NOV 3RD @ 1PM: Activists, Politicians, and Celebrities Share Stories of Sexual Harassment to Elevate Legislation Designed to Prevent Workplace Sexual Abuse
MEDIA ADVISORY FOR: Sunday, November 3, 2019
CONTACT: (UltraViolet) Anna Zuccaro | anna@unbendablemedia.com
NOV 3RD @ 1PM: Activists, Politicians, and Celebrities Share Stories of Sexual Harassment to Elevate Legislation Designed to Prevent Workplace Sexual Abuse
NEW YORK — On Sunday, November 3 at 1:00 pm in New York City, UltraViolet, Peace is Loud, One Fair Wage, ROC United, TIME’S UP, Women’s March, and the United States of Women will hold an afternoon of women’s storytelling, BE HEARD On the Third. At the event, actors, activists, and sexual harassment survivors will share their stories and build support for the Be HEARD in the Workplace Act, a comprehensive federal bill addressing harassment and violence in the workplace. Some speakers will also be calling on New York Governor Cuomo to follow through on his commitment to enact One Fair Wage — a full minimum wage for tipped workers with additional tips on top: the subminimum wage forces service workers to tolerate customer harassment in order to obtain tips.
WHERE: Caveat, 21 A Clinton St, New York, New York, 10002
WHEN: Sunday, November 3. 1:00PM – 3:00PM ET
SPEAKERS INCLUDE: Sil Lai Abrams, author and activist; Alessandra Biaggi, New York State Senator; Alysia Reiner, actress; Carmen LoBue, actress and director; Daisy Auger-Dominguez, VP, Google; Taria Vines, restaurant worker; Glenda Sefla, nail salon worker; domestic workers, migrant workers, and Co-Hosts Georgia Clark, Generation Women, and Saru Jayaraman, President of One Fair Wage and co-founder of the Restaurant Opportunities Center (ROC)
FOR MORE INFORMATION: https://www.facebook.com/events/566831190775126/
CLICK HERE TO RSVP: https://www.caveat.nyc/event/be-heard-on-the-third-11-3-2019
The BE HEARD in the Workplace Act was introduced by Senator Patty Murray and Rep. Katherine Clark earlier this year.
The bill expands federal anti-harassment protections to all working people, raises the subminimum tipped wage to the full minimum wage with tips on top, increases funding for research on the economic impact of workplace harassment, establishes independent reporting on the prevalence of workplace harassment, and mandates an end to mandatory arbitration and overly broad non-disclosure agreements, a practice that often prevents people from coming forward and holding perpetrators and businesses accountable for their actions.
“Everyone deserves to work with dignity and safety. The reality is that workplace harassment is still happening at epidemic levels because the laws meant to protect us aren’t actually working,” said Shaunna Thomas, Executive Director of UltraViolet.“The BE HEARD in the Workplace Act is the first comprehensive federal legislation to be introduced since survivors of sexual violence forced an unprecedented national conversation around workplace sexual harassment. This bold new bill will ensure all workers are protected, particularly those most vulnerable — low income women of color, Indigenous women, and immigrants. It’s past time for Congress to act.”
“Women across the country in every sector — from elected officials to actors to restaurant and domestic workers — are lifting up their voices to BE HEARD to say enough is enough with regard to sexual harssment and other forms of gender discrimination in the workplace,” said Saru Jayaraman, President of One Fair Wage. “Tipped workers like restaurant and nail salon workers are demanding a full minimum wage with tips on top, so that they aren’t having to tolerate harassment to feed their families in tips; domestic and farmworkers are demanding the right to sue when they are harassed, like every other worker; and all women workers are standing up to demand respect and dignity on the job. This will be the first BE HEARD on the Third storytelling event on November 3rd, then we’ll be back December 3rd and January 3rd, and on and on until we ARE HEARD!”
“As a former restaurant worker, I know the struggles people in the restaurant industry experience –harassment can have many forms and impact all gender identities. Finally, we have a legislative response in the form of the BE HEARD in the Workplace Act that needs to be embraced by our political elites. We have waited for way too long,” said Executive Director of Restaurant Opportunities Centers United, Sekou Siby.
“Every person has the right to be safe from harassment on the job — no matter your income or job title,” said TIME’S UP Chief Strategy and Policy Officer, Jennifer Klein. “It’s time for Congress to do its part to ensure work is safe, fair, and dignified — and that starts with passing the BE HEARD Act.”
In September, the coalition partnered with Washington, D.C. based artist Yacine Tilala Fall to erect an interactive art installation in Washington D.C.’s Columbus Circle, where politicians and activists shared stories about why the legislation is critical to protecting survivors and preventing abuse in the workplace. Rep. Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Rep. Katherine Clark (MA-05), Rep. Jackie Speier (CA-14), Rep Lois Frankel (FL-21), and Rep. Brenda Lawrence (MI-14) also joined in support of the bill.
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