>>> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE,
GOOD TO SEE SO MANY OF YOU,
HAPPY DAY AFTER LABOR DAY, I
WANT TO START THE COMMITTEE AND
LET YOU KNOW THAT THIS IS A
SPECIAL COMMITTEE MEETING OF
THE HOUSING, HEALTH, ENERGY,
AND WORKERS
TODAY WE ARE HAVING A LUNCH AND
LEARN, OR A WORK SESSION, IF
YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH OLYMPIA
LINGO, CALLING THIS A WORK
SESSION.
TALKING ABOUT THE NEW ECONOMY
AND WORKFORCE.
JUST TO CLARIFY, THIS IS NOT
RELATED SPECIFICALLY TO TMC
DRIVERS, IT'S ABOUT THE GIG
ECONOMY AS A WHOLE, THE
CHANGING WORK ENVIRONMENTS, WE
WANT TO START OFF BY SAYING
THANK YOU TO ALL WHO LABOR, ALL
OF OUR LABOR UNIONS, ORGANIZE
LABOR, WORKERS, EVERY SINGLE
SECTOR, YESTERDAY WAS LABOR
DAY, WE HONOR YOUR WORK, NOT
JUST RECOGNIZING IT ON LABOR
DAY BUT BY DOING THE WORK IN
COMMITTEE, TO EXPAND AND
PROTECT LABOR STANDARDS IN
EVERY SINGLE SECTOR, AND
LOOKING AT NEW AND EMERGING
ECONOMIES, AND FIGURE OUT HOW
WE CAN EXPAND LABOR PROTECTIONS
AND NONTRADITIONAL WORK
ENVIRONMENTS.
THAT IS WHAT THIS IS ABOUT.
I WANT TO RECOGNIZE YESTERDAY
WAS LABOR DAY AND HONOR THE
WORK OF ALL LABORERS.
LET'S GIVE IT UP FOR ALL
WORKERS INTERNATIONALLY.>> [
APPLAUSE ]
>>> 12:02 PM, THE SPECIAL
COMMITTEE ON THE HOUSING,
HEALTH, ENERGY, AND WORKERS
RIGHT COMMITTEE WILL COME TO
ORDER, I AM TERESA MOSQUEDA,
CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE, I
WOULD LOVE TO HAVE SOME PEOPLE
WHO ARE GOING TO BE JOINING US
COME ON UP TO THE TABLE HERE,
SO WE CAN START OUR COMMITTEE
DISCUSSION PROMPTLY, MARIAH
MITCHELL, CAVIAR AND POSTMATES
, AND OTHER APPS BASED WORK,
DON CREERY, APP-BASED DRIVERS
ASSOCIATION, REBECCA SMITH,
DIRECTOR OF WORK STRUCTURES,
NATIONAL EMPLOYMENT LAW PROJECT
, MIA KELLY, INSTACART, AIHA
NGUYEN, PROJECT LEAD OF THE
FUTURE OF LABOR INITIATIVE,
DATA & SOCIETY RESEARCH
INSTITUTE , I APOLOGIZE IF I
SAID THAT WRONG, FROM THE
PROJECT LEAD OF THE FUTURE
INITIATIVE, AND THEN ULYSSES
GALVEZ, INSTACART AND POSTMATES
. WELCOME EVERYBODY, THANK YOU
FOR JOINING US.
COUNCILMEMBER LISA HERBOLD IS
THE CHAIR OF CRUEDA, AND HAS
DONE A LOT ON WORKPLACE
PROTECTIONS, MIKE O'BRIEN, A
LONGTIME ADVOCATE FOR WORKERS
AND LABOR STANDARDS AS WELL,
REALLY BEEN PUTTING THE ISSUE
OF WAGES AND THE HUMAN SERVICE
SECTOR ON THE RADAR, WHICH WE
WERE HAPPY TO BE ABLE TO WORK
ON THIS YEAR, THANK YOU FOR
JOINING US, FOLKS AT THE TABLE,
WE MIGHT HAVE MORE JOIN US FROM
OUR COUNCIL COLLEAGUES, AND
FOLKS ON THE PHONE WHO ARE
BEING PROJECTED ON THE SCREEN,
WE WILL HAVE A CHANCE FOR
EVERYBODY TO INTRODUCE
THEMSELVES IN A MINUTE.
>>> WE WANTED TO TAKE A SECOND
TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT
THE GIG ECONOMY, ESPECIALLY
TYING IT INTO LABOR DAY.
AND RECOGNIZING THE CHANGING
STRUCTURE OF THE WORK
ENVIRONMENT, THE NEED FOR US TO
LOOK AT HOW ECONOMIES ARE
CHANGING, AND SPECIFICALLY
DISCUSSED GIG WORK.
WE WILL HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT AT
THE END OF THIS COMMITTEE,
THERE IS A LOT TO TALK ABOUT IN
THIS REALM, MANY ITEMS THAT WE
ARE HOPING TO TEE UP FOR FUTURE
WORK IN THE COUNCIL, NOTHING
COMING UP LATER THIS FALL, WE
HAVE BUDGET COMING UP IN FOUR
OR FIVE WEEKS, WHICH WILL
CONSUME ALL OF US, BUT THERE
ARE A LOT OF ITEMS ON THE TO DO
LIST THAT MANY WORKERS AND
ADVOCATES HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR,
FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
THIS WILL GIVE US A CHANCE TO
LOOK AT POLICY CHANGES, LABOR
STANDARDS, ESPECIALLY IN THE
GIG ECONOMY, AND HOW THE GIG
ECONOMY AND THE RISE IN THE
SEATTLE AREA AND THE NATION HAS
BEEN COMPLEX, WE HAVE EXPERTS,
IN THE PAST, AT THE WASHINGTON
STATE LABOR COUNCIL, AFL-CIO
AND EXPERTS ON THE GROUND IN
TERMS OF THE WORKERS
THEMSELVES, TO THINK ABOUT HOW
WE CAN LIFT OF THESE LABOR
STANDARDS.
WE WILL BE LOOKING AT POLICY
PERSPECTIVES LOOKING FORWARD,
AND BRINGING MORE FOLKS IN,
INCLUDING FROM INDUSTRY.
AS WE TALK ABOUT POLICY IN THE
FUTURE.
>>> WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, LET'S
READ IN ITEM NUMBER 1 INTO THE
AGENDA, THEN WE WILL HAVE FOLKS
INTRODUCE THEMSELVES.
>> PANEL DISCUSSION WITH
NATIONAL ACADEMIC EXPERTS AND
GIG ECONOMY WORKERS FOR
BRIEFING AND DISCUSSION.
>> LET'S GO AHEAD AND GO AROUND
úTHE TABLE, SO YOUR NAME AND
ORGANIZATION, WHO YOU ARE
REPRESENTING, AND WE WILL GET
STARTED WITH THE OFFICIAL
PRESENTATION AND JUST A LITTLE
BIT, JUST SO WE CAN OFFICIALLY
SAY USE OF THE TABLE.>> DON
CREERY, APP-BASED DRIVERS
ASSOCIATION , AFFILIATED WITH
TEAMSTERS 1107.>>> IM REBECCA
SMITH, DIRECTOR OF WORK
STRUCTURES, NATIONAL EMPLOYMENT
LAW PROJECT -- I AM REBECCA
SMITH, DIRECTOR OF WORK
STRUCTURES, NATIONAL EMPLOYMENT
LAW PROJECT.
>> MIA KELLY, INSTACART , AND
--
>> ULYSSES GALVEZ, INSTACART
AND POSTMATES .
>> AND COUNCILMEMBER? BIGGER
COUNCILMEMBER O'BRIEN.>> MARIAH
MITCHELL, CAVIAR AND POSTMATES ,
UBER EATS AND LYFT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LISA HERBOLD.
>> AND ONE PERSON BY SKYPE.
WE CAN'T HEAR YOU.
LET'S SEE IF YOU ARE ON MUTE.>>
CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? YES.
>> AIHA NGUYEN, PROJECT LEAD OF
THE FUTURE OF LABOR INITIATIVE,
DATA & SOCIETY RESEARCH
INSTITUTE .
>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US BY
SKYPE, AND A POWERPOINT
PRESENTATION, WILL PROBABLY BE
TOGGLING BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN
SCREENS, WE ARE EXCITED TO HAVE
YOU.>>> THINK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR
JOINING US, WE WILL GO AHEAD
AND START WITH WORKERS, THE
FOLKS AT THE TABLE, WE ARE
ASKING FOR YOU TO SHARE A
LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF, WHAT
YOUR INTERACTION HAS BEEN WITH
THE GIG ECONOMY, THE TYPE OF
WORK YOU DO, WHY YOU STARTED TO
EMBARK ON THIS WORK IN THE GIG
ECONOMY.
AFTER THAT, RETURNING TO SOME
ISSUE EXPERTS, RESEARCH AND
ACADEMIC EXPERTS, TO TALK A
LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHAT THE
GIG ECONOMY IS, AND THE
PREVALENCE OF WORKERS IN THE
GIG ECONOMY.>>> I HAVE BEEN
EIGHT UBER AND LYFT DRIVER FOR
FIVE AND HALF YEARS, DON CREERY
, ACTOR, AND MUSICIAN, AFTER
2008, IT WAS DIFFICULT TO MAKE
A COMFORTABLE LIVING, LIKE MANY
PEOPLE AROUND THAT TIME, UBER
AND LYFT CAME ALONG, AND I
CHECKED THAT OUT, AND FOR ABOUT
A YEAR, IT WENT QUITE WELL.
AND THEN THE RATE CUTS BEGAN.
AND HERE WE ARE TODAY.
>> IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU
WOULD LIKE TO SHARE ABOUT WHY
HE DECIDED TO GO INTO THAT
AREA?
BAKER I WAS LOOKING FOR ANOTHER
LINE OF WORK, THE 2008
RECESSION, MANY THINGS THAT
WORKING-CLASS PEOPLE DID WERE
GONE.
MOST OF WHAT I DID, I TAUGHT
GUITAR LESSONS FOR WELL, I MADE
PART OF MY LESSON DOING THAT,
THAT SORT OF WORK WAS
ELIMINATED IN 2008, I HAD TO
START FILLING IN THE GAPS, AND
INITIALLY, UBER AND LYFT FILLED
IN QUITE WELL FOR ABOUT A
YEAR.>> THANK YOU.
ANYBODY ELSE LIKE TO SHARE
THEIR PERSPECTIVE?
>> MY NAME IS MIA, I BASICALLY
MAKE WEDDING CAKES, AND IN
BETWEEN THE WEDDING CAKES, I
WAS ABLE TO SUPPLEMENT MY
INCOME THROUGH INSTACART. FOUR
WEEKS IN, I WAS INJURED ON THE
JOB, AND THINKING I WOULD BE
PROTECTED BY WASHINGTON STATE,
I FOUND THAT I WASN'T, I WAS
NOT AFFORDED THE SAME RIGHTS AS
SOMEBODY WHO IS SIGNING OFF ON
A W-2, VERSUS A 1099, AND I
FOUND THAT THIS WORK WAS GREAT
FOR THOSE OF US THAT HAVE
HIDDEN ILLNESSES, THOSE OF US
WHO HAVE CHRONIC ILLNESSES THAT
WE DON'T SHARE WITH THE REST OF
THE PUBLIC.
AFTER ALL, WHAT SORT OF JOB
WOULD ALLOW YOU TO BE OFF FOR
WEEKS ON END, OR EVEN QUICKLY,
WITHIN THE SAME DAY, SO I FELT
THAT WORKING FOR INSTACART, AND
HAVING MY TINY WEDDING CAKE
BUSINESS, THAT WAS THE WAY TO
GO.
UNFORTUNATELY, AS EARLIER WAS
SAID, THERE WAS A RATE CHANGE,
AND BASICALLY MY PAY WENT FROM
-- WENT DOWN BASICALLY TWO
THIRDS, YOU ARE EXPECTED TO DO
THE SAME AMOUNT OF WORK, BUT
ONLY ONE THIRD OF THE PAY.
AND THIS IS WHERE -- ONE OF THE
REASONS WHY I GOT INTO THIS.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO BUILD ON
WHAT SHE SAID WHEN IT COMES TO
HAVING SOME HIDDEN ILLNESSES.
MY NAME IS ULYSSES GALVEZ, I DID
SEVERAL COMBAT MISSIONS, IN
AFGHANISTAN, IRAQ AND AFRICA,
20 YEARS OF SERVICE FOR MY
COUNTRY, AND COMING BACK, I
CAME BACK WITH MY BODY, BUT OF
COURSE MY MIND AND MY SOUL HAVE
BEEN BROKEN.
SO I STRUGGLED WITH WHAT SHE
WAS TALKING ABOUT, I CAN'T HOLD
A REGULAR JOB BECAUSE OF THE
THINGS THAT I SAW THE THINGS
THAT I DID FOR MY COUNTRY,
WHICH IS FINE, IT IS WHAT
HAPPENS, THAT IS WAR.
