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Friday, July 10, 2009

We're Not Finished ... Paid Sick Days

(courtesy of Moms Rising)

Did you know that a bill proposing a paid sick days law was first introduced in Congress in 2004? Since then, never, not once, did the bill even get scheduled for a Congressional Committee hearing -- one of the first big steps before a bill can become a law. Until now.Because of citizen pressure (folks like you!), a bill creating a national paid sick days policy (called The Healthy Families Act) finally had its first Congressional Committee hearing in June. Now the bill has 107 cosponsors in the House, and exciting forward MOMentum toward becoming a law! But just like a car stops when you don't give it enough gas, our bill won't keep moving forward without some fuel.

Keep the pedal to the metal with people power! Tell your Congressperson and Senators to pass paid sick days law now:

http://momsrising.democracyinaction.org/o/1768/t/9251/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=911

Why do we need paid sick days? Paid sick days are needed as a part of our public health system and are integral to economic security for families. This year's swine flu outbreak offers a telling example. Doctors and experts tell us that the best way to prevent the spread of the flu is to stay home when you, or your children, are sick. But in today's economy, folks without paid sick days simply can't afford to follow this advice-and that puts everyone at risk of exposure to illness, whether it's swine flu or any other communicable disease.

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Plan Your 4th Now


Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Title VII

(courtesy of Legal Momentum, Inc.)


Legal Momentum Statement on Supreme Court Decision on Ricci Decision Will Undermine Critical Role of Nation's Civil Rights Laws in
Achieving Equality in the Workplace


WASHINGTON, D.C. and NEW YORK (June 29, 2009) --
Legal Momentum, the nation's oldest legal advocacy organization dedicated to advancing women's rights, is deeply concerned by the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling today in Ricci v. DeStefano, a decision that will undermine the critical role of the country’s civil rights laws in the historic struggle of women and minorities to achieve equality in the workplace. The Court created a new, more stringent standard for employment discrimination claims in striking down the New Haven Fire Department’s attempt to ensure that its promotional exam did not discriminate against Black and Latino candidates.

We believe that the standard articulated by the Court reflects a flawed interpretation of Title VII and is contrary to congressional intent. Irasema Garza, President of Legal Momentum, stated: “Employment discrimination continues to be a major problem. To this day, women and minorities remain egregiously under-represented in many employment sectors. Astoundingly, the Court’s decision acknowledges this fact and yet requires employers to avoid policies and practices that would help to remedy this discrimination. This decision will make it far more difficult for women and minorities to get good jobs in fields that continue to exclude them, such as firefighting, and for employers to eliminate barriers that have proved discriminatory in their effect.”

Further, as a supporter of Judge Sonia Sotomayor's nomination to the Supreme Court, Legal Momentum strongly disagrees with those who might use the Court's decision to imply that Judge Sotomayor and her colleagues in the Second Circuit erred in their ruling below.

The Second Circuit panel of which Judge Sotomayor was a part acted with appropriate restraint in applying the precedent as it existed at that time. The matter before the Supreme Court involved issues of first impression and the Second Circuit’s opinion was consistent with the views of four Justices on the Supreme Court as well as with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Department of Justice.

Legal Momentum joined in an amicus brief submitted to the Supreme Court in the Ricci case. The brief described how the disparate impact theory under Title VII has been instrumental in women’s entering “non-traditional” fields like firefighting.

Friday, June 26, 2009

Lunch Time Call- "Love & Sex"

(courtesy of New Demographic)

"Love and Sex: What's Race Got to Do With It?"

Wednesday, July 1, 2009 at 1:00 pm Eastern time

Sign up to reserve your line for this FREE call today!

On this lively, information-packed 60-minute call, you'll learn:
*What “racial scripts” are and how they influence your interactions with others.
*Why an increase in the numbers of interracial couples is NOT evidence that racism is declining.
*What assumptions people are making about you right now based on the race of your
partner.
*How these assumptions can interfere with everything from the friendships you form
to your career prospects.
*Hidden influences you may not even be aware of and what to do about them.

