Governer Signs Bill on the Underground Economy

March 21, 2008: Executive Director, Hilary Stern, was present at Govenor Gregoire's signing of the Washington State Senate Bill 6732 – the Underground Economy in Construction Task Force Recommendation Bill. Hilary Stern worked on this bill in 2007 as a member of a twelve member joint legislative task force. This bill recommends that there be increased enforcement of state labor and industry laws to combat the growing number of employers who don't pay taxes and pay their employees off the books. CASA Latina is interested in increasing the enforcement of labor law so that immigrant workers are more protected. In 2007 CASA Latina received calls from over 250 immigrant workers last year who were not paid by their employers, most of whom were paying their workers "off the books." The CASA Latina Workers' Defense Committee, along with pro-bono attorneys from the King County Bar Association were able to recover over $50,000 in unpaid wages for these workers.