RAISING THE STAKES FOR WOMEN AND WORKING FAMILIES
Ahead of the Ohio US Senate debates between Rob Portman and Ted Strickland, advocates released a sign-on letter of 15 organizations – and growing – representing tens of thousands of Ohioans urging the candidates to discuss where they stand on issues impacting women and working families during the debates. The letter was presented by advocates during the “Raising the Stakes” for Ohio Women and Working Families” Event hosted by Innovation Ohio, NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio, Ohio AFL-CIO, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio, ProgressOhio, SEIU District 1199, Stand Up For Ohio, The Center For American Progress, and The Ohio Democratic Party. The full letter can be read here. The organizations will deliver the letter to the campaign offices of the candidates ahead of the upcoming three debates, as well as sending copies to the news stations hosting the debates in Youngstown, Columbus, and Cleveland. To add you organization’s name to the letter, please contact Erin Ryan with Innovation Ohio at ryan@innovationohio.org.Voter Guide Released by the Ohio Women’s Public Policy Network Ahead of Presidential Debate
Ahead of the first presidential debate next Monday, the Ohio Women’s Public Policy Network (WPPN) – a coalition convened by Innovation Ohio Education Fund – released their 2016 Election Presidential Voter Guide. [Read more…]
Dayton’s first year of paid family leave
The Newly Formed Ohio Women’s Public Policy Network
On June 28th, we stood with fellow advocates for women and families for a press conference to announce the formation of a new coalition called the Ohio Women’s Public Policy Network. The coalition, convened by Innovation Ohio Education Fund, is comprised of over 20 organizations from across the state that will work collaboratively to advocate for public policy that positively impacts women and families.
FIGHTING FOR OHIO’S WOMEN AND FAMILIES
Over two-thirds of women in Ohio are the sole, primary, or co-breadwinner for families. Yet public policies do not reflect the changing dynamics of the workforce, and have failed to take into account the role that women play in supporting families. These were fundamental reasons for forming the Women’s Public Policy Network.
State policy can play an important role in helping women achieve economic security for themselves and their families. In order to measure the progress that the state legislature has taken to advance our policy goals, we have developed a Women’s Economic Security Scorecard which evaluates progress in three categories: 1.) Promoting Economic Security for Women and Families; 2.) Ensuring Fairness and Opportunity in the Workplace; and 3.) Improving Women’s Health and Wellbeing.
A DEEPER DIVE
The results of the 131st General Assembly Scorecard demonstrate that the current state legislature has largely ignored our policy goals for women’s economic security. Of the 22 policy goals we reviewed in the Scorecard, over half of them failed to rise above a ‘D’ score and not a single one scored an ‘A’. The goals related to access to reproductive healthcare moved in the wrong direction, earning ‘F’ grades on the Scorecard. With harmful legislation restricting access to adequate and affordable comprehensive healthcare – including reproductive healthcare services like abortion, contraception, and prenatal care – the goal of economic security is cut short for women and families.
There were some positive steps taken by the legislature to earn ‘B’ scores for the policy goal of increasing the affordability of childcare and the goals related to providing protections to survivors of domestic and sexual violence. Most significant was the long awaited passage of legislation, which creates an address confidentiality program for survivors of domestic violence, sexual violence, and stalking. Yet, these victories were overshadowed by the lack of a concerted effort to advance positive policy solutions overall. You can download the full report to see how the 131st GA scored on each policy goal here.
HOLDING LAWMAKERS ACCOUNTABLE
There were a number legislative solutions which failed to move forward before the summer recess, which we hope to see movement on upon the legislature’s return including: bills that would create a state-wide paid family and medical leave program, a bill with bi-partisan support from all the female legislators in the Senate which would provide reasonable accommodations in the workplace for pregnant employees, and legislation extending protections against dating or intimate partner violence. With the collective power of the coalition, we plan to hold our lawmakers accountable for the actions – or lack of action – taken to advance policies that can help women and families achieve economic security. Find out more by visiting the official WPPN website.
