There are two big changes for workers’ rights coming next year. On January 1st, the Washington state minimum wage rises to $13.69/hour, as part of a planned increase to keep up with inflation. (Tipped workers, this same rate applies to you.)
And there’s another major change on the way: In 2021, tens of thousands more salaried workers will have the right to overtime protections. This comes after a successful multi-year campaign by workers with Working Washington to restore our state’s overtime protections for overworked and underpaid salaried workers. Now, the first step of the overtime expansion is set to take effect.
Read MoreSeattle is making the gig economy pay up — this time, to the tune of $361,950. That’s how much DoorDash and Postmates agreed to pay workers for violations of Seattle’s first-in-the-nation hazard pay law, which requires large food and grocery delivery companies to pay workers an additional $2.50/delivery during the coronavirus emergency.
Read MoreAttention Washington workers: you have the right to take paid sick time to protect your health from the wildfire smoke currently choking our state.
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Atención trabajadores en Washington: tienen el derecho de tomar tiempo de enfermedad pagado para proteger su salud del humo de los incendios forestales, que actualmente está amenazando a todos partes de nuestro estado.
Read MoreEconomic security is central to public health. But as smoke chokes the state & health officials urge people to stay inside, what is the state's plan to protect the health and safety of people whose work requires them to be outside?
There is no plan.
Many workers — like farmworkers, delivery workers, sanitation workers, construction workers & others — simply can't "stay inside" and do their jobs. So, they’re left to hope for goodwill from companies...the same companies that often pay them low wages & ignore their basic rights.
Read MoreAfter months of relentless organizing by undocumented workers and a broad coalition of 430 organizations, we’re celebrating a hard-fought win: Governor Inslee just announced $40 million in direct relief for undocumented workers. The newly-created Washington Worker Relief Fund will provide one-time cash assistance of up to $1000/person. With this fund, Washington joins California and Oregon as the only states to provide relief to undocumented workers.
It’s about time. The Washington Worker Relief Fund will put much-needed money into the hands of thousands of undocumented workers, who haven’t seen any government relief since the pandemic took hold in March.
Read MoreEffective June 26th, gig workers are now entitled to $2.50 in hazard pay for each restaurant or grocery delivery made inside the Seattle city limits. Effective July 13th, gig workers in Seattle now have the right to take a paid sick day when they’re sick.
Read MoreWorking Washington and Fair Work Center seek a full-time Political Director to lead our political and public affairs work. This position will report to the Executive Director, and will serve as a member of our leadership team. This individual will develop and execute strategies to advance the policy and political goals of the organization, including helping to develop a strategy to build independent political power for workers. We are looking for a strategic, ambitious, and organized professional who is excited to create change for working people across the state.
Read MoreWhile the federal government stalls on crisis relief, Seattle has a chance to move in a different direction: we can meet the scale of this crisis and actually provide relief to people who need it.
That’s why we’re supporting the Jumpstart Seattle recovery plan. This proposal would require Seattle’s biggest corporations to pay a modest tax on the salaries of their highest-earning employees, money that will go directly to support struggling workers and families. Join us in support and tell Seattle City Council and the Mayor to Jumpstart Seattle!
Read More“The coronavirus pandemic has made Instacart's CEO a billionaire and goosed the company's value up to $15 billion. Meanwhile, the people taking on the risk of essential work during a global pandemic are getting paid less than minimum wage after expenses. That's why hazard pay is popular, necessary, appropriate, perfectly legal, and bound to expand from Seattle across the country."
Read MoreA lawsuit has been filed to get ESD to stop with all the delays and start to pay unemployment benefits promptly — and your experiences can help make the case for action. We're going to compile your answers in a legal brief we'll share with the courts to show why they need to step in and compel ESD to move more quickly.
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