Tahirah Foster Needs Paid Sick Days!

My name is Tahirah Foster. I live in Denver and I'm the mother of a precocious 4-year-old named Sa’mari, who lives with asthma.

I was forced to leave my dream job as a crew leader at a fast food restaurant because I had no access to paid sick days and my employer refused to allow me the time to be away from work when my daughter had an asthma episode.

The breaking point for me came the day when Sa’mari experienced a brutal asthmatic episode and the child care director called my job with a message that my daughter needed to be picked be right away. But the restaurant was particularly busy that day and the manager choose not to pass along the message until the end of my shift.

These days, I works as a part-time political canvasser, a job where I receive pro-rated paid sick days based on my hours, and it also offers me the opportunity to manage both my care-giving duties and my paid work duties.

I want to see my legislators pass Paid Sick Days in Colorado, so parents like me won't be punished for doing the right thing for our children.

Watch Tahirah talk about the importance of Paid Sick Days here

9to5 Colorado Helps Defeat Dangerous Ballot Initiative in Denver!

We have all accidentally left the house without our wallet or purse. Fortunately, this fall, 9to5 Colorado worked to defeat Initiative 300, the Vehicle Impound Initiative.

This initiative would have unnecessarily impounded the cars of anyone caught driving without their drivers license and/or registration, even if they just left their wallet at home, and they would've had to pay upwards of $2700 to get their car back. This Initiative was dangerous and had huge consequences for everyone! No one should have to pay $2700 for a simple mistake like leaving their license at home.

9to5 made over 16,000 contacts with Denver voters this year, and nearly 80% of all voters we talked with committed to vote No on the initiative! On November 3rd, 2009, we saw a HUGE victory as Initiative 300 was defeated by Denver voters -- 70% to 30%! Because of the extensive field and media efforts by 9to5 and all the other organizations who worked to defeat 300, Denver residents understood the far-reaching consequences and voted to ensure that no one had to lose their car or pay $2700 for a simple mistake.

Courtney Coffman, one of 9to5's canvassers, talks about her experience working with 9to5 this year:

While working with 9to5 to defeat Initiative 300, I discovered that the experience of being a canvasser was completely unlike anything I had ever done. The sheer density of human interactions, both positive and negative, packed into such a limited period of time was both exhilarating and exhausting. I came to understand how invaluable civic engagement work truly is: the fact that, yes, I am coming to your home and your private life and asking for your time, but if you do give me your time, we can work together to defeat this dangerous initiative. Of course, not everyone was willing to talk with me. At times, feeling particularly defeated by an unwelcome reaction, the only thing that kept me going was the thought that that individual would be exponentially more disturbed if their car was unfairly impounded, than by me at their door. However,countless individuals recognized the very real and devastating consequences that the initiative would have on their lives if it were to pass, and thanked me for being there.

One common response from people at the door was: “I don’t have time to talk about this - I have kids to take care of.” While I understand that taking care of a family is time-consuming and the top priority, initiatives like I300 and others that threaten our families' rights and financial stability are one of the most compelling reasons to vote.

I know that all too often we have to fight for our rights, but we must stand up to those who seek to deny basic rights to Coloradans. I am proud to have been part of the fight to defeat Initiative 300 through 9to5 and to have protected the financial resources of Denver residents.

9to5 Colorado Receives 2009 NEWSED Civil Rights Award

The Colorado Chapter of 9to5, National Association of Working Women was honored November 11 when the 2009 NEWSED Civil Rights Awards were presented during a gala ceremony in the Seawell Grand Ballroom at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts.

In its 18th year, the NEWSED Civil Rights Award recognized individuals and organizations for making a “significant difference through activism, sacrifice and dedication to an ever-changing Civil Rights movement.” The NEWSED Board of Directors and its Honorary Committee, along with Honorary Co-Chairs Governor Bill Ritter, Jr., Mayor John Hickenlooper and former Mayor Wellington E. Webb, cited 9to5’s work in impacting the issues women face in the workplace, including pay inequity, sexual harassment and gender discrimination.

“We were humbled to be among such a stellar group of award recipients,” said 9to5 Colorado Board Co-Chair LaTerrell Bradford. “And, we were humbled that our work in strengthening the ability of low-wage women to win economic justice was honored in this way. If anything, this encourages us to accelerate our fight to win rights, raises and respect for women in the workplace.”

The Civil Rights Award for 9to5 Colorado was presented by Nita Gonzales, Director of Escuela Tlatelolco in Denver, the daughter of the legendary Chicano leader Corky Gonzales. LaTerrell Bradford eloquently accepted the award on behalf of 9to5 Colorado. In her acceptance remarks, she cited 9to5 Colorado's work in leading the coalition that defeated Amendment 46, the anti-equal opportunity initiative, the first time that such an initiative had ever been defeated in any state. She talked about other important chapter victories in campaigns involving reproductive rights, the minimum wage, TANF and the chapter's work in advocating for the establishment of the Governor’s Pay Equity Commission.

