March 2024 Newsletter
Join us on May 7th: Sign Up for the Coalition’s Virtual Advocacy Day
Tuesday, May 7, 2024 at 10 AM
Please join the California Work & Family Coalition’s 2024 Virtual Advocacy Day on Tuesday, May 7th from 10am to 2pm. This year, we have key legislative priorities that would improve Paid Family Leave, paid sick and safe days and other protections for California workers, parents and caregivers. We will be meeting with our legislators’ offices to talk about why these bills are important to us and to our communities. This event will be bilingual Spanish-English with interpretation.
We’ll be hosting trainings for new and experienced advocates before Advocacy Day:
The next English Training: April 25th from 12:00pm - 1:00pm
Two Spanish Trainings:
April 11th from 4:00 - 5:30 pm
April 25th from 4 - 5 pm
Please Register Here for the upcoming English training and advocacy day!!
On Aging 2024: Your State Has Paid Family Leave. Now What?
Members of the California Work & Family Coalition and our national partner, Family Values at Work spoke on an interactive panel at the American Society On Aging’s Annual Conference in San Francisco on March 25th. There was a lively discussion with people from across the country on what states could do to pass or improve access to paid leave and how we build momentum toward an inclusive federal law.
From left to right: Sela Steiger, Legal Aid at Work; Christina Irving, Family Caregiver Alliance; Donna Benton, USC Family Caregiver Resource Center; Jenya Cassidy, CA Work & Family Coalition; Jaida Jenkins, Family Values at Work
United Airline Union Machinists Take Coalition Training on Family Leave Laws
Photo: Group Photo - IAM Local 1781 Shop Stewards
This month, Coalition staff held an in-person training for IAM, Local 1781 shop stewards on the basics of paid family leave and paid sick days at the union’s headquarters in Burlingame. Union members shared how these trainings have helped them be there when their family needs them.
One union leader told Coalition staff that he was first denied leave to care for his grandmother, but after taking our training last year he was able to educate his employer on job-protected and paid leave. Since then he has been able to take brief, intermittent leave to care for her and this has been really important to him and his family. The Coalition training covers how unions can advocate for change and enforce existing laws in the workplace.
IAM member who used paid leave to care for his grandmother
The Coalition Returns to the Great American Write-In in Orange County
The Great American Write-In is an annual event offered to the public by Women For: Orange County to provide community members with the means to influence policy decisions by writing postcards to their legislators. This year, on March 9th, Coalition staff joined more than sixty organizations and hundreds of participants in helping to educate local lawmakers on important issues. Political Organizing Director, Katie Duberg and Administrative Assistant and Spanish Training Coordinator, Angelica Andrade spoke to Orange County constituents about AB 518 (Wicks) Paid Leave for Chosen and Extended Family and about the dangerous ballot proposition - the Taxpayer Deception Act. “We spoke to so many people who care a lot about caring for their chosen and extended family and are also very concerned about the Taxpayer Deception Act. They want to make sure our state has safety net programs like PFL and SDI so that every Californian can thrive,” said Katie Duberg.
Photo: Katie Duberg, Coalition member Felicity Figueroa, and Angelica Andrade
Save the Date: Paid Leave Training for California Small Business Owners on April 12th
The next Paid Family Leave training for California small business owners will be Friday, April 12th at 9:00 am. For more information or to register, contact Jasmine Amian at jasmine.amian@workfamilyca.org
Donate & Support the Coalition!
To support our work building a strong coalition and expanding access to paid leave and workplace supports for all parents and caregivers, please donate today!
