Taking action for pregnant worker fairness

By Sana Mantaney

The ERA Coalition is proud to co-sponsor the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act Week of Action (November 14th-18th), calling for the solutions pregnant & postpartum workers need to stay healthy and on the job. Join us in calling on Senator Schumer to pass the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act and #ProtectPregnantWorkers NOW.

This bill, which has passed in the House of Representatives, prohibits employment practices that discriminate against making reasonable accommodations for qualified employees affected by pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions.

Here are some action items you can take to get the Senate to bring the bill to a vote and protect pregnant people. 

1. Email your Senator!

Urge your Senator in an email to pass the act using one of these links. 

• PWFA Action Link (A Better Balance) 
• PWFA Action Link (ACLU)
• PWFA Action Link (National Women's Law Center)
• PWFA Action Link (March of Dimes)
• PWFA Action Link (American Auto Union Workers) 
• PWFA Action link (MomsRising)
• PWFA Action Link (National Partnership for Women and Families)

2. Call Senator Schumer to ask him to prioritize the PWFA. 

You can call Senate Majority Leader Schumer directly at (202) 224-6542 to urge him to bring the bill to a vote. 

Here’s an example of what you can say: 

“I am calling as a concerned member of the public to urge you to prioritize the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act and bring it to a vote, before it’s too late. Women and families are counting on you to deliver real change for their communities. It has the 60+ votes needed to pass.”

3. Target your Senator on social media!

Tweet at your Senator using these sample tweets:

Too many pregnant workers lack access to vital workplace accommodations to stay healthy and working. No more. The Senate must pass the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act in November! [tag Senator] #ProtectPregnantWorkers #PrioritizePWFA 

Tweet

We need the Senate to pass the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act NOW and #ProtectPregnantWorkers from being forced off the job for requesting simple yet vital workplace accommodations. [tag Senator] 

Tweet

You can also post on Facebook or Instagram with this sample post:

Too many pregnant workers lack access to vital workplace accommodations to stay healthy and working. No more. It is time for the Senate to deliver a win for women and families by passing the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act! This bill has the support it needs and is ready for a vote. [Tag Senator], we urge you to do everything in your power to prioritize this bill! #ProtectPregnantWorkers #PrioritizePWFA

4. Submit a letter to the editor in a local paper! 

Your local elected leaders need to hear from YOU about why PWFA is a priority for multiple constituencies, including civil rights, women’s rights, maternal & child health, and businesses.

Below is a sample LTE. If you want more help with an op-ed or LTE, reach out to sbrafman@abetterbalance.org. 

Why is the Senate delaying a vote on the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act? Pregnant and postpartum workers are still being pushed out for needing modest changes at work amidst continued formula shortages, a maternal health crisis, labor shortage, and attacks on women's rights. [INSERT PERSONAL/PROFESSIONAL CONNECTION TO THE ISSUE (e.g. maternal health perspective, labor perspective, racial justice perspective)]. This piece of legislation will protect pregnant people’s health and livelihood. It has the votes to pass but the Senate isn’t prioritizing it. The Senate needs to deliver results for women and families now and put this bill at the top of the priority list for November. 

5. Stop by your Senator’s office and drop off a one-pager!

Now is the perfect time to drop off materials at one of your Senator’s offices to show why you care about PWFA! Here is a one-page “leave-behind” on the bill you can share with them.

6. Recruit a leader in your state to call or email their Senator!

Do you know influential individuals or leaders in your state who want to support pregnant workers and help pass PWFA? Reach out to them and see if they would be willing to contact your Senator.

The Ask: Show your Senator that PWFA is a top priority for you and your constituents. The bill must be brought up for a vote as soon as possible. We cannot wait any longer!

7. Schedule a meeting with your Senator

Now is a great time to set up meetings with Senators while they are in the state to tell them that PWFA is a priority for their constituents and it should be a priority for them, too. These meetings are also a good time to share stories of pregnant workers who would benefit from the PWFA. You can use stories of constituents from the PWFA Storybook.

Let’s show our Senators that we need and want the Pregnant Workers’ Fairness Act. It’s up to you to help make changes to protect pregnant people across the country.