MomsRising: It's time for pay equity

Did you see this? I really hope so.  My baby girl turned one (!!!) three weeks ago. And when friends kept asking what they could give Vivi for her birthday, my first reaction was: "She doesn’t need a bunch of presents – she’s only a year old.'"

But then I realized – that is not true. There's one big thing that my smart, beautiful, curious little girl doesn’t have: a guarantee that she will earn the same amount of money as a man for doing the same job.

My little girl, Vivi, doesn’t have pay equity.

So for Vivi and all the little (and big) girls across this country, urge your Senators stand up for the Paycheck Fairness Act.

http://action.momsrising.org/go/PayCheck2010/260?akid=2199.150190.6tVBpc&t=2
="">*Taking two minutes to send a note to your Senators urging them to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act will make a big difference for all of our daughters!

Thanks,
Ruth

P.S. Hope you got a chance to read the below message with more details.

From: Kristin, MomsRising.org
Subject: Here's why we're mad
Date: July 9, 2010 6:58:38 AM PDT
To: Ruth Martin

Tell your Senators to quickly pass the Paycheck Fairness Act. We've gone far too long without equal pay for equal work.   Our daughters can't afford for us to wait any longer!   Take Action

Ruth,
"I'm mad.  And, truthfully, what I'm most mad about is that we're even here in the first place. Women are still making just 77 cents to a man's dollar. Yet we find ourselves having to prove, and prove again, that pay equity should be a priority -- and in a recession no less when the paychecks of women are even more important than ever to keeping families fiscally solvent.  It's ridiculous.  The U.S. House passed the Paycheck Fairness Act in Jan 2009.  I never thought we’d hit the summer of 2010 without the U.S. Senate passing the Paycheck Fairness Act, too. They need to just do it already, because I don’t know about you, but I’d kinda like to know which Senators support pay equity when I go to the polls in November."  -- Lisa Maatz, Director of Public Policy, AAUW (American Association of University Women)

Lisa's not alone.  We regularly hear from moms across the country who are also mad about being paid less for the same jobs as men.

Let's put that anger to work. We have a fighting chance of moving the Paycheck Fairness Act forward right now.  This week and and next, U.S. Senators are deciding what's going to come up for a vote in the next month--and we need to let them know that the Paycheck Fairness Act needs to be on their action list.

*Take a moment now to sign a letter to the U.S. Senate urging them to stop wasting time and to move quickly to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act:
http://action.momsrising.org/go/PayCheck2010/260?akid=2199.150190.6tVBpc&t=7
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We have quite a ways to go, sadly.  Things aren't looking up for women's paychecks now--and the wages of women who are mothers' are particularly impacted.  On the whole, women working full-time, year-round make an average of 77 cents to every dollar that men make [1]. To get a bit more specific, although women overall  make 77 cents to a man’s dollar, mothers specifically make only 73 cents to a man's dollar, and single mothers make the least at about 60 cents to a man's dollar.  Women of color experience even more wage hits.

Further, a recent study found that with equal resumes and job experiences, mothers were hired 79% less of the time than non-mothers--and were offered $11,000 lower starting salaries (Fathers, on the other hand, were offered $6,000 more starting salaries than non-fathers).

Wage discrimination against mothers has enormous rippling repercussions.  For example, nearly a quarter of young families are living in poverty--and the USDA reported in December 2009 that one out of every four children in our nation are experiencing food scarcity due to family economic limitations.  The majority of families these days need the wages of two parents to make ends meet, and getting equal pay for equal work would go a long way toward helping family economic security.

It's going to take all of us fighting together on many different fronts to lower these wage gaps.  But we can do it.  Passing the Paycheck Fairness Act is an important step toward increased family economic security in our nation.

What does the Paycheck Fairness Act do? It would:

• Deter wage discrimination by strengthening penalties for equal pay violations and by prohibiting retaliation against workers who ask about employers' wage practices or disclose their own wages;
• Empower women to negotiate for equal pay;
• Strengthen federal outreach, education and enforcement efforts;
• Create stronger incentives for employers to follow the law.

Fair pay is especially critical in this tough economy because more and more women are the sole breadwinners in their families.  The average woman loses $700,000 in pay due to gender discrimination in her lifetime. For women of color, this number can be even higher.[2]  That's a lot of cash that would come in handy right now for America's families. 
*Sign on to our letter now to the U.S. Senate urging them to move quickly to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act:
http://action.momsrising.org/go/PayCheck2010/260?akid=2199.150190.6tVBpc&t=9
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As I watch my eleven-year-old daughter playing in the yard with her friends, I can't help but agree with Lisa that the fact that the Paycheck Fairness Act hasn't passed yet is maddening.  My hope for my daughter--and for all girls across the nation--is that by the time they're older, their paychecks will be the same as men in the same jobs with equal resumes.

And, please also take a moment now to forward this email around to friends and family so they can take action too.  The voices of mothers  are incredibly powerful in Congress.  Believe it or not, when moms speak out, our elected leaders listen.  So the bigger the noise we make, the more likely we are to get the Paycheck Fairness Act moving in the Senate.

