Seattle City Council expected to pass ‘secure scheduling’ law

The Seattle City Council is expected to pass a new law designed to protect employees from erratic and variable work schedules, and from not getting enough hours.

It would require employers to post work schedules two weeks in advance, give available hours to existing part-time employees before hiring new workers, and pay additional money when making last minute changes to the schedule.

No one speaking at Tuesday morning’s council meeting opposed the legislation.

Shirley Henderson, a member of Socialist Alternative and the owner of a coffee shop/ hair salon, told the city council she stands in solidarity with service sector workers who make up a huge part of the local economy.

“The issues of scheduling is no longer just affecting young people. It is also increasingly a struggle for people trying to support a family. When this increasing number of workers are struggling in this city to survive with the skyrocketing rents and the escalated cost of living, to throw in this impossible challenge of the unpredictability of when you’re going to work and how many hours is creating a race to the bottom in this city.”

More public comment:

“I want to talk about bullies. Do you remember the big kid on the playground who took your lunch money? Thank God we’ve grown up and don’t have to worry about that now. Only now we have to worry about big corporations who take your lunch break, and your free time, and your sleep, and your life.”

“If we are serious about equity here in Seattle for people of color, for women, for those without access to education, for those who upwards mobility is difficult for then secure scheduling is an obvious answer.”

The council is expected to vote on the “secure scheduling” law on Monday.