Schumer must stand up for pregnant women before the lame duck ends


Denizer Carter has a message for Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Senate leadership — but she’s worried that it will go unheard. 

When she was five months pregnant and working as a cashier in a grocery store, Denizer almost had a miscarriage. Her doctor recommended that she not lift anything over 15 pounds and be switched to lighter duty – but Denizer’s employer denied the request and fired her. Visibly pregnant, it was impossible for her to find a new job. She faced severe financial hardship, and almost lost her home. “Everyone said they were grateful to me for working the frontlines during the pandemic, but once I was pregnant no one would hire me,” she says. 

Denizer is traveling across the country this week to join pregnant women and moms on Capitol Hill to demand that the Senate pass the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, which would help millions of working people like her. She’s asking Schumer to stand up for women workers who form the backbone of our economy and ensure this bill gets across the finish line this year. One in five women have experienced pregnancy discrimination, and while media stories often focus on what gender discrimination looks like in the boardroom or c-suite, it has a far wider impact upon women in low-wage jobs, the essential workers who risked their lives to keep society functioning during the pandemic.

The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act is critical legislation which would close a gap in federal civil rights law and stop pregnant and postpartum workers from being forced out of their jobs. It requires employers to provide temporary, reasonable accommodations for pregnant and postpartum workers: like providing a chair for a supermarket cashier, or allowing a pregnant worker to carry around a bottle of water, or providing space to pump at work. Lawmakers should not forget that while accommodations are often simple it does not mean they are inconsequential and this bill would be an enormous step forward for women’s equality and maternal health; in fact, accommodations can spell the difference between a healthy pregnancy and dire health consequences. 

It is rare to find an issue that brings together Republicans and Democrats, employers, and working people. The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act is bipartisan, and has the support of the Chamber of Commerce, big business, labor, the faith community and advocates for gender and women’s rights, maternal health, and racial justice. The bill has passed the House and has enough votes from both parties to easily pass the Senate. All sides agree that pregnant workers deserve respect and support in their workplaces. 

Despite this widespread support, the Senate has yet to vote on the bill. Any further delay in this case is very likely death for this legislation.  Failure to pass the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act in the next few weeks would leave millions of pregnant and postpartum workers behind for years, perhaps even decades, to come. In a year when Congress failed to pass paid leave, childcare, universal pre-K, and other policies that help parents and families, will our leaders let this last chance for a win for…



Read More: Schumer must stand up for pregnant women before the lame duck ends

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Accept Read More

Live News

Get more stuff like this
in your inbox

Subscribe to our mailing list and get interesting stuff and updates to your email inbox.

Thank you for subscribing.

Something went wrong.