I'M OKAY WITH THAT.
BUT WHAT I'M NOT OKAY WITH IS
WHEN I STARTED THIS JOB, IT WAS
ALMOST A GODSEND, IT ALLOWED ME
WHEN I WAS HAVING A GOOD DAY,
I COULD GO WORK AND BE A
PRODUCTIVE MEMBER OF SOCIETY,
AND HAVE HUMAN CONTACT WITH
PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY WITH
INSTACART, I HAVE SEVERAL
ELDERLY PEOPLE THAT HAVE
DEMENTIA AND OTHER MEDICAL
PROBLEMS I CAN'T GO TO THE
STORE, IT ALLOWED ME HUMAN
CONTACT WITH THEM THAT THEY
APPRECIATE AND I APPRECIATE,
AND I WOULD SIT AND TALK WITH
THEM, SOMETIMES THEY WOULD ASK
ME ABOUT MY SERVICE, IT WAS A
HUMAN CONNECTION THAT A LOT OF
JOBS DON'T ALLOW YOU TO DO,
WITH THE MAIN THING, LIKE SHE
SAID, I WAS ABLE TO GO ON
WHENEVER I COULD, AND I DO A
LOT OF VOLUNTEER SERVICE, OR
USED TO, STAND UP FOR KIDS, BUT
SINCE THEY DID THE PAY CUT, I
HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO ENGAGE IN
THAT TYPE OF COMMUNITY SERVICE
ANYMORE.
BECAUSE NOW I AM HAVING TO WORK
12-14 HOURS JUST TO BRING IN
THE SAME AMOUNT THAT I WAS
BRINGING IN WHEN I FIRST
STARTED WITH THE COMPANY,
PRETTY MUCH LIVING OUT OF MY
CAR NOW, BECAUSE I HAVE TO
STRATEGICALLY PLACE MYSELF IN
AREAS WHERE THERE'S GOING TO BE
A LOT OF ORDERS.
INSTEAD OF GOING HOME, BECAUSE
THE MILEAGE IS KILLING ME, WITH
$3.30 PER GALLON, IT GOES UP
HERE AND THERE, THAT AFFECTS
THE AMOUNT THAT I HAVE TO PAY.
SO WHAT I'M GETTING AT, AND I'M
SOME POSITIVE THINGS ABOUT THIS
TYPE OF WORK FOR PEOPLE LIKE US,
BUT LATELY IT HAS BECOME A
NEGATIVE BECAUSE IT HAS CAUSED
ALMOST AN INCOME ANXIETY, AND
SOMETHING THAT FOR ME, IS
DETRIMENTAL TO MY MENTAL
HEALTH, BECAUSE WITH ANXIETY
COMES STRESS, AND WHAT DOES
THAT DO TO ME?
AT NIGHT, WHEN EVERYBODY'S
ASLEEP, I START TO GET NIGHT
TERRORS AND RELIVE THE THINGS
THAT I SAW AND DID BECAUSE I'M
STRESSED OUT ABOUT OH, MY GOSH,
I HAVE TO LOOK AT MY PHONE AND
SEE IF THERE'S AN ORDER, THE
FIRST THING I DO IS LOOK AT MY
PHONE, LOOK FOR AN ORDER AND
SEE IF THERE'S GOING TO BE IN
ORDER -- AN ORDER, $40 OR $50,
I'M TIED TO MY PHONE, NOT
LOOKING AT FACEBOOK OR NOT
DOING -- PLAYING A VIDEOGAME OR
ANYTHING LIKE THAT, I'M LOOKING
ON MY PHONE FOR ORDERS, EVEN MY
QUALITY OF LIFE HAS GREATLY
BEEN SUFFERING, BECAUSE I'M
SITTING THERE LIKE A CRAZY MAN
ON MY PHONE, EVEN WHEN I'M OUT
TO DINNER WITH MY FAMILY, A
GOOD ORDER, I'VE GOT TO GO.
IT HAS AFFECTED MY COMMUNITY
WORK, MY FAMILY, AND A LOT OF
PEOPLE WOULD TELL ME, WHY DON'T
I JUST GET ANOTHER JOB, BECAUSE
I SERVED, AND NO JOB IS GOING
TO ALLOW ME TO CALL IN AND SAY
I HAD A BETTER -- BAD NIGHT
LAST NIGHT AND I CAN COME TO
WORK.
SO I CAN'T WORK IN AN OFFICE, I
CAN'T DO A 9-TO-5 JOB BECAUSE OF
WHAT SHE TALKED ABOUT, WHAT I'M
GOING THROUGH, AND IT'S
SOMETHING I WILL HAVE TO DO
WITH THE REST OF MY LIFE.
SO YES THAT'S IT.
>> THAT IS VERY HELPFUL, THANK
YOU FOR SHARING THAT, I KNOW
YOU PUT TOGETHER A VIDEO WHICH
I THINK WE WILL SHOW AFTER WE
HEAR FROM YOU, MIA.
AND WE WILL HEAR FROM SOME OF
THE ACADEMIC EXPERTS IN THE
FIELD, AND WE WILL OPEN IT UP
FOR SOME QUESTIONS, I'M SURE
THAT COUNCIL COLLEAGUES WILL AS
WELL, THIS IS GROUND SITTING
FOR US TO UNDERSTAND WHAT
INDIVIDUAL WORK EXPERIENCE HAS
BEEN, AND THE COLLEAGUES IN THE
SECTOR, AND HOW THE CHANGING
ECONOMY HAS AFFECTED THE LINE
OF WORK THAT YOU DO AND THE
EMOTIONAL EXPERIENCE THAT YOU
DESCRIBED.>>> I WANTED TO SAY,
THE REASON WHY I STARTED DOING
THE GIG ECONOMY JOBS, I
GRADUATED FROM THE UNIVERSITY
OF WASHINGTON IN THE 2005, I
HAVE 2 BACHELORS, I APPLIED TO
EVERY LAW SCHOOL, I DIDN'T GET
AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO LAW
SCHOOL, I'M A SINGLE MOTHER, I
NEEDED A JOB, I HAVE TO TAKE
CARE OF MY CHILDREN AND FEED
THEM, THIS WAS PERFECT FOR ME,
IN THE BEGINNING, UBER WAS
PAYING A LOT OF MONEY, I WAS
ABLE TO GET MY KIDS TO SCHOOL,
I WASN'T ABLE TO WORK A
TRADITIONAL 9-TO-5, BECAUSE I
WOULD HAVE TO LEAVE WORK TO
DROP OFF MY KIDS, PICK UP MY
KIDS, AND I COULDN'T FIND AN
EMPLOYER FLEXIBLE ENOUGH FOR MY
CHILDREN'S SCHEDULES, SO I
STARTED DOING DOING THINGS
úBETWEEN TIME WHILE THEY WERE A
SCHOOL, AND I'VE BEEN DOING IT
ABOUT THREE YEARS, POST MEATS,
UBER AND CAVIAR, SINCE THEN,
THEY HAVE BEEN CUTTING THE PAY,
AND MY CAR BROKE DOWN FROM THE
WEAR AND TEAR, WITH THE
REGISTRATION, THE TAX, THE
INSURANCE, I AM PAYING MORE
THAN I WAS MAKING, SO I STARTED
DOING LYFT, AND THEY GIVE US
CARS THROUGH HERTZ, BASICALLY I
DO LYFT TO PAY FOR THE VEHICLE
SO I CAN KEEP A VEHICLE, I DO
FOR TO BUY MY KIDS FOOD, I DO
CAVIAR SO I CAN BUY SCHOOL
CLOTHES, AND POST MEATS FOR
SCHOOL SUPPLIES AND GAS AND THE
OTHER THINGS THAT NEED TO BE
PAID FOR.
I'M FINDING THAT I'M WORKING
MORE HOURS THAT I WOULD BE IF I
WAS IN A TRADITIONAL 9-TO-5,
WAKING UP AT 4:30 AM, TO DO
STARBUCKS ORDERS, AND LYFT TO
GIVE PEOPLE RIDES TO WORK, POST
MEATS, AFTER DROPPING MY KIDS
OFF AT SCHOOL, TO POST MEATS
AND CAVIAR FOR THE LUNCH RUSH,
GET TO THE SCHOOL, PICK UP MY
CHILDREN FROM LOWELL
ELEMENTARY, GARFIELD HIGH
SCHOOL, AND I GO BACK AND DO
CAVIAR TO DO THE DINNER RUSH
FROM 5:00 UNTIL 9:00, FIND
SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN THERE TO
FEED MY CHILDREN, FALL ASLEEP
AT THE CLOCK AND START OVER
AGAIN THE NEXT DAY.
IT IS TAKING A TOLL BACK -- A
TOLL.
>>> THANK YOU FOR SHARING THE
STORIES, SO YOU CAN TELL IS HOW
IT IS AFFECTING YOU, I'M SURE
MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD
INTERACTIONS WITH THE APP-BASED
ECONOMY, DOOR --, INSTA CART,
GRUB HUB, LYFT OR UBER, WE
INTERACT WITH THE SERVICES, BUT
HAVING THE CHANCE TO REALLY
DIVE INTO HOW THIS IS AFFECTING
THE WORK, AND THE WORK
ENVIRONMENT, IS REALLY THE
POINT OF THIS LUNCH AND LEARN
TODAY.
>>> I WOULD LOVE IF WE CAN GO
TO SLIDE THREE TO SHOW THE
VIDEO TO ROUND OUT THE
DISCUSSION ABOUT GROUNDING US.
THIS IS THE VIDEO THAT WE
UNDERSTAND HAS BEEN SHARED BY
ULYSSES, I WILL TRY TO CHANGE
THE LIGHTS HERE.
SO THAT MORE FOLKS CAN SEE, AND
DO WE HAVE AUDIO FOR THIS?
MAYBE IF WE GO BACK TO THE
BEGINNING.
JOSEPH, ARE YOU ABLE TO HELP US?
>>> LET ME FILL IN THE GAPS.
WHAT YOU ARE SEEING IS A
TYPICAL ORDER FOR POST MEATS,
YOU CAN SEE THAT THERE IS A --
POLLUTES --
>> POSTMATES. YOU HAVE 30
SECONDS TO ACCEPT THE ORDER,
YOU WILL SEE A CIRCLE, IF YOU
GO BACK.
YOU CAN SEE THE CIRCLE,
COUNTING DOWN, A 32nd CIRCLE
THAT YOU HAVE TO DECIDE WHETHER
YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE THAT JOB
OR NOT, AND BECAUSE OF THE LACK
OF TRANSPARENCY, THEY ARE NOT
TELLING US WITH THE MILEAGES.
SO WHAT SOME OF US DO IS WHAT
HE'S DOING, HE'S GOING INTO
GOOGLE MAPS AND SEEING WHAT IS
THE MILEAGE, HOW FAR, TO THE
ORDER, AND TO THE CUSTOMER.
AND YOU ARE SAYING OKAY, OTHER
FACTORS THAT ARE NOT TALKED
ABOUT, TRAFFIC.
I'M GOING TO SPEND 30 MINUTES
IN TRAFFIC OR 15 OR WHATEVER TO
GET TO THAT ORDER.
SO YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT
TIME.
BUT YOU HAVE 30 SECONDS TO
CONTEMPLATE THE IS THIS ORDER
WORTH IT.
AS YOU CAN TELL, DO YOU SEE A
PRICE ANYWHERE?
THERE'S NO THING ABOUT HOW MUCH
THEY'RE GOING TO PAY, AND THERE
IS NO INFORMATION TO JUSTIFY
TAKING THE JOB.
BEFORE THE CHANGE, THEY USED TO
GIVE YOU A GUESSTIMATION. $15
AND $20, WITH THE MILEAGE,
THAT'S WORTH IT.
BUT NOW, WOULD YOU DO A JOB
LIKE THAT?
I'M GOING TO TAKE THE JOB AND
YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS, YOU
HAVE TO GO DOWNTOWN, 10 MILES,
IN TRAFFIC.
>> THE TIME OF DAY REALLY
MATTERS.
>> WHEN YOU EDIT THE MILEAGE,
NOT EVEN TIME, AND EVERYTHING
ELSE, AT THE END OF THE SLIDE,
TAKE-HOME PAY WAS LIKE TWO
DOLLARS.
THAT'S NOT EVEN MINIMUM WAGE.
>> THANK YOU FOR SHOWING US
THAT SET OF THE APP, WHICH A
LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T SEE.
>> MOST CUSTOMERS THAT I TALK
TO AND LET THEM KNOW ABOUT
THIS, YOU KIND OF FEEL PEOPLE,
I CAN TELL WHEN SOMEONE IS
GOING TO REACT WITH ME AND
MAYBE HAVE EMPATHY.
