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Members of Teamsters 117 joined roughly 100 labor and community activists this weekend for the kickoff to Raise Up Washington!, the campaign to pass a statewide initiative to raise the minimum wage and allow working Washingtonians the ability to earn paid sick days.

The event took place on Saturday morning at the Washington State Labor Council in Seattle's International District.

After a spirited training and speeches from faith, small business, and labor leaders, participants fanned out into the community to collect signatures for the initiative (I-1433) that is projected to impact hundreds of thousands of working families across Washington State.

If passed by voters this November, the initiative would phase in a minimum wage increase to $13.50 by 2020 and provide 1 hour of paid sick leave to workers for every 40 hours worked. 

"When people stay home to recover from an illness or take care of a sick kid, they shouldn't have to lose money on their paycheck or risk losing their job," said Cynthia Adams, a Teamster at King County and member of our Executive Board, who spoke at the event. 

So far, Local 117 members and staff have collected hundreds of signatures in support of the initiative, but we've got a long ways to go before achieving the campaign's goal of 230,000 signatures. 

If you'd like to join the effort to pass the initiative, contact Political Coordinator Dustin Lambro at 206-441-4860 ext. 1262. Together, we can raise up Washington!