Family Values at Work - A Multi-State Consortium

Colorado

In Colorado, 9to5 has built a work-family coalition which includes many partner organizations working on behalf of workers, women, children, people of color, and the state’s public health interest. The coalition, which added several education and labor groups, and is also working with several groups of girls, celebrated this spring as the Governor signed into law HB09 1057, the parental leave for school activities bill. This law makes it possible for parents and legal guardians to attend school activities related to the student’s academic and behavioral performance, subject to FMLA standards. 9to5 is actively educating the community about this new law.

A related network, the Colorado Paid Sick Days Coalition, is conducting education about a state paid sick days bill that would provide one hour of paid sick time for every 30 hours worked, up to 9 days for a full-time worker. The coalition successfully worked with a group of ten state legislators who authored an Op Ed together supporting the bill that was published in 10 publications across the state. Groups are now generating support for a possible bill in the 2010 state legislature and a ballot initiative in November of 2010.

Contact: Linda Meric, 9to5, National Association of Working Women, 303 628-0925. www.9to5Colorado.org