SO SOME PEOPLE SAY GETTING MY
FOOD AND GET OUT, YOU DON'T
TALK TO THEM, BUT CUSTOMERS
THAT GENERALLY CARE, THEY'LL
TELL ME THAT'S BS, THERE LIKE
WHY YOU -- WHY ARE YOU DOING
THIS?
HOW CAN WE HELP YOU?
>> THAT IS THE THAT
>> THERE VERY EMPATHETIC TO OUR
PLIGHT, SO AS NOT TO SAY WHAT
THE CUSTOMERS ARE NOT WILLING
TO PAY MORE, I KNOW THEY ARE,
I'VE TALKED TO THEM, 90% OF
THEM SAY I WILL PAY YOU MORE.
I WILL PAY LIVING WAGE.
>> SO BECKY SMITH, WITH THAT
QUESTION IN MIND, FROM THE
CUSTOMER PERSPECTIVE, OF
WANTING TO BE ABLE TO ACCESS
SOME OF THESE SERVICES, BUT
KNOWING THAT SOME OF THE
WORKERS ARE IN THIS SITUATION,
THE QUESTION IS, HOW CAN WE
HELP, CAN YOU GIVE US A BETTER
PERSPECTIVE OF HOW MANY WORKERS
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IN THIS
INDUSTRY, I KNOW YOU HAVE A FEW
SLIDES IN ADDITION TO YOUR
COLLEAGUE, WHO IS ON SKYPE WITH
US, BUT IF YOU COULD BOTH HELP
WALK US THROUGH THE NEXT FEW
SLIDES AND GIVE US A BETTER
UNDERSTANDING OF THE GIG
ECONOMY, HOW MANY WORKERS ARE
IN IT, AND WHAT TRENDS YOU'RE
SEEING, SO WE CAN UNDERSTAND
THE SCOPE OF THE ISSUE AS WE
PAIR THE STORIES WITH THE DATA?
>> I THINK HER SLIDES ARE MORE
THE SIZE, AND I CAN TALK A
LITTLE BIT ABOUT TRENDS.
DOES THAT MAKE SENSE?
>> I CAN GO AHEAD AND TALK A
LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT.
>> AS YOU SPEAK, WE CAN HEAR
YOU LOUD AND CLEAR, DO YOU WANT
US TO BE SHOWING CERTAIN SLIDES
AS YOU SPEAK?
>> NO, THERE'S ONLY ONE SLIDE,
IS THE VERY LAST ONE, BUT MAYBE
IT IS BETTER FOR ME TO JUST
EXPLAIN IT.
>> WE WILL TOGGLE BACK TO YOU.
WE CAN SEE YOU NOW.
>> JUST TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF
BACKGROUND DATA, STUDYING THE
IMPLICATIONS OF DATA CENTRIC
TECHNOLOGIES ON WORK, IN THIS
CONTEXT WE REFER TO THESE TYPES
OF SYSTEMS AS ALGORITHMIC
MANAGEMENT, THE POINT BEING,
THEY ARE USED IN ORDER TO
MANAGE WORKFORCES, AND IT HAS
BEEN ESPECIALLY USEFUL FOR
MANAGING WORKFORCES THAT ARE
DISPERSED, NOT IN A CENTRAL
LOCATION, BUT ALSO ADOPTED MORE
TRADITIONAL WORKPLACES AS WELL.
THERE IS VARYING DEGREES OF
COMPLEXITY, BUT WHAT YOU ARE
SEEING IS, PROLIFIC DATA
COLLECTION, OF THE WORKERS
THROUGH TECHNOLOGY, GPS
SYSTEMS, WORKERS LOGGING IN AND
OUT, THEY USE THAT DATA IN
ORDER TO HAVE REAL-TIME
RESPONSES, TO INFORM MANAGEMENT
DECISIONS.
SO THIS IS KIND OF WHAT ENABLES
RIDE HANDLING AREAS TO SAY
THERE IS A SURGE IN THIS AREA,
BECAUSE THEY KNOW ALL OF THESE
CUSTOMERS WANT RIDES.
THEY ARE ABLE TO USE THE DATA
TO PUSH DRIVERS INTO A
PARTICULAR SPACE, TO PICK UP
THOSE RIDES.
AND IN THAT SENSE, IT IS
AUTOMATING OR SEMI-AUTOMATING
DECISION-MAKING FOR PEOPLE THAT
WOULD NORMALLY DO IT
THEMSELVES, WHICH IS DRIVERS,
WHO WOULD NORMALLY SAY, IF THEY
HAVE THE INFORMATION, THIS IS A
RIDE THAT I WILL OR WON'T TAKE.
BUT HAVING ALL OF THAT
INFORMATION IN THE HANDS OF THE
COMPANY CREATES AN INFORMATION
ASYMMETRY, THAT'S WHY IT MAKES
IT DIFFICULT FOR WORKERS TO BE
ABLE TO DECIDE, I REALLY DON'T
WANT TO TAKE THIS RIDE, BECAUSE
IT WILL TAKE ME TO A LOCATION
THAT IS VERY REMOTE, AND I'M
GOING TO HAVE TO PAY FOR THE
DRIVE BACK.
SO WHAT HAPPENS IS, COMPANIES
THEN CREATE NUDGES, AND
PENALTIES TO INCENTIVIZE
WORKERS A PARTICULAR WAY, TO
BEHAVE THAT WAY, AND 4 KEY
ELEMENTS THAT WE ARE THINKING
ABOUT, WHEN I JUST LISTENED TO
WHAT PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT,
THE LAST ONE IS THIS IS WHERE
WE STARTED TO GET TO THIS
CONVERSATION ABOUT CUSTOMERS,
THE TRANSFER OF A LOT OF
PERFORMANCE TO CUSTOMERS, THEY
ARE THE ONES THAT RATE THE
PERFORMANCE, AND THAT'S ANOTHER
FORM OF CONTROL THROUGH
PERFORMANCE EVALUATIONS AND
ENGAGING THAT MORE.
SPEAKERS -->> THANK YOU SO MUCH,
VICKI, DO YOU WANT TO START HIS
BACK WITH SOME OF THE OTHER
DATA?
>> SURE.
PEOPLE TALK ABOUT THE GIG
ECONOMY IN DIFFERENT WAYS, SOME
REPORTS SAY 20% OR 30% OR 50%
IN THE GIG ECONOMY, THAT
DEPENDS ON HOW YOU ARE THINKING
OF THE GIG ECONOMY.
IN ONE STUDY, BECAUSE I GOT AN
HONORARIUM FOR SOMETHING I
WROTE A MONTH OR SO AGO, I
WOULD BE CONSIDERED IN THE GIG
ECONOMY, I HAVE A FULL-TIME
JOB, I'M NOT.
BUT THERE IS A WHOLE UNIVERSE
OF PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING
DIFFERENT WAYS THAN A FULL-TIME
W-2 JOB, INCLUDING FOR TEMP AND
STAFFING AGENCIES, ON-CALL,
CONTRACT FIRMS, AND INDEPENDENT
CONTRACTORS.
INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS ARE
ABOUT 10% OF THE WORKERS IN
THIS COUNTRY, AND USUALLY
PEOPLE SITUATE APP BASED WORK
WITHIN THAT.
NOT ALL APP BASED WORK IS
INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS, SOME
COMPANIES TREAT WORKERS AS
EMPLOYEES, BUT USUALLY THE
BIGGEST ONES ARE IN THAT
INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR THING.>>>
ACROSS THE COUNTRY, THE BEST
DATA IS THAT IT IS ABOUT 1% OF
THE POPULATION, SO NOT A HUGE
NUMBER OF PEOPLE SO FAR, BUT
GROWING AND GROWING IN
WASHINGTON STATE.
A STUDY THAT WAS JUST
COMMISSIONED BY THE LEGISLATURE
SAYS IT HAS GROWN 15% OVER
ABOUT FOUR YEARS.
SO VERY SMALL AND GROWING, AND
I THINK A HUGE INFLUENCE
OVERALL, BECAUSE SO MANY OF THE
COMPANIES, VERY FRANKLY, TREAT
WORKERS AS INDEPENDENT
CONTRACTORS, AND DON'T PAY
PAYROLL TAXES AND DON'T FEEL
OBLIGATED TO PAY MINIMUM WAGE.
>> INTERESTINGLY, WE THINK ABOUT
ELECTRIC BIKES AND SCOOTERS AS
BEING AT BASED, BUT ONE OF THE
THINGS THAT WE LEARNED FROM OUR
COLLEAGUES IN CHICAGO, AS THEY
RULED OUT THEIR SCOOTER POLICY,
THEY REQUIRED THE WORKERS IN
THAT INDUSTRY TO BE ACTUAL W-2
WORKERS, A GOOD EXAMPLE OF
WHERE YOU HAVE AN AT BASELINE
OF EMPLOYMENT, BUT IT IS
ABSOLUTELY EMPLOYMENT, NOT AN
INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR
SITUATION, IS THAT AN EXAMPLE
OF WHERE MIGHT BE DICTATED BY A
NAP, BUT CLASSIFIED AS A
EMPLOYEE?
-- DICTATED BY AN APP.
>> YES, TALKING ABOUT WHAT
WORKERS WANT, BUT ALSO
COMPLYING WITH BASIC LABOR
STANDARDS.
>>> WE HAVE A FEW SLIDES, AND
I'M WONDERING, WITH MIA, IF WE
LOOK AT SLIDE 4, AN EXAMPLE OF
A HOUSING, HEALTH, ENERGY, AND
WORKERS
SCREENSHOT.
>> CAN I JUST EXPAND WHAT YOU
SAID, WHAT I'VE NOTICED
ESPECIALLY ON INSTACART, THEY
KEEP TELLING US THAT WE ARE
CONTRACTORS, BUT IF WE ARE
TRULY CONTRACTORS, IF A JOB
COMES TO ME, I SHOULD BE ABLE
TO REFUSE IT, BECAUSE I'M A
CONTRACTOR, BUT INSTEAD I GET
PENALIZED, IF THEY GIVE ME AN
ORDER FOR FIVE DOLLARS AND YOU
SAY NO, I'M NOT TAKING THAT FOR
FIVE DOLLARS, I'M NOT GOING 10
MILES FOR FIVE DOLLARS, FOR
THREE MINUTES YOU HAVE TO WAIT,
AND THEY SEND IT TO YOU AGAIN,
YOU HAVE TO WAIT ANOTHER THREE
MINUTES AND DECLINE IT.
THEN THAT THEY SEND YOU ANOTHER
ONE THAT SLOWED AND YOU SAY NO,
THEY KICK YOU OFF THE SYSTEM.
AND THEY GIVE YOU A RELIABILITY
INCIDENT. BUT IF I'M A
CONTRACTOR AND I SPOKE TO
CUSTOMER SERVICE ABOUT THIS, I
SHOULD BE ABLE TO SAY NO, I'M
NOT GOING TO DO THAT JOB, THEY
WANTED BOTH WAYS.
THEY WANT TO TREATISE AS
CONTRACTORS WHEN IT SUITS THEM,
BUT THEY DON'T WANT TO TREATISE
LIKE EMPLOYEES, -- BUT THEY
WANT TO TREATISE LIKE EMPLOYEES
AND PENALIZE US WHEN WE DON'T
TAKE A JOB.
>> AN IMPORTANT DISTINCTION,
MAYBE BEFORE GOING TO THE
SLIDE, HAVING HAD A CHANCE TO
WORK WITH REBECCA SMITH ON
MISCLASSIFICATION ISSUES, I
KNOW YOU KNOW INSIDE AND OUT,
THE DEFINITION OF DIRECTION AND
CONTROL, WHEN YOU LOOK AT
SOMEONE, AND LOOK AT WHETHER
THEY ARE TRULY AN INDEPENDENT
CONTRACTOR OR NOT.
DO YOU MIND SHARING WITH FOLKS
IN THE ROOM, AND EVERYBODY
WATCHING ONLINE, THE DEFINITION
OF DIRECTION AND CONTROL, WHICH
IS SOMETHING WE SHOULD BE
LOOKING AT TO DEFINE WHETHER OR
NOT THERE IS A BONA FIDE
INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR ROLE,
VERSUS BEING TOLD WHAT TO DO
AND WHERE TO GO, AND PENALTIES
ASSOCIATED IF YOU DON'T DO
THAT, DO YOU MIND SHARING
BACKGROUND?>> YES, THE ESSENCE
OF BEING IN BUSINESS FOR
YOURSELF IS THAT YOU HAVE
CONTROL OVER THINGS OTHER THAN
MAYBE THE HOURS THAT YOU WORK,
YOU GET TO DECIDE WHAT
CUSTOMERS YOU CHOOSE, AND SET
YOUR OWN STANDARDS, AND YOUR
OWN RATES.
