Maine Women's Lobby Blog http://www.mainewomen.org/blog The Voice of Maine Women Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:38:21 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 en hourly 1 Tell the Governor to Support Paid Sick Days! http://www.mainewomen.org/blog/2010/03/tell-the-governor-to-support-paid-sick-days/ http://www.mainewomen.org/blog/2010/03/tell-the-governor-to-support-paid-sick-days/#comments Tue, 09 Mar 2010 20:50:59 +0000 asheldon http://www.mainewomen.org/blog/?p=1437 Picture 002 With a few days to mull over the policy, the Labor Committee will come back this Thursday with a vote on L.D. 1665.

Members of the labor committee stated that they wanted to know where the Governor stands on this issue.

And you know what that means…the Governor needs to hear from you – right now.

Make your voice heard and send him an email at this link

Research has shown – time and again – that the vast majority of Mainers support paid sick days. So, here’s your chance.

If you haven’t had time yet to voice your support on this bill – please do it now.

The few seconds you take to send this email could make or break this campaign.

]]> http://www.mainewomen.org/blog/2010/03/tell-the-governor-to-support-paid-sick-days/feed/ 0 Back from Caucus… http://www.mainewomen.org/blog/2010/03/back-from-caucus/ http://www.mainewomen.org/blog/2010/03/back-from-caucus/#comments Mon, 08 Mar 2010 19:32:34 +0000 asheldon http://www.mainewomen.org/blog/?p=1423 And still without any answers. After a ten minute caucus the Labor committee came back with the news that they would wait until Thursday to make their decision. A few representatives had questions they would like answered. With a strong turnout of Paid Sick Days supporters hopefully we sent the Labor Committee the right message and on Thursday they will vote “ought to pass on this important legislation.”

A few of my personal favorite moments were Senator Gerzofsky’s argument in support of the bill,  he represents a district will a large number of business owners, and as he stated, “hasn’t had the door slammed in his face yet.” Senator Gerzofsky took the time to talk with business owners, workers and families alike about this important legislation and determined that this is the time.

I also was very impressed by Representative Butterfield’s ability to refocus the debate and remind us all why L.D. 1665 is so important – for Maine’s workers and families.

Kudos to all supporters for a great showing today!

Check out some pictures from the event:

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]]> http://www.mainewomen.org/blog/2010/03/back-from-caucus/feed/ 0 “I haven’t had a door slammed in my face yet” http://www.mainewomen.org/blog/2010/03/i-havent-had-a-door-slammed-in-my-face-yet/ http://www.mainewomen.org/blog/2010/03/i-havent-had-a-door-slammed-in-my-face-yet/#comments Mon, 08 Mar 2010 19:11:24 +0000 asheldon http://www.mainewomen.org/blog/?p=1420 Senator Gerzofsky speaks about his discussions with business owners around this bill, “most folks think that the time has come for legislation like this,” he continues. Gerzofsky represents a district that includes Freeport.

“I’m gonna support this and the people at home are going to support me for supporting this!”

And he’s right, polling has represented that almost 90% of Maine voters support this legislation!

Hopefully, the other members of the labor committee will join him in voting “ought to pass” for this important bill.

]]> http://www.mainewomen.org/blog/2010/03/i-havent-had-a-door-slammed-in-my-face-yet/feed/ 0 “I’m about as pro-labor as you can get” http://www.mainewomen.org/blog/2010/03/im-about-as-pro-labor-as-you-can-get/ http://www.mainewomen.org/blog/2010/03/im-about-as-pro-labor-as-you-can-get/#comments Mon, 08 Mar 2010 19:03:06 +0000 admin http://www.mainewomen.org/blog/?p=1418 … says Representative Clark.

Then, do the right thing Rep. Clark and vote ought to pass as amended on L.D. 1665.

