Kimberly: "I did not make enough to even pay for my $600 a month room." #PayUpNow

“We’ve been working for more than a year trying to get our Pay Up policy passed. And we’re not seeing enough motion forward.

The things that the Seattle City Council passed for sick leave and hazard pay last year—those were awesome, but they were emergency measures. And we need something that’s permanent. We don’t want it to go back to business as usual once COVID has been deemed done, and that means a pay floor that is high enough that we’re not making less than minimum wage.

We need to be making over minimum wage. Our expenses are huge. When I popped four tires in one year on Seattle potholes, I paid for those tires. When I had to take out an extra insurance rider on my personal insurance, I paid for that. My gas—I pay for that. The depreciation on my car—I’m paying for that. All these things, we’re paying for.

We’re not making enough to cover our expenses and have enough to live.

To demonstrate that, right now I’m looking at zippers, little hanging bags, a Mr. Heater and a propane tank, because I’m in a tent.

I’m homeless because of these apps’ race to the bottom. I did not make enough to even pay for my $600 a month room. And so I am now homeless. This is a serious situation. We need you all to really get on this and get us some permanent changes.”

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Gig workers are calling on the Seattle City Council to make the gig economy Pay Up Now by passing new laws that raise pay, protect flexibility, and provide transparency. Send a message today: