Women, Families Need Financial Security

March 23, 2018

Connecticut’s ability to thrive is dependent upon the state of our working families, the state of our economy and the state of our communities. We can invest in the success of our families and our businesses by addressing the economic disparities present in our state and creating equitable opportunities for everyone.

This starts with workers making a livable wage, establishing an earned family and medical leave system and ensuring that women receive equal pay for equal work. This year, the legislature is introducing legislation that would help make these smart, progressive policies a reality.

The legislature’s Labor and Public Employees Committee recently held public hearings on these proposals, and I am committed to fighting for bills that help create economic security for women and families statewide.

Pay equity

Momentum is building across the country and in Connecticut for pay equity legislation. It’s time to eliminate the pay history question from the job application process and close the gender wage gap. Both Senate Bill 15 and House Bill 5386 will close the wage gap.

Earned family and medical leave

Working families should never have to choose between caring for a loved one and collecting a paycheck, rather they should have the best of both worlds. Through Senate Bill 1 and House Bill 5387, Connecticut employees would be eligible to earn paid family and medical leave benefits.

Fair minimum wage

No one who works full time should live in poverty. To help those workers who are struggling to make ends meet, lawmakers have introduced House Bill 5388 which seeks to gradually increase the minimum wage in Connecticut from its current $10.10 in 2018 to $15 per hour over the course of the next three years.

These core values are what weave the fabric of our state together. Passing legislation that promotes pay equity, adopts an earned family and medical leave system and increases the minimum wage will positively affect thousands of Connecticut families and help raise the revenues needed to steady the state’s bottom line.