What We Do

Bill Development

Coalition Building

Direct Advocacy

Political Strategy

Our Work

For 15 years Mariko has been a lead advocate on numerous legislative campaigns, including:

Gender & Race Pay Equity

  • Pay Transparency for Pay Equity Act (SB 1162, 2022)

  • Gender & Race Pay Data Reporting (SB 973, 2020)

  • Limiting the Use of Prior Salary (AB 2282, 2017)

  • The Fair Pay Act of 2015 (SB 358, 2015)

Family Leave

  • Establishing the Right to Bereavement Leave (AB 1949, 2022)

  • Expanding the Right to Baby Bonding and Caregiving Leave Under the California Family Rights Act (SB 1383, 2020)

  • Extending Caregiving Leave for Chosen Family (AB 1041, 2022)

  • Prohibiting Family Caregiver Discrimination (AB 2182, 2022)

Harassment & Discrimination

  • #MeToo Harassment Reform Under the Fair Employment and Housing Act (SB 1300, 2018)

  • #MeToo Harassment Reform Under the Unruh Civil Rights Act (SB 224, 2018)

  • Extending the Statute of Limitations for Harassment and Discrimination (AB 9, 2019)

  • Banning “No Rehire” Provisions in Settlement Agreements (AB 749, 2019)

  • Limiting NDA’s in Settlement Agreements (SB 331, 2021)

  • Combating Discrimination Based on Conviction History (AB 1008, 2017)

  • Retaliation Protections for Workers Requesting Religious or Disability Accommodations (AB 987, 2015)

Immigrant Employee Rights

  • Immigration Status Protections (SB 836, 2022)

  • Worker Retaliation Protections (AB 1947, 2020)

  • Domestic Workers’ Health & Safety (SB 321, 2021)

Forced Arbitration & Oppressive Contracts

  • Late and Non-Payment of Arbitration Fees (SB 707, 2019; SB 762, 2021)

  • Arbitrator Ethics Standards (SB 1078, 2016)

  • “Choice-of-Law” and “Choice-of-Forum” Clauses in Employment Agreements (SB 1241, 2016)

Wage Theft

  • Strengthening Rights and Remedies for Workers Not Paid On Time (AB 673, 2019)

  • Protecting Workers Who Bring Claims for Unpaid Wages (SB 462, 2013)

Mariko has worked with coalition partners on many other bills over the years to expand workers’ rights and promote gender + racial equity. Mariko serves on the steering committee for the Stronger California Advocates Network, and is an active member of the California Working Families Coalition and the California Dream Alliance.