The Leadership Conference is working diligently to see that Tom Perez is confirmed as U.S. Secretary of Labor. Perez is an eminently qualified public servant and consensus builder who has dedicated his career to ensuring that all individuals are treated fairly and have the opportunity to succeed. He has served with integrity and distinction at the local, state and national level, compiling an outstanding record of achievement. Women's Rights
Women have fought - in the courts and the legislatures, as well as in the streets and the forums of public opinion - for the right to vote, to hold property, to be elected to public office, to gain an education, to hold certain kinds of jobs, and to receive pay equal to men. In addition, women face unique kinds of discrimination based on gender, such as sexual harassment and job discrimination on the basis of pregnancy.
Smithsonian National Postal Museum Launches Online Exhibit, 'Women on Stamps'March 18, 2009 - Posted by The Leadership Conference In honor of Women's History Month, the Smithsonian National Postal Museum is featuring an online exhibit called "Women on Stamps: Part One." This collection is the first in a series of four stamp collections that focus on the accomplishments of women. In 1893, Queen Isabella I of Spain was the first woman to appear on a U.S. postage stamp. Since that time, the U.S. has honored women by issuing over 200 stamps that feature pioneering women. "Women on Stamps: Part One" highlights women who have made their mark on politics and social justice, including Sojourner Truth, Harriet Tubman, and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Celebrate International Women's DayMarch 6, 2009 - Posted by The Leadership Conference .JPG) Women in Dhaka, Bangladesh at an International Women's Day rally, organized by Jatiyo Nari Shramik Trade Union Kendra (National Women Workers Trade Union Centre). March 8 is International Women's Day, a holiday to celebrate the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future. Though many countries celebrate the holiday differently, the United Nations' theme this year is "women and men united to end violence against women and girls." According to the U.N. Development Fund for Women, violence against women has reached "pandemic proportions," as at least one in every three women around the world has been beaten, coerced into sex, or abused at some point in her life. The International Trade Union Confederation released a report yesterday that found that the global pay gap between men and women rose from 16.5 percent to 22 percent since March 2008. International Women's Day is an official holiday in several countries around the world including Australia, China, Vietnam, Russia and Kazakhstan, but not in the United States. The holiday has its roots in the women's labor movement in the U.S. and around the world. The first National Women's Day was held in the U.S. in 1909 to commemorate the 1908 garment workers strike in New York, where 15,000 women workers marched and rallied for better working conditions, equal pay and voting rights. Today in Civil Rights History: Charlotte E. Ray, First Female African-American LawyerFebruary 27, 2009 - Posted by The Leadership Conference Charlotte E. Ray graduated from Howard Law School on February 27, 1872, becoming not only the first female African-American lawyer in the United States but also the first practicing female lawyer in Washington, D.C. Seniors Struggle to Survive on Social Security BenefitsFebruary 18, 2009 - Posted by The Leadership Conference  Wade Henderson, president and CEO of LCCR, greets Lilly Ledbetter after President Obama signed the Ledbetter Fair Pay Act in January 2009 Many senior citizens depend on Social Security and retirement checks to survive. When a check doesn't come, that can be the difference between paying the light bill and buying groceries. Today in Civil Rights History: The Family and Medical Leave Act Expands Workers RightsFebruary 5, 2009 - Posted by The Leadership Conference Today is the 16th anniversary of the signing of the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA). Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act becomes LawJanuary 29, 2009 - Posted by The Leadership Conference  President Obama signs the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, with Lilly Ledbetter watching from behind him, and Sen. Barbara Mikulski and Rep. Steny Hoyer to their left. President Obama signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act into law this morning, making it easier for employees to challenge pay discrimination in court. House Passes Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act and Paycheck Fairness ActJanuary 9, 2009 - Posted by The Leadership Conference This morning, the House of Representatives passed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act and Paycheck Fairness Act. House to Vote on Equal Pay BillsJanuary 8, 2009 - Posted by The Leadership Conference  Lilly Ledbetter The House is expected to vote tomorrow on the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act and the Paycheck Fairness Act, which would restore and strengthen equal pay laws. Obama and Dems Expected to Take Swift Action on Ledbetter Fair Pay ActJanuary 5, 2009 - Posted by Tyler Lewis  Supreme Court to Hear Pregnancy Discrimination CaseDecember 8, 2008 - Posted by Tyler Lewis |
More Information OnViolence Against Women Reauthorization Act |
