Anthony Auriemma
MO Seattle Initiative 124 Support RES
D3a

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CITY OF SEATTLE

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RESOLUTION __________________

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..title
A RESOLUTION supporting City of Seattle Initiative Measure 124 and urging Seattle voters to
vote “Yes” on Initiative 124 on the November 8, 2016 general election ballot.
..body
WHEREAS, hotel employers and hotel employees are vital contributors to the Seattle

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community, fueling an industry that contributes over $6 billion to the local economy; and
WHEREAS, the Seattle hospitality industry also receives significant public support through

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public investments like the $1.6 billion dollar expansion of the Washington State

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Convention Center; and

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WHEREAS, the hospitality industry is a crucial source of accessible employment for women,

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immigrants, and people of color in Seattle, as more than 80 percent of hotel housekeepers

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are women and a majority of hotel housekeepers are immigrants; and

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WHEREAS, a recent survey of Seattle hotel workers showed that, during their careers, 53

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percent of hotel housekeepers had experienced sexual harassment and 47 percent had

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seen a naked guest at least once; and

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WHEREAS, housekeepers face cultural, language, and other barriers to reporting harassment and
assault committed by guests; and
WHEREAS, 96 percent of Seattle hotel housekeepers surveyed had experienced pain as a result

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of their work and 40 percent of housekeepers have had to take time off of work as a result

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of injury; and

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WHEREAS, hospitality workers have the lowest rate of access to employer offered health
insurance in the state of Washington; and

Last revised April 13, 2016

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 Anthony Auriemma
MO Seattle Initiative 124 Support RES
D3a

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WHEREAS, Initiative 124 would prevent sexual harassment and assault in hotels by requiring

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guest notification of employee protections, providing workers with panic buttons,

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standardizing hotels’ responses to accusations against guests, and banning known

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harassers from hotels; and

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WHEREAS, Initiative 124 would reduce workplace injury and pain for hotel housekeepers by
reducing housekeeping workloads for employees of large hotels; and
WHEREAS, Initiative 124 would improve access to affordable family medical coverage to
workers at large hotels who earn at or below 400 percent of the federal poverty line; and
WHEREAS, Initiative 124 would make our hospitality industry more reflective of Seattle’s
values of equity, inclusion, and gender and racial justice; and
WHEREAS, after notice in accordance with RCW 42.17A.555 and Seattle Municipal Code

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Section 2.04.300, persons in favor of Initiative 124 and those opposed to it have been

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given an equal opportunity to share their views in an open public meeting, NOW,

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THEREFORE,

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BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SEATTLE, THE

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MAYOR CONCURRING, THAT:

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Section 1. The Mayor and the City Council support the hotel industry and improving
worker safety, access to health care, and access to job security.
Section 2. The Mayor and City Council urge Seattle voters to vote “Yes” on Initiative
124 in the November 8, 2016 general election.

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Last revised April 13, 2016

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 Anthony Auriemma
MO Seattle Initiative 124 Support RES
D3a

Adopted by the City Council the ________ day of _________________________, 2016,

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and signed by me in open session in authentication of its adoption this ________ day of

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_________________________, 2016.

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____________________________________

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President ____________ of the City Council

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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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____________________________________

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Monica Martinez Simmons, City Clerk

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(Seal)

Last revised April 13, 2016

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