On April 26, 2014, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions held a roundtable discussion entitled “Economic Security for Working Women.” In his opening statement, Chairman Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) stated that “Too many working women are stuck in poor-quality, low-wage jobs, living in or near poverty, struggling to make ends meet.” Senator Harkin also discussed the challenges faced by women due to pregnancy, family and medical leave, and caregiving more generally. He concluded his opening remarks by calling for Congressional action to help working women, stating that “[r]aising the minimum wage, allowing women to earn paid sick days and paid family and medical leave, ensuring equal pay, requiring accommodations for pregnant workers, and allowing workers to have input into their work schedules – these are winning policies for everyone.”
The roundtable discussion included testimony from:
Neera Tanden, President, Center for American Progress, Washington, DC
Ellen Bravo, Executive Director, Family Values at Work, Milwaukee, WI
Amy Traub, Senior Policy Analyst, Demos, New York, NY
Fatima Goss Graves, Vice President for Education and Employment, National Women’s Law Center, Washington, DC
Lori Pelletier, Executive Secretary-Treasurer, Connecticut State Federation of Labor, Rocky Hill, CT
Armanda Legros, Low-wage worker, Jamaica Estates, NY
Gayle E. Troy, Human Resource Manager, Globe Manufacturing Company, LLC, Pittsfield, NH
Rhea Lana Riner, President, Rhea Lana’s, Inc, Conway, AR
Daily News & Commentary
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May 4
In today’s news and commentary, DOL pauses the 2024 gig worker rule, a coalition of unions, cities, and nonprofits sues to stop DOGE, and the Chicago Teachers Union reaches a remarkable deal. On May 1, the Department of Labor announced it would pause enforcement of the Biden Administration’s independent contractor classification rule. Under the January […]
May 2
Immigrant detainees win class certification; Missouri sick leave law in effect; OSHA unexpectedly continues Biden-Era Worker Heat Rule
May 1
SEIU 721 concludes a 48-hour unfair labor practice strike; NLRB Administrative Law Judge holds that Starbucks committed a series of unfair labor practices at a store in Philadelphia; AFSCME and UPTE members at the University of California are striking.
April 30
In today’s news and commentary, SEIU seeks union rights for rideshare drivers in California, New Jersey proposes applying the ABC Test, and Board officials push back on calls for layoffs. In California, Politico reports that an SEIU-backed bill that would allow rideshare drivers to join unions has passed out of committee, “clear[ing] its first hurdle.” […]
April 29
In today’s news and commentary, CFPB mass layoffs paused again, Mine Safety agency rejects union intervention, and postdoctoral researchers petition for union election. A temporary pause on mass firings at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has been restored. After a trial court initially blocked the administration from mass firings, the appeals court modified that […]
April 28
WA strike bill goes to governor; MLBPA discloses legal expenses; Ex-Twitter employees seek class certification against Musk.