Team, we did it: Washington is restoring overtime protections for hundreds of thousands of salaried workers. Here’s how we won – and where we go next. 

When Washington Gov. Jay Inslee proposed a bold plan to help salaried workers get the time-and-a-half pay they deserve for overtime work, big business interests were up in arms – and ready to do everything they could to stop the rule from going into effect. 

With such powerful forces opposing Gov. Inslee’s plan, our only sure chance of victory was an outpouring of public support. And with overtime protections for hundreds of thousands of working people on the line, you rose to the occasion.   

We put out a call to this Civic Action community for public comments in support of the bold new rule, and you answered in an overwhelming way. The numbers are incredible: 91% of all public comments delivered to the state were in support of the proposal.

Because of you, Gov. Inslee saw that he had the grassroots support necessary to defeat corporate special interests and stand firmly on the side of working people. As a result, not only will hundreds of thousands more workers in Washington have overtime protections – now states around the country can look to Washington as the gold standard for an overtime policy that strengthens the middle class and grows the economy. 

This is a huge victory for working people in Washington – but we can’t stop now. We need to make sure workers everywhere – no matter where they live and work – can get the overtime wages they deserve. Will you add your name now to support overtime pay protections for workers nationwide?

Across the country, working people are being forced to work more and earn less. It didn’t used to be this way.

In the 1970s, more than 60% of all salaried workers had overtime protections. Now – thanks to decades of trickle-down economic policies rigging our economy for the rich and big businesses – that number is closer to a measly 7%, with the average salaried worker now working 49(!) hours per week. Think about that: That means four workers are currently doing the work of five people – and while they’re working those extra hours without getting overtime pay, they’re losing out on irreplaceable time with friends, family, and community.

Here’s the good news: Policies like Gov. Inslee’s in Washington state are starting to turn the tide away from greedy corporations and toward working people. We’re not stopping in Washington state.

Progressive lawmakers around the country are gearing up for similar overtime fights on behalf of salaried workers in 2020, including in Colorado, Michigan, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania – and Civic Action is ready to join the fight. 

We know this community can make a huge impact – as you’ve shown time and again – but we can’t stop our momentum now.

Please, help us carry this momentum for workers nationwide. Add your name now to support restoring overtime protections across the country.

Thanks for all you do. 

Stephen