At the Lobby – certainly we’re disappointed. Despite clear benefits to people and businesses, today the Labor Committee rejected a bill to establish the critical protection of paid sick days for Maine people. It’s a major blow to Maine workers and their families. Maine voters, nearly 90% of whom support enacting paid sick days, may indeed see this legislative session conclude with no new protections for themselves and their families.

As for the proposed amendment, certainly, it’s a way forward that everyone can agree on – no one should be fired simply for following doctor’s advice and staying home when ill. The fear of losing wages is bad enough – but losing your entire future livelihood is an unimaginable risk for most of us. Meanwhile, we and the 40 organizational members of Maine’s Work and Family Coalition will continue to advocate for policies, such as paid sick days, that meet the needs of today’s working families

The Labor committee will have its fourth work session on the bill and will likely vote on this amendment today at 2:00. We encourage your support in moving this amendment forward, and look forward to you activism the future when we once-and-for-all achieve the necessary workplace protection of paid sick days for all Maine workers!

Stay tuned for updates this afternoon!

Stay tuned for updates! OR Stop by to join us and resister your support for this important and historic legislation!

Or you can click here to follow it live on the internet.

Today, Monday March 8th at the State House from at 1:00 pm in rm 220.

This legislation makes Maine the 33^rd state in the nation to allow for a rebuttable presumption when a firefighter contracts cancer due to exposure to harmful chemicals while on the job.  It’s all part of our work here at the Maine Women’s Lobby to ensure that every Maine family lives in a home free of harmful chemicals.  When firefighters risk their lives to put out fires in our homes, they shouldn’t have to risk cancer as well, just because of the toxins contained in our everyday household products.

Over the course of the months it took to pass this bill, I got to know many of the firefighters who took time out of their jobs, and away from their families to talk to legislators about the need for this legislation. It was a real honor to work along side these brave men and women and honestly, a lot of fun too!

I have to admit I got a real kick out of the surprise expressed by legislators when I asked them if they had a moment to discuss this bill.  Legislators were taken aback when along with the 10 to 20 burly men dressed in uniform, there was this little lady from the Maine Women’s Lobby talking to them about this legislation!

Always a pleasure to break a stereotype!

Congratulations to all of Maine’s Firefighters and the many advocates who worked on passage of this bill.  And thank you to Senator Bartlett for the sponsoring the bill, to the members of the Labor Committee for your tireless efforts, and to Governor Baldacci for signing the bill into Maine law!

The New New Deal: Building an Economy That Works for All of Us
Saturday, May 2nd, 8:30 am – 3:00 PM

The University of Maine Hutchinson Center Route 3, Belfast

Join us for a conference exploring ways to strengthen our economy and create a better life for all. You can register online at this site. Questions? Call us at 207-208-8955, or email us at info@FrancesPerkinsCenter.org.

Speakers include:
• Teresa Ghilarducci, (Distinguished Senior Fellow at Demos working on issues of retirement security and social policy and the Schwartz Professor of Economic Policy Analysis at the New School for Social Research): “Picturing an economy that works for all”
• Maine House Speaker Hannah Pingree: “The role of government in building an economy that works for all”
• Maine Commissioner of Labor Laura Fortman: “Lessons from Frances Perkins and the New Deal”

Workshop Topics and their leaders include:
• New Kinds of Work for a New Workforce – Leader: Cliff Ginn, president of Opportunity Maine
• Self-Employed, Part-Time, Under-Employed — Where’s my Safety Net? – Leader: Laura Boyette, director of the Maine State Bureau of Unemployment
• The Changing Shape of Retirement – Leader: John Christie, Manager of the Augusta Career Center and member of the Older Workers Task Force
• What Women Workers Want (and Need) – Leader: Sarah Standiford, executive director of the Maine Women’s Lobby and the Maine Women’s Policy Center
• Health Care for All – Leader: Garrett Martin, economic policy analyst at Maine Center for Economic Policy
• Unions in the 21st Century – Leader: Tim Belcher, executive director of Maine State Employees Association

Panel moderator: Ben Dudley, executive director of Engage Maine

Registration is $35 ($20 for high school or college students), payable by check in advance or at the door. Continental breakfast, lunch, and snacks included.

SPACE IS LIMITED – PLEASE REGISTER SOON