ANNAPOLIS – Kicking off a week of national events marking the seventh anniversary of the signing of the federal Lily Ledbetter Act, state lawmakers and women’s advocates joined Maryland Working Families to introduce the Women’s Economic Security Agenda, a legislative package of bills that promote financial stability for Maryland’s working women and their families.
“Women across Maryland face challenges that affect the stability, health, and prosperity of our families. Gender-based pay disparities, erratic and unplanned work schedules, or losing income due to a new baby or a sick family member are issues that disproportionately affect low-income families, ethnic minorities, and women. The Women’s Economic Security Agenda moves women and families ahead through fair work scheduling, earned sick leave, pay equity, family leave, and other policies that support the family unit,” said Charly Carter, executive director of Maryland Working Families.
The Women’s Economic Security Agenda includes the Women’s Pay Equity Act, Healthy Working Families Act, Fair Scheduling Act, and Family & Medical Leave Act.
“In 2016, women in Maryland still earn just 86 cents for every dollar earned by men in comparable jobs. We can do better.” said Senator Susan Lee (D-Montgomery County) speaking on the Pay Equity Act, a state version of the Ledbetter legislation that strengthens the state’s existing Equal Pay for Equal Work law. “We can’t wait until 2058 when research tells us women will finally reach parity. This bill closes the pay gap once and for all by closing loopholes that have allowed employers to continue paying disparate wages. It also offers a reset, so that future wages aren’t based on past wage discrimination.”
Delegate Luke Clippinger (D- Baltimore City), House sponsor of the Healthy Working Families Act spoke about the 720,000 Maryland workers without earned sick leave.
“Too many working women and men are forced to make impossible choices: go to work sick and risk spreading illness, send a sick child to school or daycare, or stay home and sacrifice much-needed income or, worse, risk job loss. More than 80 percent of Marylanders support earned sick leave. Working families can’t wait any longer,” said Clippinger.
Baltimore County small business owner Aletheia McCaskill, who provides earned sick leave to her own workers, spoke of the challenges she faces when parents bring their sick children to her child care center. “They are often stressed and apologetic but caught between a rock and a hard place. Sick children are a challenge not only because they are potentially contagious, but because they upset the routine of the other children and the staff. As a business owner, I’ve had to adapt to handle parents leaving sick kids because it is a reality – regardless of whether they are from high earning or low-wage homes.”
Advocates spoke about the growing practice of “just in time” scheduling for hourly workers and the havoc it wreaks on families. The Fair Scheduling Act would guarantee predictable schedules so workers can plan ahead to meet their responsibilities on and off the job.
Senator Joanne Benson (D-Prince Georges) pushed back against the idea that on-call work schedules were needed in today’s economy. “Giving employees adequate advance notice of their schedules was the law of the land during the greatest growth of this nation’s economy. It is unconscionable that in 2016, we would treat employees like chattel, summoning them to work, only to cancel their shift when they arrive, or making someone call in to learn whether they are to be at work that afternoon. The General Assembly can and will do something to address is problem,” said Benson standing next to Hilaria Bonila, a fast food worker who also spoke of her personal challenges with unfair scheduling practices.
“The United States is the only developed country in the world that does not guarantee paid family leave,” said Delegate Ariana Kelly (D-Montgomery County), talking about the Family & Medical Leave Act. “Only 13 percent of workers in the United States have access to family and medical leave through their employers, yet nearly 75 percent of women in the workforce today will need to take some time from work for the birth of a child.”
Rev. Denise Norfleet Walker of St. Paul Praise and Worship Center in Baltimore spoke about how each piece of legislation fits together to create an economic environment for Maryland families to thrive. “’Economic security’ has become a buzz word in the 2016 Presidential primaries, but for Maryland families it’s becoming more elusive. We have a moral obligation to help families thrive. In doing so, we help our communities and our state to thrive as well. We can do better for Maryland families and we are calling on our leaders in the General Assembly, and the governor to act now.”