOTING.
BUT I WANT TO CORRECT THE
NARRATIVE ON THIS, BECAUSE I
THINK THIS IS PART OF OUR EFFORT
TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE CAN
STAY STABLY HOUSED, THAT FEWER
PEOPLE FALL INTO HOMELESSNESS,
WE SEE FEWER PEOPLE DEALING WITH
STRESS AND CRISES BECAUSE
THEY'VE LOST THEIR JOB OR ARE
FACING INTIMIDATION IN THE
WORKPLACE.
I LOOK FORWARD TO ONGOING
EFFORTS AMONG THIS COUNCIL AND
WITH OUR COLLEAGUES ACROSS THE
REGION TO SEND A STRONG MESSAGE
OF SUPPORT FOR THOSE ORGANIZING
WITHIN STARBUCKS STORES AND TO
SUPPORT THOSE WHO ARE CURRENT
STARBUCKS EMPLOYEES WHO ARE
REPRESENTED WITH TEAMSTERS 117,
MLK LABOR, AND UNITE CARE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
AGAIN, STRONGLY SUPPORTIVE OF
THIS, AND THANKS FOR THE TIME,
COUNCIL PRESIDEN.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS?
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
I JUST WANTED TO SPEAK BRIEFLY
TO SOME COMPONENTS OF GENERALLY
RAISING WORKER STANDARDS BEING
VERY RESPONSIVE TO SOME OF THE
WORK THAT THIS COUNCIL IS DOING
ON HOMELESSNESS.
WE SAW A SURVEY EARLIER THIS
YEAR, MAYBE IT WAS TOWARDS THE
END OF LAST YEAR, OF KROGER
EMPLOYEES, FRONTLINE KROGER
WORKERS, WERE ABOUT 14% REPORTED
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, AND
38% REPORTED EXPERIENCING
EXTREME ECONOMIC INSECURITY,
SOME OF WHICH PUTTING THEM AT
HIGHER RISK OF HOMELESSNESS.
AND INDEED, IN A LOT OF CASES,
PUTTING THEM ON THE CASE LOAD
FOR A LOT OF THE PROGRAMS THIS
COUNCIL HAS BEEN FUNDING.
I THINK THAT THERE'S A PARALLEL
RELATIONSHIP TO DISCUSSIONS
AROUND HAZARD PAY MANDATES AND
INSUFFICIENT WORKING STANDARDS
FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE IN SERVICE
FRONTLINE INDUSTRIES.
AND I DO THINK IT AFFECTS OUR
WORK WHEN WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE
DOING IMPORTANT SERVICE SECTOR
WORK OR IMPORTANT WORK IN OUR
ECONOMY THAT SINCE THE 1980s,
THE TREND OF FIGHTING AGAINST
UNIONIZATION HAS LED TO A
DECREASE IN BENEFITS, A DECREASE
IN PAY, WHICH IN TURN HAS
DRAMATICALLY INCREASED CASE
LOAD, PRESSURE ON GOVERNMENT TO
STEP UP AND TRY TO FILL THAT
VOID.
AND YOU KNOW, WE DON'T OFTEN
TALK A LOT ABOUT THE FOLKS WHO
ARE WORKING POOR WHO FALL WITHIN
HOMELESSNESS.
LIKE WE TEND TO FOCUS A LOT MORE
TALKING ABOUT CHRONICALLY
HOMELESS INDIVIDUAL THAT IS TEND
TO POSE SOME OF THE BIGGER
PUBLIC POLICY CHALLENGES AROUND
ADDICTION, BEHAVIORAL MENTAL
HEALTH, AND IN SOME CASES, LOW
LEVEL PROPERTY CRIME AND
PROLIFIC OFFENSES.
BUT YOU KNOW, THE REALITY IS,
AND I THINK COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS HAS TALK ABOUT THIS
EXTENSIVELY, WE HAVE A LOT OF
PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING IN
SERVICE LEVEL JOBS, RETAIL JOBS,
AS BARISTAS OR IN OTHER KIND OF
FRONTLINE EMPLOYMENT WHO ARE
LIVING IN ENCAMPMENTS, WHO ARE
LIVING IN VEHICLES, AND ARE
CREATING AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE
FOLKS CAN SHIELD AND HIDE
CRIMINAL ACTIVITY IN SOME OF
THOSE ENCAMPMENTS, IN AND
AMONGST THE BIGGER SUPPLY OF
PEOPLE EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS.
ALL OF THIS FITS TOGETHER INTO
THE WORK WE'RE DOING ON
HOMELESSNESS.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT WE LOOK
AT RAISING LABOR STANDARDS AS AN
IMPORTANT ELEMENT OF OUR
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WORK, WHICH
INCLUDES THE PROLIFERATION OF
UNION ORGANIZING AND ALLOWING
MORE WORKERS.
