Victories in Economic Justice for Women

• Drafting and advocating for a Washington law that requires time off from work for victims of violence who need to go to court or take other steps to get safe – the strongest of its kind in the country.
• Successful litigation on behalf of welfare recipients against Washington’s residency requirements.  Ruffin v. Quasim.
• Fighting for a Washington State family leave insurance program that provides wage replacement for new parents.
• Helping pass laws protecting employee medical leave.  For information on your legal rights, see Family Leave Laws.
• Successfully urging the Washington State Supreme Court to recognize a common law cause of action for termination based on gender discrimination.  Roberts v. Dudley.
• Ensuring that women who are sexually harassed on the job are entitled to unemployment compensation when forced to leave their employment.  Hussa v. Employment Security Dep’t.
• Successfully convincing the Alaska Supreme Court that post-traumatic stress disorder caused by domestic violence is a medical condition protected by the federal Family Medical Leave Act.  Gregg v. Anchorage.
• Changing Washington law to allow victims of violence who need to quit their jobs because of the violence to get unemployment compensation.