Thursday, May 31, 2007

Family Leave Roundtable in Schenectady - Today!

Caring for my 82 year old father, my 39 year old disabled sister with mental health and developmental disabilities and caring for my FIVE children was taxing at best last year. Allowing my husband the ability to take time off of his NYS job last year after the birth of our fifth child without fear of the "Daddy Track" mentality that pervades our society would have been nice. Being able to continute to work in the traditional job market as a 40 year old woman wth five children and two additonal adult dependants would have been great. I sacrificed my teaching and university research career to stay home. I wish I had the choice!
- Anonymous in Albany
We're holding another living room roundtable for working parents today at 4:30, this one in Schenectady. Schenectady County Legislator Gary Hughes, his wife, Mayor Brian Stratton, and working parents from around the Capital Region will discuss the need for better state family leave policies so working parents can care for new kids and ailing relatives.

The Working Families Party supports the Working Families Time to Care Act, which would allow working families to take care of each other in times of need without risking financial hardship. Here's how it works:
  • The Working Families Time to Care Act would expand New York's existing Temporary Disability Insurance program to cover family needs like leave for either parent to care for a newborn child or a newly adopted child or a seriously-ill family member.
  • Workers would receive up to 12 weeks of benefits, funded through a modest increase of premiums paid within the existing TDI program.
Roundtable participants will encourage State Senator Hugh Farley to support the Working Families Time to Care Act.

You can show your support by signing our card with a message. Tell your state legislators it's time to give paid time off to parents of newborns (or newly adopted children) and adults who need time to care for ailing relatives.

Here's retired probation officer Regina Corby-Graham of Mastic speaking at last week's roundtable on Long Island:

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