THAT IS WHAT IS BEING IN
BUSINESS FOR YOURSELF, A
PLUMBER WHO COMES YOUR HOUSE,
OR THE ELECTRICIAN, AT LEAST AT
MY HOUSE, THEY TELL ME WHAT
THEY'RE GOING TO CHARGE, I
DON'T TELL THEM.
AND WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT
AIHA WAS TALKING ABOUT, AND
SOME WAYS THESE COMPANIES EXERT
MORE CONTROL THAN ANY W-2
EMPLOYER YOU CAN THINK OF,
BECAUSE OF THE ALGORITHMS, AND
THEY KEEP
>>> OF WORKERS' EVERY MOVEMENT.
>> ARE VERY INTERESTING --
TRACK OF WORKERS' EVERY
MOVEMENT.
>>> PULL THIS RULE CLOSE, AND
YOU CAN SHOWS THE INSTACART
SCREEN.
>> YOU WILL BE TOLD WHERE YOU
ARE GOING TO GO SHOP AT, HOW
MANY PIECES YOU ARE GOING TO
GET, AND IT IS GOING TO BE A
FULL-SERVICE ORDER OR DELIVERY
ONLY ORDER.
FULL SERVICES WHERE YOU SHOP,
PACKAGE AND GO, DELIVERY ONLY
IS WHEN YOU GO IN, PICKED UP
THE ALREADY PICKED OUT ITEMS
AND OFF YOU GO.
IF YOU TAKE A LOOK AT IT, LIKE
WAS SAID EARLIER, YOU ONLY HAVE
A CERTAIN AMOUNT TIME TO FIGURE
OUT ARE YOU GOING TO TAKE THIS
ORDER, YOUR DAILY EXPENSES,
WITH THAT KNOWLEDGE, YOU THEN
SAY YES OR NO.
BECAUSE AT THIS POINT, YOU GO
AHEAD AND SAY OKAY, IT'S GOING
TO BE ONLY $9.45, WHAT TIME OF
DAY IS IT, IS IT GOING TO BE
ONE HOURS WORTH OF WORK, 15
MINUTES, HOW LONG WILL YOU BE
IN TRAFFIC.
SO AT THIS RATE, WE KNOW YOU'RE
GOING THE -- ONLY GOING TO BE
PAID EIGHT DOLLARS AND 46 PER
HOUR, AFTER EVERYTHING, PAYING
F DASS, -- PAYING OFF GAS.
IS $8.46 WORTH YOUR TIME?
IT'S NOT GOING TO PAY THE RENT,
THE CABLE BILL, EVEN THE PHONE
BILL THAT YOU USE TO BE ON
THESE APPS.
IT GETS WORSE, ESPECIALLY
DURING THE TIME OF DAY.
EVERYBODY WANTS THEIR GROCERIES
AT 4:00, BUT WE ALL KNOW WHAT
SEATTLE IS LIKE, ESPECIALLY ON
THE MERCER.
YOU COULD GO TWO MILES AND BE
STUCK IN TRAFFIC FOR OVER AN
HOUR, BUT THEY CALCULATE THINGS
AS THE CROW FLIES.
THEY DO NOT AT ALL PUT THAT AS
PART OF THEIR ALGORITHM.
THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT THAT, ALL
THEY KNOW IS THAT PCC IS OVER
HERE, YOUR CUSTOMERS OVER HERE,
AND THE CROW TAKES TWO MINUTES.
BUT WE ARE NOT CROWS.
SO -- AS WE ALL KNOW, WE HAVE
TO CROSS A BRIDGE JUST TO GET
ANYWHERE.
>>> IF YOU GO ONTO THE NEXT
SLIDE, THERE ARE A LOT OF THESE
TYPES OF ORDERS THAT WE GET.
HAD YOU ASKED ME A YEAR AGO, IT
WOULD'VE BEEN BETTER, THE ONLY
COMPLAINT THAT I HAD WAS, YOU
KNOW, YOU SENT ME TO CAPITOL
HILL TWICE, AND THEN SENT ME
ALL THE WAY OVER TO MAGNOLIA,
THAT WAS MY ONLY COMPLAINT.
BUT NOW I CAN'T EVEN CHOOSE --
I HAVE TO BE PICKY ABOUT WHAT I
CHOOSE, AND LIKE WE SAID
EARLIER, YOU GET DEEMED,
PENALIZED, -- DINGED, IF YOU
CAN'T AFFORD TO DO THE JOB.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE HOURLY RATE,
YOU GET $3.76.
IS CHEAPER TO STAY HOME.
AND WAIT FOR THE NEXT ONE.
DON'T GET ME WRONG, WE ALL WANT
TO WORK, THAT'S THE REASON WHY
A LOT OF US HAVE TWO OR THREE
JOBS.
WE WANT TO WORK. WE'VE GOT ALL
THESE PENALTIES AGAINST US.
>> THANK YOU.
>>> LET'S LOOK AT THE EXAMPLE
AS WELL FROM THE UBER DRIVER
PERSPECTIVE, DON, IF YOU WANT
TO WALK THROUGH THAT, IN OPEN
IT UP TO COUNCILMEMBER
QUESTIONS.
BEFORE WE DO COME -- PUBLIC
COMMENT.
>> THIS IS A DRIVE I DID FROM
DOWNTOWN TO CAPITOL HILL, WHAT
WE SEE HERE IS A SITUATION WE
ARE SEEING MORE MORE OF, IN
WHICH I'M SUPPOSED TO RECEIVE
80%, AND I DIDN'T EVEN RECEIVE
-- 2 SINCE OVER HALF.
I DIDN'T EVEN RECEIVE 50%,
THERE IS NO EXPLANATION, IF
THERE WAS A CONVENTIONAL SURGE
RIDE, I WOULD'VE KNOWN, I WOULD
HAVE GOTTEN 80% OF THAT, BUT
THERE IS NO INDICATION HERE ON
WHY THE WRITER -- RIDER WAS
PAYING A LARGER SUM WHICH I
DIDN'T RECEIVE A LARGER
PERCENTAGE OF.
I THINK THERE IS SOMETHING THEY
CALL UPFRONT PRICING, AS A
DRIVER, I'M NOT TOLD WHAT THAT
IS.
I DON'T EVEN KNOW THAT IT
HAPPENS.
I DON'T GENERALLY GO CHECKING
EACH RIDE AFTER I DO IT TO SEE
WHAT THE PERCENTAGE BREAKDOWN
WAS, BUT EVERY NOW AND THEN, I
WILL FLIP THROUGH, AND I'M
SEEING THESE WERE I GOT 40%,
50%, 60%, AND NOTHING
INDICATING WOULD HAPPEN, THE
RIDER UPFRONT SAID THEY WOULD
PAY THIS, AND IT'S NOT
INDICATED TO ME AT ALL.
THIS IS AN INSTANCE WHERE THEY
ARE, WITHOUT EXPLANATION, TAKING
MUCH MORE THAN THEIR 20%.
>>> AND I RECEIVED THIS $5.43,
I SPENT 30 MINUTES ON THIS RIDE,
A FEW MINUTES GETTING THERE,
WAITED A FEW MINUTES AFTERWARDS,
20 OR 25 MINUTES INVESTED IN
THIS, $5.43, HOWEVER, MY INCOME
TAX RETURN WOULD INDICATE, AND
I SHARED MY RETURNS WITH YOU
GUYS LAST YEAR, YOU CAN SEE
THEM AGAIN, I CAN PROVIDE THAT,
IT WOULD INDICATE THAT I MAKE
JUST OVER 50% OF THAT $5.43
AFTER TAXES AND EXPENSES.
IN GENERAL, AFTER EXPENSES, I
CLEARED $31,000, AND PAID $5000
IN TAXES.
SO $26,000 WORKING FULL TIME IN
A BOOMTOWN, IN AN INDUSTRY THAT
SUPPOSEDLY IS VITAL TO THE
FUNCTIONING OF THE CITY, AND A
ON-DEMAND SERVICE, THE MARKET,
IF WE WERE TRULY ENGAGED IN
FREE-MARKET CAPITALISM WITHIN
THESE COMPANIES, I WOULD BE
MAKING MUCH MORE THAN THAT.
THE MARKET WOULD DEMAND THAT.
A MUCH GREATER DEMAND THAN WHAT
WE ARE BEING PAID FOR ANY OF
THIS, THE DEMAND IS MUCH
GREATER.
THESE COMPANIES ARE ENGAGING IN
MONOPOLIZATION, IS THE GOAL,
PREDATORY PRICING IS THE MEANS
BY WHICH THE AND OPTIMIZATION
IS TRYING TO BE ACHIEVED.
-- MONOPOLIZATOIN, THESE
COMPANIES DON'T ENGAGE IN FREE-
MARKET CAPITALISM, IF THEY DID,
THEY WOULD PROBABLY GO OUT OF
BUSINESS, I DON'T THINK THAT
UBER AND LYFT COULD COMPETE IN
A TRUE FREE MARKET, WHERE WE
WERE ALLOWED TO CHARGE WHAT WE
NEED TO CHARGE FOR DOING THE
SERVICE.
>> ON THE NEXT SLIDE, YOU
HIGHLIGHTED SOME OF THE KEY
DISTINCTIONS THAT I WANTED TO
CALL OUT, I'M SORRY DID YOU
HAVE SOMETHING TO ADD?
>> I WANTED TO ADD, I DO LYFT
AS WELL, AN AIRPORT RIDE,
THERE'S NO FLAT RATE, SUPPOSED
TO BE A GUARANTEED EARNING, TO
GO TO THE AIRPORT, I MAKE
BETWEEN $18-$23, HOPEFULLY I
GET A RIDE FROM THE AIRPORT, I
HAVE MY AIRPORT LICENSE, WHICH
YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH AS WELL,
I MIGHT MAKE ANOTHER $20, AND
IN TOTAL AT LEAST $50 TO GO TO
AND FROM THE AIRPORT.
BUT WITH UBER, THERE IS ALSO
UBER EATS, IT'S NOT DRIVING
PEOPLE AROUND, IT'S DRIVING
THEIR FOOD AROUND FOR FIVE
DOLLARS, YOU HAVE TO PAY FOR
INSURANCE, OVER $100, TAXES,
REGISTRATION, ALL OF THE STUFF
FOR FIVE DOLLARS AN ORDER, AND
IF YOU GET A TICKET ON TOP OF
THAT, YOU HAVE TO PAY THE
TICKET.
YOU END UP PAYING MORE THAN YOU
MAKE.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO ADD ONE
LITTLE THING, AS FAR AS
UNFORESEEN EXPENSES BETWEEN THE
MIDDLE OF JANUARY THIS YEAR IN
MARCH THIS YEAR, I HAD TO HAVE
MY WINDSHIELD REPAIRED FOUR
TIMES.
THAT IS UNUSUAL, BUT I
LITERALLY HAD IT REPAIRED AND
REPLACED ON A MONDAY AND
TUESDAY MORNING, A PEBBLE HIT,
AND THE WEEK AND HALF LATER,
THEN A MONTH LATER.
THESE ARE THE KIND OF EXPENSES
THAT WE HAVE THAT THE PRICES
THAT THE PROVIDERS ARE PAYING
DON'T COVER.
AND UBER AND LYFT DON'T PAY IT,
THEY ARE NOT CONCERNED WITH
THAT.
>>> IF WE COULD GO TO THE NEXT
SLIDE, SLIDE NUMBER 7. AND
BECKY AND AIHA, WE WANTED TO
PUT THESE UP, SOME OF THE
PIECES YOU HAD MENTIONED WHEN
YOU DID YOUR OVERVIEW ON SOME
OF THE TRENDS THAT WE ARE
SEEING, JUST BEFORE WE OPEN UP
FOR OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS, WE
WILL SAVE THE LAST 10 MINUTES
FOR PUBLIC TESTIMONY, DO YOU
MIND COMMENTING ON WHAT YOU
SEEING, FROM OTHER
MUNICIPALITIES, IN TERMS OF
POLICYMAKERS WHO HAVE TRIED TO
ADDRESS THE POLICYMAKERS IN THE
STORIES YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT
TODAY?
>> SURE, IT SEEMS LIKE THE
POLICY SOLUTIONS FALL MAY BE IN
THREE BASIC LINES, ONE IS TO
OFFER WORKERS FULL EMPLOYEE
STATUS, AND IF YOU READ THE
NEWSPAPERS, YOU KNOW IT'S A BIG
DEBATE HAPPENING IN CALIFORNIA
RIGHT NOW, ALONG WITH ALL SORTS
OF OTHER WORKERS WHO ARE OFTEN
CALLED AND -- INDEPENDENT
CONTRACTORS WHEN THEY ARE
REALLY EMPLOYEES.
