Mayor Murray applauded the signing of a community workforce agreement (CWA) between the City and nearly 20 labor unions, completing a major milestone in the implementation of Seattle’s new priority hire law. The ordinance improves access to construction careers for women, people of color and others with social and economic disadvantages on City construction projects of $5 million or more.

“Seattle is experiencing dramatic growth and development,” said Murray. “This agreement will help ensure that local residents will benefit through career opportunities in the construction trades on major City projects.”

The CWA will operate like a “job-site constitution” on certain City public works projects, establishing worksite conditions, project execution and protocol to resolve labor disputes without resorting to strikes and lockouts. The CWA also implements the requirements of the priority hire law, including the percentage of worker hours served by residents in economically distressed areas of Seattle and King County, as well as the share of hours that will be served by apprentices.

“This CWA will change the future of the construction industry,” said Lee Newgent, Executive Secretary, Washington State Building and Construction Trades Council. “Working with our community partners and the City, the unions are supportive of these efforts to increase diversity and offer family wage jobs to our economically disadvantaged neighborhoods. These jobs are the key to economic growth."
Learn more about the CWA and the priority hire law, adopted by City Council and signed by Murray on Jan. 29, by visiting http://www.seattle.gov/city-purchasing-and-contracting/social-equity/la….