FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 18, 2008
June 18, 2008
Christina Erling
(202) 639-6419
(202) 639-6419
AFGE Thanks Senator Webb and Congresswoman Maloney for Federal Employees Paid Parental Leave Act
(WASHINGTON) – The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), representing more than 600,000 federal and District of Columbia employees across the country, urges Congress to pass the groundbreaking Federal Employees Paid Parental Leave Act of 2008.
“The time has come for the federal government to set the standard for U.S. employers on paid parental leave,” said AFGE President John Gage. “The benefits to children and families of four weeks of paid parental leave are enormous and long lasting. This sets an example for private sector employers.”
In a letter to Congress, AFGE Legislative and Political Director Beth Moten explained that, “Despite the protections of the Family and Medical Leave Act, federal workers are among those who must choose between a paycheck and meeting their family obligations because they currently have no parental leave.” Under current law, no part of the leave under FMLA is guaranteed to be ‘paid leave,’ a fact that effectively prevents many workers from using FMLA at all. “It’s an unnecessary hardship that can be solved by this legislation,” continued Gage.
The Federal Employees Parental Leave Act, which would extend four weeks of paid parental leave to all Executive and Legislative Branch federal employees, provides an opportunity for parents to bond with newborn infants or newly adopted children and sets an example for private sector employers. It also takes as a given that all parents – male, female and adoptive – deserve equal treatment.
“Senator Jim Webb and Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney have proven their dedication to working families with their introduction of this bill and we thank them for their insight and commitment. We urge members of Congress to pass this important and essential piece of legislation,” concluded Gage.
“The time has come for the federal government to set the standard for U.S. employers on paid parental leave,” said AFGE President John Gage. “The benefits to children and families of four weeks of paid parental leave are enormous and long lasting. This sets an example for private sector employers.”
In a letter to Congress, AFGE Legislative and Political Director Beth Moten explained that, “Despite the protections of the Family and Medical Leave Act, federal workers are among those who must choose between a paycheck and meeting their family obligations because they currently have no parental leave.” Under current law, no part of the leave under FMLA is guaranteed to be ‘paid leave,’ a fact that effectively prevents many workers from using FMLA at all. “It’s an unnecessary hardship that can be solved by this legislation,” continued Gage.
The Federal Employees Parental Leave Act, which would extend four weeks of paid parental leave to all Executive and Legislative Branch federal employees, provides an opportunity for parents to bond with newborn infants or newly adopted children and sets an example for private sector employers. It also takes as a given that all parents – male, female and adoptive – deserve equal treatment.
“Senator Jim Webb and Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney have proven their dedication to working families with their introduction of this bill and we thank them for their insight and commitment. We urge members of Congress to pass this important and essential piece of legislation,” concluded Gage.
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