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Member organizations of the Women’s Public Policy Network include: ACLU of Ohio, American Association of University Women of Ohio (AAUW Ohio), Catholics for Choice, Cleveland Jobs with Justice, Hadassah Columbus, Innovation Ohio Education Fund, Main Street Alliance of Ohio, Majority Ohio, NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio, National Coalition of 100 Black Women Central Ohio Chapter, National Council of Jewish Women Cleveland Chapter, Nyla’s Angels Fund, Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence, Ohio Domestic Violence Network, Ohio NOW, Ohio Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio, Policy Matters Ohio, ProgressOhio, United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 75, the Women’s Fund of Central Ohio, and the Women’s Fund of the Greater Cincinnati Foundation
Local Government Spotlight
Unfortunately, city governments have not been receiving the support they need from Columbus. From 2004 to 2014, disbursements of state-sponsored funds to local government have been cut almost in half, hampering cities’ ability to provide essential services and undertake long-overdue growth projects. Just how big is the revenue hole for Ohio’s cities and townships? Local government funding over the next two years is expected to be more than $623 million less than it was in 2008-2009, according to a recent investigation by the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Luckily, Ohio’s cities are also home to some of its most ambitious innovators. Perhaps the brightest example of Ohio’s leadership came this week as the City of Columbus received word that it was selected as the recipient of $50 million as part of the US Department of Transportation’s new Smart Cities grant. City leaders successfully pitched Columbus to USDOT and its private funding partners, emphasizing the ways that intelligent transportation systems can address socioeconomic barriers to employment and serve an increasingly urbanized young professional population. The Columbus team beat out five other finalists including Austin, Portland and San Francisco for funding that will fund high-tech infrastructure, create mobility options in low-income neighborhoods and reduce climate impacts. In recent years, cities and villages across the Buckeye state have developed innovative new approaches to a number of critically important issues:
Paid Family Leave
Last year, under the leadership of mayors Nan Whaley and John Cranley, Dayton and Cincinnati passed generous paid family leave policies for city employees, joining a growing list of major cities around the country. At the rollout of Dayton’s paid family leave plan, Mayor Nan Whaley remarked that “Paid parental leave is not only the right thing to do, but it strengthens women and families, reduces gender based economic disparities, has positive impacts on local economies, and improves health outcomes.” At a recent meeting of the Newburgh Heights city council, members voted unanimously to provide six months of paid leave to all city employees, at 100% of salary. The policy is the first of its kind in the United States, and has attracted the attention of Labor Secretary Thomas Perez, who praised mayor Trevor Elkins as “a leader on an issue that keeps people up at night.” The Newburgh Heights decision has once again shone a light on the potential for cities to serve as incubators of policy innovation.Living Wage
In addition to its robust paid leave policy, Cincinnati has put into place a $15 minimum wage for city employees, expanded the range of triggers for prevailing wage requirements, and passed a hard-hitting wage theft ordinance that would revoke licenses from companies convicted of committing wage theft and require the reimbursement of victims. On Tuesday, Franklin county commissioners followed Cincinnati’s lead in passing a new ‘living wage’ ordinance for county employees. Building on the momentum of its southern neighbors, the Service Employees International Union is leading the charge to introduce a $15 minimum wage in the city of Cleveland.Civil Rights
In Columbus, Councilwoman Elizabeth Brown proposed, and fellow Council members unanimously adopted the Healthcare Worker and Patient Protection Ordinance, aimed at ensuring that healthcare workers and patients can enter healthcare facilities without fear of harassment, intimidation, or stalking. The law is based on model ordinances already in place in Colorado, Massachusetts, and NYC. And Cuyahoga County was the first in Ohio to place a ban on official travel to North Carolina after the state adopted a law that eliminates legal protections for the LGBT community. These examples, as well as countless other bold, forward-facing policies introduced by city lawmakers, serve to illustrate the tremendous wealth of leadership that we enjoy in the State of Ohio. City leaders are paving the way for a brighter, more equitable future, by making our cities attractive places to work and live. It is time that the Ohio legislature stepped behind these efforts by providing Ohio’s innovators with the resources and funds necessary to amplify and expand municipal programs.Women United for Change brings together advocates to discuss policy solutions with Ohio legislators
Innovation Ohio Education Fund was one of twenty organizations that came together to host Women United for Change on Wednesday, April 20th. This advocacy and educational event brought together advocates to learn more about policy solutions to issues impacting women, and ways that they can advocate for the passage of positive legislation. Nearly 60 advocates for women and girls from all corners of the state gathered on Capitol Square to hear from Ohio legislators about pending legislation that impacts safety and protection from violence against women, women’s health and addiction, and women’s business and economic justice. The event was concluded with a session on best practices of how to be effective advocates and lobby legislators.
