SEATTLE — The Evergreen State has room for improvement when it comes to protecting working families, according to a new report. The National Partnership for Women and Families gave Washington a "B-minus" grade in a recent study assessing states’ workplace policies to protect expectant and new parents - including paid family leave and workplace accommodations for pregnant women.

According to Marilyn Watkins, policy director at the Economic Opportunity Institute and head of the Washington Work and Family Coalition, there's one bright spot for Washington parents who need time off to care for their children.

"Over a decade ago now,” Watkins said, "Washington passed a law that says that if you do have paid leave - paid sick leave or some other kind of paid time off - you can use that leave not only if you're sick yourself, but also if you have a sick child, spouse, parent, parent-in-law, grandparent."

Only California received an 'A’ grade in the report. Both New Jersey and the District of Columbia received an 'A-minus.’

A pregnant woman in Washington can also take as much time off as necessary without having to worry about losing her job, Watkins said. But she won't necessarily be paid for that time.

Sarah Fleisch Fink, director of policy and senior counsel with the National Partnership for Women and Families, said that while Washington has taken steps in the right direction, workers in low-wage jobs are disproportionately affected by inadequate workplace protections.

"For workers in low-wage jobs, they are even less likely to have access to paid leave, they are even less likely to have access to paid sick days and to other protections,” she said. "And in many cases, they are even more in need."

A state ballot initiative this year could help alleviate some of the financial stress for expectant and new parents, Watkins said. Initiative 1433 would raise the minimum wage statewide to $13.50 an hour by 2020, and also provide workers with paid sick leave. According to Watkins, more than a million workers in Washington currently don’t have a single day of paid sick leave.

"So, they are going to hugely benefit from having access to paid sick leave for the first time; so will their kids, so will the elders in their family,” Watkins said. "We're all going to be healthier when workers aren't forced to make the choice between going to work sick or putting groceries on the family's table that week."




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Mexican fast-food chain Chipotle will pay workers at its former location in Augusta, Maine as part of a settlement over labor law violations. The National Labor Relations Board found the chain of restaurants broke laws by closing the location in July just weeks after employees became the first Chipotle workers in the country to file for union recognition. The company also blacklisted union organizers from being hired at other Chipotle locations.

Brandi McNease, Chipotle United organizer, said the company got the message.

"The union busting will not be tolerated and there's no way around it," she said.

Chipotle will pay a total of $240,000 to employees who were on the payroll when it closed the store, and offer "preferential rehiring" to all Augusta employees at its other Maine locations for up to one year.

The Augusta workers formed their union to bargain for safer working conditions, better staffing and a voice in any negotiations regarding workplace policies, they said. Now stores throughout the Northeast will post notices stating that Chipotle broke the law, and that employees have the right to unionize without consequences.
It is "a win for food service workers everywhere," McNease said.

"We fought for this specifically because the movement isn't over and every employee in those stores should know that they have rights and that the Labor Board is on our side," she added.

Chipotle was not forced to reopen the Augusta location, so workers say the payouts will help those who have yet to secure employment elsewhere, as well as inspire other Chipotle workers to stand up for respectful working conditions.


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More than one in three Ohioans are relying on credit cards for spending needs, and nearly a quarter say they've increased their credit-card use in response to cost-of-living increases, according to a new report.

Michael Welker, editor of Upgraded Points, a website tracking credit-card reward and travel programs, explained when the pandemic began, people spent less and got a financial boost from stimulus checks, leading to lower credit-card balances overall. Now, persistent high inflation is causing many to use credit to cover basic household expenses.

Welker said it poses a risk as interest rates rise.

"As you carry over balances month to month, and interest starts to accrue, potentially it's going to be even harder to pay down your debt," Welker advised. "That's going to be even more pressure, in terms of covering your household expenses."

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has proposed new regulations which would, among other changes, cap late fees for credit-card payments at 25% of the minimum payment amount. The agency is taking public comments about its proposal until April 3.

According to the report, nationwide more than 95% of people with annual incomes below $75,000 said they are feeling stressed about inflation. Welker recommended using credit cards only when needed to meet basic expenses, and shifting habits instead to reduce dining out, entertainment and other leisure spending.

"Be more mindful of your spending," Welker suggested. "Figure out where you might be able to cut or trim back, find less expensive alternatives."

He added consumers may soon feel relief as the federal government works to combat inflation, but only those who rein in their credit-card use.

"The Fed is still raising interest rates trying to tame inflation," Welker pointed out. "Potentially, at some point later in the year, we finally start to see that come down to a more manageable level."

In another survey, by Clever Real Estate, 40% of Americans believe high prices are the "new normal," and 62% say they expect everyday prices will be even higher this year.

Reporting by Ohio News Connection in association with Media in the Public Interest and funded in part by the George Gund Foundation.

Graduate-student workers throughout the University of Maine System are taking steps to unionize and seek recognition from university officials.

Teaching, research and graduate assistants across the state said their heavy workloads are not compensated with adequate wages and benefits.

Vendy Hazuková, a doctoral student worker in the School of Biology and Ecology at the University of Maine-Orono, said the more than 1,000 graduate workers there deserve a voice in negotiating school policies.

"The universities work because we do, and if we don't have dignified working conditions, we can't do our jobs properly," Hazuková asserted.

Hazuková pointed out the University of Maine System offers the lowest stipends for grad-student workers compared to other public universities in New England, at less than $20,000. She noted they have received overwhelming support from the student body.

The grad students in Maine are part of a growing nationwide trend of graduate worker unions, including at Boston University and the University of Connecticut.

Hazuková said after years of complaining about inconsistent paychecks and substandard health plans, she and her colleagues are taking inspiration from those who've successfully organized for change.

"I think we would all just like to focus on the work that we love and do, and not count pennies every month and decide whether we can afford to go to the doctor or buy groceries," Hazuková emphasized.

The University of Maine System said it recognizes the graduate workers' right to unionize and will await the union election outcome before commenting further. The union is affiliated with the United Auto Workers, which has helped more than 40,000 academic workers form unions in the last eight years.


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