CITY OF SEATTLE
RESOLUTION __________________
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A RESOLUTION supporting Washington Initiative Measure 1433 and urging Seattle voters to vote “Yes” on Initiative 1433 on the November 8, 2016 general election ballot.
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WHEREAS, no one should have to choose between staying home to take care of themselves or a sick child or losing a paycheck; and
WHEREAS, ensuring all Washington workers have the ability to earn paid sick leave makes Seattle’s families healthier and its communities safer from dangerous and deadly disease outbreaks; and
WHEREAS, Initiative 1433 is projected to give more than 1 million workers the opportunity to earn paid sick and safe leave; and
WHEREAS, in 2011, the City of Seattle passed into law Ordinance 123698, which established minimum standards for the provision of paid sick and safe time; and
WHEREAS, the current Washington state minimum wage of $9.47 per hour makes it difficult to cover basic necessities like rent and groceries in any Washington county; and
WHEREAS, Initiative 1433 will raise the minimum wage to $13.50 per hour and is projected to add $600 to the pockets of more than 730,000 minimum wage workers in Washington every month, and when individuals and families earn more money, they have more money to spend, which boosts local economies, creates new good-paying jobs, and helps communities thrive; and
WHEREAS, raising the minimum wage for more than 730,000 Washington workers is projected to add nearly $2.5 billion to the state’s economy every year; and
WHEREAS, according to the U.S. Department of Labor, states that raised their minimum wages in 2014 saw faster job growth than states that left their wages stagnant, implying that Washington’s economy will be boosted by Initiative 1433; and
WHEREAS, in 2014, the City of Seattle passed into law Ordinance 124490, which established and phased-in higher wage and minimum compensation rates; and
WHEREAS, workers who are paid better and allowed to earn paid sick leave are happier, more productive, and less likely to leave their jobs, which saves businesses money through greater efficiency, less turnover, and decreased training and retention costs; and
WHEREAS, paid safe leave is critical for domestic violence survivors who need to be able to take care of themselves and their families, find a secure living situation, and go to court to take out a protection order without losing pay, and economic independence is one of the best predictors of whether someone is able to get out of an abusive relationship, as abusers often use finances to keep their victims from leaving; and
WHEREAS, the coalition of workers, community organizations, unions, faith leaders, and business owners who are working to pass Initiative 1433 collected more than 345,000 valid signatures of Washington voters in order to qualify Initiative 1433 for the November 8, 2016 ballot; and
WHEREAS, after notice in accordance with RCW 42.17A.555 and Seattle Municipal Code Section 2.04.300, persons in favor of Initiative 1433 and those opposed to it have been given an equal opportunity to share their views in an open public meeting, NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SEATTLE, THE MAYOR CONCURRING, THAT:
Section 1. The Mayor and the City Council support gradually raising the minimum wage in the State of Washington to $13.50 and to allow every worker the opportunity to earn paid sick and safe leave.
Section 2. The Mayor and City Council urge Seattle voters to vote “Yes” on Initiative 1433 in the November 8, 2016 general election.
Adopted by the City Council the ________ day of _________________________, 2016, and signed by me in open session in authentication of its adoption this ________ day of _________________________, 2016.
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President ____________ of the City Council
The Mayor concurred the ________ day of _________________________, 2016.
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Edward B. Murray, Mayor
Filed by me this ________ day of _________________________, 2016.
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Monica Martinez Simmons, City Clerk
(Seal)