Announcing My Support of Washington Initiative 1433
Friends,
I wanted you to be among the first to know that I have announced my support for Washington Initiative 1433, a proposal that would increase Washington State’s minimum wage to $13.50 an hour by 2020, and establish paid sick and safe leave benefits for all workers. To learn more, add your name in endorsement, or volunteer in support of I-1433, visit http://www.raiseupwa.com/get-involved.
There is a lot of talk about how the American economy is back on track. Those numbers may be true, but so is the fact that when I speak to working families in our district, people are simply not earning enough to get by despite working long hours every week. Raising wages means families can put food on their table, pay their rent or mortgage on time, and create a pathway to the middle class. We need to do more to ensure that everyone gets a piece of the economic growth. We need to bring better wages to working families. I-1433 would bring stability to families and those increased wages will be injected directly back into our economy.
I will continue to fight for those working to achieve their American Dream.
I-1433 would also take concrete steps to address racial and gender disparities that exist in our workforce. From the healthcare industry and restaurants, to professional childcare and home health care, women make up a majority of workers in many low-wage industries and are the least likely to have paid sick days. Restaurants and food services are some of the worst, where only 19 percent of their workers can earn sick leave. As a result, many female workers are forced to come to work sick — and risk getting their customers sick — or stay home and lose a paycheck.
Raising wages and establishing paid sick leave doesn’t just help workers; it helps small businesses. According to the Budget and Policy Center, raising the minimum wage to $13.50 would provide nearly $2.5 billion more in earnings annually in the Washington state economy.
Low-wage earners immediately spend paychecks on necessities like food and clothing in their communities and local businesses throughout Washington will benefit.
It’s time for this change.
Rick