Wednesday, July 1, 2009 at 1:00 pm Eastern time

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Know Your Status


(courtesy of Planned Parenthood of Greater Memphis)


In observance of National HIV Testing Day, on Friday, June 26, 2009, PPGMR will do free HIV testing and couseling in the lobby of Memphis Towers, 1081 Court Avenue:

What: Free HIV testing and counseling
When: Friday, June 26, 2009
10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Where: Memphis Towers, 1081 Court Avenue
Who: Anyone who wants to know his/her HIV status!

PPGMR will be offering painless OraQuick testing. A simple mouth swab is all that's needed. Results are available in about 30 minutes. HIV testing is quick, painless and always free at Planned Parenthood Greater Memphis Region. Call 901-725-1717 for more information about testing.



Stand Up for Nursing Mothers

(courtesy of MomsRising)

Too many women are unable to breastfeed for the 6 months recommended by doctors and experts. This is often due to the fact that many workplace structures make this nearly impossible. While 74% of U.S. women breastfeed their infants at birth, only 12% are exclusively breastfeeding at six months as recommended by every major national and international medical authority.4 On average, rates of breastfeeding drop even lower for young and low-income mothers.5 Some mothers choose to stop breastfeeding but others don't have a choice. Many women who work outside the home face significant barriers or outright discrimination in their efforts to breastfeed. Even well-intentioned employers may be unaware about how to accommodate nursing moms, leaving women using sheets to cover up in cubicles, cramming into bathroom stalls with breast pumps, or even hiding out in dingy supply rooms just to pump breast milk for their babies.

Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) and Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) recently introduced the Breastfeeding Promotion Act to support employers and nursing moms by:* Providing tax incentives for businesses that establish private lactation areas in the workplace;* Requiring employers to make reasonable efforts to provide appropriate space and break time for mothers to express milk;* Protecting breastfeeding women from being fired or discriminated against in the workplace; and* Allowing families to deduct the cost of breastfeeding equipment on their taxes, as is the case with other common medical expenses.6Studies show that breastfeeding is good for babies, mothers and employers! Breastfed babies have a lower risk of infection, obesity, diabetes, and other health problems. This not only reduces a family's healthcare costs (and anguish), it also reduces costs (and workplace interruptions) for employers, given that mothers and fathers with healthier babies have to leave work less often to care them. 7

CITATIONS
[1] http://abcnews.go.com/video/playerIndex?id=7850067
[2] Guendelman, Sylvia; Lang Kosa, Jessica; pearl, Michelle; Graham, Steve; Goodman, Julia;& Kharrazi, Martin. (2009). Juggling work and breastfeeding effects of maternity leave and occupational characteristics. Pediatrics, 123, e38-e46.
[3] http://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/famee.pdf
[4]http://www.usbreastfeeding.org/LinkClick.aspx?link=publications%2fHealth-Care-Reform-One-page-USBC.pdf&tabid=36&mid=378
[5] http://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/data/NIS_data/index.htm
[6] http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c111:H.R.2819:
[7]http://www.usbreastfeeding.org/LinkClick.aspx?link=publications%2fEconomic-Benefits-2002-USBC.pdf&tabid=70&mid=388

Take Action Now! http://momsrisingaction.org/signUp.jsp?key=2614

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Free Test

In observance of National HIV Testing Day, Planned Parenthood Greater Memphis Region will offer free HIV counseling and testing in the lobby of Memphis Towers, 1081 Court Avenue, Memphis, TN 38104 on Friday, June 26, 2009.

What: Free HIV testing and counseling
When: Friday, June 26, 2009, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Where: Memphis Towers, 1081 Court Avenue
Who: Anyone who wants to know his/her HIV status!

Both residents of Memphis Towers and non-residents are encouraged to take advantage of this free testing event. Everyone who is or has been sexually active is encouraged to be tested.