Lobbying for the Healthy Families Act

Technology Intern Caitlin McCannon:

On Thursday, I went with Mari, Cindia, and Asha to lobby at Senator Saxby Chambliss' office in support of the Healthy Families Act. I had never been lobbying before so this was certainly an experience- and one I was proud to be a part of. 37 million workers do not have any paid sick days. This figure includes 3 out of 4 low-wage workers, a statistic of which I am a part. I was able to share my own experience as an example of the need for paid sick days.

I work at a movie theater on nights and weekends. The schedule each week came to mean the difference between making the rent payment. . . or not. If you could not work the hours you were scheduled for any reason, those hours went to someone who could or a new hire came in to take your place on the rotation and you lost not only that night's pay but next week's as well. In this climate, being sick means more of a loss than most of the employees can afford.

The concessionist behind the counter scooping the popcorn and filling the drinks, the usher tearing tickets, even the box office cashier handing you your change, all have come in knowing they were sick but needing the shift, needing that pay. With the Healthy Families Act, working while sick would not be a necessity. Employees could earn paid time off to recuperate at home when sick. How many restaurant employees are coming into work sick because they cannot afford to call in? With swine flu spreading, measures like these protect not only employee health, but yours as well.

Parent Protection Act and CO-AGE (Coalition of Advocates for Georgia's Aging)

Yesterday the 9to5 Atlanta staff had a busy legislative agenda. While several of the staff members headed to the office of Senator Chambliss to talk about the Healthy Families Act (more on that meeting to come), Shyria and I made the two and a half hour long trek to Little Ocmulgee State Park in McRae, Georgia for the quarterly CO-AGE advocacy training meeting. CO-AGE (Coalition of Advocates for Georgia's Elderly), headed by the Georgia Council on Aging, is comprised of a number of advocacy groups that organize around policies that will protect and promote the well-being of the aging in Georgia.

After driving lengthy stretches of country highway without passing a single Kroger for hours, Shyria and I began to wonder if we hadn't driven two hours too long in the wrong direction. Luckily, we made it to the venue just in time for Shryia to lead a group discussion on the Parent Protection Act. The PPA is listed on CO-AGE's 2009 legislative priorities. While I had heard 9to5 staff speak about the importance of the legislation for working women in minimum wage jobs, the group discussion yesterday focused on its importance for working women and families taking care of elderly parents and grandparents.

Shryia spoke to the group about the evolution of thought behind the bill that led to the realization that the 24 hours a year of unpaid leave is needed not only for parents to be able to attend parent-teacher meetings or other mandatory school functions without jeopordizing their jobs, but also gives them time to take their elderly parent or grandparent to a scheduled doctor's appointment or medical procedure. Several people shared personal stories of dealing with their struggle to balance the role of parent and care-giver, and Shyria responded to questions about the bill regarding enforcement and employee accountability. By the end of the discussion, the group concluded that while 24 hours a year was not enough time to take care of these responsibilities, getting this this bill passed is a crucial step on the road to protecting a parent's right to put their family first.

GA Job Family Collaborative Survey

The Atlanta Chapter Work/ Family Support Committee needs your participation to help develop legislative strategy for the job protective leave policy initiatives.

The Georgia Job Family Collaborative will be introducing a new legislative strategy during the second term of the 2009-2010. This is the second of two surveys that we have asked you to complete. The information you share will help the committee to prioritize work family issues in order of importance for 9to5 members and help determine the legislative strategy for the upcoming General Assembly session.

Please click on the link below to open and complete the survey. We appreciate your participation.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=REpozUbq05HqVNyqfNVyBQ_3d_3d

Anni's coffee blog

Anni Metz, former 9to5 Jesuit Volunteer and creator of this blog, now has a job as a professional blogger! She's at the Chicago Coffee Examiner writing tips for coffee lovers and reviews of local Chicago coffee spots. Check it out here:

http://www.examiner.com/x-24711-Chicago-Coffee-Examiner

Congrats Anni, Remember us when you're a famous blogger!

9to5 at Southern Labor Union Meeting

The newly elected officers of the national AFL-CIO stopped in Atlanta this past Monday to meet with union members and labor community leaders (9to5 included!) for a discussion on the foreclosure crisis in the South. Although this was the first union meeting I had ever attended, the few expectations I had of what it might be like were met almost immediately. The walls were covered with colorful political rallying posters for the Employee Free Choice Act (for more info about this important legislation, click here).

There was speech-making and hand-shaking by politicians running for office in the impending city elections. Almost every speaker ended at a fevered-pitch, shouting over the cheers of what was a surprisingly vocal crowd for 8am in the morning.

