AMHERST – A bill offering pregnant workers more legal protections in the workplace is not part of an economic development bill passed by the Massachusetts House of Representatives Thursday.
But Rep. Ellen Story, D-Amherst, sponsor of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act amendment to the so-called “jobs” bill, said Friday she is confident that the law will be enacted by the end of the session July 31.
“So long as we do it and it gets it’s 15 minutes of fame, that will be better,” Story said.
She agreed to withdraw the amendment late Thursday night.
It’s possible the bill will come up next week when the House takes up pay equity matters.
“I think the day we do pay equity would be a good day to do the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, personally,” Story said.
Story said she filed the bill prevent expectant mothers from essentially being bullied in the workplace by their superiors, who might try to prevent them from accessing water, extra bathroom breaks or a stool on which to sit.
“If a pregnant woman is in a work situation where her superior is mean to her, she should have recourse if talking to people in human resources doesn’t help,” Story said.
The bill is endorsed by MotherWoman, Inc., a Hadley-based nonprofit that supports and empowers mothers.
Liz Friedman, program director at MotherWoman, Inc. said in an email that Thursday was a long and frustrating day for her on Beacon Hill as most of the 183 amendments were pulled.
Like Story, she hopes to see the bill adopted soon.
“We are still optimistic that this bill will be passed in the House,” Friedman said. “It will be a complete crime if we are forced to wait another two years to ensure that pregnant workers have job protections that they justly deserve and need to ensure the health and economic stability of their families.”
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.
