March 3: Tell the Senate, "Pass Family Leave Insurance, NOW!"

Join the Hudsonc County Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO in our support for Paid Family Leave Insurance Legislation (A873/S786). The bill has been posted for a vote before the full Senate on Monday, March 3. We need your support now to get this important piece of legislation passed. Please take a moment right now and send a letter to your state Senator that you support this legislation to create a Family Leave Insurance program for ALL New Jersey's working families. You can also call your Senator at AARP's toll free hotline at 1-877-696-2282. Be sure to leave you name and address, and if no one answers, leave a message on the voicemail. If no one picks up and their answering machine is full, please try again tomorrow! There are attempts by opponents of the bill to exclude employees of small businesses. Tell your Senator to oppose any attempt to carve out small business employees, because NOBODY should have to choose between caring for their loved ones and paying their bills! With the strong support from New Jersey's Working Families, we can make Paid Family Leave Insurance a reality for all workers in our state. NJ's Business Lobby is waging an all out attack to defeat this bill. Tell your legislators that the business lobby doesn't speak for you. You vote and you want Paid Family Leave Insurance!

Sample Letter for Campaign

Subject: NJ Needs Family Leave Insurance, NOW!

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

I hope you will agree that workers should not have to choose between their jobs and their ability to spend the first critical weeks of a child's life, or between a paycheck and a desire to care for a seriously ill family member.

That is why I am joining the Hudson County Central Labor Council, the New Jersey State AFL-CIO, the New Jersey Partnership for Working Families and workers throughout our state in calling for the state to support Family Leave Insurance legislation (S-786 / A-873). Your support of this initiative will give workers the opportunity to take up to 6 weeks off at two-thirds of their pay up to approximately $524 a week to care for a seriously ill family member, newborn or newly adopted child. Additionally, this expansion of the State's current Temporary Disability Insurance program will be entirely funded by a minimal employee contribution of approximately $33 a year, with no cost to employers.

There are also rumors of proposed amendments to carve out small business employees. I oppose any attempt to carve out small business employees, because NOBODY should have to choose between caring for their loved ones and paying their bills!

The bill has been posted for a vote before the full Senate on Monday, March 3, 2008 and I respectfully ask for your support of this pro-family legislation at that time. On behalf of myself and my family, I look forward to hearing from you on this important matter.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
February 29, 2008


Background Information

WHAT IS FAMILY LEAVE INSURANCE?

Provides up to 6 weeks of benefits over a 12-month period for anyone who takes leave to bond with a new born or newly adopted child or to care for an ill child, parent, spouse or domestic partner.

Family Leave Insurance will provide two-thirds of a worker's usual wage, with a maximum of $524 a week in 2008. The limit will rise yearly to keep up with the cost of living.

WHY DO WE NEED FAMILY LEAVE INSURANCE?

Balancing the demands of job and family is a tremendous challenge; for many it is insurmountable under the current rules. More women with children work than ever before and there are more single-parent households. Meanwhile, many businesses find it hard to recruit, train and keep skilled workers. A family leave insurance program means workers, business and government come together to create a wining situation for everyone. Family Leave Insurance is an investment in New Jersey's workers and its economic prosperity.