Councilmember Mosqueda Announces Support of MLK County Labor Council; Seattle Workers, Economic Drivers

MLK County Labor Council and Unions representing more than 100,000 workers speak to Mosqueda’s leadership building a stronger and more equitable Seattle

SEATTLE – Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda announced today the endorsement of the MLK County Labor Council, along with recent endorsements from Seattle Building Trades Union, Office and Professional Employees Local 8, Painters and Allied Trades DC 5, Ironworkers Local 86, Operating Engineers Local 302, SEIU Local 6, and Unite HERE! Local 8. Together, they represent more than 100,000 workers and working families across Seattle. Endorsers spoke to Mosqueda’s work to build a stronger and more equitable Seattle as we come through the COVID-19 pandemic.

On the City Council, Mosqueda has most recently passed critical measures to protect workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. That work includes expanding paid sick leave coverage allowing working families paid time off when childcare isn’t available, passing $4/hr hazard pay for essential grocery workers, and protections for gig workers including a new paid sick leave program, rest breaks, and minimum earnings for app-based drivers. This follows her earlier action to lead the Council’s effort to extend hazard pay and sick leave to gig workers for app-based drivers at the beginning of the pandemic.

Mosqueda is also responsible for the Domestic Workers Bill of Rights – now a national model for efforts to improve wages and protect vulnerable workers, banning subminimum wages, and creating policies supporting anti-harassment, healthcare, and safety for city hotel workers. Mosqueda led the passage of the Energy Efficiency as a Service financing program for new construction which was supported by the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO, along with a pilot to enhance union work and apprenticeship requirements on public projects like the K-Site supported by the Seattle Building and Construction Trades Council members.

As Council Budget Chair, Mosqueda brought together a broad coalition of labor, business, housing, transportation, equity and environmental justice advocates to pass the JumpStart Seattle progressive payroll tax and COVID relief plan in 2020. The passage of this historic revenue bill prevented austerity budgeting and protected against cuts to city jobs and services. JumpStart Seattle made it possible to provide small businesses grants, support for childcare providers, rental assistance in 2020 and 2021. Over the next twenty years, Mosqueda’s legislation puts workers to work and helps small businesses through investments in the Equitable Development Initiative, Green New Deal priorities and direct investments in resilient economic recovery strategies.

“Teresa understands that lifting up workers, lifts up families, communities, and local economies. She has been a tireless and effective advocate for opportunity, family wage jobs, and commonsense protections for workers that make us all safer. We are proud to endorse her re-election.” Nicole Grant, Executive Secretary-Treasurer, MLK Labor, Washington State’s largest Central Labor Council

“Working people stand with Teresa because she has always stood with us. As we grapple with a pandemic and all its fallout, and address the realities of racial and economic oppression, the communities most affected need to be front and center in what our recovery looks like. We know Teresa as a steadfast champion for essential workers, communities of color, and the working class and we are proud to be on Team Teresa.” Faye Guenther, President, United Food and Commercial Workers 21

“Teresa Mosqueda is the ally we need on Seattle City Council to join us in the fight for better wages, and dignity in the workplace. She led the passage of the Domestic Workers Bill of Rights, protections for gig workers in emerging economies, and has proven her commitment to uplifting workers time and time again. The 45,000 members of SEIU 775 are excited to support and endorse Teresa in her campaign for re-election.” Sterling Harders, President, Service Employees International Union 775

“Teresa has always been a strong Union supporter. We appreciate having regular meetings with the Coalition of City Unions and appreciate that she is always including and asking the opinion of Unions for any legislation she has worked on. Teresa has always been a true champion for working people and this city is lucky to have someone like her fighting for us.” Elizabeth Rockett, Director of Governmental Affairs International Union of Painters & Allied Trades, District Council 5

“The proud union members at Ironworkers Local 86 strongly endorse Teresa Mosqueda in her campaign for re-election. She invests in working people and our economy by promoting policies that protect hard-fought workplace standards and fair wages. Teresa Mosqueda is a collaborative leader and the candidate we turn to for results.” Heather Kurtenbach, Political Director, Ironworkers Local 86

“Teresa Mosqueda is the ally we need on Seattle City Council to join us in the fight for better wages, and dignity in the workplace. She led the passage of the Domestic Workers Bill of Rights, protections for workers in emerging economies, and has proven her commitment to uplifting workers time and time again. The 45,000 members of SEIU 775 are excited to support and endorse Teresa in her campaign for re-election.” Sterling Harders, President of the Service Employees International Union Local 775

“Teresa Mosqueda is a labor champion with many years of organizing under her belt. From her support for union apprenticeship programs to expanding paid sick leave for gig workers, Teresa remains a fighter for the health, safety, and security of workers everywhere. We are proud to endorse her for Seattle City Council.” Cherika Carter, Political Action Chair, Office and Professional Employees International Union Local 8

“I am proud of the steps we have taken to weather the pandemic, but all reports show women, people of color, immigrants, seniors, and the LGBTQ community are being hit the hardest by COVID as both workers and small business owners. We cannot just aim to recover our local economy, we must rebuild in a more equitable way.” Teresa Mosqueda, Seattle City Councilmember

Mosqueda was named one of Seattle’s Most Influential People 2018, and awarded the Local Progress 2019 Ady Barkan Progressive Champion Award, along with the Ruth Kagi Award for Excellence in Early Learning Advocacy by Child Care Resources for her innovative work to support child care providers around Seattle, and the Homestead Community Land Trust Cooper Legacy Award for her work on affordable housing.

In 2017, Mosqueda was the first, first-time candidate in the nation to win using publicly financed campaign vouchers, which require candidates to rely on small dollar contributions while engaging new voters with Democracy Vouchers. She is the first candidate to qualify for the program in 2021 and is holding a virtual Democracy Voucher Party today, February 18th at 4:30.