STATE GOVERNMENT
Statewide minimum wage/paid sick leave initiative is filed
The following is from Raise Up Washington:
This incremental phase-in over four years would raise the minimum wage to $11 (2017), $11.50 (2018), $12 (2019), and $13.50 (2020). It ensures that working families can earn paid sick and safe leave -‐ earning 1 hour for every 40 hours worked — so that workers can take care of themselves and their family when sick without fear of being fired or losing a day’s wage.
The initiative was officially filed by Ariana Davis (pictured at top), a grocery worker from Auburn. Davis said, “Passing paid sick leave and raising the minimum wage would change my life and the lives of thousands of workers like me. It would make us healthier and more able to take care of our families and customers.”
Sharon Kitchel, a home care worker from Olympia, said, “We need this initiative to address the struggle of living day to day. Skyrocketing prices of basic needs like housing and food further strains our economy. We need to highlight the fact that workers are paid so little that too many are forced to rely on public assistance.”
Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner (above), Executive Director and Co-Founder of MomsRising.org, said, “Our labor force is now 50% women for the first time in history, and moms are now 3/4 of the primary or co‐breadwinners in our nation, yet many of our public policies lag behind our modern labor force. It’s time to catch up to modern times. Raising the minimum wage and advancing earned sick days lifts women and children, families and businesses, and our local and national economies. Everyone wins.”
“Across Washington, there is support and enthusiasm for increasing our minimum wage and expanding opportunity for working people,” said April Sims, Field Director for the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO. “We are excited to get started with signature gathering for this important measure.”
ALSO at The Stand — Community forums start this week on minimum wage/sick leave initiative — Union members and other supporters are urged to attend the community forums across the state to learn more about the effort and how to get involved.