Dear Friends and Neighbors,

I am excited to invite you to our 49th District Mid-Session Telephone Town Hall with my seatmates. All the details for this upcoming event are below. We look forward to hearing your questions and input on the big issues we’re working on this session.

These conversations help us understand what we can do to make our district and state the best it can be.

We hope you join us!

WHO: Sen. Annette Cleveland & Reps. Monica Stonier & Sharon Wylie

WHAT: 49th District Mid-Session Tele-Town Hall

WHEN: 6:30-7:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 27

WHERE: Call in at 855-756-7520 and enter PIN 121323#

If you are not able to call in, a recording will be made available after on my website.

Giving Workers More Stability

I also want to share an update on a bill I continue to work hard on, which passed the Senate recently:

Economic stability and certainty are important for employees, families, and business owners. That’s why I introduced and worked hard with my colleagues to pass Senate Bill 5525 to give workers and families the notice they need to prepare for periods of unemployment. Inspired by the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act, this bill would ensure a worker isn’t the last to know when their job is eliminated.

As a result of the loss of a job you’re not just losing an income; you may be losing healthcare, a retirement plan, and the future you’ve planned for while making other important life decisions. We can and should better ensure people have more time to manage the emotional and practical impacts of losing your job.

This bill would require businesses with 50 or more employees provide a 60-day notice to their employees before a business closing or mass layoffs. That’s two months to seek new work, apply for retraining programs, access essential services, rework your budget, explore alternative incomes, and work with your family and loved ones to build a new path forward.

My own family has faced job loss, and I know how devastating it can be. Losing your job is a difficult experience, but it shouldn’t be a surprise. Job loss involves grief and is destabilizing. I am hopeful that, with systems of notice in place, we will cushion the impact of unemployment and build an economy that works better for workers, business owners, and our communities.

Thank you for being engaged and involved!

Remember, your voice is integral to the lawmaking process!

I always look forward to learning more about your focuses; you can send me an email at Annette.Cleveland@leg.wa.gov or call my office at 360-786-7696.

Warmly,