14,000 union workers filing class action lawsuit against Seattle

A recent development has seen a class action lawsuit being filed against the city of Seattle by three unionized workers, representing nearly 14,000 employees. This legal action comes in response to allegations of widespread wage theft that followed the city’s implementation of a new payroll system in September 2024, powered by Workday. Workers claim to have been victims of underpayment, non-payment, or incorrect deductions and benefit accruals due to ongoing errors in the payroll system.

Among the plaintiffs are members of Professional & Technical Employees Local 17 (PROTEC17), the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 27 (IAFF Local 27), and the Seattle Police Officers Guild (SPOG). Karen Estevenin, the Executive Director of PROTEC17, expressed support for the legal action, stating that efforts to address the wage issues with the city have been ongoing for months, and many employees are still without proper pay.

The basis of the lawsuit is the assertion that the city should have been aware of potential problems with the new system, as other government entities that also used Workday, such as those in Maine, Oregon, Baltimore, and Los Angeles, encountered similar issues. The legal action seeks a series of remedies, including fixing or replacing the current payroll system, conducting an independent audit of wages, and recovering unpaid wages along with additional damages.

The issues related to missing wages, particularly within the Seattle Police Department, were first brought to light by reports on “The Jason Rantz Show” on KTTH. Statements from sources within the Seattle Police Department indicated that city staff were inadequately trained in the new payroll procedures, and Workday wasn’t designed to handle the complexities of paying officers working 24-hour shifts.

Warnings about potential pitfalls in the implementation of Workday had been raised by SPD leadership over the preceding two years, cautioning the Mayor’s office about possible complications that would arise. The case has been filed in King County Superior Court, with legal representation being provided by Terrell Marshall Law Group PLLC and Bennett Hartman LLP.

The legal battle ahead is expected to shed light on the systemic issues facing city employees in Seattle, addressing issues of wage theft and payroll errors that have affected a significant portion of the workforce. As the case progresses, it remains to be seen how the city will respond to the mounting pressure to rectify these injustices and ensure that all workers, unionized or not, receive fair compensation for their work.