SEATTLE — Unions representing thousands of Seattle city workers are celebrating the new labor contracts. The Seattle City Council president says employees are getting the cost-of-living increases they deserve.
“It was a lot of work from a lot of people. The coalition worked really hard for a long time,” said Ashley Clayton, who works for the city’s Human Services Department.
Clayton says the labor contracts are the result she has been waiting a year and a half. She views the decision as a victory.
On Friday morning, Mayor Bruce Harrell signed the legislation that the city council approved earlier this week.
“That really tells city workers that we are valued and that we do essential work,” said Clayton.
Clayton is a case manager who helps people in crisis.
“I am embedded on a team called Health One with Seattle Fire Department,” she said. “About 50% of the folks we serve are unsheltered.”
Clayton is among the 7,000 City of Seattle employees covered under the new labor agreements. Most city workers will receive a 5% annual wage increase retroactively applied for 2023 and a 4.5% annual wage increase for this year.
Clayton says it addresses a crucial concern.
“The main thing was the affordability and I heard union member after union member talk to city council members at comment periods just to say, 'I cannot live in the city anymore. I moved to Bremerton. I moved to Kent. I am living up in Snohomish,'” she explained.
She says the new contract helps her afford to live in the city where she works.
“I felt seen. I felt valued. I felt my colleagues were valued and it was really acknowledged that we keep this city running and that we provide valuable services that are really needed in this community,” said Clayton.