Resolution

August 20, 2020

ML King County Wage Theft Resolution

PASSED AUGUST 20, 2020

WHEREAS, Wage theft is the denial of wages or employee benefits rightfully owed to an employee. It can be conducted by employers in various ways, among them failing to pay overtime; violating minimum-wage laws; the misclassification of employees as independent contractors, illegal deductions in pay; the misclassification of workers on prevailing wage projects; forcing employees to work “off the clock”, not paying annual leave or holiday entitlements, or simply not paying an employee at all.

WHEREAS, According to studies, wage theft is common in the United States and has been called the invisible crime wave, particularly for low wage legal or undocumented immigrant workers.

WHEREAS, The City of Seattle and Washington State have some of the most stringent laws on the books, unfortunately the time required to make aggrieved workers whole is in itself punitive in nature for the victim. 

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that MLK Labor calls on the ML King County Council to pass a wage theft ordinance that:

• Applies to all private employers with employees who are performing work within ML  King County, without any regard to the physical location of the employer.
• Creates a complaint process that includes a timely conciliation process that attempts to settle the dispute.
• Creates an Administrative hearing process that after failure of the conciliation process or lack of response from business owner acts within 14 days a decision.