Legislative Panel Discussions:
Panel Discussion 1: The Ending of Violence Against Women Representative Emilia Sykes, Sponsor of HB 392 Representative Mike Duffey, Sponsor of HB 359 Representative Kristin Boggs
Panel Discussion 2: Women’s Health and Addiction Representative Doug Green, Sponsor of HB 325 Senator Capri Cafaro, Sponsor of SB 301 and SB 101 Representative Greta Johnson, Sponsor of HB 356, 357, and 272
Panel Discussion 3: Women’s Business and Economic Justice Senator Tavares, Sponsor of SB 88 and 68 Representative Howse, Sponsor of HB 330 and 385 Representative Bryant Kuhns, Sponsor of HB 511 and Representative Clyde, Sponsor of HB 330
For more information on the specific legislation that was covered during the panel discussions, visit our women’s legislative analysis page here.
Host Organizations of Women United for Change: American Association of University Women, Ohio Chapter ACTION OHIO Coalition for Battered Women American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio (ACLU of Ohio) Business and Professional Women of Ohio Columbus NOW Council of Ohio YWCA’s Innovation Ohio Education Fund League of Women Voters, Ohio Main Street Alliance, Ohio Chapter NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio Foundation National Coalition of 100 Black women, Central Ohio Chapter Ohio Domestic Violence Network Ohio National Organization for Women (Ohio NOW) Ohio Women, Inc. Ohio Women’s Public Policy Network Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio Policy Matters Ohio Women Have Options The Women’s Fund of Central Ohio Zonta Club of Columbus
Ohio considers workplace protections for pregnant women
On Equal Pay Day, One Policy Can Help
Women in Ohio earn just 78 cents, on average, for every dollar their male counterparts take home. To raise awareness of this continuing pay disparity, April 12 has been designated “Equal Pay Day,” a symbolic recognition of the day when the average woman catches up to what the average male earned in 2015. This year on Equal Pay Day, we are highlighting one workplace policy that could help to close the gap between men and women: paid parental leave.
Every year, thousands of Ohioans face the tough choice between earning a paycheck and caring for a new child. The U.S. holds the dubious distinction of being the only industrialized nation where new parents are not guaranteed paid time off after a birth or adoption. And just 13 percent of U.S. workers receive any form of paid family leave through their employers. Unfortunately, the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993, groundbreaking in its time, only guarantees a job will be there when a worker returns, not a paycheck while they are out. Clearly, twenty-first century policies are necessary to meet the needs of twenty-first century families.
After the birth or adoption of a child, too many new parents, particularly new mothers, are left with several terrible options: go back to work too soon after having a child, lose critical income by taking leave without pay, or exit the workforce temporarily. The choices are worse for low-income women and women of color. Just four percent of low-wage workers — who are more likely to be black or Latino, and for whom the pay gap between women and men is even larger — have access to paid family leave, compared to 22 percent of high wage-earners.
There is a direct connection between paid leave policies and equal pay. Because so few have access to paid leave policies, women in the U.S. are more likely to leave employment after childbirth, reducing their earnings compared to their male counterparts. And women with employment gaps are less likely to be considered for more senior positions which, in turn, further increases pay gaps between them and men in similar positions.
Paid Parental Leave also leads to a more equitable division of labor at home, which can in turn reduce gender pay disparities. Research shows that when even brief periods of paid leave are extended to fathers, men are more likely to be involved in childcare and domestic responsibilities months and years later. Further, when dad takes on some of the responsibility for caring for a new child, it gives mom the opportunity to return to work faster and advance in her career.
Recently introduced Ohio House Bill 511 would establish a paid family leave insurance program allowing up to 12 weeks of leave with pay. If enacted, Ohio would be the fourth state to adopt a statewide policy. The legislation would not only ensure that parents could bond and care for their newborn without giving up a paycheck or their job, but would also allow working Ohioans to address their own or a family member’s serious health condition. HB 511 is a step in the right direction for Ohio families and will create a workplace that is more conducive to family life and begin to reduce the gender pay gap.
For more on the benefits of paid parental leave, read our 2015 report: The Benefits of paid parental leave for women, families, employers and local communities
New Ohio Bill Would Fund Paid Family Leave
Individual’s Income vs. Average Weekly Wage | Benefit (as % of typical paycheck) |
20% or less | 95% |
More than 20% but less than or equal to 30% | 90% |
More than 30% but less than or equal to 50% | 85% |
More than 50% | 66% |
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