Silicon Valley’s Working Low-Income Moms Will Fight for Paid Sick Days

9 to 5 California, National Association of Working Women

Media Advisory

Silicon Valley’s Working Low-Income Moms Will Fight For Paid Sick Days

Conference to Examine the Plight of Poor Working Mothers Who Lack Paid Sick Days, Healthcare and Affordable Childcare

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- On Saturday, March 29, 2008, Silicon Valley’s working low-income moms will fight for paid sick days at the California 9to5 National Association of Working Women’s Regional Leadership Conference which will be held at First Christian Church 80 S. Fifth Street in San Jose from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Every day, thousands of Santa Clara County women work at jobs that lack paid sick days, healthcare and affordable childcare. They are Santa Clara County’s poor working mothers. They struggle to survive in the face of high rents, transportation and childcare costs.

“I’m a single mom with three teenagers. I was previously a temp worker for an employer that did not provide sick days.” said Christina De Haro, Chair of Bay Area 9to5. “I later became sick with a cough. I kept going to work because I couldn’t afford to take time off. I later came down with bronchitis and this turned into pneumonia. I kept working because I had no choice.”

Over 6 million California workers do not get any paid sick days through their employer. The California Paid Sick Leave Act would allow workers to accrue paid sick days that can be used to care for themselves, a sick family member, or to recover from an abusive situation. San Francisco has a paid sick day law. The states of Maine and Ohio are considering paid sick days.

“Paid sick days should be a right and not a privilege,” said Cathy Deppe, Organizer for California 9to5. “It’s only fair to workers, their families and the community.”

The conference will feature:

• Keynote Speaker Assemblymember Fiona Ma (D-San Francisco), the sponsor of the California Paid Sick Days bill

Panel Discussion

•Paid Sick Days: Sonya Mehta, Young Workers United
• Healthcare: Jessica Rothhaar, Health Access
• Childcare: Representative from Parent Voices

Skill Building Workshops

• Training for Policy Day in Sacramento on April 3 in which 9to5 members will meet with elected officials on the Paid Sick Days bill.
•Letter writing on Paid Sick Days

The 9to 5 California Regional Leadership Conference is co-sponsored by AFSCME Local 101, CHAM, DAWN, Fiesta Educativa, Insight, Labor Notes. Labor Party, Little Ol’ Gals, Low Income Support Self Help Center, Parent Voices, Young Workers United and WILPF.

The Event

What: Conference to Examine the Plight of Silicon Valley’s Poor Working Mothers Who Lack Paid Sick Days, Healthcare and Affordable Childcare

When: Saturday, March 29, 2008
11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Where: First Christian Church
80 S. Fifth Street
San Jose, CA 95112

For more information, call Gayle Tiller at 408.509.3212.

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