Together we have the power to make this happen!

- Kristin, Sarah, Joan, Mary, Ruth, the MomsRising Team (and Lisa, AAUW)

[1] U.S. Census  and National Women's Law Center Fact sheet

[2] National Committee on Pay Equity

Urge Congress to protect our environment and our families by passing the Safe Chemicals Act

“It’s a terrible thing to happen.  Not only are the sea creatures dying, but it’s hurting humans too,” said my daughter, Anna, about the oil spill while getting ready for school. “I’m afraid it could get a lot, lot worse.”

She's right to be concerned.  And she might not even know the half of it. Not only are millions of gallons of oil spilling into the Gulf of Mexico everyday, but the chemicals that are being used to disperse the oil are toxic.[1,2]

*Urge Congress to protect our environment and our families by passing the Safe Chemicals Act which will provide vigorous oversight of chemical use to ensure that all products, including children's products, are safe--and encourage them to amend the Act to cover oil spill dispersants:

http://action.momsrising.org/go/SafeChemicalsAct/219?akid=2167.150190.CcRYwV&t=4
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What's happening in the Gulf of Mexico is just one example of the preventable toxics hazards that are unleashed by a lack of oversight of the chemical industry.  Recent news stories are revealing that the dispersants being used by BP have already made many Gulf workers sick, and wind blown dispersants are suspected of causing crop damage inland.[3]  Less toxic dispersants have been available all along.  In fact, the dispersant being used in the Gulf, Corexit 9500, has been banned in United Kingdom since 1998, and the New York Times reported the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) advised BP to use a less toxic dispersant.[4,5]

Similarly, toxic children's products continue to flood American markets even though non-toxic alternatives are available both here in the U.S., as well as in other countries which have more effective oversight of the chemicals industry.

This situation with the oil spill dispersants is just one of the many reasons why our nation's chemical policy needs to be reformed now (yesterday, in fact):

• American babies are now being born polluted with more than 300 industrial chemicals. This is a big problem because pregnant women, developing fetuses, and children are especially vulnerable to the effects of toxic chemicals.

• Under the current law, the EPA has been able to require testing on only about 200 of the 80,000 chemicals that have been on the market since the law passed in 1976.

• In the last 34 years, only 5 chemicals have had their use restricted by the EPA. In the last 18 years, no chemicals have been restricted.

Keep in mind that all of the above is happening as rates of asthma, diabetes, childhood cancers, breast cancer, infertility and learning and developmental disabilities associated with health-harming chemicals keep increasing.[6]

It's not too late for us to work together to make sure that the toys on our shelves, the products our families use every day, and the chemicals used in our environment are safer.

*It's time for Congress to take action and pass the Safe Chemicals Act with an amendment to include oil spill dispersants.  Send a letter today by clicking here: http://action.momsrising.org/go/SafeChemicalsAct/219?akid=2167.150190.CcRYwV&t=6
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And please also take a moment now to forward this email around far and wide to friends and family so they can contact Congress too.  It's going to take all of our voices together to move the Safe Chemicals Act forward in the face of opposition from powerful corporate chemical lobbyists.

We need immediate action to provide better oversight of the chemicals industry to protect the Gulf, Gulf workers, and all of America’s children and families.

Thank you. Together we are a powerful force for women, children, and families.

-- Kristin, Donna, Mary, Joan, Sarah, Claire, Ariana, Anita, and the MomsRising Team

p.s. Here's a link to a statement from hundreds of environmental and public health groups calling on Congress to address dispersants in the overhaul of the Toxics Substances Control Act.

Millions of gallons of oil are spilling into the Gulf of Mexico. To make matters worse, the chemicals they're using to disperse the oil are toxic.

That's why Congress has to take action and pass the Safe Chemicals Act!

Take Action

Must extend unemployment insurance benefits!

Whenever I go on vacation, I always leave some task undone--like emptying the garbage can, or putting my mail on hold. But failing to extend millions of people's unemployment insurance benefits? Never, even in my most hurried state, would I go on vacation and neglect to do that.

It's simply inexcusable that Congress adjourned for their spring break, leaving unemployment insurance benefits to lapse for families across the nation.

Tell Congress to remember something they may have forgotten: They work for us! As the first order of business next week when they return, they must extend unemployment insurance benefits for the millions of Americans in dire need of these benefits they earned through years of work.

http://action.momsrising.org/go/UI_2010/70?akid=2001.150190.l-TPSz&t=4
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What's the holdup?

The Senate was scheduled to vote on another extension March 26, but after Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) blocked the extension, the vote was rescheduled for April 12th.

This delay is a national crisis.  According to the National Employment Law Project, there are now 14.9 million unemployed Americans. Failing to extend unemployment insurance benefits now is expected to push up to a million families to the brink of financial disaster by the end of the month.

