Seattle – Today, Mayor Bruce Harrell joined members of the Coalition of City Unions (CCU), councilmembers, labor leaders, and City employees to sign new labor contracts into law. The four-year contracts cover wages, benefits, hours, and other working conditions impacting more than 7,000 City workers represented by 16 unions and non-represented employees.
“From mechanics in our garages to emergency dispatchers in the 911 call center, City employees are one of our greatest assets for building the healthy, equitable, and thriving One Seattle that we want to see,” said Mayor Bruce Harrell. “The City remains committed to being a great place to work, and that includes providing competitive wages for our public employees so we can continue to build a workforce that is dedicated to serving our community. I’m grateful for the collaboration with our bargaining units, labor organizations, and the City Council who helped bring these contracts across the finish line.”
Centered on wage equity for the lowest paid employees, the new agreements will help the City to recruit and retain highly qualified employees to deliver the essential services that Seattle residents expect. The contracts were unanimously approved by the City Council earlier this week.
“These new labor agreements are a true testament to the collective dedication and perseverance of City employees who serve our communities each and every day,” said Mary Keefe, Co-Chair of the City Coalition of Unions Bargaining Team and Business Agent, Teamsters 763. “It is exciting to see the hard work of the bargaining units pay off with these agreements signed into law, and I’m glad we can continue to build a strong workforce at the City that reflects the diversity of people who call Seattle home.”
“Our public employees are the backbone of our city, keeping it running smoothly and helping our communities thrive,” said Mark Watson, Co-Chair of the City Coalition of Unions Bargaining Team and Protect 17, Union Representative. “With its needed focus on wage equity and providing competitive compensation, I’m grateful that this new contract reflects the City’s commitment to supporting all employees and treating them with the dignity and respect they deserve for the immeasurable service they do for our city.”
“The Seattle Building Trades commends the Seattle City Council for its unanimous passage of the new union contracts for 7,000 city workers represented by 16 unions through the coalition bargaining agreement. We applaud the strong leadership of Mayor Bruce Harrell, Council President Sara Nelson, Finance Chair Dan Strauss and the union negotiators in getting this done for working people,” said Monty Anderson, Executive Secretary of the Seattle Building & Construction Trades Council. “Any city can’t function without hardworking employees and a great, vibrant city can’t excel without supporting, retaining and recruiting an experienced, dedicated workforce through fair wages and benefits. This contract will help build more sustainable, strong and equitable communities in the City of Seattle by focusing on our greatest asset, our people.”
The Coalition of City Unions represents City workers from 16 unions, including PROTEC17, LiUNA/Laborers Local 242, AFSCME Council 2, Local 104, Seattle Dispatchers Guild, Sheet Metal Workers Local 66, IBEW Local 46, IAM District 160, Teamsters 117, Teamsters 763, IATSE Local 15, Painters/IUPAT District Council 5, IIUOE Local 302, Inlandboatmen’s Union, Court Marshal’s Guild, and UNITE HERE! Local 8.
