The following is a statement from A Better Balance Co-Founder and Co-President Dina Bakst:
Today marks the 44th anniversary of the Pregnancy Discrimination Act, yet this is no time to celebrate. Millions of pregnant workers and new mothers in America still face discriminatory treatment based on pregnancy, childbirth, and lactation due to gaps in federal civil rights law. The health and economic consequences are often devastating.
Two-thirds of women are losing their pregnancy accommodation cases in federal court under the Pregnancy Discrimination Act. For every woman losing her case, there are thousands of others who never even make it through the courthouse door due to fear of retaliation or lack of time and resources.
Time is running out. Women of this country cannot and will not wait decades more for justice and equality under the law. Women are part of the engine of the American economy—it’s time they are treated that way. Leader Schumer must listen to women, and the broad coalition of maternal health, women’s rights, faith, labor, and civil rights organizations, and bring the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act to a vote when he returns to Washington D.C. in November during the “lame duck” session, before it is too late.
