RSVP by April 1st to Pam Lucas, at plucas@gsu.edu or 404-413-2703.
When: Sunday, April 10, 2011 - 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
Location: Special Collections Department
Georgia State University Library South, 8th Floor100 Decatur St. SE, Atlanta, GA 30303
Monday, March 28, 2011
We Can Do It! Empowering Women at Work
RSVP by April 1st to Pam Lucas, at plucas@gsu.edu or 404-413-2703.
100 Decatur St. SE, Atlanta, GA 30303
Flexible Sick Days Bill Introduced!
HB 432 would allow flexible use of the sick leave already offered at some workplaces. For example, if you are allowed 3 days of sick leave at your job you would be able to use this time off to care for a sick child, parent or spouse.
Your voices is needed to support this bill: Call your state Representative and tell them to support HB 432. Let them know that people shouldn’t have to choose between the family they love and the job they need. For the name and contact information of your state Representative call 9to5 (404.222.0037) or go online to: www.votesmart.org,.
If you have a story that you want to share about your experience with sick leave at work, call us at 404.222.0037.
Are you unemployed and fed up? Let your voice be heard. Join other unemployed and underemployed workers in telling their stories, sharing ideas and uniting together. (Sponsored by Atlanta Jobs with Justice)
Free services provided:
- Haircuts
- Resume creation
- Massages
- Legal services
- Foreclosure assistance
- Expungment support
- Medicaid/Food Stamps/TANF sign-up
- And more!
For more information on this event, please call Tony at 404-593-5227.
For more information about Atlanta Jobs with Justice call Kwame Ingram at 404-525-3559.
Fighting for Immigrant Families
I was wrong. There was a large crowd outside the hearing room waiting for the hearing to start. While there were grumblings about the inability for everyone to fit in the room, I was moved by the fact that so many people and organizations showed up to oppose this bill. I was energized by the anger from my fellow Georgians about how this could negatively affect our communities and our state.
Eventually, they opened up two over-flow rooms to accommodate the large crowd. In the room I was in, the audio/visual equipment was not working properly, but it was clear that many of the Representatives were only concerned about how to word the bill, not the impact of the bill. They wanted to address potential opposition to the bill. They did not want to talk about bad legislation.
There were no testimonials that day, which disappointed most people. But I was learning an important lesson: The sponsors of the bill were controlling the dialogue around the legislation. It was their performance of “democracy.” Afterward, 9to5 staff and members met with with other organizations to discuss ways to regain control of the dialogue and let our Representatives know we were watching this process.
We do not want see a bill passed that not only is unconstitutional and promotes racial profiling, but also will break up families and make it harder for people to work. So despite the lack-luster, one-sided legislative hearing, I am inspired to fight. To fight for immigrant women and their families. To fight for a more just Georgia.
-Ife Finch, 9to5 Atlanta Intern
(Originally posted 2/17/2011)
Fighting for More than $2.13 an Hour
Rev. Garret J. Andrew, a former server himself, writes about the difficulties of living off a wage this low and why he supports the WAGES Act in an editorial for the Albany Herald. "Reverend Andrew's op-ed in the Albany Herald articulates our moral and civic obligation to raise the minimum wage of tipped workers," says Vanessa Faraj, 9to5 Altanta Fair Eats Organizer. "Grassroots efforts such as 9to5's Fair Eats Campaign coupled with the WAGES Act-- a historic bill to address the inequality created by freezing the tipped minimum wage for workers 20 years ago-- demonstrates that we are quickly moving toward more just work place policies for all workers!"
Read Rev. Andrew's column:
“I worked as waiter to support myself in seminary. It was one of the more difficult jobs I have had. The hours are always a bit strange. You are on your feet for long periods of time.
"There are the customers, ah yes, there are the customers. Some were demanding and some were laid back. But no matter, I worked as hard as I could to ensure I did the best job that I could. It was the customers, after all, that ensured that I could actually survive as a waiter. Without the tips I would never have been able to make it.
"The worst nights were when I left with almost nothing. We had to tip others out and they had done their work well, so they deserved all I could give them. But one night I remember I was going to leave with just $6 after working for five hours.