AND UNDER THIS RESOLUTION, YOU
KNOW, IT'S REALLY JUST SAYING
LET WORKERS HAVE A FAIR SHOT AT
DEMOCRATICALLY TRYING TO
ORGANIZE AS THEIR ENTITLED TO
UNDER FEDERAL LAW.
AND HAVING THE CITY OF SEATTLE
BE SUPPORTIVE OF THOSE EFFORTS,
BECAUSE IT DOES HELP DOWN THE
ROAD FOR OUR CASE LOAD.
IT HELPS DOWN THE ROAD FOR OUR
EFFORTS TO COMBAT HOMELESSNESS
IF WE HAVE MORE PEOPLE WHO ARE
ABLE TO HAVE BETTER STANDARDS
THROUGH BETTER JOBS AND NOT
FALLING ON THE CASE LOAD OF
PUBLIC SUPPORT AND PUBLIC
SUBSIDY.
SO FOR THOSE REASONS, I WILL BE
VOTING FOR THE RESOLUTION TODAY
AND DO THINK THIS IS IMPORTANT
NATIONAL CONVERSATION AND THAT
INCREASED UNIONIZATION IS A
CRITICAL COMPONENT OF THE WORK
TO RAISE WORKING STANDARDS
GENERALLY AND APPRECIATE OUR
ANALYZING PARTNERS, THE KING
COUNTY LABOR COUNCIL FROM
CALLING IN, AND THE WORK THEY'VE
BEEN DOING WITH US TO ADVANCE
THESE CRITICAL PRIORITIES.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS.
LET ME JUST MAKE A FEW COMMENTS
AND THEN COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT, I
WILL ALLOW YOU TO KIND OF CLOSE
OUT THE DISCUSSION.
SO I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT AS BEING THE PRIME
SPONSOR OF THIS, AND
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA FOR YOUR
AMENDMENT.
BUT I DO WANT TO ADDRESS WHAT
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON AND
PEDERSEN HAVE SAID.
AND I THINK IT UNDERSCORES WHY
WE HAVE THIS RULE ABOUT
EXTENSION, AND WHAT THAT MEANS
FOR VOTING NO.
THE RULE, AS YOU KNOW, WHICH WE
WILL BE REVISITING, REQUIRES THE
COUNCIL PRESIDENT AT THEIR
DISCRETION TO LOOK AT WHAT IS
MATERIAL.
AS I SHARED BEFORE, I WILL
ALWAYS ERR ON THE SIDE OF THINGS
BEING MATERIAL, BECAUSE THEY
WILL TOUCH ON THAT.
I DON'T WANT TO BE THE GATE
KEEPER OF THAT.
I I WILL DISAGREE A LITTLE WITH
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
I DON'T THINK THERE'S A
DIFFERENT NARRATIVE, I THINK WE
HAVE DIFFERENT OPINIONS.
AS COLLEAGUES, WE CAN AGREE TO
DISAGREE.
I HOPE THAT THE VIEWING PUBLIC
AND MY COLLEAGUES DON'T SEE
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON AND
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN IN THE
WORDS THAT THEY SAY ABOUT WHY
THEY WOULD NOT BE SUPPORTING
THIS RESOLUTION THAT MAKES THEM
ANTI-LABOR.
I THINK IT'S PRETTY CLEAR, AND I
THINK THE VOTES WERE ALWAYS
THERE, AT LEAST THE MAJORITY,
THAT THIS IS A LABOR TOWN, AND
OF COURSE WE SUPPORT LABOR.
THAT'S PRETTY MUCH WHAT WE DO.
WHETHER YOU CALL YOURSELF A
SOCIALIST ALTERNATIVE A DEMOCRAT
A PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRAT, OR
WHATEVER NAME PEOPLE WANT TO
HANG AROUND THEIR NECK.
SO FOR TODAY I DO WANT TO SHARE
THAT WE DO WANT TO REVISIT WHAT
IT MEANS TO ABSTAIN.
I THINK THE ABSTENTION TOOL IS
IMPORTANT.
WE DON'T HAVE IT IN PLACE NOW,
BUT THAT WILL BE IN MY COMMITTEE
PROBABLY IN A MONTH.
AND I ALSO WANT TO SHARE THAT I
ALWAYS APPRECIATE THAT
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT BRINGS
THESE ISSUES TO OUR ATTENTION.
