Cahill Calls for New Maternity Leave Law

Type:	Announcements
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 13, 2010 Contact: Amy Birmingham 978-979-9252 Juli Sweeney 617-875-9026 Cahill Calls for New Maternity Leave Law Tim Cahill, the Independent candidate for Governor, today called for a new state law guaranteeing women 12 weeks of maternity leave as an important step toward fairness and healthy families. The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court decided this week that mothers are only entitled to eight weeks of unpaid leave under a 1972 state law. Cahill said it was time to update the badly antiquated 1972 law and bring Massachusetts in line with federal standards. As governor, he pledged to file and sign legislation extending unpaid maternity leave to 12 weeks. "As the father of four daughters, I understand the joys and demands that a growing family places on working, middle class parents," Cahill said. "I am mindful of the burden small businesses face in our state with over regulation and over taxation, and my independent campaign is all about reversing that trend. But this is a crucial public health issue for women and their children. The consensus of the medical community is clear that eight weeks is not enough time for mothers to recover physically and mentally and bond with their children." The 1972 state law requires businesses that have fewer than 50 employees to offer eight weeks of unpaid maternity leave. Under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act, businesses with 50 or more employees already must grant 12 weeks of unpaid maternity leave. As State Treasurer, Cahill has proposed legislation for the past two legislative sessions that would allow state employees to buy back family leave time – including maternity leave – as creditable service toward their retirement allowance. "Most middle class families can’t get by unless both parents work," Cahill said. "While mothers bond with their new son or daughter, they shouldn’t have to worry about losing their job or being forced to return to work too soon." ###

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