Take Action!

By MB -
Telegraphone with operatorLooking for some issues to take action on? You've come to the right place!

Equal Pay: There are several things you can do to support pay equity-
  • Talk to Congress about the Paycheck Fairness Act: The Paycheck Fairness Act would close loopholes in current equal pay legislation and prevent employers from retaliating against workers who voluntarily discuss their pay.  You can contact Congress at http://bit.ly/yHmU62 or by calling the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121. 
  • Do a Pay Equity Self-Audit: Take the time to make sure your company is abiding by fair pay practices through this self-audit, available at http://bit.ly/c8p6Ca.
  • Talk to Women and Girls About Nontraditional Jobs: One reason for pay inequity is that women often end up in low-paying "pink collar" jobs.  Peer pressure and family pressure are two of the factors that keep women out of nontraditional workforce.  Encouraging women and girls to look into Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) jobs is a way to increase equity down the line, and the younger girls are when you talk to them, the better.  For more information on green jobs for women, read this new publication by the Women's Bureau: Why Green is Your Color at http://1.usa.gov/wLkcUN. 
  • Teach Women and Girls (and Yourself!) to Negotiate: Women are more likely to negotiate for others than for themselves.  Yet moving forward at work requires negotiation over wages, benefits, and job opportunities.  Learn more about negotiating and share your tips in the comments!
Work/Family: Childcare and paid sick days are important factors in the worklives of many families, especially for women:
  • Talk to the Legislature About the State Budget: The 2012-2013 Pennsylvania budget cuts funding for subsidized childcare programs that help many women afford to go to work.  You can call your legislators and let them know what you think about the cuts.  Visit  http://www.legis.state.pa.us/ to find your legislator.
  • Support Paid Sick Days for Workers: Over 40% of all workers in the country have no access to paid sick days.  Find out more at paidsickdays.org and earnedsickdaysphilly.com.
Asset testing: The current asset testing proposal would set asset limits for food stamps at $5,500 for most families and $9,000 for adults over age 60.  While this limit has been raised from the initial amount, you can still call your legislators to discuss the asset limits at 800-515-8134. 

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