Equal Rights Advocate
April 2011 Newsletter
ERA Makes History: Wal-Mart v. Dukes
On March 29, 2011, ERA and co-counsel represented Betty Dukes and the other class members before the United States Supreme Court in Wal-Mart v. Dukes. ERA has stood behind these women from the first day this case was filed over 10 years ago. We continue to stand behind them as we await a decision from the Supreme Court this June. For complete coverage of this historic case, please visit us on Facebook and Twitter for minute-to-minute blog coverage, photographs and videos from our trip.
Directly following the oral argument, we were greeted on the steps of the Supreme Court by a rally in our support organized by AAUW, Alliance for Justice and other prominent civil rights organizations. AAUW and AFJ also hosted a reception in honor of the named plaintiffs. To close out our trip, our DC friends and supporters gathered for a celebratory reception hosted by Katz Marshall & Banks. Thank you to all who joined us in honoring the courageous women who continue to fight for equal pay and equal opportunity for all women!
From left, Betty Dukes, Rita Roland, Edith Arana,
Deborah Gunter, and Chris Kwapnoski
From left, Deborah Gunter, Wendy Williams, Arcelia Hurtado,
Noreen Farrell, Jora Trang, Nicole Marquez, and Jamie Dolkas
ERAand Dukes v. Wal-Mart in the news
New America Media
AAUW
KRON 4
Mad as Hell in America
MotherTalkers
AAUW State Convention in Oregon
Arcelia Hurtado will be a featured speaker at the AAUW Oregon State Convention. She will deliver a speech titled "A Conversation on Justice", focusing on equal pay and ERA's landmark case,
Dukes v. Wal-Mart. For more information including how to register, visit their
website.
37th Anniversary Luncheon Purchase Tickets!
Thursday, June 16, 2011
San Francisco Marriott Marquis
Keynote speaker
Anna Deavere Smith
Playwright ∙ Actor ∙ Professor
To be a sponsor or table host, please contact Heidi Gider, Director of Development
ERA Staff Attorney testified for Senate Bill 299
On March 23, 2011, Staff Attorney Monali Sheth and Beth McGovern, Legislative Director of the California Commission on the Status of Women testified before the Senate Labor Committee on Senate Bill 299. On April 5, 2011, Sheth and McGovern also testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Senate Bill 299. “We know that women workers affected by pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions face significant barriers...they risk losing health care coverage when they need it the most,” Sheth noted. The Senate Labor Committee voted for the bill 5 to 2, and the Senate Judiciary Committee voted for the bill 4 to 1.
ERA
co-sponsored Senate Bill 299, a bill introduced on February 14th, 2011 and co-authored by
Senator Noreen Evans, D-Santa Rosa, Chair of the Legislative Women’s Caucus, and Senator Mark Leno, D-San Francisco. The bill will amend the Pregnancy Disability Leave Act to ensure that pregnant workers are no longer forced to choose between health insurance and a medically necessary leave.
2011 Feminist Majority Summit
Managing Attorney Noreen Farrell was invited to speak at the 2011 Women, Money, and Power Summit presented by the Feminist Majority in partnership with the YWCA. Farrell will be speaking on a variety of topics including Title IX and other education equity issues, obtaining equality for women workers, and Dukes v. Wal-Mart.
Poor, Pregnant and Fired
Staff Attorney Jamie Dolkas contributed to Poor, Pregnant and Fired: Caregiver Discrimination Against Low Wage Workers, a report released by the Center for WorkLife Law. The report profiles 50 cases of low-wage workers who experienced discrimination at work when balancing family and work responsibilities.
Out Of The Shadows:
Deportation Defense In The 21st Century
On April 27th, Arcelia Hurtado will be the mistress of ceremonies at the Dolores Street Community Services first annual event, Out Of The Shadows: Deportation Defense In The 21st Century. The event will take place at the Ritz-Carlton in San Francisco.
77 Cents To The Dollar: How Unfair Pay Impacts You & What You Can Do About It
Join the EEOC in a panel discussion on the wage gap and how it impacts individuals, families, and communities. ERA will be participating on the panel, and speaking about
Dukes v. Wal-Mart and its role in the larger discussion of pay equity . This event will take place on April 13, 2011 from 12-2pm at San Jose State University.
You Can Help Make Democracy Work: Join the League!
Celebrate 100 years of women voting in California at the
League of Women Voters of California's convention May 12-15, 2011 in Ventura. Hear top-notch
guest speakers and participate in instructive
workshops and caucus discussions on an overwhelming range of topics.
