The Struggle for a Public Labor Bureau
Seattle city leaders debate establishing a municipal office to connect workers with jobs and combat the predatory practices of private employment agencies.
The city council held a meeting to discuss the creation of a labor commission under the board of public works. This office would keep a record of those desiring to employ men and those seeking employment. W.C. Armstrong, of the Western Central Labor Union, argued that many working people were being exploited by private intelligence agencies. While some were honest, he alleged that many resorted to malicious practices, forcing men seeking city work to pay commissions or split their wages with agents. Furthermore, he noted that misleading advertisements were placed in Eastern papers to induce men to come to Washington, only to be charged fees by these agencies. The council discussed the bill as a means to provide a fair alternative to private agencies, noting that similar bureaus had already seen success in Tacoma and California. The bill was referred to the committee on public buildings and grounds to be perfected before final passage.
“He had known of men who had to borrow from their friends to pay those who had a cinch on employment.”
This 1893 debate over the regulation of predatory employment agencies mirrors contemporary concerns regarding the 'gig economy' and the role of third-party platforms in taking cuts of workers' wages. Seattle has a long history of grappling with whether the city should intervene in the labor market to protect the vulnerable from institutionalized exploitation.
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