AND THAT BILL ADDRESSES NOT
JUST AT -- APP BASED WORKERS,
CONTRACTORS, AND OTHER FOLKS,
AND BROADLY, THIS EMPLOYMENT,
THESE PARTICULAR WORKERS, NO
MATTER WHAT THE BUSINESS WANTS
TO CALL THEM, ARE EMPLOYEES FOR
THE PURPOSES OF THIS LAW OR
THAT LAW, OR THIS SET OF LAWS,
WHAT YOU PAST AS A DOMESTIC --
DOMESTIC WORKER BILL, IS A GOOD
EXAMPLE.
NO MATTER WHETHER THEY ARE
EMPLOYEES OR INDEPENDENT
CONTRACTORS, GET A CERTAIN SET
OF RIGHTS, AND OTHERS KIND OF
MAKE UP THE DIFFERENCE MORE
BROADLY AND JUST APPLY, SAY,
THE SAN FRANCISCO MINIMUM WAGE
LAW, APPLYING TO INDEPENDENT
CONTRACTORS BROADLY, AND THE
NEW YORK TRANSPORTATION WORK
COMPANY MINIMUM PAY STANDARD,
AGAIN, SETS THE MINIMUM PAY FOR
THOSE WORKERS, BUT ACCEPTS THAT
THEY ARE INDEPENDENT
CONTRACTORS.>>> THERE HAS BEEN
EXPERIMENTATION AS WELL WITH
WAGE BOARD OR WAGE AND
STANDARDS BOARD IDEAS, IN THE
DOMESTIC WORKER BILL OF RIGHTS,
PORTLAND IS EXPERIMENTING WITH
úA STANDARDS BOARD FOR DRIVERS
THERE.
NEW YORK JUST PASSED FARMWORKER
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING, AND
LOOKING AT OVERTIME FOR
FARMWORKERS.
YOU ARE AN EMPLOYEE, A VERY
BROAD TEST, BECAUSE THIS LAW
SAYS YOU ARE AN EMPLOYEE, OR
YOU GET CERTAIN RIGHTS AS AN
INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR, AND
THEN THESE OTHER IDEAS ABOUT HOW
WE DELIVER STANDARDS TO WORKERS,
AND INVOLVE WORKERS AT THE
TABLE.
SOMETHING LIKE WHAT YOU ARE
DOING TODAY.
>> THANK YOU.
ANY MORE COMMENTS FROM YOU
BEFORE WE OPEN IT UP TO
QUESTIONS FROM
COUNCILMEMBERS?>> I HAD A
COUPLE OF COMMENTS, DEFINITELY
REITERATING EVERYTHING THAT SHE
SAID, I WANTED TO MAKE A POINT
THAT -- I THINK A COUPLE OF
STATES HAVE TRIED TO GET ACCESS
TO BRIDGE THE INFORMATION
DISPARITY BETWEEN WHAT CITIES
AND WORKERS IN COMPANIES KNOW,
ANOTHER APPROACH, AND HOPEFULLY
THIS IS SOMETHING THE CITY WILL
THINK ABOUT, GIG WORK INCLUDING
NONDRIVERS, A LARGE PERCENTAGE
OF WORKERS WHO ARE PRIMARILY
WOMEN, WOMEN OF COLOR, WORKING
IN DOMESTIC WORK.
AND THEY CONFRONT SIMILAR
PROBLEMS.
THEY MAY NOT BE PAID NECESSARILY
THROUGH AN ALGORITHM, BUT
PLATFORMS TO EXACT FEES AND
PENALTIES ON THEM AS WELL, THAT
HAS BEEN A CHALLENGE FOR SOME,
BEING ABLE TO STAY VISIBLE ON A
PLATFORM, WHEN THEY DON'T HAVE
SOME OF THE TECHNOLOGICAL SAVVY
THAT OTHERS DO.
>>> AND ANOTHER THING THAT
FOLKS ARE TRYING TO DO, IS
LOOKING FOR GREATER
TRANSPARENCY, UNDERSTANDING HOW
DECISIONS ARE MADE ACROSS
PLATFORMS, AND LASTLY LOOKING AT
-- I JUST WANT TO DIRECT FOLKS
TO THE SECOND THE LAST SLIDE,
IN SORT OF UNDERSTANDING
ALGORITHMIC MANAGEMENT,
BREAKING DOWN CHALLENGES THAT
WORKERS MAY FACE, ONE OF THEM
IS SURVEILLANCE AND CONTROL,
HOW ARE DECISIONS BEING MADE,
WITH TRANSPARENCY, BUT ALSO
INSTANCES OF BIAS AND
DISCRIMINATION THAT CAN CREEP
IN, PARTICULARLY WHEN CONSUMERS
ARE THE ONES TAPPED TO PROVIDE
THE EVALUATION FOR HOW WELL A
JOB IS DONE.
THAT COULD TAKE INTO
CONSIDERATION FACTORS THAT
ACTUALLY ARE THEIR INHERENT
BIASES AND FACTORS.>>> LASTLY,
ACCOUNTABILITY, THIS DEFINITELY
SPEAKS TO WHAT REBECCA WAS
SAYING, THESE APPS ALLOW
COMPANIES TO DISTANCE
THEMSELVES FROM WORKERS, TO BE
ABLE TO SAY THAT THEY ARE NOT
EMPLOYERS, BUT THERE ARE OTHER
WAYS THAT THIS DISTANCE GIVES
OTHER ADVANTAGES AS WELL.
>> THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH, I
KNOW THERE WERE A FEW
QUESTIONS, COUNCILMEMBER
O'BRIEN, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO
ASK, OF ANYBODY FROM THESE
PANELS.
>>> THANK YOU, DON, I
APPRECIATE YOUR WILLINGNESS TO
SHARE THE EXPENSES AND THE
REALITY THAT FOLKS PHASE, YOU
HIGHLIGHTED THE CHALLENGES THAT
YOU FACE.
IN A TRADITIONAL ECONOMIC
SYSTEM, WHERE COMPANIES ARE
ACTUALLY RESPONSIBLE, LIKE THEY
HAVE HISTORICALLY BEEN, WHEN
WINDSHIELD START BREAKING, THEY
WOULD ADJUST THEIR PRICING
SCHEME TO ACCOMMODATE THAT,
BECAUSE THEY RECOGNIZE OH, OUR
COSTS ARE WRONG, BUT WHEN THE
COSTS ARE NOT BORNE BY THE
COMPANY AT ALL, THEY ARE BORNE
BY YOU, THEY TEND TO JUST
IGNORE THAT, IT IS NOT THERE
COST ANYMORE.
SIMILARLY, DIFFERENT TYPES OF
VEHICLES OR STANDARDS, IT IS
NOT THERE COST.
THE BREAKDOWN OF THIS
TRADITIONAL EMPLOYEE AND
EMPLOYER RELATIONSHIP THAT WE
SEE HAPPENING, IS REALLY
DISCONCERTING.
THE APP ITSELF, THE TECHNOLOGY
THAT ALLOWS US TO BE
SPONTANEOUS, AND FLEXIBILITY,
IS A GREAT THING, THE ABILITY
TO SHIFT COSTS AND
RESPONSIBILITIES TO FOLKS THAT
ARE NOT EVEN MAKING MINIMUM
WAGE, IS REALLY APPALLING, AND
FRANKLY, IT IS A CENTURIES-OLD
TRICK IN THE BOOK, WE OFTEN GET
CONFUSED BECAUSE OF THE
TECHNOLOGY, THIS IS NEW AND
INNOVATIVE, THERE IS A PIECE OF
IT, AND THERE IS A PIECE OF IT
THAT IS AS OLD AS THE EMPLOYER
AND EMPLOYEE RELATIONSHIP, THEY
ARE JUST TRYING TO MASK.
SO CHAIR, I DON'T REALLY HAVE A
QUESTION, BUT I WANTED TO MAKE
THE STATEMENT, BUT I WOULD LOVE
TO HEAR COMMENTS ON THAT.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO SAY IT'S A
GREAT TOWN -- A BREAKDOWN ON
THE EMPLOYEES PART, I NEED THE
FLEXIBILITY AND THE GIG
ECONOMY, I'M NOT ABLE TO FIND
THE OPPORTUNITIES IN A
TRADITIONAL EMPLOYEE
ENVIRONMENT, GETTING THE $70,000
OR $100,000, THE ALTERNATIVE IS
THIS, AND WITHOUT THE GIG
ECONOMY, THERE IS NO ALTERNATIVE
BESIDES BEING HOMELESS AND
LIVING IN A TENT ACROSS THE
STREET.
THERE ARE NO BATHROOMS,
HOMELESS PEOPLE ARE GOING TO
THE BATHROOM ON THE STREETS,
AND SO ARE THE GIG ECONOMY
PEOPLE, BECAUSE NOBODY WILL LET
US USE THEIR RESTROOMS.
WE ARE NOT BEING TREATED FAIRLY
BY RESTAURANTS, I WORK FOR THE
RESTAURANT, DELIVERING FOR, IF
I DO A GOOD JOB, THIS IS YOUR
CUSTOMER, THIS PERSON IS PAYING
YOUR RESTAURANT, YOU SHOULD
TREAT ME LIKE ONE OF YOUR
EMPLOYEES, BUT THEY DON'T.
IT IS THE EMPLOYER THAT IS
CAUSING THIS, SO I DON'T THINK
IT IS ALL ON THE GIG ECONOMY OR
TECHNOLOGY, BESIDES THE
TRADITIONAL EMPLOYEES NOT --
EMPLOYERS NOT PROVIDING
OPPORTUNITIES ACROSS THE BOARD.
>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I
WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS IS THAT I
APPRECIATE HAVING THE JOB,
DON'T GET ME WRONG, I DON'T
WANT US TO BRING THEM DOWN,
THAT'S NOT THE POINT, I DON'T
BEGRUDGE ANY OF THESE CEOS WHO
HAVE THESE COMPANIES, I DON'T
BEGRUDGE YOUR HOMES, YOUR
HOUSES OR YOUR CARS THAT YOU
PURCHASED, BUT WHAT I DON'T
APPRECIATE IS THAT YOU ARE
STEALING FROM ME.
NOT ONLY ARE YOU TAKING FOOD
OFF MY PLATE, BUT MY FORK AND
OUT OF MY MOUTH.
YOU ARE TAKING IT FROM THESE
PEOPLE'S CHILDREN, YOU THINK IT
IS JUST A NUMBER, PART OF THE
MASSES, BUT WE ARE NOT.
WE ARE THE ONES THAT MADE YOU
WHERE YOU ARE NOW.
THIS IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY
WE ARE HAVING A DAY OF ACTION
THIS THURSDAY, I WOULD IMPLORE
YOU AND ENCOURAGE YOU, AND
INVITE YOU, TO COME AND JOIN US.
AT 11 AM IN BELLEVUE AT THE
BELLEVUE DOWNTOWN PARK, WORKING
WASHINGTON, AND THE CAMPAIGN
ARE HAVING A RALLY, WE'RE GOING
TO WALK ACROSS THE STREET AND
GIVE POST MATES SOME PEANUTS,
BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THEY PAY US.
SO COME ON BY.
>> SHE IS CORRECT, I WANT TO
WORK.
WE ARE NOT LAZY.
WE ARE NOT EXPECTING TO GET
RICH, I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM
WITH THESE EXECUTIVES MAKING
BILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
THAT'S THE AMERICAN WAY, THAT'S
FINE.
WHATEVER YOU FEEL ABOUT IT, BUT
WHAT I DO EXPECT THEM TO DO IS
TREAT US WITH DIGNITY AND
RESPECT, AND PAY US A LIVING
WAGE.
THAT IS ALL I WANT, I'M NOT
EXPECTING TO MAKE $100,000 OR
$1 MILLION, THAT IS NOT WHAT I
WANT, I JUST WANT YOU TO PAY ME
AN HONEST DAYS AMOUNT OF MONEY,
ONE HOUR OF WORK IS ONE HOUR OF
WORK, IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT
YOU'RE DOING, IF YOU ARE MAKING
BILLIONS OF DOLLARS, WHY CAN'T
YOU PAY ME A LIVING WAGE?
I DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT, I
DON'T GET IT.
IN A FAMILY, IF YOU MAKE MORE
MONEY, YOUR KIDS DO BETTER,
BETTER SHOES, CLOTHES, A HOUSE,
AND THEY KEEP TELLING US, YOU
ARE PART OF THE INSTACART
FAMILY, OR THE POSTMISTRESS
FAMILY, IF I WAS TREATING MY
FAMILY THE WAY YOU TREAT US, I
WOULD BE IN JAIL FOR CHILD
ABUSE.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> DO KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING?
COME ON PEOPLE, THERE ARE OTHER
VETERANS LIKE MYSELF THAT ARE
DOING THIS JOB, AND THIS IS A
LIFELINE, AND I WANT TO BE A
CONTRIBUTING MEMBER TO SOCIETY,
I WANT TO WORK.
JUST PAY ME A LIVING WAGE, THAT
IS ALL, I DON'T COME ASKING FOR
TOO MUCH, AM I?
>> NO.
