National Telephone Town Hall: Advancing Women and Families in 2014

For Immediate Release

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Contact: Alex Edwards, alex.edwards@berlinrosen.com, 202-800-8691

(Washington, D.C.) – In his State of the Union address President Obama called on Congress and businesses across the country to come together to do away with workplace policies that belong in a “Mad Men” episode. “A woman deserves equal pay for equal work…to have a baby without sacrificing her job…a day off to care for a sick child or sick parent without running into hardship,” the President said.

Tonight, on the anniversary of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act and just one day after Newark became the 7th city to enact paid sick days, leading members of Congress, working women and thousands of concerned citizens will hold a conference call to discuss how our nation can – and is – putting President Obama’s words into action.

In advance of the national tele-town hall, Ellen Bravo, executive director of Family Values @ work, a national network of 21 state and local coalitions helping to pass family-friendly workplace policies, issued the following comments:

“As President Obama eloquently said last night, when women succeed, America succeeds. National lawmakers should take note of activists in cities and states across the nation who are pushing laws like paid sick days and paid family leave that give every woman the opportunity she deserves. From New York to Seattle, Rhode Island to San Francisco, we are at a turning point for family-friendly workplace policies in America, and look forward to working alongside President Obama, Congressional leaders and lawmakers across the nation to ensure true equality for women, families and all Americans.”

Read Ellen Bravo’s blog on President Obama’s address here. Ellen will also be live tweeting the national town hall at @FmlyValuesWork.

To speak with Ellen ahead of time, or for more information, contact Alex Edwards at 202.800.8691.

*MEDIA ADVISORY*

NATIONAL TELEPHONE TOWN HALL:

ADVANCING WOMEN AND FAMILIES IN 2014

January 29, 2014 – 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. There is also a critical need for affordable, quality child care in this country.

Wednesday, Jan. 29, House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, Actor Cynthia Nixon, fair pay advocate Lilly Ledbetter, working women from across America, and Congresswomen championing these critical issues will come together for a national conversation on fair pay, paid sick days, paid family and medical leave, and affordable child care – the changes that will advance economic security for women and their families in America.

There will be Q&A throughout with callers from across the country, giving insight into the issues and concerns of real working women and families nationwide.

WHEN:  Wednesday, January 29, 2014 (Anniversary of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act) at 8:30 p.m. EST

WHERE: Conference Call

A dial-in number will be provided to those who RSVP but please be advised that this is a listen-only line. 

WHO:               

• House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)
• U.S. Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-CT)
• U.S. Representative Donna Edwards (D-NC)
• Lilly Ledbetter
• Working women from across the country
• Thousands of concerned citizens
• Moderator: Actor Cynthia Nixon

This unprecedented national conversation on women and families is sponsored by Family Values @ Work and partners, including: 9to5, ABetter Balance, AAUW, AFSCME, Alliance for Justice, Campaign for Community Change, Caring Across Generations, Caring Economy Campaign, Center for Law and Social Policy, Center for Popular Democracy, Coalition of Labor Union Women, Crittenton Women’s Union, Direct Care Alliance, Economic Opportunity Institute, Economic Policy Institute, Equal Pay Coalition NYC, Equal Rights Advocates,Family Equality Council, Family Forward Oregon, Feminist Majority, Food Chain Workers Alliance, Healthy Tacoma, Institute for Science and Human Values, Inc., Interfaith Worker Justice, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Labor Project for Working Families, Legal Aid Society-Employment Law Center, Maine Women’s Policy Center, MomsRising, Montana Equal Pay for Equal Work Task Force, National Alliance for Caregiving, National Association of Mothers’ Centers, National Association of Social Workers, National Committee on Pay Equity, National Consumers League, National Council of Jewish Women, National Council of La Raza (NCLR) Action Fund, National Organization for Women, National Partnership for Women & Families, National Women’s Law Center, NC Families Care, New Jersey Citizen Action, New Jersey Time to Care Coalition, New York Paid Leave Coalition, Organizing for Action, OWL-The Voice of Midlife and Older Women, PathWays PA, Progressive States  Network, Restaurant Opportunities Center, RESULTS, RI Women’s Fund, Rockefeller Family Fund, Service Employees International Union (SEIU), TakeAction Minnesota, The Voter Participation Center, UltraViolet, USAction, Washington Work and Family Coalition, Women Employed, and Working Families.