Celebrating Passage of Pregnant Workers Fairness Act
We were thrilled to end 2022 by celebrating the long-awaited passage of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act as an amendment to the omnibus spending package, which President Biden signed into law on December 29. The law is a momentous victory for pregnant and postpartum workers and their families.
Effective June 27, 2023, employers will be required to provide basic accommodations to pregnant workers, such as carrying a water bottle or taking bathroom breaks. The legislation will enable millions of workers to provide for their families without compromising their health or pregnancies. This is the most significant protection for pregnant workers in decades! Learn more about the law from our partners at A Better Balance.
A huge thanks to the thousands of AAUW members and activists who mobilized for this critical legislation over the past decade, joined by our allies and partner organizations in tireless grassroots efforts across the country. You made this happen!
Nevada passes the most inclusive State ERA amendment in the country
LAS VEGAS, NV – Nevadans for Equal Rights is thrilled to see the overwhelming show of
support from voters across the Silver State in favor of equality finally enshrined in our state
constitution. Supporters, volunteers, and member organizations across all 17 counties have
watched as their hard work and dedication have led to extra protections for all Nevadans,
particularly those who most directly impacted by discrimination who’ve been told they must work twice as hard for the same opportunities. On election night, Nevadans decisively rejected hate and unequivocally declared that our differences should be celebrated and protected under law. (Read more at: ERA Question 1)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The following is a statement from Gloria L. Blackwell, AAUW Chief Executive Officer:
The American Association of University Women (AAUW) strongly condemns the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. The decision overturns the landmark Roe v. Wade ruling that established abortion as a constitutionally protected right nearly 50 years ago and ignores the will of the American people, 80% of whom support legal abortion.
AAUW believes everyone has the right to make decisions about their own reproductive lives without government interference. Abortion access is vital to women’s ability to control their lives, bodies and futures. Without reproductive freedom, there can be no equity.
Being able to choose whether and when to become a parent improves women’s well-being and fosters economic security—a crucial component of AAUW’s mission. This is particularly important in a country that lacks accessible maternal health care, paid caregiving leave and workplace protections for pregnant workers.
The Court’s decision hurts all of us, but it will do the most harm to low-income people, women of color, immigrants, people with disabilities and LGBTQ+ people, because these groups already face substantial barriers to accessing reproductive services and health care.
While the Court’s decision is a major setback for all Americans, AAUW remains steadfast in our commitment to protecting reproductive rights, a vital component of gender equity.