DOOR -- DID ADMIT TO STEALING
OUR TIPS, AND THEY BOUGHT
CAVIAR, AND IT IS ONE OF THE
BETTER PAYING ONES, AND IF I
WAS TO STEAL OUT OF THE TIP JAR
AT ANY PLACE IN THE CITY, I'M
GOING TO JAIL OR AT LEAST A
INTERVIEW WITH A POLICE OFFICER.
I DON'T SEE HOW YOU CAN ADMIT
TO STEALING PEOPLES TIPS AND
CONTINUE TO STEAL OUR TIPS.
AND I KNOW THEY ARE, I TALKED
TO THE PEOPLE, I'M GOING TO
GIVE YOU A TIP, SOME PEOPLE ARE
TRUSTWORTHY, AND THEN NOT TO
SEE IT, IS DISHEARTENING.
>> I WILL ADD ONE MORE THING,
I'M SORRY, I AM ALL FIRED UP..
I'M GETTING HEATED.
ú[ LAUGHTER ] I HAD A MEETING
WITH THE POST MATES EXECUTIVES,
TWO WEEKS AGO WITH WORKING
WASHINGTON, I TOLD HIM MY
STORY, THEY GAVE ME THE SAME
PLATITUDES THAT TURNS MY
STOMACH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR
SERVICE.
AND I SAID YOU KNOW WHAT, IF
YOU WANT TO THINK ME, PAY ME A
LIVING WAGE, TREAT ME WITH
RESPECT.
I GAVE HER MY COUNTRY, ALL I'M
EXPECTING IS A LIVING WAGE.
KEEP YOUR THANK YOU FOR YOUR
SERVICE.
PAY ME A LIVING WAGE AND SHOW
ME THAT YOU WILL PAY ME A FAIR
úAMOUNT, THAT IS HOW YOU THINK
ME AND THE REST OF THE VETERANS
THAT ARE DOING THIS JOB.>> CAN
I ADD ONE MORE THING?
AS A CUSTOMER MYSELF, IF I GIVE
YOU A TIP, IT'S BECAUSE THAT
PERSON HAS DONE A GREAT JOB.
I EXPECT YOU TO HAVE IT.
I DO NOT EXPECT THESE COMPANIES
TO KEEP USING IT AS A BASE PAY,
THIS IS MY THANK YOU TO THEM.
YOU ARE BASICALLY MAKING ME OUT
TO BE A LIAR.
BUT I'M THE ONE WHO IS HERE,
HERE'S A LITTLE EXTRA, THANK
YOU.
AND YOU ARE MAKING US LOOK
BAD.>> WE TAKE OUT THEIR TRASH
SOMETIMES, I PUT AWAY THIS
ELDERLY PERSON'S GROCERIES INTO
HER REFRIGERATOR AND THROUGHOUT
HER OLD STUFF, BECAUSE I'M A
HUMAN BEING, I SEE SHE IS
STRUGGLING, I COULD JUST DROP
HER GROCERIES OFF AT THE FRONT
DOOR AND THAT'S IT, BUT I GO
THE EXTRA MILE.
SOMETIMES I WILL SIT WITH SOME
OF THESE PEOPLE, THEY WILL SAY,
ULYSSES, YOU AND MY CAREGIVER
ARE THE ONLY TWO ADULTS THAT I
GET TO INTERACT WITH BECAUSE I
DON'T HAVE ANY MORE FAMILY.
I WILL HAVE A HUMAN CONNECTION,
IT MAKES THEM LOOK GOOD, POST
MATES, OR THE INSTACART DRIVERS
WONDERFUL, I DON'T HAVE TO DO
THAT.
BUT THAT MAKES THEM LOOK
GOOD.>>> COUNCILMEMBER LISA
HERBOLD, ONE LAST QUESTION AND
WE WILL GO TO OPEN COMMON.
>> I WANT TO RECOGNIZE, AS A
STATEMENT, THE SOCIAL CONTRACT
THAT YOU DESCRIBED THAT IS THE
EXPECTATION, THE COMPANY IS
MAKING A HUGE PROFIT, AND IT IS
REASONABLE TO EXPECT THAT YOU
ARE PAID A LIVING WAGE.
AND THE COMPARISON TO A FAMILY,
AND HOW A FAMILY OPERATES, AS
COUNCILMEMBER O'BRIEN SAYS,
THAT HAS NEVER, IN THE HISTORY
OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE
EMPLOYER AND EMPLOYEE, EVER
MAGICALLY WORKED BY ITSELF,
ULTIMATELY IT IS OUR
RESPONSIBILITY TO WORK TOGETHER
TO CREATE ACCOUNTABILITY AND
MAKE SURE THAT SOCIAL COMPACT
IS A REALITY.
SO WE ARE LUCKY THAT WE HAVE
HAD FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITY WHO
HAVE BEEN RAISING THIS ISSUE,
THERE HAS BEEN A CANARY IN THE
COAL MINE AROUND THE GEEK
EMPLOYEE FOR A WHILE, WE HAVE
REACHED OUT TO SOME OF THE --
GIG EMPLOYEE.
HAVING A ROLE IN SPURRING A
CONVERSATION ABOUT TO HOW TO
ADDRESS THESE ISSUES,
ESPECIALLY AS EVERY SINGLE
EMPLOYMENT SECTOR HAS SOME GIG
ECONOMY PEOPLE IN IT NOW,
MOVING MORE MORE TOWARDS THAT,
BUT WE CAN RELY ON THOSE FOLKS
TO INITIATE THOSE
CONVERSATIONS.
WE HAVE TO DO THEM HERE NOW.
I APPRECIATE AND UNDERSTAND THE
ROLE OF TECHNOLOGY, VERY
SIMILAR TO WHAT WE LEARNED IN
THE SECURE SCHEDULING,
DISCUSSIONS ABOUT HOW TECH AND
AN APP CALLED FIRST IN TIME
ALLOWED EMPLOYERS TO BASICALLY
SEND PEOPLE HOME WITH VERY
SHORT NOTICE BECAUSE THEY ARE
ABLE TO CRUNCH NUMBERS QUICKLY
AND GET DOWN TO THE MINUTE, THE
NUMBER OF PEOPLE THEY NEED ON
THE FLOOR, THEY SAVE THEIR
COSTS, BY MINIMIZING THE NUMBER
OF HOURS THAT YOU ARE WORKING.
BUT THAT DOESN'T WORK FOR US.
WE HEAR YOU.
>>> WE HEAR THAT THE
FLEXIBILITY IN THIS ECONOMY,
AND WITH THE NEEDS THE PEOPLE
HAVE, TO CARE FOR THEIR FAMILY,
MEANS THAT YOU NEED THIS KIND
OF WORK, BUT WE CANNOT LET
EMPLOYERS HAVE IT BOTH WAYS, IF
THEY ARE GOING TO TREAT YOU
LIKE EMPLOYEES, AND HOLD YOU
ACCOUNTABLE, AND ALLOW OTHER
PEOPLE TO RATE YOUR PERFORMANCE,
WE NEED TO HAVE SOME WAY OF
MONITORING THAT, AND REGULATING
TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR
EXPECTATIONS AS A COMMUNITY, A
COMMUNITY OF PEOPLE WHO ARE
COMMITTED TO MAKING SURE IT
WORKS FOR EVERYONE, I CAN MOVE
FORWARD.
SO I REALLY AND TRULY APPRECIATE
YOUR WORDS, YOUR EXPERIENCES,
WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND HOW THESE
APPS WORK, AND HOW THEY IMPACT
YOUR LIVES, AND THAT IS THE WAY
WE ARE GOING TO MAKE GOOD
PUBLIC POLICY, THANK YOU.
>>> THANK YOU FOR BOTH OF YOU
FOR BEING HERE TO UNDERSCORE
YOUR COMMITMENT.
>>> BEFORE WE TURN IT OVER TO
PUBLIC COMMENT, ANY LAST
THOUGHTS?
>> THE FLEXIBILITY IS
IMPORTANT, BUT WE HAVE TO BE
CAREFUL THAT THEY ARE NOT USING
FLEXIBILITY TO ELIMINATE
EVERYTHING ELSE, IT DOES NOT
COMPENSATE FOR POOR PAY, AND WE
HAVE PEOPLE WHO WORK 70-80
HOURS PER WEEK, THERE'S NOT A
LOT OF FLEXIBILITY.
>> I USE THAT WORD WITH FULL
UNDERSTANDING HOW IT IS BEING
OFTEN USED, AND THE USE OF IT
BY OTHER EMPLOYEES IS BEING
USED AGAINST OUR EFFORTS TO
HAVE FAIR WORKER STANDARDS.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO ADD THAT THE
UNEMPLOYMENT SECURITY
DEPARTMENT, THAT HAS BEEN MY
QUESTION FOR THE LAST TWO OR
THREE YEARS, WHERE ARE THE IN
ALL OF THIS, WHEN THERE IS
TIMES THAT I'M NOT MAKING
MONEY, SLOW PERIODS, DROUGHT
SEASON IF YOU WILL, FILING FOR
UNEMPLOYMENT, WHAT I HAVE FOUND
IS THAT THE UNEMPLOYMENT
SECURITY DEPARTMENT HAS WORKED
AGAINST ME, CHARGED ME WITH
FRAUD, AND NOW I OWE THEM.
I CAN'T WIN FOR LOSING.
THE UNEMPLOYMENT SECURITY
DEPARTMENT, THERE IS NO NEED
FOR A.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO QUICKLY ADD
WHAT YOU SAID, COUNCILWOMAN,
OBVIOUSLY THESE COMPANIES, LIKE
I SAID, I MET WITH EXECUTIVES,
THEY GAVE ME THE FULL SONG AND
DANCE, AND SAID WE ARE GOING TO
HELP YOU AND CHANGE THIS, BUT
OBVIOUSLY SELF-REGULATION IS
NOT GOING TO WORK.
UBER AND LYFT HAVE NOT DONE
ANYTHING, EVEN THOUGH THEY SAY
THEY ARE DOING BEST FOR THE
WORKER, THEY ARE NOT GOING TO,
YOU HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD,
UP TO YOU GUYS WHO ARE VOTED
IN, TO DO LEGISLATION TO
PROTECT US.
TO HAVE THE HONOR, COURAGE AND
COMMITMENT THAT I LEARNED IN
THE MARINE CORPS, THAT YOU WILL
ALSO HAVE THAT HONOR AND
COMMITMENT TO FIGHT FOR US AND
HELP US OUT.
>> THE SAME HONOR AND
COMMITMENT THAT WE GIVE
EVERYONE, I GIVE A LOT OF RIDES
TO THE CITY COUNCIL, AND
CUSTOMERS, PROVIDING THEIR
FOOD, MAKING SURE IT IS
PACKAGED RIGHT, PEOPLE ARE
GETTING THEIR STARBUCKS IN THE
MORNING, EVERYBODY IS HAPPY.
IT GOES AROUND, I'M NOT JUST
THE DUMB DELIVERY DRIVER.
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> THANK YOU FOR SAYING THAT.
>> ONCE AGAIN THE RALLY IS THIS
THURSDAY, 11 AM, DOWNTOWN
BELLEVUE PARK, FEEL FREE TO
PARK AT EITHER MALL, LINCOLN
SQUARE MALL OR THE BELLEVUE
SQUARE MALL, COME JOIN US
PLEASE, BECAUSE WE COULD HAVE A
LOT OF PEOPLE THERE.>> MIA, DON
, ULYSSES, MARIAH, AIHA,
REBECCA, THANK YOU FOR BEING
HERE TODAY.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
PUBLIC TESTIMONY, 1 1/2 FOR
MINUTES, FOR FOLKS WHO NEED TO
PREPARE THEIR COMMENTS, BEFORE
WE DO THAT, COUNCILMEMBER LISA
HERBOLD?
>> I WANT TO MAKE MENTION FOR
THE VIEWING PUBLIC THAT THE
COUNCIL BACK IN FEBRUARY PASSED
A RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE
OFFICE OF LABOR STANDARDS TO
LOOK AT THE ISSUE, NOT THE
BROAD ISSUE OF THE GIG ECONOMY,
BUT SPECIFICALLY WORKER
MISCLASSIFICATION.
WE ARE ACTUALLY EXPECTING A
REPORT FROM THE OFFICE OF LABOR
STANDARDS, WITH THE HELP OF THE
ADVISORY COMMITTEE, LATER THIS
MONTH FOR SOME RECOMMENDATIONS
ON HOW TO ADDRESS THE SPECIFIC
ISSUE OF WORKERS BEING
MISCLASSIFIED, I KNOW THE ISSUE
IS MUCH BROADER, BUT I'M
LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING
THAT.
>> A GREAT REMINDER, THANK YOU
FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
AND THANK YOU FOR PUTTING UP
1:30 ON THE CLOCK, I WOULD LIKE
TO'S -- TO THINK OUR CHIEF OF
STAFF FOR ORGANIZING THIS AND
COORDINATING TODAY'S
DISCUSSION.
