Issues

April 2005

NEWS FLASH: AFSCME Women are 56% of the Union!

Medicaid cut, a working family issue

Giving tax breaks to the richest one percent of our country while cutting health care coverage to the most needy is the wrong choice and the wrong priority

Many of America's workers may soon lose healthcare coverage for themselves or their children if Medicaid funding is cut. Medicaid is a federal and state funded program that provides health care coverage for low-income families, individuals and the elderly. There are currently over 53 million Americans relying on Medicaid, 50 percent of whom are children. Two-thirds of all Medicaid enrollees are in working families. Medicaid is often confused with Medicare, but the two programs actually have important differences. Medicaid provides coverage to individuals and families throughout their lifetime, whereas Medicare is a federal health insurance for retirees who have paid into Social Security.

The Bush Administration is proposing massive cuts to this year's federal budget, including a $14 billion cut in Medicaid. Because Medicaid represents the largest source of federal funding to states (on average 37 percent of a state's total budget), cuts in Medicaid funding would place states in a precarious financial situation.

This means that working families would face cuts to basic healthcare services funded by the Medicaid program. Women, who make up 70 percent of adult Medicaid beneficiaries, may see cuts to family planning services, which are crucial to their health and safety. Parents would no longer be able to rely on Medicaid to provide health insurance for their children, leaving millions of children without healthcare coverage. Program cuts also would mean job losses for doctors, nurses, service providers, program analysts, and other individuals who are employed through Medicaid funding, many of whom are AFSCME members.

In the Congress, the Senate recently passed an amendment to the budget that excluded the proposed $14 billion in cuts and instead created a commission to study Medicaid. In the House, a letter is circulating, among Republicans calling for no cuts to Medicaid.

However, this does not mean that Medicaid is out of harm's way. Medicaid is a huge financial program, and the Administration is determined to reduce the deficit by cutting programs for working families. We encourage you to stay active in this debate and remind your legislators that Medicaid is important to you and your community.

Tell your Senators to stop Medicaid cuts!

Call, write or visit them in their district offices or in Washington, DC. Locate your Senator's contact information.

For more information on Medicaid cuts and the effects on women and children visit the National Women's Law Center. 

AFSCME leading the way for pay equity

AFSCME celebrated Equal Pay Day on Tuesday April 19, 2005. Since the 1970's, AFSCME has been one of the strongest advocates for closing the wage gap. AFSCME members have been the recipients of more than $1 billion in pay equity adjustments won at the bargaining table, in state and local legislatures, and through political action.

From staging strikes to landmark lawsuits, AFSCME has been on the frontline of the fight for equal pay.

  • In 1981, members of AFSCME Local 101 in San Jose, Calif., went on strike to win pay equity after a city-initiated study showed that women's jobs were underpaid and the city refused to take steps to address the inequities. This successful nine-day strike was the first time workers had walked off the job to demand equal pay. As a result, members received a contract that included $1.5 million dedicated to wage increases for female-dominated jobs.
  • In 1982, AFSCME won $33.4 million to raise the pay for female-dominated jobs at the state government level in Minnesota.
  • In 1983, AFSCME's landmark lawsuit against the State of Washington resulted in an out-of-court settlement providing over $100 million in pay equity adjustments for 35,000 employees. This settlement ended AFSCME Council 28's decade-long struggle to get the state to end pay disparities shown by the state's own job evaluation studies.
  • In 1991, AFSCME won a settlement that provided $7.5 million in wage increases and back pay to predominantly female and minority police communication technicians in the City of New York.
  • In 2001, AFSCME settled the first class-action lawsuit under the Congressional Accountability Act for more than $2.5 million. As a result, 300 women employed or formerly employed by the Architect of the Capitol received pay upgrades and lump sum payments.

AFSCME continues to lead the charge for pay equity today. Publications, fact sheets and resources on fighting for equal pay at the bargaining table and the state house are available on the AFSCME Women's Rights webpage.

African American women — working more, earning less

Pay inequity is a reality for women of all races. Men continue to earn more at every educational level than both white and African American women who work full-time. However, African American women feel the severity of the wage gap to a much greater extent, earning approximately 19 percent less in median annual earnings than white women, according to new research by the Institute for Women's Policy Research.

The disparities transcend the level of education. College-educated African American women earn less than white women with comparable degrees. African American women who hold bachelor's degrees earn $2,500 less annually than their white counterparts.

The significant difference in earnings is not a reflection of the number of hours worked. In fact, a recent study by the Economic Policy Institute shows that college-educated African American women work an average of 1,923 hours a year, compared to white college-educated women who work an average of just 1,734 hours. The difference in working hours is more than a month of additional full-time work by African American women. Despite working more hours, African American women are almost 3 times more likely than white women to live in poverty as a result of the wage gap.

AFSCME supports women in their efforts to address pay inequities in their jobs and remains active in the struggle to close the pay gap for all union women.

For more information about how the wage gap keeps women and their families impoverished, visit the Institute for Women's Policy Research website.

Title IX protects whistleblowers 

In March, women and girls everywhere scored a victory when the US Supreme Court strengthened the enforcement of Title IX, which prohibits gender discrimination by educational institutions that receive federal funding. The court ruled that whistleblowers, who speak out against gender discrimination and are victims of "retaliatory conduct", are protected under the statute. In a 5-4 decision, the court expanded the definition of "victim" to include those who complain of discrimination against others.

The ruling pertains to Roderick Jackson's suit against the Birmingham Board of Education. The former girls' high school basketball coach complained that his players were receiving unequal funding and were using facilities inferior to the boys' basketball team. As a result, he was fired from his position as coach. In return, Jackson sued the Birmingham Board of Education under Title IX. An appeals court previously ruled that Jackson had no right a bring suit under Title IX because he himself had not been the victim of discrimination. The Supreme Court overturned this decision stating, "reporting incidents of discrimination is integral to the law and would be discouraged if retaliation against those who report went unpunished..."

Protection under Title IX is a clear victory for women's rights and a step in the right direction in the fight against gender discrimination. The Court's reinforcement of these safeguards will inspire people to speak out against gender discrimination without fear of retaliatory conduct.

Get more information about Title IX. 

Union women fight for quality public services worldwide

Around the globe, union women are taking action to improve public services and the lives of people in their communities. During a recent Public Services International (PSI) conference, women leaders stressed their continuing concern about gender equality and its relationship to quality public services. PSI is a non-governmental organization that represents the interests of public sector workers around the world.

In Finland, a Finnish trade union representing healthcare and social service workers, and an Estonian trade union representing nurses, midwives and other healthcare workers signed an agreement to promote quality healthcare. In support of the partnership, the unions agreed to evaluate job positions in the health sector in order to raise pay levels for workers.

In Quito, Ecuador, union women met with the health workers and other community members to address public health issues. A committee was later formed to support and promote the right to healthcare in the city.

In Lima, Peru, PSI members organized a workshop to educate public workers, community associations, human rights and environmental groups, and women's organizations on the right to clean, safe water for all citizens. The meeting helped the groups form a stronger alliance and an active voice for change in the community.

These are just a few examples of union women working together to improve the quality and accessibility of public services for their families and communities. We encourage you to share this information with others and discuss how public services can be improved to better serve your community.

Visit the PSI website for more information.

WomENews is produced by the Women's Rights Department and written by Quinci Moody and Amy Vance.

 

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