Protect Pay Transparency and Pay Equality in Washington

[Subject:] NO to SB 5408 – Protect Washington’s Workers

[Lawmaker’s Name],

I’m one of your constituents, and I’m writing to ask you to vote no on SB 5408.

Washington has led the way in protecting workers’ rights, including through RCW 49.58.110, which requires public disclosure of pay information to combat discriminatory pay disparities. Pay transparency is a proven tool for closing the discriminatory pay gap that costs women $1.6 trillion annually and disproportionately impacts women of color.

SB 5408 threatens the core enforcement mechanism of RCW 49.58.110 by creating loopholes for employers to evade compliance. This will weaken the law’s deterrence effect and consequently undermine the law’s effectiveness.

Employers have already demonstrated that they will conceal pay information unless held accountable. Weakening enforcement would allow this harmful practice to continue. I urge you to oppose SB 5408 and protect Washington’s commitment to pay equality.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

[Your Name]

[Your Address]

[Subject:] Protect Pay Equality in Washington – NO on SB 5408

[Lawmaker’s Name],

Washington is leading the nation in advancing pay transparency, setting an example for other states. RCW 49.58.110 ensures workers have access to crucial pay information, helping to close discriminatory wage gaps. However, SB 5408 would gut this vital protection by undermining enforcement. And without enforcement, there will be no compliance.

The bill creates dangerous loopholes for companies to get away with violating this law—a law that is incredibly simple to comply with.

Under this bill, employers will be incentivized to comply only when caught, fixing one non-compliant posting while continuing the harmful practice of concealing pay in all its other postings. Also, the 14-day allowance for correction is far too long—within that time, countless applicants will have already applied, interviewed, or even been hired without the pay information they are legally entitled to. This bill is designed to dismantle enforcement and protect corporate profit at the expense of workers.

Pay transparency is essential for pay equality, and Washington has shown what is possible when we take a strong stance to protect workers. The nation is watching, including workers’ rights organizations, pay equity activists, and leading experts. Please do not allow our progress to be dismantled. I urge you to oppose SB 5408 and defend Washington’s commitment to fair pay.

Thank you for your time and leadership.

[Your Name]

[Your Address]

[Subject:] Don’t Weaken Pay Transparency—Vote No on SB 5408

[Lawmaker’s Name],

Washington has been a leader in the fight for fair pay by requiring employers to share salary information in job postings. This law helps close pay gaps that hurt women and people of color. But SB 5408 would weaken enforcement, making it easier for businesses to keep pay a secret and continue unfair wage practices.

The bill allows companies to fix just one non-compliant job post while ignoring the rest. And the 14-day grace period means many workers will go through the hiring process without knowing what they should be paid.

Pay transparency only works if it’s enforced. If this bill passes, the law will lose its power, and employers will go back to hiding wages. Other states are looking to Washington as an example—let’s not weaken a law that’s working.

Please stand with workers and vote no on SB 5408.

Thank you,

[Your Name]

[Your Address]

[Subject:] Defend Pay Transparency—Oppose SB 5408 

[Lawmaker’s Name],

Washington’s pay transparency law is under attack. I urge you to stand with workers and oppose SB 5408.

Pay transparency is essential for pay equality. Please do not allow our progress in pay transparency be dismantled.

This bill was carefully drafted to destroy enforcement of Washington’s pay transparency law. Without enforcement, there will be no compliance. The reason is simple: employers, especially large corporations, profit from discriminatory pay practices. When workers are armed with information about a job’s pay, they are better equipped to discover if they are being paid inequitably, to advocate for fair pay for themselves, and to make decisions that protect their dignity.

This bill creates a loophole for companies that will totally undermine the statute’s effectiveness.

For instance, it will allow the largest corporations—which are repeat offenders in violating the pay transparency statute—to fix one violative posting while continuing to violate the law in their other job postings. They will be incentivized to only comply with the law when they get caught and then only remedy the one posting. This defeats the purpose of the statute as it will allow the continued practice of pay opacity.

Also, the 14-day cure period is far too long. Within 14 days, tens, if not hundreds, of job applicants will have already applied to the position—and be denied crucial pay information they are statutorily entitled to. Within 14 days, job applicants may have already interviewed for the position—without the pay information they need to advocate for fair pay. Within 14 days, the position could be filled and the posting taken down altogether without every including the pay information—so job applicants, the new hire, and the current employees alike are all denied knowledge of what the employer pays for that position.

This bill is absurd. It defeats the entire purpose of the pay transparency mandate. Please stand strong against this attack on one of the most effective tools in the fight for pay equality.

Please oppose SB 5408 and continue fighting for fair pay in Washington.

[Your Name]

[Your Address]