Making Working Families a Top National Priority

On June 23, I had the great privilege of representing the YWCA San Francisco and Marin at the White House Summit on Working Families.

What started as a House Democratic women's campaign called When Women Succeed, America Succeeds is growing into a grassroots movement as citizens are increasingly asking President Barack Obama, congressional leaders, and state and local elected officials to re-examine public policy as it regards working families.

Issues that benefit both businesses and employees, such as access to affordable child care, paid leave, fair wages and work-life balance are now being viewed as key to economic prosperity for individuals and the country.

The summit brought a diverse group of organizations, community leaders, elected officials and engaged citizens together to inform, inspire and encourage us to join the movement.

Everyone was at the table, from the president to big business, labor unions, nonprofits, state and local officials and many, many parents.

It was clear to everyone in attendance that the issues being discussed are nonpartisan, and that everyone had something to gain, as these are issues that benefit moms, dads, children and our country as a whole.

What are the facts driving this movement?

Millions of workers do not have paid sick leave, forcing many parents to choose between earning a day's wages to put food on their tables and caring for a sick child at home. Low minimum wages and part-time jobs without benefits move parents to seek public assistance to provide the basic needs of life for their children.

Increasingly, women are becoming the primary breadwinner or contributing a significant portion of their family's income, focusing a spotlight on continued work to close the gender pay gap which has stalled in recent years.

Companies such as PriceWaterhouseCoopers, The Gap, Goldman Sachs, and Johnson & Johnson are recognizing that family friendly workplace policies are good for business and increase employee retention, loyalty and productivity. Small businesses experience these same benefits, plus an increased commitment from their customers when they let the public know of their progressive employee benefits.

We are fortunate to live in a progressive state that is a leader in this movement, but there is more to be done to protect working families.

One area to explore is increasing the minimum wage. Seventy-one percent of Americans favor a higher minimum wage already, showing how important this issue is to our country.

We here at the YWCA work with women every day who are working hard to care for their families and secure good jobs that pay the wages they need to meet their financial obligations.

Women make up two-thirds of the minimum wage workers, so raising the federal minimum wage from $7.25 to $10.10 per hour would boost wages for million women.

Parents in the service sectors (domestic workers, retail clerks, restaurant cooks, etc.) often are the ones making minimum wages as well.

Raising the minimum wage will give them a fighting chance to provide food, shelter, health and safety for their children and reduce dependence on public assistance.

I encourage you to learn more about these important issues impacting our families across the country.

These working families are your own relatives, your neighbors, your favorite small businesses and the fabric of your community.

For more information on joining the Working Families Movement visitwww.workingfamiliessummit.org. You can also follow the movement on Twitter at #FamilesSucceed.

Jane Winter is the executive director of the YWCA San Francisco and Marin. Her e-mail isjane@ywcasf-marin.org

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