Archive for the 'National Partnership Staff' Category

Same-Sex Couples Deserve Equal Protection Under the Law

Published on March 26, 2013 in National Partnership Staff. 1 Comment

SCOTUS Considers Marriage Equality

Today, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in the first of two cases that could significantly affect same-sex couples in this country. At issue is the constitutionality of two laws: Proposition 8, which overturned a California Supreme Court ruling that gave same-sex couples the right to marry; and the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which bars the federal government from recognizing same-sex marriages. At stake in these cases is nothing less than our nation’s promise of equal protection under the law.

The United States has a proud history of valuing equal justice and legal protection. Proposition 8 and DOMA contradict this fundamental value by discriminating against same-sex couples based on their sexual orientation. The Supreme Court has repeatedly deemed discrimination based on sex and race unconstitutional. It is time for it to recognize that discrimination based on sexual orientation is just as unlawful.

The National Partnership joined with allies in the women’s and legal communities to make that argument in two friend-of-the-court briefs filed last month. The briefs urge the Court to recognize that Proposition 8 and DOMA are rooted in archaic, gender-based stereotypes that make them deserving of heightened scrutiny – and that they are every bit as unconstitutional as laws that discriminate based on sex. The briefs argue that the laws’ provisions are “vestiges of an obsolete legal regime that imposed separate and unequal roles on men and women within marriage.”

Discriminatory laws must be deemed unconstitutional in the United States – whether the discrimination is based on sex, race or sexual orientation. If the Supreme Court fails to recognize this and does not find Proposition 8 and DOMA unconstitutional, millions of people may be deprived of the equality they need to live the lives they want and deserve. That’s not what America stands for, nor is it what the majority of people in this country believe is right. We have a lot riding on the Supreme Court ruling in these two cases.

Paid Sick Days Bill Passes in Portland!

Published on March 13, 2013 in National Partnership Staff and Work & Family. 0 Comments

Paid Sick Days in Portland

Just moments ago, the Portland City Council voted unanimously to approve an ordinance that will let tens of thousands of workers in Portland earn the paid sick days they need. As National Partnership President Debra Ness said:

“A healthier, more economically secure Portland is on the horizon – and the nation is a critical step closer to having another city guarantee workers this basic right. This is a historic victory for Portland and the nationwide effort to ensure no worker has to choose between their health, their family and their job.

When Mayor Hales signs this bill, more than 120,000 workers in Portland will no longer have to worry that one case of the flu or a sick child will mean the loss of critical income or their families’ economic security. Workers and business owners will no longer have to fear contagion in workplaces and communities because people cannot afford to stay home when they are sick. And Portland residents, businesses and the local economy will all be better off as a result.

…

We urge Mayor Hales to make a paid sick days standard for Portland a top priority by signing it right away. It is the right thing to do for Portland, and it will pave the way for the future victories the nation urgently needs.”

This victory in Portland is a testament to the hard work of a broad and diverse group of organizations that make up the Everybody Benefits Coalition, including Family Forward Oregon, in addition to all of the workers, businesses and advocates who came together to make it possible.

Pending Mayor Hales’ approval of the bill, Portland will be the fourth city to guarantee workers the right to earn paid sick days. Laws are already in place and working well in San Francisco, Washington, D.C., Seattle and Connecticut. And there are dozens of efforts to advance similar proposals across the country, including in Philadelphia, New York City, Maryland and Vermont. Victories like this one add to the national momentum for paid sick days policies and strengthen the case for a national standard.

The federal Healthy Families Act, which would guarantee workers the right to earn up to seven paid sick days per year, is expected to be introduced in Congress next week. You can encourage your representative and senators to show their support for it here.

Back to the Office at Yahoo

Published on February 26, 2013 in National Partnership Staff, Work & Family and Workplace Fairness. 1 Comment

In the News

National Partnership President Debra Ness talks to the New York Times about Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer’s decision to end the company’s work-from-home policy.

Watch the video here:

What a Celebration! The FMLA at 20

Published on February 19, 2013 in National Partnership Staff and Work & Family. 0 Comments

FMLA at 20

This month, the National Partnership, along with other advocates, workers and lawmakers, celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) – the first and only national law to help workers balance the demands of job and family. The celebrations included a strong push to expand the law, so that more workers can take leave for more reasons and so all workers will have paid family leave insurance.

Workers have taken leave more than 100 million times under the FMLA in these 20 years. To recognize the FMLA’s impact on men, women and families across the country, the National Partnership hosted “A Night of 100 Million Thanks” celebration. The event brought together past and present champions of the FMLA and family friendly workplace policies to both reflect on the law’s success and look to the future.

