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Statement

STATEMENT OF KRISTIN ROWE-FINKBEINER, Executive Director and CEO, MomsRising, on Young v. UPS

December 3, 2014
Workplace Justice

Lisa Lederer, 202-371-1996

Moms Group Stands With UPS Worker Who Faced Pregnancy Discrimination
“Today the U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments in the case of Peggy Young, who while pregnant, was denied doctor-recommended desk duty by her employer, UPS. MomsRising and our million-plus members stand in support today of the plaintiff, Peggy Young, and pregnant workers everywhere who even now, more than 35 years after the passage of the Pregnancy Discrimination Act, are still experiencing discrimination on the job. Young v. UPS could have far-reaching health and economic implications for women and families across the country.
 
“Too many women are forced to make the impossible choice between their jobs and the health of their pregnancies every day. Women of color and immigrant women, who are overrepresented in physically demanding jobs, are especially impacted by employers refusing to accommodate pregnant workers with medical needs.
 
“Far too many employers are either ignoring or misinterpreting the Pregnancy Discrimination Act, which was expressly designed to protect pregnant workers from discrimination and promote their economic security. Women comprise half the paid labor force, and three in four moms work outside the home. When working women, the primary purchasers in our consumer-fueled economy, are without a salary because they’ve been forced to quit, are fired, or are pushed onto unpaid leave, it negatively affects our economy and families’ financial security.
 
“Peggy Young’s bravery has brought us closer to ending the outrageous discrimination that pregnant workers all too often face in our nation.We are confident that the Supreme Court will confirm once and for all that policies such as the one at issue in Young v. UPS that discriminate against pregnant workers are illegal under current federal law.”
 

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MomsRising.org is an on-the-ground and online grassroots organization of more than a million people who are working to increase family economic security, decrease discrimination against women and moms, and to build a nation where businesses and families can thrive. Established in 2006, MomsRising and its members are organizing and speaking out to improve public policy and to change the national dialogue on issues that are critically important to America’s families, including criminal justice reform, immigration policy reform, and gun safety. MomsRising is working for paid family and medical leave, affordable, high quality childcare and early learning, and for an end to the wage and hiring discrimination which penalizes women — particularly moms and women of color — and so many others. MomsRising advocates for access to healthy food for all kids, health care for all, earned sick days, and breastfeeding rights so that all children can have a healthy start. MomsRising maintains a Spanish language website: MamásConPoder.org. Sign up online at www.MomsRising.org — and follow us on our blog, and on Twitter and Facebook.