Teneema Tibbs carries her son, James Shears Jr., in his stroller and down the steps as they go for an afternoon walk in Southwest Philadelphia in March. Credit: HEATHER KHALIFA via Philadelphia Inquirer
As public interest lawyers, we represent pregnant and parenting people who face systemic barriers to maintaining healthy pregnancies and raising healthy and safe children. This phase of life can be challenging for anyone, but is especially difficult for low-income people in Pennsylvania, which still lacks basic workplace protections and support systems for pregnant and parenting workers.
As WLP Director of Policy & Advocacy Amal Bass and HELP: MLP Managing Attorney Susanna Greenberg recently put it in an oped for the Philadelphia Inquirer, our current state and national policy choices virtually ensure an overwhelming burden for low-resourced families during pregnancy and early parenting.
Beyond logistical and financial challenges, pregnancy is Pennsylvania is also unnecessarily physically dangerous, especially for Black women, who suffer maternal mortality and morbidity (that is, severe pregnancy-related injury) 2.5 times the rate of white women.
Read our oped Ease the overwhelming burden on families during pregnancy and early parenting here.
The PA Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (HB 990/SB 716)
Allowing employers to unnecessarily coerce pregnant people into performing physically strenuous and dangerous tasks can cause serious injury, including miscarriage.
Most states have passed legislation to protect pregnant workers into law. Yet, leaders of the Pennsylvania Legislature (who ironically identify as “pro-life”) have not advanced legislation to protect pregnant Pennsylvanians in the workplace. Amid the pandemic, this failure has left pregnant Pennsylvanians with fewer options for protecting themselves from unnecessary exposure to COVID-19 than residents of neighboring states, and most of the country.
How to Help Protect Pregnant Workers in Pennsylvania
The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act has been introduced in the House (HB 990-Delozier) and the Senate (SB 716-Cappelletti).
In March, House Bill 990 was referred to the House Labor & Industry Committee. We urge you to contact Rep. Jim Cox, chair of the House Labor & Industry Committee, to urge him to bring this bill for a vote.
In May, SB 716 was referred to the Senate Labor & Industry Committee. We urge you to contact Senator Carmen Bartolotta, chair of the Senate Labor & Industry Committee, to urge her to bring this bill for a vote.
Women’s Law Project is a public interest law center in Pennsylvania devoted to advancing and defending the rights of women, girls, and LGBTQ+ people in Pennsylvania and beyond. As a non-profit organization, we can not do this work without you. Please consider supporting our work.
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