Left to right: National Partnership Senior Advisor Judy Lichtman, Rep. Honda (D – Calif.), House Minority Leader Pelosi (D – Calif.), former Rep. Morella (R – Md.), former Sen. Dodd (D – Conn.), Rep. Capps (D – Calif.), Rep. Cardenas (D – Calif.), Rep. Sinema (D – Ariz.), Rep. DeLauro (D – Conn.) and National Partnership President Debra Ness. (In attendance, but not pictured: Sen. Cardin (D – Md.), Sen. Harkin (D – Iowa), Sen. Hirono (D – Hawaii), Sen. Murphy (D – Conn.), Rep. Duckworth (D – Ill.), Rep. Lujan Grisham (D – N.M. ), Rep. Kennedy (D – Mass.), Rep. Schakowsky (D – Ill.) and Rep. Swalwell (D – Calif.).)

The historic anniversary generated a great deal of activity on Capitol Hill and across the country, including multiple events, a new Department of Labor report on the FMLA, and many op-eds and blog posts from members of Congress and advocates. We are so grateful to everyone who made the milestone both a celebration and a call to action. Take a look at some of the highlights below and find photos here.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D – Calif.) held a press conference on February 5th to commemorate the FMLA’s 20th anniversary. The event featured members of Congress who support family friendly legislation, workers who have been helped by the FMLA, and representatives of the coalition that is urging lawmakers to take the next step.

Current and Former Lawmakers and Advocates Reflect on the FMLA and Call for Next Steps:

Former President Bill Clinton thanks the National Partnership and others for their continued work to expand the FMLA and advance paid leave policies at a celebration event hosted by the Department of Labor.

Bill Clinton: Why I Signed the Family and Medical Leave Act
Former President Bill Clinton, Politico

Family and Medical Leave Act Still Working
Former Senators Kit Bond (R – Mo.) and Chris Dodd (D – Conn.), USA Today

20 Years, 100 Million Families Helped
Representative Rosa DeLauro (D – Conn.) and former Representative Connie Morella (R – Md.), Roll Call

Sick leave is essential for the workforce
Senator Tom Harkin (D – Iowa), Politico

FMLA 20 years on: A disconnect that’s hurting families
Debra Ness, National Partnership for Women & Families, The Hill

The Family and Medical Leave Act Turns 20!
Debra Ness, National Partnership for Women & Families, Working Mother

20 Years Ago Today, America Became a More Family-Friendly Nation — And We Must Do It Again
Debra Ness, National Partnership for Women & Families, Huffington Post

The Family and Medical Leave Act: Then, Now and Next
Seth Harris (Acting Secretary of Labor), Huffington Post

Kunin: Family and Medical Leave Act needs one more word: paid
Former Vermont Governor Madeleine Kunin (D), VT Digger

Expand National Paid Family Leave
Eileen Appelbaum, Center for Economic and Policy Research, U.S. News & World Report

Op-Ed: The Family and Medical Leave Act Turns 20—But Half of U.S. Workers Still Can’t Use It
Ellen Bravo, Family Values @ Work, Take Part

A Personal Family and Medical Leave Act Story: How Children and Family Policy Became a “Big Thing”
Patty Cole, Zero to Three

Making the Workplace Friendly for Everyone’s Familia
Alicia Criado, National Council of La Raza

Extend the Family Medical Leave Act
Steven L. Dawes, United Steelworkers

4 Reasons To Update The Family And Medical Leave Act For The 21st Century
Pat Garofalo, Center for American Progress Action Fund, ThinkProgress

IWPR Marks Anniversary of FMLA: Progress Still Needed on Paid Leave
Jasmin Griffin, Institute for Women’s Policy Research

Protecting Our Families When They’re Most Vulnerable
Emily Hecht-McGown, Family Equality Council

5 Advocacy Lessons from the FMLA Campaign
Sue Hoechstetter, Bolder Advocacy

Celebrating Twenty Years of the FMLA
Mary Kay Henry, SEIU

Kluger: Give devastated parents the time they need to grieve
Barry Kluger, The MISS Foundation, Newsday

When Family Leave Crosses the Aisle
Jodie Levin-Epstein, CLASP, Huffington Post

FMLA Anniversary: Celebrating 20 Years of Strengthening Families
Linda Meric, 9to5, National Association of Working Women, Huffington Post

A Long Road to the Rose Garden
Sammie Moshenberg, National Council of Jewish Women

Paid Family Leave: A Work Unfinished
Susan Ochshorn, ECEPolicyWorks, ECE Policy Matters

Strengthening 21st Century Families: The Case for Paid Family Leave
Susan Ochshorn, ECEPolicyWorks, and Curtis Skinner, National Center for Children in Poverty, Spotlight on Poverty and Opportunity

MomsRising Celebrates and Looks Forward to Expanding on FMLA with Our Partners
Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner, MomsRising

Extend family leave to all workers
Janet Walsh, Human Rights Watch, CNN

Twelve Weeks and Twenty Years: Happy Birthday, Family and Medical Leave Act!
Liz Watson, National Women’s Law Center

For more, check out MomsRising’s FMLA Blog Carnival. 

