Title
Approval of a Resolution Regarding Council Action on the Workers’ Bill of Rights Initiative Ordinance Concerning Labor Standards for Certain Employees
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
None.
City Manager Recommendation:
None.
Report
Issue:
Whether to approve
1. A Resolution enacting the Workers’ Bill of Rights Initiative Ordinance Concerning Labor Standards for Certain Employees into the Olympia Municipal Code
or
2. A Resolution sending the Initiative proposal to the November general election ballot for a vote by the people.
Staff Contact:
Stacey Ray, Assistant City Manager, City Manager’s Office, 360.753.8046.
Mark Barber, City Attorney, 360.753.8338
Presenter(s):
Stacey Ray, Assistant City Manager
Background and Analysis:
On June 24, 2025, the City of Olympia City Clerk received the first of two batches of initiative petition signatures in support of a Workers' Bill of Rights initiative, led by the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 367, the second batch of petition signatures being received on June 30, 2025.
The City Clerk’s office transmitted all petition signatures to the Thurston County Auditor (Thurton County Elections), to verify the signatures upon the petition as voters registered to vote in the City of Olympia. On July 14, 2025, Thurston County Auditor, Mary Hall, issued a Certificate of Sufficiency, verifying that the Workers’ Bill of Rights Initiative had received more than 15% of the total number of registered voters within the City of Olympia on the day of the last preceding city general election as required by RCW 35A.11.100, totaling 5,796 valid petition signatures of registered voters in the City of Olympia at the last preceding city election (38,591).
The City of Olympia retains the powers of initiative and referendum as stated in OMC 1.16.010. The powers of initiative and referendum shall, when exercised, be done in the manner set forth for the commission form of government in RCW 35.17.240 through RCW 35.17.360, as modified by RCW 35A.11.100.
RCW 35.17.260 provides that a proposed initiative ordinance signed by sufficient registered voters in the city shall either be passed by the legislative body without alteration within 20 days after the county auditor’s certificate of sufficiency has been received, or shall cause an election to be held as provided in RCW 29A.04.330 for submission of the proposed ordinance without alteration, to a vote of the people.
RCW 35.17.330 provides that if the proposed initiative ordinance is sent to the people for a vote, it shall become effective immediately and shall be made a part of the record of ordinances of the city. RCW 35.17.340 states that upon “. . . the adoption of an ordinance initiated by petition, the city clerk shall write on the margin of the record thereof ‘ordinance by petition No. . . . ‘ or ‘ordinance by vote of the people,’ and it cannot be repealed or amended except by a vote of the people.” The ability of the legislative body to repeal or amend an ordinance initiated by petition is addressed in RCW 35.17.350, which requires the legislative body to submit a proposition for repeal or amendment of an ordinance initiated by petition, by submitting it to a vote of the people at any general election, and if a majority of the votes cast upon the proposition favor it, the ordinance shall be repealed or amended accordingly.
The Council has two options before it: (1) to pass a Resolution enacting the initiative petition’s Ordinance Concerning Labor Standards for Certain Employees; or (2) to pass a Resolution sending the Proposed Initiative Ordinance to the ballot for vote by the people.
Climate Analysis:
There are no anticipated climate impacts associated with legislative consideration of Council’s statutory options regarding the Workers’ Bill of Rights Initiative Ordinance Concerning Labor Standards for Certain Employees.
Equity Analysis:
Council held a legislative study session on the Workers’ Bill of Rights Initiative Ordinance Concerning Labor Standards for Certain Employees on July 17, 2025. The study session aided Council in understanding the subject matter, content, and issues contained within the initiative and its Ordinance Concerning Labor Standards for Certain Employees.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
There has been significant community interest in the content of a Workers’ Bill of Rights initiative proposal.
Financial Impact:
Thurston County Elections projects the cost to the City to include the Workers’ Bill of Rights on the November ballot at approximately $66,800. The estimate considers costs associated with staffing the ballot processing center, supplies, and materials, such as paper, printing and postage. While the County has developed an estimate based on similar elections, the actual cost may vary depending on the number of ballots returned that need processing.
Options:
1. Move to approve a Resolution Enacting the Workers’ Bill of Rights Initiative Ordinance Concerning Labor Standards for Certain Employees as part of the Olympia Municipal Code
or
2. Move to approve a Resolution Sending the Proposed Workers’ Bill of Rights Initiative Ordinance Concerning Labor Standards for Certain Employees to the ballot for a vote by the people
or
3. Give staff other direction.
Attachments:
• Resolution Enacting the Workers’ Bill of Rights Initiative Ordinance Concerning Labor Standards for Certain Employees as part of the Olympia Municipal Code
• Resolution Sending the Proposed Workers’ Bill of Rights Initiative Ordinance Concerning Labor Standards for Certain Employees to the ballot for a vote by the people
• Workers’ Bill of Rights Initiative and Ordinance Concerning Labor Standards for Certain Employees