Nearly 2 million people who are employed through federal contractors earn less than $24,000 a year. That’s more low-wage workers than any private company, including Walmart and McDonald's, combined. At the 43rd annual Congressional Black Caucus Foundation's recent Legislative Conference, Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) moderated a panel discussion on those low-wage workers and ways to improve their wages and working conditions.

Imagine getting suspended from your job for seven days because you had to leave work for a half hour and pick up your child when no one could watch her. This is just one example of a major obstacle working women face. 

Major progressive organizations came together to kick off the Fair Shot campaign last week, which is a women’s initiative focused on elevating public policy solutions, and to demand action on the real challenges that women face today, including jobs and economic security, health care rights and opportunities for leadership and advancement.

Today, AFL-CIO Community Services Coordinator Will Fischer and AFL-CIO Union Veterans Council Director James Gilbert laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery for National POW–MIA Remembrance Day.

Thousands of people came from near and far on Wednesday to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington. Rain or shine, dignitaries, celebrities, members of Congress and union leaders all came together to not only commemorate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech, but to also celebrate the progress this country has made and acknowledge the work that still needs to be done.  

A Los Angeles Times article reported today that workers get more vacation time these days but fewer paid sick days.

The article reveals that workers have gained more vacation days over the past two decades, but they have not gained or have actually lost paid sick days. So is more vacation days the route companies are taking to make up for fewer paid sick days?

In July, House Democrats released the When Women Succeed, America Succeeds: An Economic Agenda for Women and Families. The overall goal of this economic agenda is to address the realities, disparities and opportunities for working women and families through effective policy and legislation. 

Here's a roundup of blog posts this week from the working moms series on Blogher and Hello Giggles, brought to you by the AFL-CIO, that highlight the need for paid sick days, pay equity and child care for working women and families (see blog posts after the jump). 

AFT’s just-launched “Reclaiming the Promise of Public Education” initiative aims to ensure that all children have access to services that meet their emotional, social and health needs.

AFT President Randi Weingarten told the nearly 3,000 educators in Washington, D.C., for AFT’s TEACH Conference that teachers are not here to protect the status quo in public education, but to build up and support public education for generations to come.

House Democrats this week released the When Women Succeed, America Succeeds: An Economic Agenda for Women and Families. The overall goal of this economic agenda is to address the realities, disparities and opportunities for working women and families through effective policy and legislation.

The New York Times recently reported on how small business owners in certain cities are dealing with paid sick days laws. The takeaway? These new requirements have caused very little pain. The article highlights Bill Stone, the owner of Café Atlas in San Francisco's Mission District, who was initially leery of paid sick days for his employees back in 2007 when San Francisco became the first city in the nation to implement a paid sick leave law. In 2007 Bill felt that the new paid sick law would only make it more expensive to run his business.

The restaurant industry is one of the largest and fastest growing industries in the United States. With hefty profit margins exceeding those of major retail chains such as Walmart and Target, the restaurant industry is expected to create up to a million more jobs by 2020. Many restaurants tout job creation yet pay some of the lowest wages to their employees. These low wages hinder people's ability to afford child care.