National Partnership Vice President Leticia Mederos Honored

Published on October 2, 2012 in National Partnership Staff. 0 Comments

Leticia Mederos, Vice President

The National Partnership is so proud that, as part of its 2012 Gala today, the Committee for Education Funding (CEF) presented our own Leticia Mederos with a staff recognition award.  Letty was honored for the work she did in her former position, as chief of staff for U.S. Representative Rosa DeLauro (D – Conn.). She is the first person CEF selected for this honor who did not work for the Appropriations Committee.

Letty joined the National Partnership in February of this year as vice president, overseeing our work and family and workplace fairness programs, and she’s already having the same kind of impact here.

CEF is the largest education coalition in the United States with 80 organizations committed to securing adequate federal funding for the nation’s education system. Its annual gala event honors lawmakers and congressional staff who have shown exemplary support of better education for all.

“We are so proud that Letty is being recognized for her great work and leadership on an issue critical to families and to our country’s future,” said National Partnership President Debra L. Ness. “The passion and extraordinary commitment she brings to her work is an inspiration to all of us.”

Because Everyone Matters

Published on August 27, 2012 in National Partnership Staff. 0 Comments

Everyone Matters

The National Partnership is proud to support the new Everyone Matters campaign – joining the ranks of celebrities and partner organizations that include NAACP, the Human Rights Campaign, NOW, the American Association of People with Disabilities and more.

The campaign’s message is simple yet powerful: let’s all stop judging one another based on our differences. It’s not as easy as it sounds, and we encourage you to take the campaign’s 24-Hour Challenge to go an entire day without judging anyone!

At the National Partnership, we believe that actions speak louder than words. And we fight every day against discrimination, injustice and inequality of all kinds. We do this because… everyone matters.

Check out the campaign on the web, Facebook and Twitter.

Dispatches from Denver

Published on October 13, 2011 in National Partnership Staff and Work & Family. 2 Comments
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Paid Sick Days on the Ballot in Denver

This year, we have achieved significant victories in our work to ensure more working people have the right to earn paid sick days. From Seattle to Connecticut, paid sick days standards have gained support and momentum. Now, one state and three cities guarantee workers this basic right. This November, the city of Denver could become the fourth.

On November 1st, Denver voters will consider a city ballot initiative that would let workers earn paid sick days to use when they or a family member is ill. Right now, more than 100,000 workers in Denver – 40 percent of workers and 72 percent of food service workers – don’t have access to a single paid sick day. When illness strikes, they must choose between a paycheck and their health, their families’ health and the public health. This initiative could help prevent these impossible choices.

Unfortunately, all of the great success and momentum around paid sick days has garnered much attention from opponents. And Denver is their next target. The business lobby and others are determined to defeat common sense paid sick days measures. Major national and local groups have poured money into advertisements and other scare tactics designed to convince Denver voters and local businesses to oppose paid sick days.

But we know the truth: Paid sick days are good for everyone. San Francisco has had a paid sick days law since 2006, and two-thirds of businesses there now say they support the law. They overwhelmingly report that their profits have not declined since its enactment. More importantly, most workers in the city say they have benefited from the paid sick days law. It has given those who need paid sick days the most – including parents and workers with chronic conditions – the time they need to care for their health and the health of their children.

This election, Denver workers and the community have the opportunity to reap these same benefits and improve the health and quality of life for families in the city by approving the proposed paid sick days standard. Denver families deserve it, and voters deserve the right to know all of the facts about the difference paid sick days can make in people’s lives.

NP Denver TeamThat’s why the National Partnership is headed to Denver – to volunteer with the tireless workers and activists who have come together in the Campaign for a Healthy Denver, and to support their effort to inform voters about the need for paid sick days. We will report from the front lines about our work, and we hope you will share our stories and spread the word about this critically important initiative. With wealthy opponents gearing up, we know this will be an uphill battle. We are hopeful that hard work, determination and common sense will prevail.

To follow our updates, check out PaidSickDays.org. We look forward to connecting with you there!

Sincerely,

The National Partnership Team in Denver
Rachel, Helen, Katie and Sara