NYC families, parents, caregivers bring kids, new babies to show support for paid family leave

With paid leave cut from the initial Build Back Better framework, outraged families demand Senator Schumer to stand up for paid leave at critical moment

Today, Paid Leave for the United States (PL+US) brought together dozens of families in Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s neighborhood of Park Slope outraged by an initial Build Back Better deal that cut paid leave, urging him to fight to return paid leave to the legislation before passage.

Molly Day, Executive Director of Paid Leave for the United States (PL+US) addressed the crowd and Jessica Dimmock, the Director’s Guild of America #ParenthoodPenalty movement leader shared her personal story of not having access to paid leave when she needed it most. Attendees also wrote hand-written sidewalk chalk messages to Majority Leader Schumer while holding signs and banners saying “Save Paid Leave” and “Families Demand Paid Leave.”

“We’re gathered here today to ask Majority Leader Schumer to fight for working families,” said Molly Day, Executive Director of PL+US. “It’s outrageous that in the midst of a global pandemic that’s forced more than 2 million women out of the workforce, Congress and the White House have put forward a preliminary deal to Build Back Better without paid family and medical leave. However, no deal is done until it’s passed in Congress, so we’re asking Majority Leader Schumer to fight to save paid leave.”

Despite reports of paid leave being cut from the initial Build Back Better framework released Thursday, negotiations in Washington are still ongoing and Senate Majority Leader Schumer can play a key role in ensuring that the 130 million Americans without a single day of paid leave have access to paid time to welcome a newborn into their family, say goodbye to a dying loved one, or recover from their own serious illness.

Individual interviews with any of the event speakers, including PL+US’ Molly Day, can be scheduled upon request.

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About PL+US

PL+US (Paid Leave for the United States) is the national campaign to win paid family and medical leave for every working person in the US. PL+US has helped win paid family leave for nearly 8 million people through our transformative workplace campaigns at companies like Walmart, Starbucks, CVS and more in partnership with employees, employers, consumers, and investors. Learn more at: http://paidleave.us/