Currently there are two bills in Pennsylvania, HB352 and SB440 that if passed, would add language to the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act to make it illegal for employers to ask job candidates questions regarding their marital/familial status.
In PA, and 28 other states, interviewers can ask female applicants
#1 - Do you have kids? How many do you have?
#2 - Are you married?
and base their hiring decision on the answers. This law was established in 1955, and has not been changed. Employers like it because they don't want to pay health coverage for kids, which they have to do if they hire a single mother. (But I guess they are OK with providing family health coverage to working fathers).
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SIGN THE PETITION: Help make history first in Pennsylvania, and then across the nation, by building momentum to end discrimination against mothers! (No matter where you live, your petition signature is very helpful--it puts the Pennsylvania legislators on notice that the nation is watching). And if you have friends, or family, in Pennsylvania, please ask them to sign on too!
TAKE ACTION:
In order to get this legislation passed, your help is urgently needed as these bills will die at the end of the legislative session in November 2006.
- Step One – The bills need to move out of the committees that they have been assigned. Even if you don't live in Pennsylvania, to show support and encourage movement of this legislation, telephone calls or e-mails need to be made to the following chairmen asking that they move these bills to the floors for a vote:
*PA State Senator John R. Gordner, chairman Labor & Industry Committee
Phone: 717-787-8928; e-mail: jgordner@pasen.gov
*PA State Representative Dennis O’Brien, chairman of Judiciary Committee
Phone: 717-787-5689; e-mail: dobrien@pahousegop.com
- Step Two – Once the bills get to the floor for a vote, they must be passed by the members of both the Senate and the House of Representatives. It is very important that if you live in Pennsylvania, you contact the senator and representative from your individual district. Ask them to please vote yes on these bills. (If you need to find contact information on your senator and representative, you can get this at:http://www.legis.state.pa.us/index.cfm)
YOUR CALL WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN PENNSYLVANIA, AND IN DOZENS OF OTHER STATES AS THEY FOLLOW PENNSYLVANIA'S LEAD
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