NORTHAMPTON — The City Council unanimously approved a resolution Thursday in support of the state’s stalled Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, which would grant pregnant women rights to “reasonable temporary” workplace accommodations.
The legislation, introduced by Rep. Ellen Story, D-Amherst, might address situations like those detailed by a former Smith College employee, who addressed councilors during the meeting.
Lisa Newman said she was written up by her former supervisor at Smith College after a pregnancy-related bathroom break made her late to a meeting, and that the supervisor forced her to sit facing the clock at subsequent meetings as punishment.
Newman claims management made her fear for her job throughout multiple pregnancies, including two miscarriages.
“I tried every avenue I could think of, every administrator I could think of,” Newman told councilors.
Newman lodged a Title IX complaint against the college, but the college disputes her assertions. Samuel Masinter, a spokesman for Smith, said the college investigated and responded to the concerns Newman raised.
“Out of respect for the privacy of our employees, we will not comment on the specific allegations, which are only one version of what may or may not have transpired,” Masinter wrote in a letter to the Gazette.
“Smith takes matters of discrimination and employee rights seriously and carries out thorough investigations into any report of discrimination.”
Liz Friedman, director of MotherWoman and chairwoman of the Pregnant Workers’ Fairness Coalition, said the state’s legislation seems like a “no-brainer” but still some employers need the affirmation so “working moms won’t have to choose between the job they need and the baby they love.”
She said it would simply allow women experiencing a typical pregnancy to take necessary bathroom breaks, award adequate water access and stools for those required to stand.
“There are folks who unfortunately don’t do the right thing,” Friedman said.
Though allegations against Smith College emerged at the same time as Thursday’s vote, councilors said they’ve worked for months on the resolution, which passed 6-0 in first reading. Two councilors were absent and a third position is currently unfilled.
They spoke proudly about becoming the first municipality in the state to do so.
“There is no one more powerful than a pregnant woman,” said Ward 4 Councilor Gina-Louise Sciarra, who co-sponsored the resolution with Ward 7 Councilor Alisa Klein, calling the modifications allowed by the proposed state legislation “common sense and basic human decency.”
“This just adds some clarity for the few who need guidance.”
Ward 6 Councilor Marianne LaBarge said this is a human rights issue.
“I wish that I had this protection way back,” she said during the meeting. “This needs to be done.”
At-large Councilor Ryan O’Donnell said that while the resolution carries no enforcement power, it allows the city to urge the Legislature to action.
He said: “This is an example of moral leadership.”
Amanda Drane can be contacted at adrane@gazettenet.com.