City of Seattle faces allegations of not complying with its own wage ordinance

Summary

Seattle's transition to a new payroll system has led to significant issues for approximately 13,000 civic employees, with reports of delayed payments totaling thousands of dollars. Union representatives claim the city is violating its own wage theft ordinance and are exploring legal action to ensure employees receive full compensation. The city's Office of Labor Standards is allegedly refusing to accept complaints related to these payroll issues, prompting frustrations among workers. Despite acknowledging about 1,000 pay-related problems, city officials have not disclosed the full extent of the situation, asserting they are working to resolve the issues.

Takeaways

• 📊 The city of Seattle acknowledges a payroll issue affecting government employees.
• 💼 Approximately 13,000 civic employees have experienced delays in receiving their paychecks.
• 💰 Some employees report being owed thousands of dollars in back pay.
• 🛠️ The transition to a new payroll system, Workday, is at the center of the problems.
• ⚖️ Employees claim that the city may be violating its own wage theft ordinance.
• 👥 Unions, including Local 77, are considering legal action to ensure employees receive their full wages.
• 📝 The Seattle Office of Labor Standards is reportedly not taking complaints from employees regarding these issues.
• 🚨 The city attorney's office is referring complaints to the Office of Labor Standards.
• 🔍 The city admits to about 1,000 payroll-related issues but did not disclose the full extent on camera.
• 🕒 City officials claim they are working diligently to rectify the ongoing payroll problems.

Q & A

What payroll problem is the city of Seattle facing?

The city of Seattle is experiencing issues with its new payroll system, which has resulted in allegations of wage violations and delayed payments to government employees.

How many civic employees are affected by the payroll issues?

Approximately 13,000 civic employees have been affected by the payroll issues.

What kind of financial impact are employees reporting?

Some employees report being owed several thousand dollars, with one individual claiming to be owed $22,000 in back pay.

What is the role of the union in this situation?

The union represents the affected employees and has indicated that legal action might be necessary for workers to receive their due payments.

What does the state's wage theft ordinance state regarding unpaid wages?

The ordinance states that if a worker isn't paid wages they are owed, the organization can be penalized with fines and interest.

Has the city of Seattle acknowledged the payroll problem?

Yes, the city has acknowledged approximately 1,000 pay-related issues but has not elaborated on the extent of the problem.

What have unions claimed about the Seattle Office of Labor Standards?

Unions have claimed that the Seattle Office of Labor Standards is refusing to take complaints from employees regarding the payroll issues.

What response did the Seattle City Attorney's Office provide?

The Seattle City Attorney's Office stated that they would refer the matter to the Office of Labor Standards for further action.

What is the city's current focus regarding the payroll issues?

The city is reportedly working hard to rectify the payroll problems caused by the transition to the new system.

What does the union leader, Steve Kovach, suggest regarding potential legal action?

Steve Kovach suggests that exploring legal action may be necessary to ensure workers are fully compensated for their owed wages.