AND WE SHOULD ALSO POINT OUT FOR
THE VIEWING PUBLIC THAT
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT'S
RESOLUTION CAME FROM
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
IT DID NOT COME FROM CENTRAL
STAFF, THOUGH CENTRAL STAFF IS
THERE TO PROVIDE AND ASSIST US
WITH AMENDMENTS, PUBLIC
RESOURCES WERE NOT USED TO DRAFT
THIS.
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT AND HER
STAFF DID THIS IN CONJUNCTION
WITH SOME OF HER COLLEAGUES.
AND I APPRECIATE THAT, BECAUSE
THAT'S THE KIND OF WORK WE
SHOULD BE DOING.
WHETHER WE AGREE OR DISAGREE.
SO I'M HOPING GOING FORWARD, AT
LEAST FOR ME ANYWAY IN THE NEXT
TWO YEARS, THAT WE CAN ALL AGREE
TO DISAGREE, THAT THERE ISN'T A
RIGHT OR WRONG, THAT WE CAN ALL
RESPECT EACH OTHER'S OPINION,
AND THAT WE REVISIT THE
ABSTENTION TOOL, BECAUSE I DO
BELIEVE THAT COUNCILMEMBERS
SHOULD HAVE THE TOOL ON
RESOLUTIONS TO ABSTAIN.
AND I'M HOPING THAT THE VIEWING
PUBLIC SEES THAT NOT AS AN TI OR
AGAINST OR REPUNITIVE.
THEY TOOK THE TIME TO EXPLAIN
THEIR VOTE.
THAT'S WHAT I APPRECIATE, WHEN
PEOPLE TAKE THE TIME TO EXPLAIN
THEIR VOTE.
I KNOW THAT COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT
IN THE PASS HAS OFTEN ASKED HER
COLLEAGUES EXPLAIN THEIR VOTE,
AND SO I WANT TO THANK
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN AND
NELSON FOR DOING THAT.
SO WITH THAT, COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT, I WILL LET YOU CLOSE US
OUT ON THIS DISCUSSION, AND THEN
WE WILL GO TO A VOTE ON THE
AMENDED RESOLUTION.
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT?
>> THANK YOU.
I CERTAINLY AGREE WITH COUNCIL
PRESIDENT JUAREZ THAT ALL
ELECTED OFFICIALS SHOULD BE
OPEN.
AND I APPRECIATE COUNCILMEMBERS
WEIGHING IN ON WHY THEY ARE
GOING TO VOTE NO OR STAY OUT.
I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE HOW THAT
WORKS, BUT I DON'T AGREE THAT
THERE ISN'T A RIGHT AND WRONG.
THERE IS A RIGHT AND WRONG, BUT
THAT RIGHT AND WRONG DEPENDS ON
WHICH SIDE YOU'RE ON.
BECAUSE IN THE CONTEXT OF A
DEEPLY DIVIDED SYSTEM LIKE
CAPITALISM WHERE THE
OVERWHELMING AMOUNT OF WEALTH
AND POWER RESIDES IN THE HANDS
OF A FEW BILLIONAIRES AND THE
CORPORATE EXECUTIVES AND THE
POLITICAL ESTABLISHMENT AND THE
CORPORATE MEDIA THAT SERVE THEM
AND THE OVERWHELMING WORK LABOR
IS BEING DONE BY TENS OF
MILLIONS, HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS,
BILLIONS OF WORKER WHO IS SEE
LITTLE TO NOTHING OF THE FRUITS
OF THAT LABOR.
POLITICAL FIGURES CAN NOT BE
NEUTRAL IN THE FACE OF THIS
DEEP, DEEP INEQUALITY.
THIS IS THE HEADQUARTERS OF
STARBUCKS.
HUNDREDS OF STARBUCKS WORKER,
THOUSANDS MAYBE, I HAVE NOT
COUNTED.
IT WOULD BE GREAT TO KNOW HOW
MANY.
THOUSANDS OF COFFEE SHOP
WORKERS, TENS OF THOUSANDS OF
WORKERS IN THE FAST FOOD
INDUSTRY, THIS IS VERY MUCH CITY
BUSINESS.
YOU CANNOT SAY -- IF YOU'RE AN
ELECTED OFFICIAL, YOU CANNOT SAY
YOU'RE PRO-LABOR AND THEN VOTE
NO OR WITHHOLD YOUR VOTE ON THIS
RESOLUTION.
YOU HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO SAY
THAT, BUT MY MESSAGE IS TO
WORKING CLASS PEOPLE IN SEATTLE,
DO NOT BUY THAT.
THAT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE.
IF YOU SAY YOU'RE PRO-LABOR, YOU
HAVE TO VOTE YES ON A SITUATION
LIKE THIS.
