Washington Work and Family Coalition

Take action: Demand paid sick days for every Washington family

In seven years of employment at the same restaurant, Alma only left work once. It was to rush to the hospital to see her 13 year-old daughter who had been hospitalized after an acute asthma attack. Afterward, Alma’s boss told her she’d be fired if she ever left work again.

No one should be forced to go to work when their child is critically ill. Every family needs paid sick days.

Urge Washington state lawmakers to take action on paid sick days today.

Like Alma, 1 million workers across our state have no access to paid sick days. One-third of our state’s entire workforce can’t use sick time to recover from the flu or take care of an ill child.

Washington HB 1313, a bill establishing minimum standards for accrued sick time, is ready for a vote in the House of Representatives. Lawmakers should take action immediately to ensure that no worker is forced to choose between their health and their paycheck.

We know you support paid sick days – lawmakers need to know that too. If we want legislators to take action today, they need to hear from you.

Use our action page to email the House of Representatives today and urge them to pass paid sick days. Or you can take action by calling the legislative hotline at 1-800-562-6000.

Everyone needs paid sick days – whether to stay home and battle the flu or take care of a sick child. Across the country, states and cities are taking action to expand access to paid sick days. Washington D.C., New York City, San Francisco, Jersey City, Connecticut, Portland, OR, SeaTac and Seattle have passed laws allowing workers to accrue paid sick leave.

Nancy Pelosi and Lilly Ledbetter want to talk

In November, we gathered nearly 300 women and families in Seattle to hear from House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, local members of Congress and local advocates on strengthening women’s economic security.

On January 29^th, the Economic Opportunity Institute, our allies, and champions in Congress invite you to join an unprecedented national conversation with Nancy Pelosi and Lilly Ledbetter – moderated by actor Cynthia Nixon – about these issues and the changes that will advance income equality and economic security for women and families in America.

There’s still time to sign up! Can you make it? Here are the details:

WHAT:
Let’s Talk About It: Advancing women and families in 2014
A National Tele-Townhall Event on fair pay, paid leave, and access to child care

WHEN:
Wednesday, January 29, 2014
Anniversary of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act
5:30 p.m. PST

WHERE:
From the comfort of your phone
No numbers to dial; we’ll call you to connect to the event

RSVP FOR THE CALL NOW

Fair pay, paid sick days, paid family and medical leave, and affordable child care are fundamental policy reforms that need to be on the national agenda. Hear from – and ask questions of – House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, Lilly Ledbetter, working women from across America, and Congresswomen championing these critical issues.

Help make 2014 a year focused on advancing women and families in America.

RSVP now to join the Wednesday, January 29th call.

Sponsoring organizations

9to5, AAUW, Alliance for Justice, Caring Across Generations, Caring Economy Campaign, Center for Law and Social Policy, Center for Popular Democracy, Coalition of Labor Union Women, Direct Care Alliance, Economic Opportunity Institute, Equal Pay Coalition NYC, Family Equality Council, Family Forward Oregon, Family Values @ Work, Feminist Majority, Food Chain Workers Alliance, Interfaith Worker Justice, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Labor Project for Working Families, MomsRising, National Alliance for Caregiving, National Association of Mothers’ Centers, National Association of Social Workers, National Consumers League, National Council of Jewish Women, National Council of La Raza (NCLR), National Organization for Women, National Partnership for Women & Families, National Women’s Law Center, NC Families Care, New York Paid Leave Coalition, Organizing for Action, OWL-The Voice of Midlife and Older Women, PathWays PA, Progressive States Network, Restaurant Opportunities Center, RESULTS, RI Women’s Fund, Rockefeller Family Fund, Service Employees International Union (SEIU), TakeAction Minnesota, The Voter Participation Center, UltraViolet, USAction, Washington Work and Family Coalition, Women Employed, and Working Families.

Is the flu making your lunch today?

Makini Howell is a small business owner who runs three restaurants and a commercial kitchen in Seattle, a food truck, and her family’s restaurant in Tacoma. Makini’s business has grown from a small start-up into a $2 million company that employes 40 people in our region – all while providing her employees with access to paid sick and safe leave.

But in Washington, nearly 1 million workers – or one-third of the state’s entire workforce – do not have access to paid sick days.

Urge Washington state lawmakers to take action on paid sick days today.

Washington HB 1313, a bill establishing minimum standards for earned paid sick days, is ready for a vote in the House of Representatives. We know you support paid sick days – lawmakers need to know that too.

If we want legislators to take action today, they need to hear from you.

Use our action page to email the House of Representatives today and urge them to pass paid sick days. Or you can take action by calling the legislative hotline at 1-800-562-6000.

Want to be a part of advancing women and families in 2014? Join us for a national tele-town hall on January 29th – the 5th anniversary of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. Both Lilly Ledbetter and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi will be at the town hall to discuss women’s economic security with working women from across America. Learn more here.