No More Bogus Deactivations For Gig Workers In Seattle/No Más Desactivaciones Por Excusas Ridículas Para Los Trabajadores De Aplicaciones En Seattle

/in /by

(Español abajo/Spanish below)

App-based gig workers in Seattle fought to win new protections against unfair deactivations (aka: when app companies like UberEats, Doordash, and Instacart abruptly bar a worker from continuing to work through the app, with no explanation or recourse). Before this law came into effect on January 1, 2025, it was common for app companies to give no notice when they fired workers like this and they also offered no way for the worker to protest their deactivation.

But workers got fed up, got organized, and WON. App companies can no longer hide how they decide whether to deactivate a worker. They must provide us with a policy that states which actions or circumstances may lead to being deactivated from an app. They can’t just make stuff up, either! The rules they come up with have to be reasonable and related to the work we do. Otherwise, they can’t use them as an excuse to kick us off an app.

As part of our protections, in most cases app companies must not shut off our access to work on their app without 14 days notice. Unlike in the past, when a company deactivates an account they have to provide a reason for doing so and include information like the specific incident that violated the company’s deactivation policy. App companies must also provide a way to challenge a deactivation and, just as importantly, they have to explain to us how to do it! Once we challenge a deactivation directly through the app company, we also have the right to file a complaint with the Seattle Office of Labor Standards.

Want to know more about our protections under the Deactivation Rights ordinance? Come to our next monthly info session! Together, we can ensure that these rights aren’t just words on paper and ensure that Seattle is the best city to do gig work.

 

Los trabajadores de aplicaciones en Seattle luchamos para conseguir nuevas protecciones contra las desactivaciones injustas (también conocido como cuando empresas de aplicaciones como UberEats, Doordash e Instacart bruscamente impiden a un trabajador seguir trabajando a través de su aplicación, sin explicación ni recurso). Antes de que esta ley entrará en vigor el 1 de enero de 2025, era habitual que las empresas de aplicaciones no dieran aviso cuando despidieran a los trabajadores de su aplicación y también no ofrecían ninguna forma de que el trabajador protestará por su desactivación.

Pero los trabajadores nos hartamos, nos organizamos y GANAMOS. Las empresas de aplicaciones ya no pueden ocultar cómo deciden si desactivan a un trabajador. Deben proporcionarnos una política que establezca qué acciones o circunstancias pueden llevar a la desactivación de una aplicación. ¡Tampoco pueden inventarse las cosas! Las normas que establecen tienen que ser razonables y estar relacionadas con nuestro trabajo. Si no, no pueden utilizarlas como excusa para despedirnos.

Como parte de nuestras protecciones, en la mayoría de los casos las empresas de aplicaciones no deben impedirnos el acceso a trabajar en su aplicación sin avisarnos con 14 días de antelación. A diferencia de lo que ocurría en el pasado, cuando una empresa desactiva una cuenta debe justificarlo e incluir información como el incidente concreto que infringió la política de desactivación de la empresa. Las empresas de aplicaciones también deben ofrecer un proceso para protestar la desactivación y, lo que es igual de importante, !que nos expliquen como hacerlo! Después de protestar la desactivación directamente a través de la empresa de aplicaciones, también tenemos derecho a presentar una queja ante la Oficina de Normas Laborales de Seattle (Seattle Office of Labor Standards, en inglés).

¿Quieres saber más sobre nuestras protecciones bajo la ordenanza de derechos de desactivación? ¡Únete a nuestra próxima sesión informativa mensual! Unidos podemos asegurar que estos derechos no se queden en papel mojado y que Seattle sea la mejor ciudad para trabajadores de aplicaciones.

Fighting for Justice: A Domestic Worker’s Victory and Why We Need a Bill of Rights

/in /by

In Washington state, thousands of domestic workers—nannies, house cleaners, and caregivers—work without the most basic labor protections. Many face wage theft, unfair working conditions, and employer exploitation. Seattle workers won the Seattle Domestic Workers Ordinance that establishes overdue protections for domestic workers in the city, but workers statewide still lack clear, enforceable rights—which is why we are fighting for a Washington Domestic Workers Bill of Rights.

