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Paid Sick Days for the Working Poor: A Test for Democracy in Wisconsin

By Ellen Bravo, Family Values @ Work – Posted May 23, 2011

Here’s the lesson from the recent political fight in Milwaukee: when democracy decides, paid sick days and working people win. A second lesson: when corporate lobbyists interfere in the democratic process, low-wage workers often lose.

The fight began when, in early 2008, an alliance of nearly 50 organizations, spearheaded by the Milwaukee chapter of 9to5, National Association of Working Women, organized a successful local ballot campaign to guarantee the right of all workers in the city to earn paid sick leave.

Enthusiasm for the campaign mounted as members of the diverse coalition gathered signatures. In immigrant communities, labor halls, child care centers, job sites, congregations, and community festivals, activists distributed materials and signed up supporters. They needed 26,500 signatures—and turned in 42,000.

Weekly events cemented that support. Rallies and forums highlighted the scope of benefits that paid sick days would bring for a variety of stakeholders—those fighting asthma, employers concerned about boosting productivity and lowering turnover, advocates seeking an end to violence, restaurant workers who didn’t want to serve flu along with fries, and educators horrified at the number of sick children whose parents were unable to stay home with them without risking a paycheck or a job.

The result was an overwhelming electoral win the following November.

Pay equity for women

On April 12, the nation observes Equal Pay Day to symbolize that women on average have to work a year plus more than three months to equal what men make in a year. This past year, women were paid 77 cents for every dollar paid to men in the United States. For women of color, the gap is even wider, with African-American women earning 67 cents and Latinas 58 cents on the dollar.

LaTerrell Bradford, member of 9to5, National Association of Working Women, calls equal pay “non-negotiable.” While working as part of an all-female support team, a man was hired in the same job classification. Her female supervisor discovered that he was to earn much more than any of the women ...

On April 12, the nation observes Equal Pay Day to symbolize that women on average have to work a year plus more than three months to equal what men make in a year. This past year, women ...

Women under attack in Wisconsin

Today, the world celebrates the achievements and strength of women throughout the world.  But here at home, women in Wisconsin are fighting back sharp attacks to their livelihoods and their rights.

For starters, the Republican majority in the legislature has decided to slash the state budget at the expense of hard-working Wisconsinites.  One group disproportionately impacted is women.

At the forefront of these attacks is a threat to end collective bargaining rights for public employees, 70 percent of whom are female.  Collective bargaining has helped women working as teachers, nurses, and janitors win wages that let them support their families and establish protections for workers and the students, patients and clients they serve.

Home health aides and child care providers, two groups who ...

Today, the world celebrates the achievements and strength of women throughout the world.  But here at home, women in Wisconsin are fighting back sharp attacks to their livelihoods and their rights.

For starters, the Republican majority in the ...