SEATTLE – En la próxima sesión legislativa comienza la iniciativa para que la legislatura otorgue perdones fiscales a las familias trabajadoras de Washington. La medida daría un crédito fiscal promedio de 350 dólares y alcanzaría a 967 mil hogares.

Antes de la sesión legislativa de 2020, una coalición variada de grupos hace un llamado a los legisladores estatales para fondear una exención de impuestos a la clase trabajadora. El Crédito Fiscal para las Familias Trabajadoras (“Working Families Tax Cedit”) es la versión del crédito tributario federal por ingreso del trabajo y proporcionaría un aumento de ingresos de 350 dólares promedio, principalmente a quienes ganan menos de 51 mil dólares al año.

Varios grupos, incluyendo “Moms Rising”, “United Way” del Condado King, y la Coalición del Estado de Washington Contra la Violencia Doméstica (“Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence”) apoyan la medida. Brittany Williams, Miembro de la Junta Ejecutiva en el sindicato “Service Industry Employees Union” (SEIU) 775, dice que las familias de Washington usarían el ingreso adicional para pagar sus cuentas. Para ella, eso significa gastos médicos.

“Necesito que me hagan trabajo dental y aunque sí tengo seguro dental, el tipo de trabajo que necesito no está cubierto. Así que me aguanto el dolor, trabajo con él y todos los días vivo con ese dolor por mi problema bucal y con nadie me quejo. Me aseguro de que a mis hijos se les cuide.”

El Crédito Fiscal a las Familias Trabajadoras (“Working Families Tax Credit”) ya fue aprobado en el estado de Washington, pero falta que se le asignen fondos. Se estima que la medida alcanzará a llegar a unas 967 mil hogares.

En una mesa redonda celebrada esta semana en apoyo al crédito fiscal del estado, la Congresista por Seattle Pramila Jaypal, Representante Demócrata por Washington, dijo que ella también está trabajando en legislación federal. Jayapal copatrocina la Ley de Reducción Fiscal de las Familias Trabajadoras (“Working Families Tax Relief Act”) y la Ley Construyendo Nuestras Oportunidades para Sobrevivir y Prosperar (“Building Our Opportunities to Survive and Thrive Act”), la cual aportaría hasta tres mil dólares en créditos fiscales a individuos, y seis mil a las parejas casadas. Ella declara que la reducción fiscal Republicana que se aprobó en 2017 no está ayudando a las familias trabajadoras y que los ricos pueden pagar más.

“Cuando tres personas de los Estados Unidos de América –dos de las cuales viven en nuestro estado– tienen la misma riqueza combinada que 160 millones de americanos en todo el país, sabemos que eso no da a todos la oportunidad de tener una vida justa y decente, sino sólo para lo indispensable.”

La sesión de 60 días de Washington comienza el 13 de enero. El Senador del estado Joe Nguyen, y la Representante Debra Entenman son los patrocinadores principales de la ley de Crédito Fiscal para las Familias Trabajadoras (“Working Families Tax Bill”).

A case before the U.S. Supreme Court could have implications for the country's growing labor movement. Justices will hear oral arguments in Starbucks versus McKinney today to determine if the bar should be raised for the National Labor Relations Board when it seeks to impose court-ordered injunctions on companies.

David Groves, communications director with the Washington State Labor Council, said the Supreme Court could further undermine the power of the NLRB, the independent federal agency that protects employees' rights.

"We already have weak labor laws in this country that have such minor penalties for breaking union organizing laws that companies routinely do it, and this is another opportunity for them to weaken labor laws even further," he argued.

The case involves Starbucks' firing of seven employees in Memphis during their union campaign in 2021. The coffee company says it rehired the workers and denies wrongdoing. If the justices rule in favor of Starbucks, it could make it harder for the NLRB to seek court orders.

Groves said the law states that workers have a right to organize unions in their workplace without coercion or retaliation from their employers.

"That's all fine and good but if the penalty's not significant enough, then they'll just go ahead and break that law and consider it the cost of doing business if they have to pay a fine two years down the road," he explained.

Groves said his and other labor organizations support the passage of the Protecting the Right to Organize or PRO Act in Congress, which would strengthen labor laws, including providing greater authority to the NLRB.


get more stories like this via email

The U.S. House has approved a measure to expand the Child Tax Credit. It would help 16 million children from low-income families in Indiana and nationwide. Despite bipartisan support, the bill is stalled in the Senate. Advocates praise the credit's pivotal role in combating child poverty, pointing to its effectiveness in the past, and especially during the pandemic, when it was broadly expanded.

Candace Baker, an Indianapolis mother of 4, said the previous tax-credit expansion worked for her family, and she wants it reinstated.

"Having a child, and I had to get on some government-assistance programs. My grandmother never did because she just didn't want that stigma over her, but I utilized those services when I had a child. I didn't want to either, but I'm like, I need this support," she explained.

Congress approved expanding the Child Tax Credit in 2021. However, the expansion has expired, leaving families without vital assistance. As the Senate deliberates, pressure mounts on lawmakers to prioritize the needs of struggling families and secure passage. Opponents believe taxpayers who don't work should not be eligible. Some Republicans also contend the provision may incentivize parents to leave the workforce.

Families reeling from the pandemic received between $300 and $360 per month per child from the expanded tax credit. It lifted 3.7 million children from poverty. Baker currently works for a food bank in Indianapolis where she says she is able to help neighbors in need and give back to the community.

"Being able to be a voice for those who have no voice - that is my motto. Even though where you start, you don't have to stay there. So, that is my biggest motto that I stand on: You may start here, you may be on government assistance, you may be in poverty, but that does not have to be your end game," she said.

Families who benefited from the increased aid were more than twice as likely to pay their overdue rent during the initial stages of the pandemic. The Child Tax Credit did not pass in time for this year's tax deadline, and its prospects for the future are uncertain.


get more stories like this via email

Washington joins a handful of states to do away with mandatory meetings for employees on political or religious matters.

Sometimes known as captive audience meetings, the gatherings were seen as a way for employers to give their opinions on subjects like unionization, and held potential consequences for employees who didn't attend. Lawmakers passed a bill this session allowing workers to skip the meetings without repercussions.

Sen. Karen Keiser, D-Des Moines, a sponsor of the bill, said we live in a divided society where emotions run high on political topics.

"This bill simply protects employees to have a real choice on whether or not to attend a meeting called by their boss to be told about some political or religious issue," Keiser explained.

Keiser pointed out the legislation is nonpartisan. For instance, employers could not force employees to attend anti-union meetings, but also could not force them to attend a meeting about the importance of reproductive rights. The bill takes effect June 6.

Keiser noted the bill likely got across the finish line this session because of the uptick in union organizing and support for labor. She added there are widely known stories of Starbucks managers, for example, requiring employees to attend anti-union meetings while the employees organized the workplace.

"Employees have been forced to attend meetings to listen to the boss or the employer basically tell them why they shouldn't join a union," Keiser observed.

Washington is the sixth state to pass a law prohibiting attendance at captive audience meetings. Connecticut, Maine, Minnesota and New York have passed similar laws in recent years. Oregon passed a law allowing workers to skip such meetings without repercussions in 2010.


get more stories like this via email