Recently, our legal team at Working Washington and Fair Work Center represented a domestic worker in a case that highlights why these protections are so urgently needed.

This worker, referred to our legal team through Casa Latina, had recently immigrated from Honduras. She and her adolescent daughter were living in a women’s shelter while she tried to establish financial stability. Like many domestic workers, she faced unpredictable work schedules, no guaranteed wages, and no labor protections.

Throughout her employment, her employer denied her rest breaks—a violation of Seattle labor laws. When she needed to take legally protected sick time, her employer denied this. Additionally, the employer offered to loan her money for car repairs but charged exorbitant, undisclosed interest, trapping her in a cycle of debt. Ultimately, the instability of the job forced her to step away voluntarily.

When our legal team got involved, we helped the worker calculate her damages, which included:

  • Missed meal and rest breaks
  • Recovering the unfairly charged interest from the loan
  • Penalties for being denied protected sick time

She initially sought $9,500 in damages, but penalties for the employer’s violations pushed her case above the $10,000 cap for small claims court. After sending a demand letter, the employer hired a lawyer and attempted to intimidate her—a common tactic used against immigrant workers. But with legal support and persistence, she secured a $15,000 settlement, enough to move her family into stable housing.

The Bigger Picture: Why We Need a Domestic Workers Bill of Rights

This case is a hopeful story, but no worker should have to go through this just to claim their basic rights. Employers exploit the vulnerabilities of immigrant workers, using fear and misinformation to prevent them from speaking out. But the truth is that all workers—regardless of immigration status—have rights.

If the Washington Domestic Workers Bill of Rights were in place, this worker wouldn’t have had to fight for what she deserves, such as:

✅ Paid sick leave

✅ Overtime pay

✅ A guaranteed minimum wage

✅ The right to rest breaks

Domestic workers play a vital role in our economy and communities. It’s time we recognize their work and pass this bill to ensure they are treated with the dignity and fairness they deserve.

Take Action

Our fight isn’t over. Join us in pushing for a Domestic Workers Bill of Rights in Washington! Here’s how you can help:

📢 Share this story to raise awareness.

📞 Call your legislators and tell them to support worker protections by passing Senate bill 5023

Together, we can ensure no domestic worker is left unprotected.

10 Years of Worker Wins: Seattle’s Fight for Fair Wages

/in /by

Today, we celebrate a decade of worker power! In 2015, Seattle’s Minimum Wage and Wage Theft Ordinances took effect—raising wages, holding bad employers accountable, and setting a national standard for worker protections.

The Impact

✅ $16 million recovered for nearly 10,000 workers

✅ Minimum wage increased from $9 in 2014 to $20.76 today

✅ 6,000+ workers won back stolen wages through wage theft enforcement

These victories didn’t happen by chance—they happened because workers organized, took action, and fought for fairness.

Today, Seattle’s minimum wage stands at $20.76 per hour, showing just how far we’ve come in the fight for fair pay. But the work isn’t over—bad employers still attempt to undercut workers, and we must remain vigilant to defend and expand these hard-fought gains.

The Fight Continues

As our Executive Director Danielle Alvarado says:

“Winning the Fight for $15 was just the beginning. Strong enforcement ensures our victories keep putting money back in workers’ pockets and building a fair economy for all.”

Seattle’s worker movement is proof: when we organize, we win. This milestone is not just about celebrating the past—it’s about fueling the movement for our future. 

As we look ahead, we must continue the fight to strengthen enforcement, expand protections, and ensure that all workers—especially those in historically excluded industries like domestic work and gig work—are treated with the dignity we deserve.

Let’s keep pushing for justice in every workplace!

View a Press Release commemorating this anniversary by the Seattle Office Of Labor Standards.