IT'S NOT A NEUTRAL SITUATION.
IF SEATTLE IS A LABOR TOWN, IT'S
ONLY BECAUSE RANK AND FILE
WORKERS FIGHT FOR WHAT'S JUST
AND RIGHT, FIGHT BECAUSE THERE'S
A HISTORY OF FIGHTERS IN THE
LABOR MOVEMENT, AND THE WAY WE
FOUGHT FOR THE $15 MINIMUM WAGE,
THE AMAZON TAX.
WORKERS ARE THE REASON WE HAVE
WON THIS, AND YES, SOCIALISTS
ALSO.
YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT CITY
BUSINESS?
THE AMAZON TAX THAT OUR MOVEMENT
FOUGHT FOR IN THE MIDDLE OF THE
BLACK LIVES MATTER MOVEMENT WITH
PHENOMENAL SUPPORT FROM THE
BLACK COMMUNITY AND ALL WORKING
CLASS PEOPLE.
WE WON THAT IN 2020 BECAUSE OF
THE GRASSROOTS TAX AMAZON
MOVEMENT.
THAT WAS CITY BUSINESS, THAT
CAME FOR A VOTE.
PEDERSEN AND JUAREZ VOTED NO.
ANOTHER CITY BUSINESS ITEM LAST
DECEMBER, THAT WAS THE VOTE TO
END THE HAZARD PAY $4 AN HOUR
HAZARD PAY FOR GROCERY WORKERS,
OUR HARDWORKING FRONTLINE
WORKERS.
ALL THE COUNCILMEMBERS IN OFFICE
LAST YEAR, DEMOCRATS IN OFFICE
LAST YEAR, VOTED IN DECEMBER IN
AN ATTEMPT TO END THAT $4 AN
HOUR HAZARD PAY.
NOW, THAT PAY IS SURVIVING, BUT
NOT THANKS TO THE COUNCIL
DEMOCRATS.
SO ALL THESE EXAMPLES SHOW WHEN
COUNCILMEMBERS SAY IT'S NOT CITY
BUSINESS, THEY MEAN IT'S CITY
BUSINESS, BUT THEY'RE NOT ON THE
SIDE YOU WANT THEM TO BE ON.
ALL OF THOSE VOTES WERE ON CITY
BUSINESS.
THE AMAZON TAX WAS ABOUT
HOMELESSNESS AND BUILDING
AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BUT YOU
STILL VOTED NO ON IT.
I'M NOT SURE HOW YOU CAN SAY
YOU'RE PRO-LABOR OR YOU'RE
VOTING NO OR STAYING OUT OF IT.
IN THE 1930s AND '40s A
UNIONIZATION DRIVE OF MILLIONS
SWEPT THE UNITED STATES.
MILLIONS OF AUTO WORKERS
OCCUPIED THEIR FACTORIES,
LOCKING OUT THE BOSSES UNTIL THE
UNION WAS RECOGNIZED.
STRIKES INVOLVING WHOLE CITIES
WERE ORGANIZED, LED BY
SOCIALISTS IN MINNEAPOLIS, SAN
FRANCISCO, AND TOLEDO.
THAT WAVE OF ORGANIZING LED TO
NEW UNIONS BEING FORMED INTO THE
CONGRESS OF INDUSTRIAL
ORGANIZATIONS, THE CIO, AND TENS
OF MILLIONS OF AMERICAN WORKERS
WINNING UNPRES DEBBED LIVING
IMPROVEMENTS.
MANY OF THOSE FIGHTING TACTICS
HAVE BEEN FORGOTTEN, WHICH HAS
LED TO A DECLINE IN THE LABOR
MOVEMENT.
YOU CAN SEE THE POLITICAL
OUTCOMES FROM HAVING POLITICAL
ESTABLISHMENT POLITICIANS, IT'S
A REMINDER WE NEED THE FIGHTING
TACTICS BACK.
STARBUCKS UNION BUSTING IS A
REMINDER WHY WE NEED A FIGHTING
STRATEGY.
STARBUCKS HAS NEARLY 9,000
STORES, NEARLY 11,000 IF YOU
INCLUDE STORE LOCATIONS.
$29 BILLION IN REVENUE LAST
YEAR.
IF STARBUCKS WORKERS SUCCEED, IT
WILL BE UNPRECEDENTED IN THE
FAST FOOD INDUSTRY, AND WILL BE
THE FIRST SUCCESSFUL UNION DRIVE
ON THIS GIANT SCALE IN THE
PRIVATE SECTOR IN DECADES.
