Category: Uncategorized
2013 was a big year for FFO!
As 2014 nears, with all its opportunities, we wanted to take a moment to reflect back on how far we’ve come since January 2013. We hope you are as inspired as we are by the incredible movement we are building to create an Oregon where families have the time it takes to care for each other without sacrificing their economic security. Here are some highlights from our biggest year yet:
Portland “Safe” Days for Domestic Violence
On January 1, 2014, the City of Portland’s new paid sick days ordinance goes into effect. What does that mean to people working in Portland? This FAQ will help you know your rights under the law. A key aspect of this law is that it includes the time accrued can be use for safe days […]
Workshop: Creating a Flexible Workplace | October 16th
Flexibility at work can work. It’s far more than a trend or a buzzword. Real workplace flexibility has the potential to enhance your work environment, boost productivty, attract (and retain) talent, and enable employees to care responsibly for themselves and their families – which is good for all of us. But for those who haven’t run with it yet, the big question is HOW?
Have we got the training for you! Click here for details and to register.
TAKE ACTION: More funds for childcare!
We think our child care affordability problem deserves a BIG conversation and ultimately a systems overhaul. But until that happens, the state should at least adequately fund its program to help low-income Oregon parents afford the child care they need to be able to get and keep a job.
Oregon House Passes Retirement Security Bill!
The Oregon House of Representatives today passed HB 3436B in a 33-25 vote. The bill, chief sponsored by Representative Jules Bailey of Portland and Senator Lee Beyer of Eugene—and supported by Governor John Kitzhaber and Treasurer Ted Wheeler creates a task force to study and recommend a solution that will enable all working Oregonians to […]
Statewide Sick Time: Next Steps
Supporters packed a second hearing for HB 3390 in the House Committee on Rules on June 5, 2013. Many people representing public health and family advocates, health providers, union members, domestic violence service providers, employers and business associations delivered written or personal testimony in favor of the proposed statewide paid sick days policy. During the hearing, Rules Committee Chair Val Hoyle charged Senator Elizabeth Steiner Hayward and Representative Jessica Vega Pederson, who both testified in support of the bill, with the job of chairing an interim work group with stakeholders to look in-depth at the issue and come back to the legislature with an amended bill.
Childcare Not Affordable in Oregon
The main findings in Oregon State University’s newly released report on childcare affordability and access in Oregon (Child Care in Oregon and Its Counties: 2012) are not surprising: the long-term trend towards higher prices for care and lower wages for those paying the bill and providing the care continues.
Report author Bobbie Weber calculated that between 2004 and 2012, the cost of childcare increased 13% and wages decreased by 9% (15% for single mothers). A finding that reinforces what we already know: childcare is not a good the market provides well and its failings make it harder for parents to work and less likely that kids have equal access to quality early-life learning. The report includes several interesting data points that ought to be a wake-up call:
Unequal Pay? Unhappy Hour!
June 10, 2013 is the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Equal Pay Act by then-President John F. Kennedy. At that time, women earned $0.58 to a man’s $1. Today? A whopping $0.78. Improvement, yes. Enough of one? Hell no.
Join us for an (un)happy hour to mark this important date & celebrate the passing of SB 744, an Oregon bill that requires a state-specific pay inequity study and recommendations to close the gender wage gap. Recommendations which we plan to see through.
Domestic Worker Rights Bill Moves Ahead
On Tuesday, May 7, 2013 the Oregon House of Representatives voted 32-28 to pass a domestic workers’ rights bill sponsored by Rep. Sara Gelser (D-16). The bill, which has now had a first hearing in the Senate, would require people who employ domestic workers to:
Our Mother’s Day Card…for Oregon Legislators
On May 8, 2013 we delivered flowers and Mother’s Day cards to all 90 Oregon state legislators, 30 Senators and 60 Representatives in the House. It wasn’t just any Mother’s Day card, it was one we specially created to say what we went to Salem to say. Click here to open it yourself!
Caring Across Generations
This Mother’s Day, we’re partnering with Caring Across Generations, a national organization that is working to change the way America cares for seniors, supports people with disabilities, and values caregivers and in-home care workers. Caring for family members is one of the tenets of our work, and the struggle to do it well while staying economically […]