After eight months of work by domestic workers and hiring entities, the Domestic Workers’ Bill of Rights passed Seattle City Council unanimously yesterday afternoon making Seattle the first city in the country to create laws that specifically protect nannies, caretakers, house cleaners, gardeners, and other domestic workers. Thanks to your hard work, advocacy, and collaboration, Seattle is yet again leading the nation on policies to protect working people!

Council Bill 119286 establishes the following labor standards for domestic workers:

• Hiring entities must pay domestic workers the minimum hourly wage;
• Domestic workers must receive proper rest and meal breaks, including a 30-minute uninterrupted meal break if they work more than five consecutive hours for the same hiring entity, and a 10-minute rest break if they work more than four consecutive hours, or pay in lieu;
• A domestic worker who resides or sleeps at their place of employment will not be required to work more than six consecutive days without an unpaid 24-hour period of consecutive rest;
• Hiring entities will not be allowed to retain a domestic worker’s personal effects and documents; and,
• The legislation establishes a Domestic Workers Standards Board, which will be made up of workers, hiring entities, worker organizations and community members. The board will convene during the first quarter of 2019, and will be tasked with recommending how to implement new labor standards, such as retirement benefits, worker’s compensation and sick leave.

For far too long, domestic workers have lived and worked in the shadows of our economy. Domestic workers – who are primarily women, immigrants and people of color – and hiring entities have called for more protections. This bill extends basic labor protections to those whose work makes it possible for so many people to go to work, knowing their loved ones and home are cared for. I want to thank my Council colleagues, the workers, the hiring entities, the Mayor, advocates and community members who all came to the table to work on this legislation. Together, we will continue to advance workers’ rights so every worker in Seattle can work in a respected and regulated environment.

Tony Cook,Chelsea Schneider and Kaitlin Lange, IndyStar

Gov. Eric Holcomb marked his first month in office by announcing several executive actions  Here’s a summary:

Keith Cooper pardon: The executive order pardons Cooper for his 1997 felony robbery conviction in Elkhart County. Cooper served nearly 10 years in prison for the crime, but was released early for time served in 2006. All eyewitnesses in the case have recanted their testimony and DNA evidence did not implicate Cooper in the crime. The Indiana Parole Board unanimously recommended that a pardon be issued. “My decision is based on a review of the facts,” Holcomb said. “Keith Cooper has waited long enough and is deserving of a pardon.” The order does not pardon Cooper for a 1997 felony battery charge to which he pleaded guilty. Cooper has said he was defending himself against an inmate in the Elkhart County Jail. 

East Chicago lead contamination: The executive order declares a disaster emergency for an area of Northwest Indiana city grappling with lead contamination. The 30-day declaration will allow the state to work with the new federal administration to “petition for greater assistance and more resources” to help move the around 100 residents who still live in the affected area, replace water infrastructure and expedite remediation and demolition efforts, Holcomb said.

Cellphone tower deal: Holcomb announced that he would end contract talks surrounding a cellphone tower deal that Vice President Mike Pence had assured Hoosiers would fund a series of bicentennial projects he launched during his time as governor. Holcomb announced the state is terminating discussions with Ohio-based Agile Networks, and that he’s directed his staff to “develop alternatives that we might pursue,” including rebidding. Holcomb is expected to decide on those alternatives by the end of March. The decision will provide more information on how to handle the bicentennial projects, said Stephanie Wilson, a governor spokeswoman. In September, Pence had announced plans to lease excess space on the state’s 341 cellphone towers to Agile Networks. In turn, the company would have paid $50 million in upfront costs for the building projects. But the tentative deal struck by the Pence administration was much broader than originally intended, prompting concerns from lawmakers and opposition from companies like AT&T and Comcast.

Resource: indystar.com   2/2017

This guy is running for reelection … Please GOTV4DEMS against this guy … We have rule of law in the US and even in this era of trump “protected classes” exist and have rights

Determining Your Protected Class

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 has heavily influenced the way that courts determine the protected groups under discrimination laws. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 prevents discrimination in educational facilities and public workplaces. Under the Civil Rights Act of 1964, a person may not be discriminated against due to the following:

and there have been updates as well as state protection

• Age
• Pregnancy
• National Origin
• Race
• Ethnic Background
• Religious Beliefs
• Sexual Orientation
• Disability
• Veteran
• Political Ideology