THAT IS WHAT IS AT STAKE, AND
THAT IS WHY I AM PROUD TO HAVE
BROUGHT THIS RESOLUTION.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT JUAREZ, YOU
ARE RIGHT, WE WORKED ON THIS
RESOLUTION, MY STAFF AND I
WORKED ON IT ALONGSIDE STARBUCKS
WORKERS UNITED AND STARBUCKS
WORKERS THEMSELVES AND OTHER
SOCIALIST ALLIES IN THE LABOR
MOVEMENT.
LET'S UNDERSTAND WHAT IT WILL
TAKE TO RAPIDLY ORGANIZE AS MANY
STARBUCKS STORES AS POSSIBLE.
WORKERS WILL NEED -- WE CANNOT
HAVE ILLUSION THAT IS THE BOSSES
WILL BE ON OUR SIDE.
THEY WILL FIGHT FEROCIOUSLY
AGAINST US.
THE BOSSES WILL TELL WORKERS
THEY DON'T NEED A UNION, THEY
ARE PARTNERS IN THE COMPANY,
UNIONS JUST WANT YOUR DUES MONEY
AND DON'T DO ANYTHING.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A
PARTNER WITH A CEO WHO MAKES $20
MILLION WHILE YOU STRUGGLE TO
PAY THE RENT OR IF THEY CAN FIRE
YOU FOR TRYING TO UNIONIZE.
IF UNIONS ALLEGEDLY DON'T DO
ANYTHING, WHY IS STARBUCKS
TERRIFY OF THEM?
IN SEATTLE, OUR WORKING CLASS
MOVEMENT HAS BEATEN AMAZON AND
STARBUCKS AGAIN AND AGAIN, NOT
BY TRYING TO CONVINCE THE
EXECUTIVES TO BE KIND BUT BY
GETTING ORGANIZED AND FIGHTING
BACK.
THAT'S WHAT WE WILL NEED.
THAT IS WHY I'M PROPOSING THE
DAY OF A NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION
TO STARBUCKS WORKERS SO THAT WE
CAN HELP SPREAD THE UNION
MOVEMENT TO HUNDREDS OF STORES.
BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT IS NEEDED.
WE KNOW THE POWER AT THE
BARGAINING TABLE COMES FROM
POWER OUTSIDE.
SO WE NEED TO BE COORDINATED
NATIONWIDE AND MOST URGENTLY WE
NEED WALKOUTS AND SOLIDARITY
RALLIES IN CITIES ACROSS THE
NATION, INCLUDING SEATTLE, TO
DEMAND THAT STARBUCKS EXECUTIVES
GIVE THE FIRED MEMPHIS WORKERS
THEIR JOBS BACK.
AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO FIGHT FOR
THIS.
THIS IS NOT ONLY FOR THE MEMPHIS
WORKERS, THAT'S IMPORTANT IN
ITSELF, BUT IF WE DON'T FIGHT
BACK THIS TIME THEY WILL USE THE
FIRING TACTIC TO INTIMIDATE
WORKERS IN OTHER CITIES AS WELL.
WE HAVE TO PUSH BACK ON THIS.
WE KNOW IT'S ONLY WHEN THE
WORKING CLASS FIGHT THAT IS WE
CAN WIN.
THANKS TO STARBUCKS WORKERS IN
SEATTLE AND EVERYWHERE.
LET'S KEEP FIGHTING.
SOLIDARITY.
>> I SEE THAT COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS HAS HIS HAND UP AND THEN
WE'RE GOING CLOSE ARGUMENT OR
DISCUSSION ON THIS RESOLUTION.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ, I WASN'T GOING TO SPEAK
UP TODAY BECAUSE I THINK MY
COLLEAGUES SUMMARIZED MY POINTS
WELL.
I AM SUPPORTING UNION WORKERS
AND THE RIGHT TO UNIONIZATION.
I HAVE YET TO MISS A STRIKE LINE
WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS
WHO ARE STRIKING TO GET BETTER
WAGES AND PROTECTIONS.
POINT OF CLARIFICATION, POINT OF
ORDER, A NUMBER OF TIMES WE HAVE
BEEN -- OUR POLITICAL PARTY HAS
BEEN DISCUSSED, AND I WANTED TO
CLARIFY THIS IS, IN FACT, A
NONPARTISAN OFFICE.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
>> THANK YOU.
SO WITH THAT, I SEE
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA, I DID
NOT SEE, IS THAT A NEW -- A FEW
COMMENTS OR ARE YOU DONE?
