This Labor Day, Take Action in Support of Ohio’s Working Women

With Labor Day approaching on Monday, September 4th, it’s important to remember why we celebrate the holiday. Labor Day is meant to honor the contributions and achievements of the American worker and memorialize the fights that workers lead throughout history for better and fairer working conditions.These fights for fair and flexible schedules, a living wage, and paid leave continue today with women often on the front lines of the battles to advance family-friendly workplace policies.

Making up two-thirds of the low-wage workforce, women are disproportionately impacted by lack of supportive workplace policies for low-wage or hourly workers. And women still take on the majority of caregiving duties for new children and family members so they are often more impacted by unpredictable schedules and the lack of paid leave policies.

However, women in labor unions are more likely to have higher wages, better benefits (such as paid sick days or vacation time), and fairer work schedules. And, when union workers have the ability to collectively bargain for fair wages, benefits and working conditions, it not only benefits union workers, but can also have an impact or spill over in nonunion workplaces.

This Labor Day, let’s remember to take a moment to appreciate the hard-working women that power Ohio’s economy and then take action to help support them. There are a number of bills pending in the state legislature that would benefit working women and create stronger, more supportive workplace policies. Take action to help those bills get hearings:

• SB 101 (Skindell) – This bill would help regulate scheduling practices aimed at creating fairer, more predictable scheduling for retail workers, food service workers, and contractors who often face unpredictable and unstable scheduling for their shifts. It was referred to the Senate Transportation, Commerce & Workplace Committee in April, but has not yet had a hearing. Call the Chairman of the Committee, Senator Frank LaRose, and urge him to hold hearings on the bill to give workers the fair, flexible scheduling they need to make ends meet and care for their families. 
• SB 14 (Tavares) – Legislation to raise the minimum wage and require overtime pay for domestic workers. The bill would also require at least one day off on a weekly basis for domestic workers. The bill was referred to the Senate Transportation, Commerce & Workplace Committee in February, but has not yet had any hearings. Call the Chairman of the Committee, Senator Frank LaRose, and urge him to hold hearings on the bill to provide domestic workers with fair wages.