Committee recommends confirmation of two mayoral appointments to Seattle Labor Standards Advisory Commission

The Seattle City Council Governance, Accountability and Economic Development Committee on April 24 recommended confirmation of two mayoral appointments to the Labor Standards Advisory Commission and heard introductions from commission nominees and Office of Labor Standards staff.

The committee, chaired by Councilmember Sarah Nelson, voted 4-0 to recommend confirmation of appointments filed as item 3010 and item 3011; those appointment packets will be forwarded to the full City Council for final confirmation at its May 6 meeting. A third nominee, appointment 3143, was discussed but not voted on because the mayor’s office will refile that packet with corrected term dates for introduction to the full council.

The Office of Labor Standards (OLS) presented an overview of the commission’s role. Shuzhen Zhou, a policy analyst with OLS and the department liaison to the Labor Standards Advisory Commission (LSAC), told the committee that LSAC is a 15-member body charged under Seattle Municipal Code section 3.15 to advise the Office of Labor Standards, the mayor and the council on wages, working conditions, worker safety, and labor standards enforcement.

Two nominees who were read into the record were introduced on the record. Sylvia Gonzalez said she was a longtime domestic worker and is currently a community organizer at Casa Latina and a co-chair of the Domestic Workers Standards Board; she said she wants to bring domestic workers’ perspectives to LSAC. Patrice Tisdale identified herself as general counsel with Drivers Union and described work representing gig workers, noting local protections for gig drivers and plans for a joint June forum with the Domestic Workers Standards Board to reach immigrant workers and small employers.

Committee members asked about LSAC’s near-term priorities. OLS staff described two named priorities beyond the commission’s routine role reviewing OLS programs: (1) increase labor-business collaboration and (2) assess the on-the-ground impact of Seattle’s labor standards ordinances. OLS staff also described routine outreach planned for early May (May Day outreach) in the CID business district to inform employers and workers about city labor standards.

Councilmember Maritza Rivera, who joined the meeting remotely then in person, offered brief remarks thanking the nominees for volunteering for unpaid advisory roles. Councilmember Tammy J. Morales (recorded as Councilmember Solomon in the clerk roll call) and Councilmember Lisa Hollingsworth recorded their support during the roll call. Chair Nelson moved the recommendation; the motion was seconded and passed on a 4-0 recorded vote.

The committee record shows the clerk read the three appointment items into the record as: appointment 3143 (Patrice Tisdale) for a term to 04/30/2025; appointment 3010 (Sylvia Gonzalez) for a term to 04/30/2026; and appointment 3011 (Karina Yabella) for a term to 04/30/2026. The committee voted on and recommended confirmation of items 3010 and 3011; appointment 3143 will be refiled with corrected dates and brought directly to the full council for introduction.

The committee adjourned after completing the agenda. The next Governance, Accountability and Economic Development Committee meeting is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. Thursday, May 8.