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I KNOW YOU
WANTED TO CALL THE QUESTION,
LOOKING FORWARD TO VOTING FOR
THIS AS I ALREADY NOTED, BUT I
THINK IT'S IMPORTANT SINCE THE
TWO PIECES OF LEGISLATION THAT
WERE SPONSORED WERE CALLED INTO
QUESTION THAT WE CLARIFY,
ESPECIALLY THAT IT ACTUALLY
UNDERMINES THE EFFORT TO TRY TO
TEAR DOWN FOLKS WHO ARE WANTING
TO SUPPORT UNIONIZING EFFORTS
AND WANTING TO SUPPORT A BROADER
MOVEMENT FOR PROGRESSIVE VALUES
TO CONTINUE DOWN THIS LINE.
AS THE PRIME SPONSOR OF HAZARD
PAY OVER A YEAR AGO, THAT
LEGISLATION WENT INTO EFFECT
WORKING OVER A THREE-WEEK PERIOD
WITH GROCERY WORKERS TO MAKE
SURE THAT OUR CITY WAS THE FIRST
WASHINGTON STATE TO IMPLEMENT
HAZARD PAY FOR GROCERY WORKERS.
OUR CITY IS THE ONE WHO
CONTINUES TO HAVE THE LONGEST
HAZARD PAY ON THE BOOKS.
WE EXTENDED THAT FOUR TIMES.
IT WAS ALWAYS INTENDED TO BE
TEMPORARY.
AT THE PARTNERSHIP WITH THOSE
WORKING ON GETTING LONGER TERM
PROTECTIONS, THAT WAS KNOWN TO
BE A SHORT-TERM FIX AS WE WORKED
TO ADDRESS LONGER TERM HEALTH
AND SAFETY ISSUES.
AND AFTER FOUR TIMES OF HAVING
IT EXTENDED, WE SAID IF THERE
WAS CHANGES TO COVID THAT WE
WOULD REVISIT WHETHER OR NOT IT
NEEDED TO BE SUNSET.
AND BETWEEN THE PASSAGE OF THE
EXPIRATION OF THE HAZARD PAY AND
THE FOLLOWING WEEK, OMICRON
NUMBERS TICKED UP.
ALWAYS SAID THAT WE WOULD
CONTINUE TO LOOK AT THE DATA AND
IMPLEMENT IT IF NECESSARY.
SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
WE'RE CLEAR TODAY AS WE SUPPORT
WORKERS IN OUR CITY, IN OUR
REGION, ACROSS OUR COUNTRY, THAT
WE CONTINUE TO SHOW SOLIDARITY
FOR BROADER ORGANIZING EFFORTS
AND WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
ARE CLEAR ABOUT THE PAST,
ESPECIALLY ON THE BILLS THAT
I'VE PRIME SPONSORED WHERE WE'RE
CONTINUING TO BUILD
OPPORTUNITIES FOR FOLKS TO HAVE
GOOD LIVING WAGES, EXPAND
OPPORTUNITIES TO ORGANIZE, LIKE
THROUGH TODAY'S CALL FOR THIS
RESOLUTION, AND THAT WE STOP
WITH THE MISINFORMATION.
SO LOOKING FORBARD TO HAVING
THIS PASSED AND SUPPORTING THE
STARBUCKS WORKERS AND OUR
BROADER LABOR MOVEMENT WHICH HAS
BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF THE MOVEMENT
TODAY AND THE WORK LAST YEAR.
>> SO WE ARE GOING TO,
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT, WE ARE
GOING TO CLOSE THE DISCUSSION
NOW.
>> WELL, I'M THE PRIME SPONSOR
OF THE BILL, AND SO I DO WANT TO
RESPOND VERY BRIEFLY.
I'M ONLY GOING TO RESPOND BY
SAYING THAT WAS NOT
MISINFORMATION.
THAT WAS A FACT.
ALL OF THE DEMOCRATS WERE ON THE
COUNCIL LAST DECEMBER VOTED TO
END THE HAZARD PAY.
IT WAS MAYOR DURKAN WHO --
>> AND COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
>> CLERK, CAN YOU PLEASE MUTE
IT.
CLERK, PLEASE MUTE IT.
MUTE EVERYBODY.
SO ARE WE ALL GOING TO TAKE A
BREATH HERE?
OKAY.
MADAME CLERK, CAN WE GO BACK ON
THE RECORD.
LET US KNOW.
MADAME CLERK?
>> LET ME SEE IF I CAN GET THIS
UNMUTED.
THANK YOU.
>> I'M GOING TO MAKE A FEW
COMMENTS, AND WE'RE GOING TO GO
TO A VOTE.
TELL ME WHEN.
>> I BELIEVE WE SHOULD BE ABLE
TO UNMUTE OURSELVES NOW.
>> OKAY, GREAT.
