Tag Archives: king of pop

Do employees in Washington deserve the right to paid sick leave?

Do workers in Washington deserve the right to fair pay?

Do we — right now — have the opportunity to lead the nation in creating an economy that works for all Washingtonians?

This week, the Washington state House is hearing bills on both guaranteeing paid sick leave and raising the minimum wage.

Workers shouldn’t have to choose between their health — and their families’ health — and putting food on the table. That’s why guaranteeing that most employers provide paid sick leave is the right thing to do.

Raising the minimum wage is fair to workers, and it’ll boost our state’s economy as whole. When workers have more money to spend, local businesses across the state benefit. Raising the minimum wage to $12 an hour is not only fair — it’s smart.

While these two bills are being heard in the House, it’s critical that we build up public support for a Washington economy that works for all. Washington is the best place in the country to live and work. Let’s keep leading by supporting these two bills. Will you sign on today?

Join me in supporting a Washington that works for all, and sign on in support of paid sick leave and raising the minimum wage.

Along with improving our infrastructure, investing in education, and supporting an accessible healthcare system, guaranteeing paid sick leave and a fair minimum wage are essential to providing a Washington that works and provides opportunity for all.

Thank you for your commitment to creating a better Washington.

Very truly yours,

Jay Inslee

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Raped and no right to choose — 24 hours to help

05/20/2015 Nativegrl77

A 10-year-old girl in Paraguay was reportedly sexually abused by her stepfather for years. Now pregnant, the government denied her the abortion she asked for — but Congress is reconsidering the law in a special session this week, and it could turn the tide. Let’s launch a massive global outcry so this child, and thousands like her, will have a choice:

https://secure.avaaz.org/en/paraguays_choice_loc/?biEWLbb&v=58671

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

President Obama Features Paid Leave In State of the Union Address

05/19/2015 Nativegrl77

Dear Friend,

Yesterday was a thrilling day for working families, A Better Balance, and the entire paid leave movement in the United States! In the past few months, we have shared with you an incredible number of work-family victories, including the passage of 4 new paid sick time laws (which A Better Balance worked on) in November’s election. The momentum is clearly continuing into 2015! In his State of the Union address, President Obama featured the need for paid leave laws in the United States and pointed to the success of the issue in the November election.

A Better Balance is currently drafting and providing legal support on paid sick time bills and paid family leave bills in dozens of states across the country. The President’s call for a nationwide paid sick time law, his pledge to provide support through his budget for state paid family leave programs, and his spotlight on the need for workplace leave will provide an incredible boost to these campaigns and our organization’s work.

"Today, we’re the only advanced country on Earth that doesn’t guarantee paid sick leave or paid maternity leave to our workers. . . . So I’ll be taking new action to help states adopt paid leave laws of their own. And since paid sick leave won where it was on the ballot last November, let’s put it to a vote right here in Washington."

A Better Balance’s Co-Presidents, Sherry Leiwant and Dina Bakst, released the following statement last night on the President’s remarks:

“A Better Balance applauds President Barack Obama for shining a national spotlight on paid family leave – and the idea that Americans cannot be financially secure unless our public policies support their ability to care for their children and families – in tonight’s State of the Union address.

Ten years ago, A Better Balance was founded as a legal advocacy organization to address the problems caused by the failure of our public policies to keep up with the changing workforce and the needs of families. The proliferation of new laws we have written in states and cities around the country guaranteeing workers paid sick time for themselves and their families, paid family leave and an end to pregnancy discrimination are proof that better policies are possible and will work.

Tonight the President makes it clear that this is a national problem that requires national solutions – so that families are not left with impossible choices between caring for their loved ones and meeting their basic financial needs. And we pledge to work harder than ever to ensure that those policies become a reality for all American families.”

On our blog, we provide more information on the President’s specific proposals. To learn more about the paid sick time wins that President Obama referenced last night, check out our webpage on the issue and our comparison chart of paid sick time laws in the United States.

As we continue to fight for paid leave laws and policies, you can help! Stories are crucial to informing public officials of the need for paid leave. If you have a story about your need for paid sick time or paid family leave, or if having paid time off to care for your family (especially if it is leave provided under one of the laws we’ve helped pass) has made a difference for you, please share your story with us! And if you work in New York State and would like to support our ongoing campaign to pass a paid family leave insurance law, please add your name to our petition.

Thanks for all you do to support our work.

The A Better Balance Team,

Sherry, Dina, Phoebe, Jared, Elizabeth, Risha, Morenike, Rachel, Jake, Molly & Lynn