]]> http://www.mainewomen.org/blog/2010/03/im-about-as-pro-labor-as-you-can-get/feed/ 1 Rep Butterfield brings the room back to the point of the debate http://www.mainewomen.org/blog/2010/03/rep-butterfield-brings-the-room-back-to-the-point-of-the-debate/ http://www.mainewomen.org/blog/2010/03/rep-butterfield-brings-the-room-back-to-the-point-of-the-debate/#comments Mon, 08 Mar 2010 19:01:15 +0000 asheldon http://www.mainewomen.org/blog/?p=1416 L.D. 1665 is about protecting workers and families in Maine! People shouldn’t have to choose between a paycheck and their health or their health of a family member.

How many families make up a business?

]]> http://www.mainewomen.org/blog/2010/03/rep-butterfield-brings-the-room-back-to-the-point-of-the-debate/feed/ 0 Providing paid sick days would not be hard for business owners to keep track of http://www.mainewomen.org/blog/2010/03/providing-paid-sick-days-would-not-be-hard-for-business-owners-to-keep-track-of/ http://www.mainewomen.org/blog/2010/03/providing-paid-sick-days-would-not-be-hard-for-business-owners-to-keep-track-of/#comments Mon, 08 Mar 2010 18:58:34 +0000 asheldon http://www.mainewomen.org/blog/?p=1409 Most employers (esp. the employers that have over 50 employees) keep track of their employee’s hours – thus keeping track of accrued hours would not be challenging. I don’t know about you, but no matter how small the business  I have worked for, my employer always kept track of my hours – it is what you do if you have to pay your employees!

]]> http://www.mainewomen.org/blog/2010/03/providing-paid-sick-days-would-not-be-hard-for-business-owners-to-keep-track-of/feed/ 0 Representative Cushing Questions about Calendar Days http://www.mainewomen.org/blog/2010/03/representative-cushing-questions-about-calendar-days/ http://www.mainewomen.org/blog/2010/03/representative-cushing-questions-about-calendar-days/#comments Mon, 08 Mar 2010 18:52:19 +0000 admin http://www.mainewomen.org/blog/?p=1412 Department of Labor tries to explain that calendar days definition is always measured the same way – whether they are working at midnight or at 8 in the morning.

]]> http://www.mainewomen.org/blog/2010/03/representative-cushing-questions-about-calendar-days/feed/ 0 Superhero Lobbyist Laura Harper Answers Questions… http://www.mainewomen.org/blog/2010/03/superhero-lobbyist-laura-harper-answers-questions/ http://www.mainewomen.org/blog/2010/03/superhero-lobbyist-laura-harper-answers-questions/#comments Mon, 08 Mar 2010 18:34:26 +0000 admin http://www.mainewomen.org/blog/?p=1408 … from the Labor Committee about the paid sick days bill.

Questions about data, exemptions, combine time off, etc.

Full room. Everyone’s on the edge of their seat.

]]> http://www.mainewomen.org/blog/2010/03/superhero-lobbyist-laura-harper-answers-questions/feed/ 0 who would be covered by L.D. 1665 http://www.mainewomen.org/blog/2010/03/who-would-be-covered-by-l-d-1665/ http://www.mainewomen.org/blog/2010/03/who-would-be-covered-by-l-d-1665/#comments Mon, 08 Mar 2010 18:26:07 +0000 asheldon http://www.mainewomen.org/blog/?p=1406 With this legislation 137,000 Maine employees that do not currently have paid sick time that would be covered.

]]> http://www.mainewomen.org/blog/2010/03/who-would-be-covered-by-l-d-1665/feed/ 0 And the discussion begins… http://www.mainewomen.org/blog/2010/03/and-the-discussion-begins/ http://www.mainewomen.org/blog/2010/03/and-the-discussion-begins/#comments Mon, 08 Mar 2010 18:21:32 +0000 asheldon http://www.mainewomen.org/blog/?p=1404 The committee analyst is explaining the new amendment to the bill – now all employers with less than 50 workers will be exempt and still over 60% of workers that currently are not covered will be covered.

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