The demand for paid family leave benefits is sweeping the nation as American workers and working families wake up to the fact that the U.S. is one of only 2 countries in the world without a national program. (The other is Papua New Guinea!)

Even the Republicans and the IDC members of the NY Senate have decided to include a paid family leave item in their budget proposal. But what is their proposal? How is it different from the legislation backed by our party and by a large labor-community coalition known as the New York Paid Family Leave Insurance Campaign? And what can we do to make sure that when New York passes paid family leave legislation, it actually includes the provisions and benefits that will benefit all New York workers?

At this meeting, Blue Carreker, an employee of Citizen Action of New York, and other members of the campaign’s Buffalo and Erie County table will explain the legislative strategy, share personal experiences that demonstrate the importance of this issue, and discuss what we can do as individuals and as a party to support this campaign.