Reports & Articles
Testimony in support of Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (SB 6149) before the Washington Senate Commerce & Labor Committee by Janet Chung, Legal Voice Chairman Baumgartner and Members of the Committee: My name is Janet Chung and I’m Legal & Legislative Counsel with Legal Voice. I’m pleased to be here to speak in support of SB 6149. I’m […]
Testimony of Marilyn Watkins, Economic Opportunity Institute, in opposition to SB 6578 and SSB 6087, before the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee, February 1, 2016. Good afternoon. I’m Marilyn Watkins of the Economic Opportunity Institute, speaking in opposition to SB 6578 and SSB 6087. Washington needs to raise labor standards so that people who work […]
Policymakers and educators alike agree: high-quality early learning depends on the competency, education, and compensation of a child’s teacher/caregiver.[1] While Washington has made strides on the first two factors, it has failed to ensure early childhood teachers are adequately compensated, even with an available remedy in state law. As a result, wages for early childhood […]
For a PDF of the full report, click here. Summary Higher education is an avenue for individual achievement, an engine of economic growth, and a cornerstone of American democracy. In the not-too-distant past, state investment in public higher education ensured tuition was reasonably affordable (and college therefore accessible) to broad swaths of students from middle-income […]
Early childhood caregiving and education is plagued by underfunding. As a result, private “tuition” is often higher than that of higher education, while caregivers and teachers work themselves into poverty. For example, the average annual cost of child care in a child care center in 2014 in Washington State was $13,488. The median wage of […]
Nurturing a new child, fighting cancer, caring for an aging parent – there are a handful of times when family and health must come first. New moms and babies are healthier with extended maternity leaves, and everyone recovers better from illness when family members provide care. But too many Washington workers are forced to return to work too soon, sacrificing health and […]
1. Everyone gets sick – but 1 million Washington workers don’t get a single day of paid sick leave. Paid sick leave allows ill workers to stay home – away from coworkers and customers – without losing pay. But the people who can least afford time off without pay most likely have no sick leave. […]
Research Overview Since San Francisco became the first U.S. jurisdiction to pass paid sick leave in 2006, over 20 additional cities and 4 states have adopted sick leave laws.[i] At least two localities, Washington, DC and New York City, have expanded their initial laws. Protecting public health, assuring that sick children receive care and prompt […]
Testimony of Marilyn Watkins, PhD, Economic Opportunity Institute, before the Spokane City Council, January 11, 2016, Paid Sick and Safe Leave Good evening. I am Marilyn Watkins with the Economic Opportunity Institute and the WA Work and Family Coalition. I am also part of Family Values at Work, a network of coalitions working to modernize […]
Paid sick days help make all jobs economy-building jobs No one should be forced to work sick or when they have a sick child – and most families can’t afford to lose several days’ pay when a nasty virus strikes. Working families spend more at local businesses when they have stable income to cover the […]
For a PDF of this report, click here. Founded as a nation of immigrants, the United States has remained so throughout its expansion and development, and today, immigration continues to shape and reshape the country and its states. The U.S.’s history as an immigrant nation has created the rich racial and ethnic diversity that strengthens […]
This morning, the Transportation, Economy and Environment Committee of the Martin Luther King County Council voted unanimously to forward an ordinance establishing a paid parental leave pilot program to the full Council. Chair Rod Dembowski, Joe McDermott, and Larry Phillips were the members present and voting. Assuring all County employees with newborn or newly adopted […]
Among many other benefits, the Affordable Care Act has been very successful in increasing coverage across the spectrum of Washington citizens – but there is still plenty of room for improvement. The Success of the Affordable Care Act Thanks to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the number of uninsured people in Washington fell from 14% […]
The loudest calls for cutting Social Security come from wealthy CEOs who will never have to worry about their own retirement security. The roughly 200 CEOs who collectively make up Business Roundtable — a business lobbying group that often pushes conservative views, including Social Security cuts — have average retirement savings of $14.5 million, according […]
In September 2012, Seattle became the third U.S. city to implement a paid sick leave ordinance. By early 2015, more than 20 cities and four states had paid sick leave laws on the books. Seattle’s law requires employers with more than four employees (full-time equivalents) to provide paid sick and safe leave for the health […]
Social Security is the bedrock of economic security for millions of children, as well as working and retired Americans. The Social Security system currently operates at a surplus, and with a few minor tweaks, will continue to do so now and far into the future. But we can improve on Social Security’s winning formula.
The Economic Opportunity Institute is building an economy that works for everyone by advancing public policies that promote educational opportunity, good jobs, healthy families and workplaces, and a dignified retirement. Work and Family Agenda Catches Fire Spearheaded by EOI, the Washington Work and Family Coalition hit a significant milestone when the state House passed Paid […]
Low wages undermining Tacoma’s families, women, people of color 5% of Tacoma families receiving food stamps had at least one member working, and 25% had 2 or more members working.[1] Of low-wage workers in Washington: 29% are parents with children at home, and 46% have attended college. They are 55% White; 24% Latino; 21% Black, […]
Retirement plans for small businesses, non-profits and the self-employed are limited, costly and difficult to use. But it doesn’t have to be this way. The Washington Small Business Retirement Market proposes a public-private partnership to open new markets to business and provide an affordable, flexible option for small businesses and non-profit organizations.
