Tag: Godden

Council authorizes action to rectify Gender Pay Gap


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 5/27/2014

Councilmember Jean Godden

Council authorizes action to rectify Gender Pay Gap

SEATTLE – City Council authorized an action plan today to close the Gender Equity Gap at the City of Seattle. The action plan was developed with significant input from the Gender Equity in Pay Taskforce, on which Councilmember Jean Godden served. The Full Council vote today was unanimous.

The action was a response to a recent study that found that, on average, women in the Puget Sound region are paid $0.73 relative to every dollar a man earned. Among City employees, women were found to have earned $0.90 for every dollar a man earned and comprise only 1/3 of the City workforce. Between 2013 and 2014, Councilmember Godden spearheaded an effort with former Mayor Mike McGinn and current Mayor Ed Murray to identify solutions to end the disparity.

“No one should have to face discrimination in the workplace, or anywhere else for that matter,” said Councilmember Godden. “We still have a long way to go to ensure women have equal opportunities, but thanks to the hard work of the Gender Equity in Pay Taskforce and Mayor Murray so far, we are well on our way.”

Action Plan steps include:

  • Creating a regional Gender Equity Initiative to encourage other employers in the region to address gender inequities
  • Developing a paid parental leave policy for the City to ensure parents can take time off to bond with new additions to the family
  • Undertaking a comprehensive review of existing City policy to determine which practices either cause or address disparity, then developing consistent policies and strategies across all departments
  • Creating a centralized Citywide leadership and management development program to train under-represented employee groups to take positions of leadership
  • Developing best practices and training so City managers remain aware of gender disparities and take proper steps to address problems

For the latest actions on City’s gender pay gap work please visit the Council’s webpage on the issue.

[View in Council Newsroom]

Councilmember Godden’s statement on “Equal Pay Day”, Obama’s efforts to bridge gender wage gap


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 4/8/2014

Councilmember Jean Godden

Councilmember Godden’s statement on “Equal Pay Day”, Obama’s efforts to bridge gender wage gap

SEATTLE – Councilmember Jean Godden offered the following statement in response to President Barack Obama’s Equal Pay Executive Orders to prohibit federal contractors from retaliating against workers who discuss pay, and also to direct the Labor Department to issue new rules requiring federal contractors to provide compensation data:

“Today, April 8, is ‘Equal Pay Day’ in the United States, yet women continue to make 77 cents for every dollar men earn. I commend our President for signing two executive orders today which increase wage transparency and protect employees’ rights to discuss their salaries. Allowing employees to examine their workplace and identify discrepancies in pay are important ways for women to advocate for raises and to be paid the same as men.

“In Seattle, Mayor Murray has joined with the Council to get the city’s house in order, examine the gender pay gap in city departments and take steps to correct disparities. For the first time, the Council has a Gender Equity committee of which I am the proud Chair. We have a lot of work ahead of us, both nationally and locally, but here in Seattle I’m ready to take up specific legislation designed to close the gap.”

[View in Council Newsroom]

Councilmembers Licata, Godden statements on the passing of former Councilmember Jim Compton


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 3/18/2014

Councilmember Jean Godden
Councilmember Nick Licata

Councilmembers Licata, Godden statements on the passing of former Councilmember Jim Compton

SEATTLE – Councilmembers Nick Licata and Jean Godden issued the following statements today on the passing of former Councilmember Jim Compton:

Councilmember Nick Licata:

"Jim and I shared a term of service, an interest in writing and a love of literature. As a journalist and councilmember, Jim worked tirelessly to inform the public, educate the electorate and tell the stories that had meaning to Seattleites.

"Beginning with his election in 1999, Jim advocated for open and transparent government, police accountability and a municipally-owned wireless system. I was proud to serve with him as fellow members of the Utilities & Technology, Energy & Environmental Policy, and Government Affairs & Labor committees. During the years we worked together, I found Jim’s approach to governing to be thoughtful yet still bold. He was easy to work with but stood up for his beliefs.

"Before being elected to the Council, we all knew Jim for his career in journalism, working first for NBC and ultimately as producer and host of the top-rated weekly news program "The Compton Report." Like so many in Seattle, I relied on "The Compton Report" for an in depth analysis of local issues.

