April 10, 2013

UFCW Women’s Network Members Hold Lobby Day at U.S. Capitol

About a dozen members of UFCW Women’s Network traveled to Washington, D.C. today to lobby their Members of Congress on issues important to working families.

Members lobbied in support of comprehensive immigration reform, the Part-Time Worker Bill of Rights, and the Paycheck Fairness Act. They asked their elected officials to support the UFCW’s principles for immigration reform which include a path to citizenship for those already here. In addition, they asked Members of Congress to support the Part-Time Worker Bill of Rights which would end the incentive for employers to drop workers from their health coverage and the Paycheck Fairness Act which would help guarantee equal pay for equal work.

Members were also briefed by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee on the political landscape for 2014 and attended a reception with Emerge, an organization dedicated to electing more women to office. After their lobby visits, they joined tens of thousands of supporters on the lawn of the U.S. Capitol at a rally for comprehensive immigration reform.

“All in all, it was a great day,” said UFCW Women’s Network International Chair Rhonda Nelson. “Both economic and social issues are important to women and this last election showed just how big our impact can be.”

Nelson said the group plans on continuing to lobby in the future, adding: “When they don’t hear from us, that’s when bills pass that don’t reflect our needs and concerns.”