PathWays PA Policy Blog

As early as today, the US Senate could vote on legislation that would help to close the current wage gap between men and women. The Paycheck Fairness Act would close loopholes that remain in the Equal Pay Act while preventing retaliation against workers who compare their pay. While it has been more than 50 years since the Equal Pay Act was passed, women still face a significant wage gap when compared with men. On average, women earn 77% of the wages that men earn. The money that families lose to the pay gap each year could cover 89 weeks worth of food or 3,000 gallons of gasoline per household. Take action now to show that #WeMatter! Email  or call your senators ASAP to share how you feel about Equal Pay! Interested in PathWays PA blog posts on similar topics? 8/26/14 - #WeMatter on Women's Equality Day: Tweet Storm at 1PM and 9PM 6/11/14 - Join MomsRising & AAUW for a #MomsEqualPay Tweet Chat Tomorrow! 5/3/14 - Join us on Monday! FREE Workshop on Women and Work...

From our friends at Family Values at Work Today we celebrate the 19th amendment, when Congress stopped denying women the right to vote. Of course for decades, women of color were still denied access to the polls. August 26th is about all women who continue to raise their voices in the face of injustice – who say, pay attention, we matter! Today, women across the country are standing up and speaking to lawmakers with a similar message: #WeMatter We are women and families, and the changes we need matter. Women’s economic security matters. Our votes matter. We matter. Pay attention, those running for office. #Wematter isn’t just a hashtag; it’s notice to elected officials that there’s a linked policy agenda that values families and the work they do. And we’re watching. But we can’t do it without you. To raise the floor and remove the barriers for all women and families, we need your help. Here’s what you can do. Ask two friends to sign up to get involved in local, state ...

From our friends at Keystone Progress The Pennsylvania Women and Families Economic Summit will meet in Harrisburg on Friday, May, 30 from 9:00AM to 4:30PM at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Harrisburg to strategize with other Pennsylvanians who care about the economic equality and security of women and families to organize around the local, state and national initiatives to promote these policies. Be a part of the conversation to devise a coordinated state strategy to bring about the common sense policies that support women and families that we need in Pennsylvania. Register here. Attendance is free.

U.S. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi visited Philadelphia Friday to push for a plan designed to boost women's economic prospects. The series of bills is aimed at closing the gender wage gap, making child care more affordable, and requiring paid sick and family leave for many private-sector workers. At a Community College of Philadelphia event, which attracted about 70 people, Pelosi was flanked by local workers such as Onetha McKnight, a wheelchair attendant at Philadelphia International Airport. Without paid sick days, McKnight said she faces impossible decisions. PathWays PA, the Coalition for Healthy Families and Workplaces, Childspace CDI, the Coalition of Labor Union Women, Job with Justice Philadelphia, and the Fund for Women and Girls are delighted with we could host Leader Pelosi at Community College of Philadelphia. To see images and tweets from the event, please visit http://storify.com/PathWaysPolicy/when-womensucceed-america-succeeds-philadelphia .

Today, American women are still paid only 77 cents for every dollar paid to men, nine out of ten American workers don't have paid family leave and nearly 40 million don't have a single paid sick day. Plus - there is a critical need for affordable, quality child care in this country. We can change that. Tomorrow, PathWays PA, our allies, and champions in Congress invite you to join an unprecedented national conversation - moderated by actor Cynthia Nixon - about these issues and the changes that will advance income equality and economic security for women and families in America. Can you make it? Here are the details: WHAT : Let's Talk About It: Advancing women and families in 2014 A National Tele-Townhall Event on fair pay, paid leave, and access to child care WHEN : Wednesday, January 29, 2014 Anniversary of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act 8:30 p.m. ET  WHERE : From the comfort of your phone No numbers to dial, we'll call you to connect to the event  ...

Join the Bucks County Women's Advocacy Coalition for their 6th Annual Conversation with Elected Officials: Supporting the Critical Role of Women and Families in PA Keynote speaker Carol Tracy, Executive Director of the Women's Law Project, will set the stage for the dialogue with information about the Pennsylvania Agenda for Women's Health, recently introduced by the bipartisan Women's Health Caucus of the Pennsylvania General Assembly. Friday, April 4, 2014 at 8:30-10:30 a.m. BuxMont Unitarian Universalist Fellowship 2040 Street Road, Warrington, PA Breakfast and attendee sign-in will begin promptly at 8 a.m. RSVP here .