"Jim served with conviction and enthusiasm. His death leaves an undeniable void for us all, and his inquisitive spirit will be missed. Our thoughts are with his family during this difficult time."

Councilmember Jean Godden:

"Today, the City lost one of its most thoughtful citizens and big thinkers with the passing of Jim Compton.

"I first knew Jim as a fellow journalist. He was working as producer of "The Compton Report" for KING-TV, and I was a columnist for The Seattle Times. Over the years, we often met professionally, covering the same story. As a city columnist, I covered him during his first four years on the Seattle City Council. Later I joined him as a fellow councilmember. During the two-plus years we served together, Jim was more than generous with advice, serving both as a friend and mentor. He often extended a helping hand on issues of importance to us both. I remember his zeal for historic preservation and his recognition of Seattle’s role in maritime history.

"It was a sad day when I learned that he would be leaving the council, but I respected his enthusiasm for returning to his roots as a journalist. I know that Jim’s post-City Hall life was rich, and he often lobbied the Council for issues he cared deeply about. His work as a journalist, author and legislator has improved our region and City. He will be deeply missed."

[View in Council Newsroom]

Sawant, Godden Recognize Women’s History Month


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 3/4/2014

Councilmember Kshama Sawant
Councilmember Jean Godden

Sawant, Godden Recognize Women’s History Month
Fight for Economic Opportunities, Reduce the Gender Gap

SEATTLE — Councilmember Kshama Sawant and Councilmember Jean Godden issued the following statement regarding Women’s History Month observed in March and the celebration of International Women’s Day on March 8. The Councilmembers salute all the women who struggle and have struggled for women’s rights around the globe, and the fight to reduce the gender gap to provide economic opportunities for women:

"Every gain for women’s rights was won through struggle. Our fight for a $15/hour minimum wage in Seattle is fundamentally a fight for women’s rights," said Sawant. "Two-thirds of minimum wage workers are women and one in five are mothers. Women are nearly two thirds of tipped workers and we must fight for a living wage for all workers, not based on the generosity of others."

Sawant cited the findings of the Restaurant Opportunities Center United: "Lowering the minimum wage for tipped workers is essentially creating legalized gender inequity in the restaurant industry and allowing a tip penalty would exacerbate the gender wage gap. Working women and people of color need $15/hour without tip penalties and we need it now."

The Restaurant Opportunities Center United also points out that female servers are paid 68 percent of the wage received by males, whereas African American women workers are making only 60 percent of what their male counterparts earn."A higher minimum wage is a powerful tool towards reducing income disparity between women and men," says Councilmember Godden (chair of the Council Committee overseeing Gender Equity. "Our city wants to be the best at bridging this gap; right now we have one of the worst gender wage gaps in the country."

[View in Council Newsroom]

City Hall to host inauguration ceremony for Seattle Mayor, Councilmembers, and City Attorney


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 12/31/2013

Councilmember Sally Bagshaw
Councilmember Tim Burgess
Councilmember Sally J. Clark
Councilmember Jean Godden
Councilmember Bruce Harrell
Councilmember Nick Licata
Councilmember Mike O’Brien
Councilmember Tom Rasmussen
Councilmember Kshama Sawant

City Hall to host inauguration ceremony for Seattle Mayor, Councilmembers, and City Attorney

SEATTLE – City Hall will host the inauguration ceremony for Seattle officials elected in November 2013, including Mayor Ed Murray and Councilmember Kshama Sawant. Officials will each take an Oath of Office ceremony and provide brief remarks. A reception will be held in City Hall’s Bertha Knight Landes room after the program ends at approximately 4:30 p.m.

Councilmembers will vote on new council committee assignments beforehand, at the regular Full Council meeting at 2:00 p.m. in Council Chambers. The Council meeting and inauguration ceremony will be Webcast live on Seattle Channel 21 and on the City Council’s website.

WHAT: 2014 Inauguration Ceremony for Seattle elected officials

WHEN: Monday, January 6, 3:30 p.m.

WHERE: Lobby, 1st Floor, Seattle City Hall (600 4th Avenue)

WHO:
Mayor Ed Murray
Councilmember Kshama Sawant
Councilmember Sally Bagshaw
Councilmember Nick Licata
Councilmember Mike O’Brien
City Attorney Pete Holmes
All Seattleites

[View in Council Newsroom]