Drafter
Clerk 06/13/2019
Title
A MOTION creating a workgroup to review and recommend changes to King County's labor policies.
Body
WHEREAS, King County has long enjoyed a positive working relationship between labor and management, and
WHEREAS, the council recognizes the county's employees as the county's most valuable asset, and
WHEREAS, the King County Charter identifies the council as the labor-policy-making body for the county, and
WHEREAS, the charter identifies the executive as the bargaining agent for the county, and
WHEREAS, it has been a number of years since the county's labor policies have been comprehensively reviewed and updated, and
WHEREAS, the King County council has initiated a number of policies and programs to advance the cause of workers, including, but not limited to:
1. In 2014, the council passed Ordinance 17909 that required a living wage to be paid to all county employees and certain county contractors;
2. The council has been a strong supporter of labor through the support of a master labor agreement, coalition bargaining and strong support for the outcomes of bargaining efforts;
3. In 2015, the council created the economic opportunity and empowerment program that aims to assure diversity in the project workforce for the children and family justice center, facilitate the achievements of the design-build contract's goals for hiring and training minorities, women, veterans, youth and small contracting and suppliers;
4. The county, as owner of Harborview Medical Center, included language in the new management contract with the University of Washington medical system that requires the university to maintain a positive working relationship with its employees and to take steps necessary to improve and maintain that relationship between employer and employees;
5. In 2016, the council passed Ordinance 18404 creating a paid parental leave program for county employees;
6. In 2017, the council passed Ordinance 18372 creating a re...
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