Posts Categorized: Reports

Kim Mitchell (pictured in red) along with AFL-CIO Secretary Liz Shuler (center) and other attendees of the even on the Hill.

On March 17, the AFL-CIO launched the results of a survey of nearly 25,000 women, including union and non-union members across the country. Over 800 UFCW women retail members participated in the survey. The launch of the survey and the hashtag “#EqualPayEqualSay” arose from working women overwhelmingly calling for equal pay for equal work, more control over their schedules on the job, better quality of life – and the resounding conclusion that their union was the most powerful tool to reach a better life for working women and their families.

AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Liz Shuler, joined by Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) among other elected officials at the press briefing, heard from UFCW Local 400 member and Macy’s worker Kim Mitchell, who spoke about how her union contract won her three weeks’ notice on her work schedule, vacation days, paid sick leave and a pension. Kim called for rights and respect on the job for women who hold full-time jobs, numerous jobs, and care-taking responsibilities that are often overwhelming and exhausting.

The survey revealed overall that 62 percent of working women are the primary breadwinners in their family. And 30 percent spend 30 or more hours a week on caregiving responsibilities. With a very demanding schedule between work and home, over half have four hours or less a week of personal time – only 35 minutes per day.  Retail women in particular identified their top issues as not getting enough hours, unpredictable work schedules and lack of control over their work schedules, with 59 percent of them saying they face unpredictable hours.

When women were asked to pick the social or economic issues they would personally take action on to change, the overwhelming top answer (46 percent) was “equal pay for equal work.”  In this important election year, it is particularly important to understand these top priorities because 75 percent of these working women are planning to vote in the November 2016 election.

A new study by the Institute for Women’s Policy Research shows that access to paid sick leave is unequally distributed across the U.S. population and varies according to race and ethnicity, occupation, immigrant status, sexual orientation, earnings levels, and work schedules.

Titled Paid Sick Days Access and Usage Rates Vary by Race/Ethnicity, Occupation, and Earnings, the study found that only 46 percent of Hispanic workers in the United States have access to paid sick days compared with 60 percent of workers overall. Hispanic workers tend to be overrepresented in occupations with low paid sick days access, such as the service sector. The study also points out that low-wage workers, immigrants, lesbian, gay or bisexual workers and part-time workers have less access to paid sick days. Overall, over 51 million workers in all racial and ethnic groups lack access to paid sick days in their current job.

The study, which utilized data from the 2014 National Health Interview Survey, also found that those who do have paid sick day coverage use an average of 1.9 days—which suggests that paid sick days can be easily integrated into workplace policies.