News & Stories

Mention “the web” and many people will think you’re talking about the Internet. But when you’re having a serious medical problem, you see an entirely different network in action. Two weeks ago, as my body tried — at first, in vain — to fight off a serious infection, my family and friends were the first […]

The gender wage gap has multiple causes and manifestations, and no single policy change will solve it. We also are not going to overcome it by waiting for “cultural change” or simply encouraging employers to adopt more women- and family-friendly policies. Just as women didn’t get the right to vote or participate in school sports […]

The inequalities of gender, race and income that plague U.S. society directly impact the lives of King County’s older residents. Income in retirement is based on earlier earnings, and so reflects inequities in educational and employment opportunity. A lifetime of stress and economic insecurity can result in poorer health and shorter life spans in later […]

[Via The Seattle Times] As a working mom to three young kids, I was fortunate to have a job that allowed me to make the changes I needed to stay on the job during my pregnancies. As a legislator, though, I know that not all women are so fortunate [“Accommodating pregnant workers is key step […]

(Via the Washington Work and Family Coalition) One of every 10 babies born in Washington now are low birth weight or premature. State legislators are close to passing a Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (ESSB 6149), which will help more babies arrive healthy and thriving by ensuring reasonable workplace accommodations for pregnant women. Unfortunately, some special-interest […]

Washington State Representative Tana Senn’s 10-year-old daughter, Rachel, stole the show at a recent hearing when she urged the Senate Commerce & Labor Committee to pass her mother’s pay transparency bill: “This bill doesn’t say bosses must share everyone’s pay with everyone else, it’s just giving women the opportunity to ask if they are being […]

This month is Black History Month. In reality, every month is Black History month, because without black people, there would be no United States. Black history is tied up with slavery and capitalism, territorial expansion, annihilation of native Americans, the Civil War, Jim Crow, and ongoing inequality. It is tied up with these elements not as […]

It seems someone’s walking by pushing a baby carriage pretty much every time I look out the window of my Beacon Hill home. From my front porch, I can see three houses with infants. The neighborhood parents have bonded, not just over sleep schedules and teething, but also commiserating over how both moms and dads […]

CFED’s 2016 Assets and Opportunity Scorecard is out – and many of its measures indicate that while Washington (like much of the country) appears to be rebounding from the Great Recession, a great many families are still struggling –and families of color face higher barriers to financial security. Here’s how The Evergreen State stacks up: Financial Assets and Income | Grade A | Rank 10 High marks. Washington […]

As Americans, we strongly value both work and family — but as citizens we’ve structured our economy and laws to too often force people to work at the expense of their families. We have given millions of parents the cold choice of leaving their job and not getting any pay when they have a baby […]

We all need access to long-term leave at some point — whether to nurture a new child, fight cancer, or care for an aging parent. But too many Washington workers don’t have that option. They have to sacrifice health and family well-being to cover their bills. Washington’s Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FaMLI) bill would […]

All of us here at the Economic Opportunity Institute are taking a moment to say good morning – and to say thank you. Why are we jumping for joy in this winter wonderland? Because, even as checks continue to trickle in for our 2015 end of year campaign, we have already received $28,360 — a […]

You may remember the Waylon Jennings/Willie Nelson hit from the mid-70’s that started, “Mammas, don’t let your babies grow up to be cowboys.” There’s probably less chance to become a cowboy these days — but if you change the line to “Mammas, don’t let your babies grow up to be child care teachers” it would […]

On Monday, the Spokane City Council passed an ordinance assuring most people working in the city the right to earn paid sick and safe leave starting next year.  The Council voted 6 to 1 for the ordinance. At the start of Monday evening’s 5 ½ hour long council meeting, the policy on the table provided […]

Proponents of raising Washington’s minimum wage and expanding sick leave for low income and working families across Washington today filed a citizen initiative for the 2016 ballot. The coalition, represented by workers, union members, faith leaders and others, submitted legislation to the Secretary of State’s Office that would raise Washington’s minimum wage incrementally to $13.50 […]

Washington’s legislature launches a 60-day session January 11. As in the past several years, their biggest challenge will be money – how to adequately fund schools without slashing the other services necessary to protect the health and safety of our state’s people. The Legislature and State Supreme Court have agreed that our K-12 education system […]

We’re so close to meeting our $10,000 year-end goal, but we still need your help. Time is running out to make a tax-deductible gift to EOI before midnight tonight. Every falling snowflake adds up to something bigger — just like each contribution to EOI adds up to big changes in public policies that help create […]

Is the future something that will happen to us? No, because as citizens in a democracy, we can make choices and put forward ideas that actually shape that future. So in anticipation of 2016, here are some ideas about how we as a people can shape our own future: In 1998 the people passed the […]

What’s missing from this photo? Well, despite Seattle’s rainy reputation, we’re hoping for snow! And you can help make that happen. Every falling snowflake adds up to something bigger — just like each contribution to EOI adds up to big changes in public policies that help create good jobs and build an economy that works […]

Thank you for standing with EOI to support working families. With your help, we made significant progress in 2015 toward creating good jobs and building an economy that works for everyone. As the year draws to a close, we wish you a warm and happy holiday season. With gratitude, John and the EOI staff P.S. […]