The Looming Retirement Crisis Today, a secure retirement is out of reach for thousands of Washingtonians, especially those who work for small businesses. A recent state survey revealed that approximately 462,000 Washingtonians between ages 45-64 have less than $25,000 in savings.[1] The average monthly Social Security benefit in Washington is $1,300 per month. While Social […]
Marilyn Watkins, EOI’s Policy Director, testifies before the Washington State House Commerce & Labor Committee on HB 1356 (paid sick and safe leave), HB 1355 ($12/hour minimum wage), and HB 1354 (employee anti-retaliation), February 17, 2015: I’m Marilyn Watkins of EOI. Together these 3 bills strengthen our state economy, not only in the short run by boosting family […]
Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner, Executive Director of MomsRising.org, testifies before the Washington State House Commerce & Labor Committee on HB 1356 (paid sick and safe leave) and HB 1355 ($12/hour minimum wage), February 17, 2015: Mr. Chair, and members of the Committee, thank you for having me here today. My name is Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner and I’m the Executive Director of MomsRising, […]
Testimony of Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner before the Washington State House Commerce & Labor Committee on HB 1356 (paid sick and safe leave) and HB 1355 ($12/hour minimum wage), February 17, 2015: Mr. Chair, and members of the Committee, thank you for having me here today. My name is Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner and I’m the Executive Director of MomsRising, which has over […]
Testimony of Marilyn Watkins before the Washington State House Commerce & Labor Committee on HB 1356 (paid sick and safe leave), HB 1355 ($12/hour minimum wage), and HB 1354 (employee anti-retaliation), February 17, 2015: I’m Marilyn Watkins of EOI. Together these 3 bills strengthen our state economy, not only in the short run by boosting family incomes, but […]
Sandy Restrepo, a local attorney, testifies to the Washington State House Labor Committee in favor of the Equal Pay Opportunity Act (HB 1646), February 2, 2015: Hello my name is Sandy Restrepo and I’m here today to testify in support of HB 1646, the Equal Pay Opportunity Act. As a mother, Latina and now lawyer, I have […]
Janet Chung, Legal and Legislative Counsel at Legal Voice, testifies to the Washington State House Labor Committee in favor of the Equal Pay Opportunity Act (HB 1646), February 2, 2015: Good afternoon Mr. Chair and Members of the Committee. My name is Janet Chung and I work for Legal Voice, a nonprofit organization that works to advance […]
Olivia Roskill, a high school student in Redmond, WA, testifies to the Washington State House Labor Committee in favor of the Equal Pay Opportunity Act (HB 1646), February 2, 2015: Chair, and members of the Committee, thank you for having me here today. My name is Olivia Roskill and I attend high school in Redmond, WA. I’m […]
Marilyn Watkins, EOI’s Policy Director, speaks before the Washington State Senate Commerce & Labor Committee on SB 5421 (teen summer employment wage) and SB 5422 (temporary teen training wage), February 4, 2015: Good afternoon. I am Marilyn Watkins with the Economic Opportunity Institute, testifying in opposition to SB 5421 and 5422. I applaud the concern of the sponsors for our […]
Testimony of Marilyn Watkins before the Washington State Senate Commerce & Labor Committee on SB 5421 (teen summer employment wage) and SB 5422 (temporary teen training wage), February 4, 2015: Good afternoon. I am Marilyn Watkins with the Economic Opportunity Institute, testifying in opposition to SB 5421 and 5422. I applaud the concern of the sponsors for our state’s young […]
Testimony of Kelli Smith before the Washington State House Higher Education Committee on HB 1344 – “Pay It Forward for Washington Nurse Educators”, January 29, 2015. Chair Hansen and Members of the Committee: Washington is facing an increasing need and a simultaneous shortage of health care providers. Across the country and in our state, it has become evident that the shortage of […]
Marilyn Watkins, EOI’s Policy Director, makes the case for family and medical leave insurance (House Bill 1273) to Washington state legislators (Jan. 29, 2015): Full testimony: “Good morning. I’m Marilyn Watkins of the Economic Opportunity Institute. It should never be a matter of luck whether a parent can afford to spend the first precious weeks and […]
Testimony of Marilyn Watkins before the Washington State House Labor Committee on HB 1273 – Implementing family and medical leave insurance, January 29, 2015. Good morning. I’m Marilyn Watkins of the Economic Opportunity Institute. It should never be a matter of luck whether a parent can afford to spend the first precious weeks and months of […]