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Illinois Passes Tough Anti-Wage Theft Law
Governor Pat Quinn recently signed the toughest anti-wage theft law in the country. Under this new law, employers who cheat their employees out of wages will be forced to pay back wages plus interest, and repeat offenders will face felony charges. The law, which goes into effect in January of 2011, will help to protect Illinois' most vulnerable low-wage workers, who all too often experience wage theft at the hands of their employers.
WE Mobilizes Students, Community for Better Budget
WE has put the pressure on Illinois' leaders to pass a responsible budget. WE staff and supporters have attended rallies in Chicago and Springfield, and our virtual rally raised awareness online. We also brought students whose financial aid is at risk to Springfield, where they spoke directly to their legislators about their concerns.
Major Victory for Students!
President Obama recently signed the The Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act (SAFRA) as part of the Healthcare and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010. By ending subsidies to private lending companies and moving instead to direct government loans, this bill will save over $60 billion in 10 years. $36 billion will be invested to increase federal Pell Grants from $5,350 this year to $5,975 by 2017. SAFRA will more than double the existing College Access and Challenge Grant Program, a $750 million investment over 5 years, for recruitment and support for at-risk students, and invest another $2 billion over the next 5 years for community college and career training grants.
WE Urges IL to Begin Work to Increase College Completions
As part of the newly-passed Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act, President Obama has set a goal of five million additional community college graduates by 2020. WE wants to ensure that Illinois does our part to meet that goal. To help our state do that, Women Employed has released recommendations for what Illinois must begin to do now to prepare to produce more graduates and compete for federal funding to improve college completions. The recommendations specify actions that state agencies can immediately take to advance the goal of producing more college graduates in Illinois.
Our Accomplishments Speak for Themselves
Women Employed recently released our 2009 Annual Report, which highlights some of the major accomplishments we have made in the last year, including our work to shape federal policy, mobilize new leaders, help students advocate on their own behalf, forge new educational pathways, and more. Read past WE annual reports.
Innovative Collaboration Aims to Improve College Outcomes
According to Building Illinois’ Workforce of the Future, WE’s new policy brief, nearly half of adult students enrolled in college leave school within three years without a degree or certificate. Yet a growing body of research demonstrates that early guidance and effective support services can increase completion rates.
Recently, Women Employed brought together community college administrators from across the state to discuss ways to implement recommendations from the policy brief in order to improve student success. The administrators are all members of Women Employed’s Clear Connections Project (CCP), an innovative collaboration aimed at helping more students access support services that will enable them to succeed in college. CCP’s education and training agenda was recently endorsed by the Illinois Council of Community College Presidents, an organization consisting of all chancellors and presidents of Illinois community colleges.
New Report: IL May Lack Training Programs to Fill "Middle-Skill" Jobs
More than one million “middle-skill” job openings---those that require more than a high school diploma, but less than a four-year degree—are projected for the state by 2016. But according to a new study released by the Skills2Compete-Illinois campaign, drastic cuts in state-funded employment training programs threaten to impair efforts to fill these jobs.
The report discusses employment and education patterns in Illinois, and the shortage of middle-skill workers that Illinois will face if we do not fill the education and training gap. Skills2Compete-Illinois is led by Women Employed, Chicago Jobs Council, and The Workforce Alliance. Read the report.
$205 Million Secured for MAP
Women Employed recently joined students and advocates to fight to save MAP grants by attending rallies, lobbying legislators, and building support on Facebook and Twitter. The Illinois' General Assembly heard our voices, and voted to reinstate MAP grants for the next semester. This is a major victory for the nearly 140,000 lower-income students who could have lost their financial aid, but this victory only offers a temporary solution, since funding for MAP is only guaranteed for one more semester. Stay tuned for updates on how we can work together to guarantee to future of MAP.
Party with a Purpose Brings Advocates Together
WE Can Do It! brought advocates and WE supporters together for an evening of community, connections, and trivia. Attendees showed their knowledge of women's trivia, and told us what they think the priorities should be for the Obama administration. Read more.
Research Shows Paid Sick Days Could Save Employers Millions
A new report by the Institute for Women’s Policy Research (IWPR) shows that offering paid sick days would benefit not just Illinois workers, but would also save their employers millions. Valuing Good Health in Illinois: the Costs and Benefits of Paid Sick Days, shows that the Healthy Workplace Act would save Illinois employers roughly $272 million each year by reducing turnover, absenteeism, and the spread of contagious disease among employees.
Illinois lawmakers are currently considering the Healthy Workplace Act, which would require all employers to offer up to seven paid sick days a year to all employees, based upon the amount of hours worked. IWPR estimates that Illinois employers would save $3.13 per worker per week by implementing paid sick days.
Ensuring Recovery Act Strengthens Illinois Workforce
Women Employed is leading the local response to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) and will soon be meeting with the Governor's top staff to push for equity and access for women, minorities, and low-income people in training and job creation funded by the Act. We will also work to ensure that workforce training is tied to career pathways that lead to better quality jobs to help steer the state out of recession.
Along with the Chicago Jobs Council, WE has convened 16 advocacy organizations to share information, develop strategies, and communicate with legislators and other policymakers to ensure that Illinois utilizes this opportunity to strengthen its workforce development system. The Recovery Act includes many provisions for job training, workforce development, and competitive grants that Illinois must be prepared to take advantage of. Check back regularly for new information as Women Employed’s advocacy agenda moves forward.
Thanks to the National Women’s Law Center for its comprehensive summary of the Act’s provisions that specifically support women and their families.
Visit Recovery.gov to track how and to whom the funds are being allocated.
Paid Sick Days Town Hall Meetings Make Headlines
Fox News covered WE's Nov. 10 town hall meeting on paid sick days, held in conjunction with the Urban League of Chicago. Visit our press archives page for additional coverage of earlier town hall meetings held in Quincy and Sterling, IL.
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