Check out what Ty Messiah has to say about why she's organizing with her fellow nannies and other domestic workers for higher standards and better benefits in the industry — and then let us know what you think.
Read MoreHow Washington can get better wages & better benefits in the gig economy
The Center for American Progress has just released a report about workers’ rights in the gig economy, and it's a big step in making sure gig workers are included in the national conversation about workers’ rights!
Read MoreThese are the candidates to hire in the November elections.
After reviewing candidates’ resumes & experience, their issue positions, and asking our members to rate their job applications, Working Washington is officially recommending that workers vote to hire the following candidates for local office in Seattle, Tukwila, and Yakima.
Read Moredefinitely shouldn't be up to your boss
Late last week, the Trump administration announced new rules that will allow companies to stop covering birth control on employer-based healthcare plans if they feel like it.The very same day, Attorney General Jeff Sessions issued new legal guidance holding that employers can claim exemptions from anti-discrimination laws if they say they have a religious objection to basic workplace rights.
Read MoreStarbucks, this is... weird
Starbucks workers, customers, and even some investors spoke out and Starbucks improved their plan. Adoptive parents — including many LGBTQ families — now get access to paid leave! But...here's where the policy gets weird…
Read MoreYakima workers with Working Washington go on air!
Earlier this month, workers with Working Washington took to the airwaves in Yakima on local radio station KDNA, appearing as guests on the show “Aquí y Allá,” to talk about labor rights and health and safety in the workplace.
The show featured Audulia, an apple orchard field worker, and Saúl, who is on medical leave after injuring his foot and back at his job packing cherries. They talked about discrimination and mistreatment at work, and let other workers know what their rights were & how they could access trainings to learn more.
Audulia, an apple orchard field worker in Yakima
The workers addressed issues like the importance of knowing labor rights, common work accidents, discrimination against undocumented workers, and how workers can make their voices heard at the local level under Trump’s administration. Saúl also talked about his experience with seeing workers mistreated after they've been injured at work.
Call-in listeners brought up abuse of women workers in the farm industry, managers they've had who have ignored their on-the-job injuries, the political power of ranch owners, and abuse in the packinghouse industry by supervisors and other management staff.
Saúl, a worker who is on medical leave after being injured on the job
Audulia and Saúl invited local workers to join them at the workshops they’ve been participating in with Working Washington. The trainings offer a way for workers — particularly agricultural and packinghouse workers — to learn more about their rights when it comes to health & safety in the workplace, and how they can speak out if their rights are being violated. As Audulia mentioned, trainings like this are also an important way to make managers more accountable — she & her coworkers have already seen better treatment by managers who are aware that they're taking labor rights trainings.
The radio show was a great way for workers to connect with one another and learn about how they can access the trainings that workers with Working Washington have been setting up. Saúl and Audulia made sure workers who listened to the show learned how to get plugged in, and their willingness to speak up & stand up for labor rights will pave the way for many other workers in the Yakima area!
The Labor Day spirit
On Labor Day, workers from different industries spoke about what they needed to make their jobs better — rights, benefits, and organizations where they can have each others backs.
Read MoreWe asked the candidates for office to fill out job applications
We're a workers' organization, so the way we see it, when candidates run for office they're basically applying for a job working for us, the people they want to represent. So we asked them to fill out job applications.
Read MoreSeaTac workers win nearly $2 million in backpay!
Winning $15 on Election Day is huge. Defending $15 in court is critical. But seeing $15 in your paycheck is where it really matters.
Read MoreHow we’re turning workers’ rights into reality
by Khalid Elmi & Nikole Larsson
Winning strong laws is important, but we've seen for ourselves that we can’t rely on the law to enforce itself. We need to build organizations of workers that have each other's backs. That’s what Labor Day is all about.
Read More