Several of the speakers decried the predatory lending schemes that have targeted low-income minorities with loans doomed for foreclosure. A single mother and a woman in retirement, both of whom had lost their homes after being led into risky loans, went to the podium to tell their stories. There were even plans to head down the Wachovia Bank headquarters to call for a moratorium on foreclosures which was ultimately canceled due to the louder demands of the Georgia weather.

If you’re interested in learning more about how the discriminatory targeting practices of lenders have affected low-income and minority workers in the foreclosure crisis, read this article by Barbara Ehrenreich in the New York Times called “The Recessions Racial Divide.” Take a closer look at the the banner that was made to take to the Wachovia headquarters.

Share the Health

Last Thursday Atlanta 9to5 members, staff and interns headed to the health care rally at the Georgia state capitol building to stand with Americans across the country in favor of health care coverage for all. There was lots of chanting and cheering among the crowd of over 700 supporters (What do we want? HEALTH CARE! When do we want it? NOW!) as well as some very creative poster messaging (Share the Health! and Can I trade in Chambliss and Isakson in for Clunkers and Collect $4,500? were our favorites). Two 9to5 chapter Board members Gloria Smith and Claudia Lewis were also at the rally showing their support and wearing 9to5 T-shirts. As the President speaks to Congress this evening about passing health care legislation, 9to5 members need to remind their Congressional Representatives and Senators that affordable health coverage is an essential need for working women and their families.

Check out these photos of 9to5 at the rally and some of the more creative posters we saw.

Mayor Franklin's Farewell

Yesterday, as one of my very first adventures as a 9to5 intern, I got the chance to attend Mayor Shirley Franklin’s Roundtable meeting with National Organizing Director Cindia Cameron and 9to5 member Marilynn Winn. Cindia and Marilynn were guests on the speaker panel alongside Lisa Borders, President of Atlanta City Council, and the mayor herself. The crowd of about 160 women (and a few men) that gathered included state policy makers, elected officials, and Shirley Franklin fans, many of whom had attended every single one of the 15 plus Roundtable breakfasts that have been held during the mayor’s eight years in office.

The Roundtables of the past have discussed a wide range of serious issues affecting women in Atlanta. Yesterday’s meeting highlighted some of the most concrete ways Mayor Franklin has helped make change in the lives of women. Cindia told the story of the mayor’s collaboration with 9to5 and the Living Wage Coalition that led to one of the greatest gains for low-income women during Mayor Franklin’s time in office; raising the minimum pay rate for city employees to the living wage of $10.50/hr. After Cindia spoke about the Coalition, Marilynn Winn, one of our own Atlanta 9to5 members, spoke courageously about the struggles she faces working for minimum wage and the great need for work still to be done. Marilynn received a standing ovation from the audience for her poignant speech.

Mayor Franklin also added a personal note to the presentation, sharing a bit about her experience as an African-American woman in the political arena. To hear both a powerful politician and a minimum wage worker speak together about gender as a root cause of her struggle in the workplace was a powerful example of why the work of 9to5 is as important as ever, and a reminder of why women must continue to speak out and share their stories.

Check out the pictures and video of Marilynn speaking at the event on the 9to5 page.

An open letter to 9to5 staff and members

I can’t believe it, but my last day working at 9to5 is tomorrow. This past year has been an amazing learning experience for me. With your guidance, encouragement, and a bit of tough love, I’ve grown a lot over the past twelve months. I’ve done things I never thought I would – including lobbying in Washington DC (twice?!), registering voters for what will probably be the most historic election of my lifetime, spending countless hours listening to stories and giving advice on the helpline (1-800-522-0925 – hit it up if you have questions about your rights in the workplace!), and learning and living what community organizing is all about.

All of this learning is thanks to you! It has been a joy working with and getting to know every single one of you this year. I’ve loved hearing your stories, discovering your passions, and oftentimes following your example of walking the talk. You’re powerful, energetic, driven, and – of course – so much fun to spend time with! I've loved the work I've done at 9to5, because I loved the people I was working with, and I’ll never forget a single one of you.

I’m moving on to the next steps in my life – which involves a move to Chicago, IL with my best friend, starting graduate school, and continuing to fight for workers’ rights around the world by being an advocate for international fair trade policies. Please know that if you’re ever in the area and need a place to crash and/or a restaurant recommendation, mi casa es su casa… and I’m a pro at finding delicious, cheap eats!

Keep fighting the good fight and please keep in touch!

Anni