SO CAN EVERYBODY HEAR ME?
OKAY, GOOD.
SO I DID THAT BECAUSE I DON'T
WANT THIS TO TURN INTO WHAT IT
JUST HAPPENED.
AGAIN, MEMBERS ARE REMINDED THAT
IT IS NEVER AN ORDER TO USE
INSULTS IN DEBATE.
IT IS -- MEMBERS WILL CONFINE
THEIR REMARKS TO THE MERITS OF
THE PENDING QUESTION, NOT USE
FORMER EXAMPLES OF HOW PEOPLE
MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE VOTED IN THE
PAST.
I AM GOING TO SHARE TWO THINGS.
I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT FOR THE MATERIAL AND THE
REZ LOUISES AND THE LEGISLATION
THAT HAS COME OUT OF HER OFFICE.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA FOR BRINGING FORWARD
HAZARD PAY AND JUMP START.
AND I DON'T WANT TO GO DOWN THIS
RABBIT HOLE AGAIN.
I'M JUST TRYING TO GET THIS
RESOLUTION PASSED, WHICH IS A
SIMPLE RESOLUTION REGARDING
STARBUCKS AND UNIONIZATION.
SO WITH THAT, WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE
ADOPTION OF THE RESOLUTION AS
AMENDED.
>> SAWANT?
>> YES.
>> STRAUSS?
>> YES.
>> LEWIS?
>> YES?
>> MORALES?
>> YES.
>> MOSQUEDA?
>> AYE.
>> NELSON?
PEDERSEN?
COUNCIL PRESIDENT JUAREZ?
>> AYE.
>> SIX IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU.
THE RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED, AND
THE CHAIR WILL SIGN IT.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION ON
MY BEHALF.
ALL RIGHT, LET'S FINISH THE
AGENDA HERE.
ITEM NUMBER TWO, I UNDERSTAND
IT'S COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ THE
ITEM INTO THE RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEM TWO, COUNCIL BILL
120264.
AN ORDINANCE RELATING TO
PERMITS IN PARKS, STATING A
MAXIMUM TERM FOR PERMITS IN
PARKS, CLARIFYING THE NATURE OF
PERMISSIBLE COMMERCIAL
ACTIVITIES IN PARKS, AND
AMENDING SECTIONS 18.12.030,
18.12.042, AND 18.12.160 OF THE
SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE.
THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS
THE BILL PASS.
>> THANK YOU, MADAME CLERK.
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS, IT'S ALL
YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, MADAME
PRESIDENT.
HOPEFULLY THIS CAN BE A
COMPARATIVELY BRIEF AGENDA ITEM.
COUNCIL BILL 120264 IS APTLY
DESCRIBED BY THE TITLE OF THE
LEGISLATION.
WE HEARD A GREAT PRESENTATION IN
COMMITTEE LAST WEEK FROM THE
PARKS DEPARTMENT ON THE NEED TO
HAVE A CLEARER REGIME TO DEFINE
WHAT COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY MIGHT
BE IN A PARK AND TO HAVE SOME
KIND OF SYSTEM TO REGULATE THE
EXTENT TO WHICH THERE CAN BE
ALLOWED COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY BOTH
IN TERMS OF THE TIME AND THE
SPACE THAT THAT TAKES UP IN A
PUBLIC PARK GOING FORWARD.
SO FOR THE FIRST TIME, THIS
LEGISLATION CREATE AS DEFINITION
OF WHAT IS CONSIDERED COMMERCIAL
ACTIVITY.
TO GIVE A COUPLE OF EXAMPLES OF
THE KINDS OF ACTIVITY PARKS HAS
IN MIND THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO
BE ABLE TO FACILITATE WITH SOME
LEVEL OF CONSIDERATION AND TO
DUALLY PERMIT WOULD BE SOMETHING
LIKE AN EXERCISE CLASS OR A YOGA
CLASS OR SOME KIND OF MILD FOOD
CONCESSION THAT MIGHT BE
SEASONAL.
SO SOME EXAMPLES THAT WERE GIVEN
WERE THE FOOD TRUCK PILOT FOR
PERMITTING IN WEST LAKE PARK,
WHICH HAS BEEN A FAIRLY COMMON
OCCURRENCE OVER THE LAST COUPLE
OF YEARS IN THE DOWNTOWN CORE
AND POTENTIALLY HAVING SERVICES
SIMILAR TO THAT ON A SEASONAL
BASIS IN OTHER PARKS AROUND THE
CITY.
THIS LEGISLATION WAS PASSED
UNANIMOUSLY OUT OF COMMITTEE
WITH FIVE COUNCILMEMBERS VOTING
IN FAVOR AND NONE OPPOSED.
