9to5 Advocating for Bills in Support of the Working Woman’s Agenda

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information contact: 
Tiffany Garnace, 9to5 GA Communications Coordinator
Email: tiffany@9to5.org
Jasmine Bowles, Executive State Director, 9to5 GA

9to5 Georgia Advocating for Bills in Support of the Working Woman’s Agenda 

On Tuesday, February 13th, 9to5 Georgia brought 75 advocates from 24 towns and cities across Georgia to the state capitol. Attendees united for a single purpose: to advocate for the Working Woman’s Agenda. Participants were constituents of 38 House and 22 Senate districts, showcasing the breadth and depth of the movement.

Participants were enthusiastic about their ability to give voice to gaps in Georgia’s policies by speaking directly with their legislators. 

Jojo, a service worker, joined 9to5’s Lobby Day yesterday and spoke with Senator Elena Parent. She talked about the need for higher wages and childcare and how it’s not enough for them as Waffle House workers. “I felt empowered to talk to legislators directly to their face and talk about the real problems workers are facing,” said Jojo. Tuesday was her first Lobby Day, and she wants to do more to advocate for herself and other service workers like her. 

Gena Mitchell came to 9to5’s Lobby Day to advocate for workplace protections against harassment, something she has experienced personally several times, and she now supports other workers through their experiences of harassment as well. “I came to the Capitol to help lawmakers understand how harassment affects us and that they must do all they can to protect workers from this harm.” 9to5 Georgia is advocating for the passage of HB 381, the first state level law protecting private sector workers against harassment and discrimination. 

Felicia Shuman, a Savannah childcare provider who rode a bus to Lobby Day along with over 30 other childcare advocates, spoke with Representatives Carl Gilliard and Anne Westbrook about the many current challenges surrounding child care and the need for the state to increase funding for Georgia’s Childcare and Parent Services (CAPS) program by at least $16 million to avoid further crises. “One of [my] parents makes 10 dollars an hour and has three children and was told she makes too much to qualify for CAPS.” Representative Gilliard invited them to share their experience and shed light on these issues during a morning service this Sunday. 

Among the bills that the group was advocating for is House Bill 1010, a bill sponsored by Speaker Pro Tempore Jan Jones that would expand the current 3-week paid parental leave law to 6 weeks for eligible state and public school employees. 

Jasmine Bowles, Executive State Director of 9to5 Georgia, prepared a statement in response to the passage of the bill in the House on Thursday: 

“9to5 is pleased with the passage of the bill on the House floor and is encouraged that our House lawmakers have heard their constituents express what a critical need paid leave is in allowing people to care for themselves and their families while still contributing to the workforce. We hope that the Senate also listens to their constituents and will support the measure.

While we are pleased with the positive momentum of support for paid leave, we also hope that the legislature will soon recognize that with 78% of all Georgians not having access to any form of paid leave at all, only extending paid parental leave to some public sector workers is not enough.”

9to5 Georgia encourages legislators to implement the Working Woman’s Agenda, as was read on the House floor Tuesday as House Resolution 1065, to ensure that all forms of care–paid family and medical leave, child care, elder care, caring for a disabled loved one, caring for women by ensuring they are protected against harassment at work and paid fairly, care in the form of safe and affordable housing, care as accessible healthcare, and more–will be realized so that hardworking Georgia families can thrive in this state. These supports create the conditions needed to attract and retain workers, and if Georgia wants to keep its status as the best place to do business, changes in our laws and policies are critical. It’s time for Georgia to be the best state for working women and their families as well.”

9to5 Georgia will continue to fight for the Working Woman’s Agenda for the benefit of all Georgia families.  

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About 9to5

9to5 Georgia is the statewide chapter of the National Association of Working Women, a national non-profit organization fighting for economic freedom for all women, particularly women of color. For over 50 years, 9to5 has advocated for equitable workplace policies. 9to5 has been at the forefront of the fight for expanded childcare, pay equity, paid sick days, family leave, and discrimination-free workplaces. Most recently, the 9to5 Working Women’s Agenda has evolved to include housing, environmental, and utilities justice.