"Knowing that I was not going to be getting any more money for food the next day, I went into the kitchen and found some food that was going to be thrown away. I asked the manager if I could have it for dinner. Granted permission, I found myself eating other people’s leftovers and thanking God that I had even that.
"I did this all while working in California, a state that requires all tipped employees to be paid minimum wage. Here in Georgia the minimum wage for tipped workers is $2.13 an hour. It’s with first-hand knowledge of the difficulties that tipped workers endure that I implore us all to support the federal Working for Adequate Gains in Employment Services (WAGES) Act, expected to be reintroduced soon in the new Congress.
"Should this proposal be signed into law, it would require that tipped workers minimum salary be increased to no less than $5.50 an hour, over several yearly increments. Fifteen percent of all waiters and waitresses live below the federal poverty level. If this proposal becomes law, it would ensure that people who are able to find employment are treated more fairly by their employers, and not as virtual slaves who have to rely on the generosity of others to ensure their own success.
"WAGES would strengthen our own economy by providing a better tax base and more disposable income for those who are in the most need. It would also combat poverty in a community where poverty is one of our fiercest enemies.
"Practical reasons aside, I support this measure because it’s the right thing to do. Perhaps you disagree and think that the economy will take a hit, or that unemployment will increase, or something else equally awful. I’m not sure about any of that, but I am sure that we are not treating people right.
"We are keeping working people from receiving a fair wage and requiring them to live off the generosity of others. We are making working people beg to survive in a land where we say anyone who works hard enough can make it. Let’s live into the vision of our words and make sure hard-working people have a chance."
The Rev. Garrett J. Andrew is pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Albany. This column was produced for Georgia Forum, a nonprofit, nonpartisan, educational organization that provides media with the views of experts on major public concerns in order to stimulate informed discussion.
Click here to see the original article.
(Originally posted 2/11/2011)
The Importance of 9to5's Vibrant Membership
Because 9to5 is a membership-based organization, we weave leadership development throughout all of our campaigns. Our Fair Eats and Flexible Use of Sick Leave campaigns are only as strong as the members who lead the work. As such, our membership charges us with the important task of developing skills that can be used in 9to5 as well as in other venues in their lives.
Working at 9to5 continuously teaches me that our work would not be nearly as affective if we did not have a membership. Our membership identified the need for an increased hourly wage of tipped employees as well as the grave importance of being able to flexibly use sick leave to take care of an ailing child, family or spouse. Our membership recruitment and outreach is much more effective because we know we are building campaigns that directly respond to low-income women’s needs.
I am continuously saddened by the sacrifices our members have to take merely in order to survive. However working directly alongside low-income women ensures that 9to5 engages and focuses on campaigns that will positively impact working women’s lives!
By becoming a member of 9to5, you will help forward 9to5’s values and commitment to work family flexibility, equal opportunity, and economic security.
-Vanessa Faraj, 9to5 Atlanta Fair Eats Organizer
(Originally posted 2/8/2011)
Working Toward a Fair Minimum Wage
Rev. Stephanie Hankins, faith-based organizer for the GA Minimum Wage Coalition, gave a presentation in January to group of Columbia Seminary students, urging them to use their voices as religious leaders to increase awareness of urgent social issues, including minimum wage. Vanessa Faraj, 9to5 chapter organizer, spoke about 9to5’s local Fair Eats campaign that focuses on raising the minimum wage for tipped workers here in Atlanta. The minimum wage for tipped workers is a staggering $2.13 an hour.
Atlanta 9to5 leader, Tonya Pinkston (pictured here), spoke about the reality of living off a minimum wage paycheck. Here are her words about the day:
“I had the pleasure to be present for a presentation on raising the minimum wage in the state of GA. The meeting consisted of eight seminary students, a few of the 9to5 members and myself. I spoke about my struggles trying to support my family on minimum wage. I am grateful for the experience because it showed me that someone cared to hear my voice. The students were very intrigued to hear the presentation. I feel very blessed to have been graced by their presence.”
(Originally posted 2/4/2011)
Why I'm Proud to be a 9to5 Member
Be Blessed!
-Rev. Harriet Bradley, 9to5 Atlanta member
Photo: Rev. Harriet, left, and Atlanta lead organizer Charmaine Davis
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