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Aug. 7--Basic economic issues top the list of what working women are worried about.
The rising cost of healthcare, pay not keeping up with the cost of living and not having retirement benefits are issues of high concern to about 23,500 working women who participated in an online survey released Monday by the AFL--CIO, a federation of unions.
Working women also are concerned about the next generation of workers. More than eight in 10 younger workers -- women under 30 years -- said they were more worried and concerned than confident about the future of young people going into the workforce.
"Working women are worried that the younger generation won't get jobs that can pay the bills or have basic benefits. Their prospects are considered dim," said Karen Nussbaum, executive director of Working America, the community affiliate of the AFL--CIO for workers who don't have unions on the job.
Nussbaum said the survey results that most surprised her were those addressing equality in the workplace. Working women still feel the workplace is a "man's world" and indicate they are treated as "second class" on the job. More than half (57 percent) feel they do not receive equal pay for equal work.
At the same time, pay is what drives most women to work, the survey shows.
Despite recent publicity on women "opting out" of the workforce, women who participated in the survey said they work to pay bills and provide health care for their families. Even those who wanted to exit the paid labor force because of family responsibilities said they were prohibited because of the rising costs of living and health care. Only a minority of women have access to paid family medical leave or control over their work hours.
The survey also shows working women support legislation that addresses their concerns. About 65 percent said that making healthcare affordable was one of two priorities that would most improve their lives as working women. Their second priority was making retirement more secure.
African American women in particular selected strengthening laws that challenge discrimination and unfair treatment and strengthening equal-pay laws as one of their top two legislative priorities.
Just last week and American Bar Association report revealed 81 percent of minority women quit private law firms within five years because they get shunted into dead-end jobs and aren't welcomed the same way as other new employees.
The study urged firms to enforce existing anti-discrimination and anti-harassment policies, and do more to integrate minority women into firms' professional and social fabric.
In the wake of the AFL-CIO survey, Nussbaum said she urges women to support an increase in minimum wage and push for universal health care and pay equity.
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Copyright (c) 2006, The Miami Herald
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business News.
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