Family Values at Work - A Multi-State Consortium

Maine

End of Session Campaign Update:

L.D. 1665, a bill that would have provided paid sick days for Maine workers, is over...For now. After coming out of committee with a mixed report, the bill lacked the legislative support necessary to pass.

While this is extremely disappointing, it is important to recognize the numerous achievements during this legislative campaign.  The Maine Work and Family Coalition turned out supporters in droves to various creative press events, inundated lawmakers with calls, emails, and visits, and received extensive media coverage.

The Coalition continues to meet and work together to advance workplace policies for working families. As we approach the 2010 election season, the Maine Women's Lobby, the convener of the Maine Work and Family Coalition, will work to ensure that paid sick days is highlighted as the candidates hit the campaign trail.

 Check out some press from the campaign:

•    "Lawmakers Debate Sick Days Bill, Again" 
•    A healthy look at mandatory sick day bill
•    Maine Voices on Paid Sick Days
•    Legislators Let Down Working Families on Paid Sick Leave 

Breaking news! Paid sick days are critical to protecting public health and personal safety. That's why Maine lawmakers will consider a paid sick day bill in 2010. The bill, sponsored by Maine Senate President Libby Mitchell, is "An Act to Aid in the Prevention of the Spread of H1N1 Influenza by Ensuring the Provision of Earned Paid SIck Time." The law would provide for paid time off in the event of a public health emergency to provide critical care for yourself or a family member and include time to recover from illness, receive preventative care, or to use in relation to domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking. It would guarantee workers approximately 6 days annually at large businesses with 25 or more employees, and up to 3 ¼ days annually at small businesses with fewer than 25 employees. 

Here are a few of the stories from the launch event. Check out Maine Public Radio, Bangor Daily News and Portland Press Herald for some of the recent coverage.

This recent effort builds upon decades of advances for Maine working families led by the Maine Women's Policy Center and its sister organization, the Maine Women's Lobby. Most recently, last spring, the Maine Legislature considered a proposal to end discrimination against workers with family responsibilities. Moms and other caregivers shouldn't be fired or refused promotion based on outdated stereotypes about their obligations at home. That's why the Maine coalition supported efforts to clarifying family caregiver status in state law, which would better equip employers and employees to recognize, and ultimately prevent, discrimination in the workplace. After a bipartisan vote out of committee and an extremely favorable vote of 100-40 in the Maine House of Representatives, the Chamber of Commerce organized a massive lobbying effort to stop the bill. Ultimately, it failed in the Senate. Advocates are looking to future years to renew their efforts to protect mothers and all caregivers from discrimination.

Contact: Sarah Standiford, Maine Women's Policy Center, 207 622-0851.
www.mainewomen.org, or visit MWLobbyist on Twitter