9to5 Colorado joined a prestigious lineup of fellow Civil Rights Award recipients, including New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, community activist Margaret Atencio, performing artist Cleo Parker Robinson, the labor advocacy group Jobs with Justice, and Gete Mekonnen, co-founder of the Northeast Denver Housing Center, Inc.

Others attending the ceremony included Beth Wolter, Colorado Chapter Board Member; Lorena Garcia, Colorado Chapter Director; Linda Meric, National Director; U.S. Senator Michael Bennet and Elbra Wedgeworth, former Denver City Councilperson and president of the 2008 Democratic National Convention Host Committee.

Tell KCFR News that we need Paid Sick Days!

KCFR News wants to hear YOUR input about H1N1 flu and what you are doing to prepare. Go to the link provided to share your thoughts, and be sure to include that WE ALL NEED paid sick days in order to adequately prepare!

Only 57% of Coloradans have access to even one paid sick day and even less can take a paid sick day to care for a sick child or family member. Low-wage workers are the least likely to have access to paid sick days, meaning they are forced to make impossible choices between caring for their health or losing pay or possibly a job. In order to keep our community healthy, we must guarantee access to paid sick days for all Colorado workers.

www.publicradio.org/applications/formbuilder/user/form_display.php

Paid Sick Days letter printed in Denver Post

Printed on Sept. 25th in the Denver Post in response to "1 in 6 uninsured in Colorado" (9/22)

We hear so much these days about the lack of health care and the need for health care reform. But it is heartbreaking to see how that plays out in communities right here in Colorado. All Americans need and deserve access to care.

We also need and deserve the time to care.

While one in six Coloradans lack health insurance, [one in two] Colorado workers lack a paid sick day to care for themselves or their children in times of illness. It’s heartbreaking to think of children who must stay at home alone or must go to school ill because there is no one able to care for them.

Just as we need health insurance, we also need guaranteed paid sick days for every Colorado worker so that, in these tough times, no one will have to choose between caring for themselves or a loved one and keeping a job.

Erin Bennett, Denver

A Story for Labor Day

Jennifer Brown - My Story

Up until February of 2009, I had never given unions or the Employee Free Choice Act much thought. Now, after a series of events that resulted in the loss of my job, I realize the importance of employees having the right to choose whether or not they want to join a union. I also realize now that there are still many rights to be won in the modern workplace.

My realization of the importance of allowing workers a choice began when the Chief Operating Officer of the company where I worked conducted a meeting about unions. He was generally negative but I just sat and listened. I didn't have a stake in the discussion one way or the other -- or so I thought.

Imagine how shocked I was to learn that some members of management considered my body language "pro-union" and warned that I'd better be on the right side. Later, working conditions deteriorated for me. After a series of negative reviews, write-ups and many tense work days, I quit rather than endure the stress.

I also took the time to learn more about the benefits of unions -- especially for women. Women who are members of unions earn more, have better health care, and generally have better working conditions than those who are not members of unions.

What happened with me? I was able to find another job. But perhaps if there had been a union in the other company, my story would have ended in a different way. I know this and I am telling every woman I know: EFCA puts the choice back into the hands of the workers.

That's why I will soon travel to Washington, D.C. to personally tell my elected officials my story and let them know that I support the Employee Free Choice Act.

-Jennifer Brown is a member of 9to5 Colorado

CLICK HERE to take action in support of the Employee Free Choice Act.

9to5 Colorado is Hiring Canvassers!

9to5, National Association of Working Women
GOTV Canvasser Job Announcement
Based in Denver, Colorado

9to5, National Association of Working Women, a grassroots membership organization which works to strengthen women's ability to achieve economic justice, is hiring six canvassers for a non-partisan Get-Out-The-Vote Effort in the 2009 election cycle. Individuals with a commitment to social and economic justice, equal opportunity and women’s issues are encouraged to apply.

Job responsibilities:
Door knocking for shifts of three or more hours per day
Phone banking for shifts of three or more hours per day
Recording of data in both written and database format
Working with 9to5 organizers and other canvassers in preparing for canvasses and phone banks.

Qualifications:
Enthusiastic about social justice

Excellent communication skills
Ability to work well with diverse groups of people

Experience in canvassing/phone banking on election or other issues
Competent in working with Microsoft Office
Available to work weekday evenings and weekends
Available for 18-20 hours per week.

This is a temporary 18-20 hour per week contract position that will begin August 24th and end November 6, 2009.

Compensation: $12.00/ hour
Please send your cover letter and resume to Erin Bennett at 9to5colorado@9to5.org. Applications will be accepted until all six positions are filled.

9to5 is an affirmative action organization. Women of color, lesbians, bisexuals and trans women, women with disabilities and older women are encouraged to apply.