BEFORE I CALL FOLKS UP, I WILL
CALL YOU UP IN GROUPS OF THREE.
I WANT TO REMIND FOLKS THAT
THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF A
CONVERSATION, WE ARE INTERESTED
IN HAVING WITH FOLKS IN THE
INDUSTRY, OTHER WORKERS, OTHER
EXPERIENCES BEING SHARED, GIVEN
THE TIMING TODAY, IT IS A WORK
SESSION THAT IS RELATIVELY
SHORT, WE WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE
THAT THERE WILL BE MORE TO COME,
THERE WILL BE MORE
OPPORTUNITIES IN THE FUTURE,
FOR INDUSTRY AS WELL TO
RESPOND, WE ARE INTERESTED IN
THE ACCOUNTABILITY AND
TRANSPARENCY -- TRANSPARENCY
ISSUES.
JAKE LINDSAY, BOB -- I
APPRECIATE YOU ARE RECOGNIZING
OUR STRUGGLING, AND ADAM.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING
HERE JAKE.
>> THANK YOU, I AM ALSO A UBER
AND LYFT DRIVER, WHO FOR ALL
FOUR YEARS I'VE WORKED FOR THEM,
I HAVE MADE UNDER MINIMUM WAGE,
SOMETIMES EVEN BEFORE EXPENSES.
AS THIS PANEL SHOWS IN THE DATA
SHOWS, ONE OF TENS OF MILLIONS
OF GIG ECONOMY WORKERS BEING
TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF BY THESE
UNFAIR CONTRACTS.
IT SHOULD BE FLATLY ILLEGAL FOR
THESE COMPANIES, SETTING OUR
WAGES, TO NOT PAY US AT MINIMUM
WAGE AT THE VERY LEAST.
AFTER EXPENSES.
UBER AND LYFT ARE EVEN RANKING
IS BASED ON HOW MANY TRIPS WE
GIVE, BASED ON OUR RANK, WE
MIGHT EARN CERTAIN MEAGER
REWARDS, MAYBE A CREDIT CARD
THAT GIVES US CASH BACK.
IT IS DEMONSTRATING THAT THEY
ARE WILLING TO DYNAMICALLY
GRANT BENEFITS TO WORKERS BASED
ON HOW MUCH THEY EARN FOR THE
COMPANY.
WHY NOT LEGISLATE THEM TO RANK
IS BASED ON HOW MANY HOURS WE
DRIVE, NOT HOW MANY TRIPS WE
GIVE, THEY DON'T ALWAYS CALM,
INSTEAD OF CASH BACK ON GAS,
MAY BE HOURS GRANT SICK PAY,
LIKE WE DO FOR OTHER CITY
LEGISLATION AROUND SICK PAY.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE LEGISLATORS
EXPLORING THAT BENEFIT
STRUCTURE, TO PASS A MINIMUM
WAGE GUARANTEE, LIKE THE WAY
THAT NEW YORK HAS DONE, AFTER
EXPENSES MINIMUM WAGE, AND A
LOT OF SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS
TRY TO MAKE A FALSE CHOICE
BETWEEN FLEXIBILITY AND WORKERS
RIGHTS, BEWARE OF THE DRIVE
FORWARD GROUP AND THE PR PEOPLE
WHO SAY YOU CAN'T HAVE WORKERS
RIGHTS WITHOUT RATE SCHEDULES,
AND THE CAB INDUSTRY AND THE
UNIONS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
BOB, AND FOLLOWED BY ADAM, AND
LYNN REED.
THANK YOU BOB.
JUST PULL THE MICROPHONE
CLOSE.>> I HAVE BEEN AN UBER
DRIVER FOR ABOUT SIX YEARS NOW,
WHEN I STARTED IT, WE GOT FAIR
PAY, THE MILEAGE RATE WAS
GREAT, AND THE PERCENT THEY
TOOK FROM US WAS FAIR.
SINCE I STARTED, THE RATES HAVE
BEEN GOING DOWN MORE AND MORE,
THE PERCENT THEY TAKE GOES UP
MORE AND MORE, SOME OF THEM ARE
50%, SOME ARE MORE, AND I'VE
HAD SOME RIDES THAT I GET PAID
$2.80 FOR, SOME OF THE ONES
DOWNTOWN, AND $3.20, AND THAT'S
NOT ENOUGH TO PAY FOR THE GAS
IT TAKES TO GO THERE.
SO ANOTHER THING THAT I HAVE TO
SAY ABOUT UBER IS, THE
BACKGROUND CHECKS.
LAST YEAR, AT MY BACKGROUND
CHECK, I WAS DEACTIVATED FOR
THREE WEEKS, THE REASON?
CHECK ARE DETERMINED I DIDN'T
HAVE A DRIVERS LICENSE.
I TOOK MY DRIVERS LICENSE AND A
LETTER FROM THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT THAT I HAD A VALID
LICENSE, TO THE UBER HUB.
THEY DIDN'T BELIEVE ME.
THEY DIDN'T BELIEVE THE STATE
OF WASHINGTON, THEY DID NOT
BELIEVE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
IT TOOK THEM THREE WEEKS TO GET
WORD BACK FROM CHECKER THAT I
WAS OKAY TO DRIVE.
AND ONE OTHER THING THAT
>> BOB, CAN YOU WRAP UP BECAUSE
OF THE TIMING?
DO YOU WANT TO SAY ONE MORE
THING IN CONCLUSION?
>> ONE MORE THING, ABOUT THE
MINORS, THEY DISPATCHES TO GO
TO PICK UP A MINOR, THERE IS NO
INSURANCE, IF SOMETHING HAPPENS
WHEN A MINOR IS IN THE CAR, WE
ARE GOING TO BE IN DEEP
TROUBLE, UBER HAS NO INSURANCE
FOR THAT.
WE NEED LOCAL REGULATIONS.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
ADAM, LYNN, AND MICHAEL.
WELCOME, ADAM.
>> THANK YOU.
I AM AN UBER DRIVER AND LYFT
DRIVER.
I DON'T SEE WITH THINGS HOW
THEY ARE GOING, HOW IT IS NOW,
IT IS A LOT DIFFERENT.
WE WORK LONG HOURS, AND ALWAYS
YOU ARE ON MINIMUM WAGE.
WITHOUT BENEFITS, WITHOUT
ANYTHING.
SO I REALLY ASK, WE JUST WANT
TO LIVE A DECENT LIFE.
I HAVE A FAMILY, BUT TRYING TO
WORK MANY LONG HOURS, JUST
ALWAYS ON MINIMUM WAGE.
THAT IS THE PROBLEM.
I DON'T HAVE MUCH MORE TO SAY
THAN THE OTHER GUYS, EVERYTHING,
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR
STORY AND BEING HERE TODAY.
LYNN, MICHAEL AND RACHEL.>>
GOOD AFTERNOON.
THANK YOU FOR HEARING US HERE
TODAY.
THANK YOU TO THE COUNCILMEMBERS.
AND THE PARTICIPANTS.
I AM PART OF DRIVE FORWARD, ONE
OF MY BIG CONCERNS IS THAT WE
REPRESENT OVER 2200 DRIVERS, IN
WASHINGTON STATE, AND WE WERE
NOT ASKED TO BE AT THE TABLE TO
BE PART OF THIS, I HEAR THAT
YOU SAY THERE WILL BE MORE OF
THESE MOVING FORWARD, AND I
REALLY HOPE THAT YOU INVOLVE
US, BECAUSE WE HAVE A BIG VOICE
FOR THE DRIVERS IN THIS AREA.
THIS WAS SCHEDULED VERY QUICKLY,
IT IS VERY REMINISCENT TO ME
AND OTHER DRIVERS OF WHAT
HAPPENED WITH CBO, IT WAS
PASSED VERY QUICKLY AND PUT
THROUGH VERY QUICKLY, WE'RE
HOPING THAT THERE IS
MONSTROUSLY MORE TRANSPARENCY
THAN THERE WAS WHEN THAT
HAPPENED, BECAUSE WE HAVE
OPINIONS ABOUT THIS AND WANT TO
BE HEARD, AND DON'T WANT THIS
RAILROADED THROUGH THE SYSTEM
BEFORE ANYBODY HAS A CHANCE TO
REACT OR BE HEARD.
>>> I THINK THERE IS A LOT OF
MISCONDUCT -- MYSTIFICATION
ABOUT -- MISCOMMUNICATION ABOUT
WAGES AND HOW MUCH WE MAY, THE
COMPANIES ARE PRETTY GOOD AT
TELLING US HOW MUCH WERE GOING
TO MAKE AS FAR AS PER MYLAN PER
MINUTE FOR THE TN SEAS, SOME OF
THE OTHER GIG ECONOMY NOT SO
MUCH.
I'VE CHOSEN TO REMOVE MYSELF
FROM SOME OF THOSE LIKE INSTA
CART AND/OR --, BECAUSE THEY
ARE NOT ABOVEBOARD, I'M GLAD
YOU'RE LOOKING FOR THAT AND
HAVING A VOICE IN THE FUTURE.>>>
MICHAEL WOOLF, RACHEL, AND
WOLFGANG.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, THANK YOU TO
THE PANEL FOR PARTICIPATING,
ALWAYS IMPORTANT TO HEAR FROM
PEOPLE.
MICHAEL WOOLF, EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF DRIVE FORWARD,
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING PUBLIC
TESTIMONY TODAY.
OF COURSE I WAS NOT THRILLED ON
FRIDAY WHEN WE FIRST GOT THE
AGENDA FOR TODAY'S MEETING, TO
FIND THAT DRIVE FORWARD IN OUR
MEMBERS HAD BEEN EXCLUDED FROM
THE PANEL.
I'M THANKFUL YOU SAID THERE
WILL BE MORE INCLUSION LATER,
LOOKING FORWARD TO TALKING TO
HOW WE CAN PARTICIPATE IN THAT.
AND OUT OF RESPECT FOR THE
ONGOING NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND OTHER
THINGS, WE DECIDED NOT TO BRING
OUT A LOT OF DRIVERS TODAY.
INSTEAD, I'M GOING TO OFFER YOU
WHAT DRIVE FORWARD STANDS FOR
IN THESE ISSUES.
WE SUPPORT MEMBERS DESIRE TO
REMAIN INDEPENDENT AND IN
CONTROL OF THEIR OWN BUSINESSES,
MINIMUM HOURLY GUARANTEES ABOVE
MINIMUM WAGE, PLUS EXPENSES,
PLUS EXTRA FOR EXPENSES,
EXCLUSIVE OF TIPS.
WE SUPPORT A DRIVERS BENEFIT
FUND, COVERING ON-THE-JOB
INJURIES, AND WORK
INTERRUPTIONS WHEN OUR MEMBERS
CAN'T WORK THROUGH NO FAULT OF
THEIR OWN.
WE SUPPORT PORTABLE BENEFIT
SYSTEMS FOR INDEPENDENT
CONTRACTORS, SO THEY CAN
SUPPORT HEALTHCARE, SICK PAY
AND VACATION PAY.
WE SUPPORT A DRIVER LED
ASSOCIATION, A DRIVER
DEACTIVATION REVIEW PANEL, SO
THERE IS DUE PROCESS FOR
DRIVERS WHO ARE WRONGLY
DEACTIVATED.
WE SUPPORT COMPREHENSIVE REFORM
FOR TAXING AND HIGH REGULATIONS
SO THEY CAN COMPETE ON A LEVEL
PLAYING FIELD WITH OTHER GROUND
TRANSPORTATION SERVICES.
AND AS I SAID, I WOULD ASK IN
THE FUTURE, THAT WE PARTICIPATE
IN A LOT OF THESE DISCUSSIONS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU, IF YOU WANT TO
EMAIL THAT TO US, WE WILL TAKE
THE LIST, THAT'S VERY HELPFUL.
>>> RACHEL, FOLLOWED BY
WOLFGANG, AND MICHELLE.
>> THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF
WORKING WASHINGTON AND THE FAIR
WORKCENTER, I WANT TO THANK YOU
ALL FOR HAVING THIS WORK
SESSION.
WE SPEND A LOT OF TIME TALKING
ABOUT THE FUTURE WORK, BUT WE
DON'T SPEND A LOT OF TIME TO
TALK ABOUT THE FUTURE OF
WORKERS, THIS IS A GREAT
OPPORTUNITY TO SEE WITH THESE
KIND OF JOBS HAVE BEEN DOING TO
WORKING PEOPLE IN OUR
COMMUNITY.
WE NOW ORGANIZE WHAT I BELIEVE
TO BE THE LARGEST GROUP OF
DELIVERY GIG APP WORKERS IN THE
COUNTRY, A COMMUNITY OF OVER
10,000 WORKERS WORKING ON
INSTACART, DOOR --, POST MATES,
AND TALKING ABOUT WHAT THEY
NEED.