Unemployment insurance is a lifeline for millions of families most in need--and also moves forward economic recovery for us all. Without unemployment insurance, more homes will be lost to foreclosure, bringing down the value of all homes, less money will flow through communities, and families in need will have to find other public supports. This downward cycle hampers the overall economic recovery that will bring jobs and economic security to all of us.

Tell Congress to act now to make sure that millions of our most vulnerable families have access to unemployment insurance benefits that will keep them in their homes and able to continue looking for work and caring for their children.

http://action.momsrising.org/go/UI_2010/70?akid=2001.150190.l-TPSz&t=6
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And please forward this message to your friends and family so they can take action too.

Thank you for your work on behalf of America's families!

-- Donna, Julia, Sarah, Kristin, and the whole MomsRising.org team

P.S. Check out this video of MomsRising members joining Senators Baucus and Reed, demanding an extension of unemployment insurance for workers last month in Congress. http://action.momsrising.org/go/71?akid=2001.150190.l-TPSz&t=8

The new poor

In April, 1 million families could face the loss of their only lifeline--unemployment insurance-- if the Senate doesn't act this week. Tell your Senators to stand up for families! Take Action

"All of my years of experience and knowledge holds no water in today's economy. I've applied to over 1000 jobs, near and far, and am competing for jobs with hundreds of people, young, old, experienced, inexperienced, etc."

That's the experience of MomsRising Member, Rebecca, a single mom in California. The New York Times dubs these families in crisis, like Rebecca's, the “new poor.” They are middle class families “who are now relying on public assistance for the first time in their lives.”[1]

This Friday our U.S. Senators plan to leave Washington D.C. to enjoy spring break. But there is one more critical thing they need to do before they leave: Extend unemployment insurance for families.

It's not vacation time yet for Congress!

Urge your Senators to do one last critical task for working families before they leave for vacation:
http://action.momsrising.org/go/unemployment_insurance/40?akid=1827.150190.YWo48j&t=4
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*If the Senate doesn’t act this week, then over 1 million workers could lose their unemployment benefits in April.[2]  That’s thousands of families who will be faced with mortgage or rent bills they can’t pay, prescriptions they can’t afford, or kids they can’t feed.

“Even as the American economy shows tentative signs of a rebound, the human toll of the recession continues to mount, with millions of Americans remaining out of work, out of savings and nearing the end of their unemployment benefits.” The New York Times, February 20th, 2010[3]

Millions of working families like Rebecca’s are worried about making ends meet.  Let’s make sure the Senate doesn’t forget about them before their own spring break.

Here's that link again so you can remind your Senators to stand up for families today:
http://action.momsrising.org/go/unemployment_insurance/40?akid=1827.150190.YWo48j&t=7
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And please pass this link along by forwarding this email now--because the more voices our Senators hear, the more likely they are to become champions for our families.

Together we are a powerful voice for families,

--Sarah, Donna, Kristin and the whole MomsRising.org team

P.S. Thanks to the National Employment Law Center for all the work they do on this issue.

[1] "Millions of Unemployed Face Years Without Jobs" New York Times, February 20th, 2010: http://action.momsrising.org/go/41?akid=1827.150190.YWo48j&t=9
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[2] NELP: http://action.momsrising.org/go/42?akid=1827.150190.YWo48j&t=11
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[3] "Millions of Unemployed Face Years Without Jobs" New York Times, February 20th, 2010: http://action.momsrising.org/go/41?akid=1827.150190.YWo48j&t=13
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Tell Congress it must extend unemployment compensation benefits

Make sure that millions of our most vulnerable families have access to unemployment insurance benefits. Tell Congress to extend the unemployment insurance extension until the end of 2010! Take Actio

All families are not created equal. At least not in this recession.

A recent study shows that rates of unemployment among the lowest income families are 30.8 percent, while the highest income families have an unemployment rate of only 3.2 percent.[1] For our most vulnerable families, these unemployment rates rival those during the Great Depression.

And adding to the crisis, if Congress does not take action to extend unemployment benefits this week, state unemployment insurance offices will need to start eliminating benefits in March for millions of these Americans.

Tell Congress, its first order of business this week must be to extend the unemployment insurance extension until the end of 2010.
http://momsrising.democracyinaction.org/o/1768/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=1001

Unemployment insurance is a lifeline for millions of families most in need and supports economic recovery for us all. Without unemployment insurance, more homes will be lost to foreclosure, bringing down the value of all homes, less money will flow through communities, and families in need will have to find other public supports. This downward cycle hampers the economic recovery that will bring jobs and economic security to all of us.

Tell Congress to act now to make sure that millions of our most vulnerable families have access to unemployment insurance benefits that will keep them in their homes and able to continue looking for work and caring for their children.
http://momsrising.democracyinaction.org/o/1768/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=1001
And please forward this message to your friends and family so they can take action too.

Thank you for your work on behalf of America's families!
-- Donna, Sarah, Molly, Kristin, and the whole MomsRising.org team
[1]  http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/09/opinion/09herbert.html, http://www.clms.neu.edu/publication/