AND I AM HAPPY TO MOVE THE
LEGISLATION.
>> IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> GREAT.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS
REGARDING COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS'
LEGISLATION?
OKAY, NOT SEEING OR HEARING
NONE, WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL
THE ROLL ON THE PASSAGE OF THE
BILL?
>> SAWANT?
>> YES.
>> STRAUSS?
>> YES.
>> LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> MORALES?
>> YES.
>> MOSQUEDA?
>> AYE.
>> NELSON?
>> AYE.
>> PEDERSEN?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT JUAREZ?
>> AYE.
>> EIGHT IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU.
BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO ADJOURNMENT
AND OTHER BUSINESSES, I HAVE A
FEW COMMENTS I WANT TO MAKE THEY
HAD BEEN HOPING THAT I WOULD NOT
HAVE TO MAKE AT THIS POINT, BUT
APPARENTLY IT LOOKS LIKE I DO.
MOVING FORWARD AS A POINT OF
ORDER, THIS COUNCIL PRESIDENT
WILL HAVE AN EXERCISE AND
HOPEFULLY YOU WILL ALL RECOGNIZE
MY, QUOTE,UNQUOTE, MY VIRTUAL
GAVEL, THAT I WILL MUTE US.
I AM GOING TO RELY ON OUR
COLLEAGUES TO ABIDE BY ALL
RULES, HOLD US ACCOUNTABLE TO
RULES, BEHAVIOR, AND COURTESY OF
DECOR RUM, CIVILITY, AND BASIC
KINDNESS.
THE MEMBERS ARE REMINDED THAT IT
IS NEVER AN ORDER TO MAKE
PERSONAL REMARKS OR ATTACKS.
THE MEMBERS ARE REMINDED THAT
COLLEAGUES WILL NOT ATTACK OR
QUESTION THE INTEGRITY OR
MOTIVES OF OTHER COLLEAGUES.
AND THE MEMBERS ARE REMINDED
THAT WE WILL NOT BE DISCOURTEOUS
TO EACH OTHER OR MAKE PERSONAL
AND INSULTING REMARKS.
I'M HOPING THAT GOING FORWARD AS
COUNCIL PRESIDENT THAT WE
INSTILL A SAFE PLACE, A KIND
PLACE SO THE REST OF THE CITY
CAN SEE THAT WE ARE A
FUNCTIONING COUNCIL THAT CAN
AGREE TO DISAGREE AND STILL MOVE
FORWARD FOR THIS GREAT CITY.
AGAIN, I WILL USE THE POINT OF
ORDER AND I WILL MUTE US IF
INDEED THIS COUNCIL PRESIDENT
FEELS THAT WE ARE NOT FOLLOWING
THOSE BASIC RULES OF DECENCY AND
DEBATE TO OUR COLLEAGUES.
SO WITH THAT, COLLEAGUES, THIS
CONCLUDES OUR ITEMS OF BUSINESS
TODAY.
OUR NEXT REGULARLY SCHEDULED
CITY COUNCIL MEETING IS ON
FEBRUARY 15th AT 2:00.
AND I HOPE YOU ALL HAVE A GREAT
AFTERNOON.
THANK YOU.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT?
>> YES?
>> SORRY, I DID HAVE A GO TO THE
ORDER ITEM, I APOLOGIZE.
JUST BRIEFLY, I WOULD LIKE TO
ASK TO BE EXCUSED FROM THE MARCH
22nd AND 29th COUNCIL MEETINGS.
>> TUESDAY TO THURSDAY, IS THAT
IT?
MARCH?
TWO TUESDAYS?
TWO TUESDAYS.
OKAY.
WELL, LET'S DO THIS THEN.
I DO NOT HAVE MY SCRIPT HERE, SO
I'M GOING TO HAVE TO DO IT FROM
MEMORY.
IT SEEM THAT IS COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS WOULD LIKE TO BE EXCUSED,
IS THERE ANY OPPOSITION OR
CONCERNS OR COMMENTS THAT YOU
WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH
MR. LEWIS OF WHY HE CANNOT BE
EXCUSED ON THOSE TWO TUESDAYS?
HEARING OR SEEING NONE, YOU ARE
INDEED EXCUSED, MR. LEWIS.
>> THANK YOU, MADAME PRESIDENT.
SORRY FOR JUST JUMPING IN THERE
AT THE END.
>> THAT'S ALL RIGHT.
THAT'S HOW I LIKE IT.
I HAVE NO PROBLEM BEING TOLD
WHEN I'M WRONG.
THANK YOU.