-- DOOR DASH, A FAIR WAGE, $50
OR $60 AFTER EXPENSES, TIPS ON
TOP, MAKING SURE THEY ARE NOT
POCKETED BY COMPANIES, AND PAY
TRANSPARENCY.
HAVING AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT
YOU'RE GETTING PAID AND WHY.
AS OUR AMAZING WORKER LEADERS
SHARE TODAY, WE ARE HAVING
ACTIONS THIS WEEK, WE ARE
LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING
CONTINUE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT HOW
TO RAISE STANDARDS FOR THIS
PART OF THE ECONOMY.>> FELL FREE
TO SEND YOUR LIST AS WELL.
THREE MORE PEOPLE TO TESTIFY.
SORRY, 4. WOLFGANG, YOU'RE NEXT?
>> WOLFGANG EASTMAN, A PERSONAL
SHOPPER FOR INSTACART, WE NEED
TO REMEMBER THAT WHEN
COMPANIES LIKE INSTACART
SPECIFICALLY EXPLOIT THEIR
WORKERS, THEY ARE ALSO
SPLITTING THE CUSTOMERS OF
THOSE WORKERS, AND WHEN YOU
EXPLOIT THE CUSTOMERS, YOU ARE
EXPLOITING THE CITY IN GENERAL.
THERE IS THIS LACK OF
TRANSPARENCY AND THIS
EXPECTATION THAT YOUR TIPS FOR
EXAMPLE ARE GOING TO THE DRIVER
OR YOU'RE PAYING THIS MUCH, SO
THE DRIVER MUST BE MAKING A
CERTAIN AMOUNT, OR WOULD MAKE
SENSE.
THE OTHER DAY I READ THIS STORY
ABOUT INSTACART , THE PERSON
TOLD HIM, I'M NOT GOING TO GIVE
YOU A TIP BECAUSE YOU MAKE LIKE
$50 NOW ARE ALREADY.
AND WE DON'T DO THAT.
THERE IS REALLY LACK OF
INFORMATION TO THE PEOPLE WHO
USE THE SERVICE, AND PEOPLE WHO
HAVE HEARD OF THE SERVICE,
REALLY HELPS THE FAVOR OF THE
COMPANY.
THE PUBLIC REALLY NEEDS TO KNOW
A LOT MORE ABOUT WHAT IS
ACTUALLY HAPPENING, AND WHAT IS
NOT.
SO I'M HAPPY WE HAD THIS YEAR.
SO LET'S STOP HAVING ALL OF OUR
CITIES MONEY GOING TO THESE
COMPANIES IN SAN FRANCISCO, AND
ASHLEY PAY INTO OUR OWN ECONOMY
HERE.
THANK YOU.
>> MICHELLE?
AND THEN MARCUS AND KIMBERLY.
>> HI, I AM MICHELLE, PROFESSOR
OF MEDIA STUDIES FROM PENN
STATE, I USED LIVE IN SEATTLE,
NICE TO BE BACK, I HAVE BEEN
INTERVIEWING DRIVERS FOR THE
LAST THREE YEARS IN SEATTLE AND
PHILADELPHIA, I'VE INTERVIEWED
100 APPROXIMATELY.
AND THE THING IS, IF I CAN SOME
SOMETHING UP, THEY ARE SHARING
A LOT OF THE SAME PROBLEMS AND
CHALLENGES, AND HOPES THAT I
HEARD TODAY.
SPEAKING WITH THE DRIVERS,
SPECIFICALLY OF UBER AND LYFT,
DRIVING FOR THEM IS LIKE THE
PAYDAY LOAN OF JOBS.
A LOT OF THE DRIVERS I'VE
SPOKEN WITH, LIKE A LOT OF THE
WORKERS WHO HAVE DISCUSSED
THEIR EXPERIENCE AS TODAY, LOOK
TO DRIVING BECAUSE THEY NEED TO
MAKE SOME MONEY, EXPENSES, JUST
LIVING EXPENSES ARE HIGH, THE
SOCIAL WELFARE SYSTEM IS NOT AT
ALL WHAT THEY USED TO BE, THEY
NEED MONEY QUICKLY FOR THE
FAMILY, THE PAYDAY LOAN IN THAT
SENSE, THEY HAVE TO PAY THIS
OFF AT SOME POINT, THEY OFTEN
PAY DEARLY ACTUALLY WITH ACTUAL
EXPENSES THAT THEY END UP
HAVING TO LATER PAYOFF FOR
FINANCE -- OR FINANCE.
THEY OFTEN PAY WITH THEIR
HEALTH.
IT IS YOUR JOB TO SOMETHING THAT
LISA HERBOLD SAID EARLIER, IT
IS REALLY GOVERNMENT'S JOB TO
STEP IN AND MAKE IT POSSIBLE
FOR PEOPLE TO WORK IN SEATTLE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
MARCUS, COURTNEY, AND KIMBERLY.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILWOMAN
TERESA MOSQUEDA, MY NAME IS
MARCUS COURTNEY, A LONGTIME
WORKER ADVOCATE WHEN IT COMES
TO THE CONTINGENT WORK ISSUE, A
FORMER HIGH-TECH TEMP,
MICROSOFT, LAUNCHING THE FIRST
UNION FOR TECH WORKERS, THE
ISSUE OF GIG WORK, AS PART OF
THE LARGER AND BROADER TREND IN
THE U.S. ECONOMY, CHALLENGING
THE EMPLOYER AND EMPLOYEE
RELATIONSHIP, ACCORDING TO
RECENT REPORTS FROM THE BUREAU
OF LABOR STATISTICS, THEY CAME
OUT IN JUNE OF LAST YEAR, THE
HIGHLIGHT MAY BE THAT THE
GROWTH OF THE CONTINGENT
ECONOMY HAS NOT CHANGED OVER
THE PAST NUMBER OF YEARS, BUT
WHEN YOU ADD UP ALL THE
CATEGORIES OF THOSE THAT ARE
DOING CONTINGENT WORK FROM GIG
WORKERS, ON-CALL, CONTRACT,
INDEPENDENT CONTRACT, IN THE
UNITED STATES, MORE THAN 17
MILLION PEOPLE TODAY IN THE
ECONOMY ARE WORKING AS
CONTINGENT WORKERS.
AND THEY ARE LESS LIKELY TO
HAVE BENEFITS, RETIREMENT,
SECURITY, AND HEALTHCARE, ARE
LIKELY TO BE WOMEN AND
MINORITIES.
THAT IS A VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE,
I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT AND
ELEVATE THAT.
AND ECONOMISTS HAVE NOTED THAT
FROM THEIR RESEARCH, THEY HAVE
SEEN THE CONTINGENT ECONOMY
GROWING FROM 1% UP TO 2% FOR
THE LAST FIVE YEARS, THIS WILL
BECOME A IMPORTANT AND EMERGING
ISSUE ESPECIALLY IN SEATTLE, A
CITY WHERE THERE ARE MORE
PROGRAMMERS THAN CASHIERS,
WORKING IN THE HIGH-TECH NEW
ECONOMY, THAT IS WHERE A LOT OF
THE WORK IS GETTING DONE, IT IS
AN IMPORTANT ISSUE, I APPLAUD
YOU FOR RAISING THIS ISSUE.>>
KIMBERLY WOLF.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBERS.
I WAS PARTICULARLY GLAD TO HEAR
ONE OF THE COUNCILMEMBERS
MENTION THE FACT THAT EVEN
THOUGH THIS IS NEW TECHNOLOGY,
IT'S THE SAME OLD STUFF THAT
THESE PEOPLE ARE DOING.
FOR DECADES AND CENTURIES.
IT'S THE SAME OLD THING.
IF WE HAD HAD SOMETHING LIKE
THIS JUST BEFORE THE INDUSTRIAL
REVOLUTION, I WONDER HOW MUCH
HUMAN MISERY AND DEATH COULD
HAVE BEEN PUSHED TO THE SIDE,
NOT HAPPEN, 40 HOUR WORKDAY,
LABOR LAWS THAT HELP YOU NOT
GET YOUR HANDS, THE MACHINE,
ALL THESE KINDS OF THINGS.
THIS IS THE MODERN-DAY VERSION
OF THAT PRE-INDUSTRIAL
REVOLUTION TIME.
WE NEED TO GET AHEAD OF THIS.
SO I APPLAUD YOU FOR DOING THIS
RIGHT NOW.
THERE'S A LOT OF HIDDEN
EXPENSES THAT WE HAVE, JUST TO
MENTION ONE THAT I HAD NOT
HEARD ANYONE MENTION, THE IRS,
WHEN YOU FIGURE OUT YOUR $.50
PER MILE, THAT IS FIGURING WEAR
AND TEAR, WHAT ABOUT THE
DEPRECIATION ON MY CAR, I GOT A
LOAN ON MY CAR, AND WITHIN TWO
YEARS, I WAS UNDERWATER ON THE
CAR BECAUSE OF THE HUGE NUMBER
OF MILES I PUT ON IT.
MY OLD CAR, I MAY BE POPS TWO
TIRES IN THREE OR FOUR YEARS,
WITH THE NEW ONE, EIGHT, EIGHT
TIRES.
IN FOUR YEARS.
AND $150 A POP.
THESE ARE THE KIND OF EXPENSES
THAT WE ARE INCURRING THAT ARE
NOT -- WE ARE NOT GETTING HELP,
SOMETHING HAS GOT TO GIVE, I'M
AFRAID IF YOU DON'T DO
SOMETHING STRONG, IT IS GOING
TO BE US.>> THANK YOU FOR
SHARING THAT .
>>> THAT IS ALL OF THE FOLKS I
HAD SIGNED UP, WAS THERE
ANYBODY ELSE THAT WANTED TO
TESTIFY THAT DID NOT GET A
CHANCE TO SIGN UP?
THE WORDS THAT KIMBERLY JUST
LEFT US WITH, IN RECOGNITION OF
YESTERDAY BEING LABOR DAY, AND
PEOPLE APPLAUDING THE WORK OF
THE EIGHT HOUR DAY, THE FACT
THAT WE HAVE A WEEKEND, THE
HONOR AND THE WORDS THAT WE USE
TO HONOR LABOR ON LABOR DAY,
AND TRYING TO NOT JUST DO THAT
FOR PAST WORK AND PAST WORK
EXPERIENCES, BUT TO LOOK AT THE
CHANGING NATURE OF WORK, A CALL
TO ACTION FOR ALL OF US, I
APPRECIATE COUNCILMEMBER LISA
HERBOLD'S LEADERSHIP, FOR BEING
HERE TODAY, AND ALL THE FOLKS
WHO TESTIFIED, AND YOUR WORK IN
THE PAST, THERE WILL BE MORE
CONVERSATIONS AS YOU HEARD, WE
LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
YOU ON THAT.
A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT I WILL
BE LOOKING AT, DIRECTION AND
CONTROL, CLASS OF WORKER
LEGISLATION THAT NEW YORK IS
DONE, THE RIGHTS OF INDEPENDENT
CONTRACTORS, TRANSPARENCY,
ISSUES AROUND ACCOUNTABILITY,
THE ROLE OF UNEMPLOYMENT
INSURANCE, WORKERS
COMPENSATION, AND ACCESS TO
BATHROOMS.
THAT IS A REALLY IMPORTANT
POINT.
AND PROTECTION FROM -- FOR
MINORS.
MUCH MORE TO COME, AS WE LOOK
INTO THE ISSUE, OVERALL WE HAVE
BEEN A CITY THAT HAS BEEN
HISTORICALLY LOOKED AT AS A
LEADER ON WORKER STANDARDS, AND
WAGE, SECURE SCHEDULING, SICK
LEAVE, AN AREA THAT I'M HOPING
THE CITY OF SEATTLE WILL
CONTINUE TO LEAD ON AS WE THINK
ABOUT PROTECTING YES, IN SOME
CASES THE FLEXIBILITY, BUT MORE
IMPORTANTLY THE LABOR STANDARDS
THAT WE HAVE 54 APPLY TO ALL
SECTORS, ANYBODY WHO IS
CLASSIFIED, NO MATTER WHERE THE
WORK COMES FROM, A DIRECTIVE
FROM A BOSS OR AN APP, WE WANT
THOSE REGULATIONS EXTENDED AND
PROTECTION -- PROTECTED.
>>> THE NEXT HOUSING, HEALTH,
ENERGY, AND WORKERS
COMMITTEE WILL BE SEPTEMBER 5,
THURSDAY AT 9 AM, WE HOPE FOLKS
TUNE IN FOR THAT AS WELL .
>>> THANK YOU ALL FOR
PARTICIPATING TODAY, AND THANK
YOU FOR BEING HERE FOR THE
PUBLIC TESTIMONY, AND THANK YOU
TO COUNCILMEMBER LISA HERBOLD.
FOR HER LEADERSHIP.