Union members across King County achieved a major victory in May after the King County Council unanimously approved two new laws designed to strengthen labor standards and promote equity in public contracting. SEIU6 member and security officer Tim Perry spoke before the council in favor of responsible contractor policy . The legislation was championed by Council member Teresa Mosqueda and crafted in close partnership with workers and labor unions, including SEIU6. The new ordinances ensure that when the County procures services like security, janitorial, or food services, contracts will be awarded based on responsible contracting criteria—not just the lowest bid.
This means prioritizing businesses that invest in workers, uphold high labor standards, and commit to environmental stewardship. The focus is on ensuring that public dollars support good jobs, safe working conditions, and strong union standards. For union trades, the legislation expands the use of Community Workforce Agreements (CWAs) to major construction projects on County-leased land. This closes a loophole, ensuring that all large-scale projects benefit from union standards, apprenticeship opportunities, and local hiring. These agreements are proven to create pathways to good, family-wage jobs and help address labor shortages in the trades.
“Many of our members who work as janitors and security guards are immigrants and right now there is a sense of fear in our country for many of them. Despite that fear, they’ve organized and stood up to fight for and win things like healthcare for their families and decent retirements. Our union is incredibly proud to know that when the county is putting out bids for services, our union employers won’t be at a disadvantage” said Zenia Javalera, President of SEIU Local 6.
These new laws are a win for workers, local communities, and the values that union members fight for every day.