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NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Pregnancy Disability Benefits

On December 7. 1976, ironically the anniversary of Pearl Harbor, the U.S. Supreme Court decided in General Electric v. Gilbert that there was no sex discrimination where an employee disability plan excluded disabilities caused by pregnancy, although it covered every other conceivable disability. Including vasectomies. In its wisdom, the Court, through Justice Rehnquist, held that sine the plan "{did] not exclude anyone from benefit eligibility because of gender but merely removes any physical condition-pregnancy-from the list of compensable disabilities," no sex discrimination was involved.

The Court stressed that pregnancy is a voluntary con dition. Even if this were always a fact, a debatable point. it is difficult to understand how this would render pregnancy disabilities less worthy of coverage than sports injuries or cosmetic surgery, which were covered. The Court characterized pregnancy-related disabilities as "an additional risk, unique to women, and the failure to compensate them for this risk does not destroy the presumed parity of the benefits..."

This decision was one in series of laws and court decrees which have been undercutting and destroying many of the gains women have fought so hard for. It is somewhat encouraging to report, therefore, that the Ohio House of Representatives now has under con. sideration a bill designed to eliminate in Ohio the adverse effects of the Gilbert decision.

PREGNancy Benefits? (CRIAINLY MRS. WELSH... If you can just wait.

と

until congress Agrees

This bill. H.B. 484, would add the following language to the Ohio statute which prohibits employers from. engaging in practices which discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, handicap, ancestry, or SEX:

failure by any employer to treat temporary disability caused or contributed to by pregnancy, miscarriage, childbirth, or recovery therefrom on the same terms and conditions as other temporary disabilities are treated under any health or temporary disability program or sick leave plan provided by the employer shall be considered discrimination related to employment,

Thus, employers who provide plans for sick leave or disabiltiy benefits for their employeers would be required by law to include pregnancy-related disabilties under that plan. Obviously, this bill is not popular with employers since the addition of pregnancy disabiltiy benefits to disabiltiy plans will greatly increase their cost.

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In addition, the bill will confront the traditionally Neanderthal attitude of the Ohio Legislature. Therefore, it is important that every woman express her support of this legislation by writing to her state representative, Ohio House of Representatives, Colum bus, Ohio 43215 and telling her or him to vote in favor of H.B. 484. Our local state representatives are:

District 3 James E. Betts (R) District 4 Rocco J. Colonna (D) District 5 Francine Panehal (D) District 6 Patrick A. Sweeney (D) District 7 Kenneth Rocco (D)

* 477 What She Wants? November, 1977

District 8

Edward F Feighan (D))

District 9

Troy Lee James (D)

District 10

Thomas M. Bell (D)

District 11

Robert W. Jaskulski (D)

Donna Pope (R)

District 12 District 13 ke Thompson (D) District 14 Arthur V.N Brooks (D) District 15 John D. Thompson, Jr (D) District 16 Harry J Lehman (D)) District 17 Virginia Aveni (D) District 18 Dennis E Eckart (1))

Trouble Expected

at Houston IWY

On November 18 21 Houston will host the 1442 vonių delegates to the National Women's Conference the first ever funded by the US Congress Al cestimated 2o1⁄2 percent of those attending will be from the organized rught wing, and the remainder from women's plats groups Thousands of observers are exper teal possibly as many as 12,000 The most controversial subjects under consideration will be abortion rights. passage of the ERA, and civil rights for lesbian-

The delegates are not all women Several state's elected men from such groups as the Ku Klux Klan, the Jolan Birch Societe, the American Nazi Party and the Right to Life Society, all of which participated in the an fifemmest backlash Opposition to the women's move ment is strong, organized and well inanced while many progressive women are not affiliated with any particular group

Eraqmentaljon among feminists, as well as the lack of power oriented leadership threatens the chances of a positive outcome i debate and in working sessions Advocates of equality for women have for some time rched on the justice and righteousness of them cause Sweathen the present mood of the country nor the free enterprise sustem supports real equal opportunte

According to law recommendations from the meeting will be presented to the President and to Con What happens to these recommendations, IS unclear. If the conferencer decisions are in opposition fr FRA abortions and lesbian rights those struggles will her ervan harder in the future

Leseletados in Houston is arranging housing for des Tum who are attending as nem delegates, They are alse, anamzing a dance for women during the com ference Call WomenSpace at 696 4100 for more in formation

The (WY Houston participants plan to come to the Pluée of Cups for dinner and drinks on November 22 in discuss the events of the weekend with anų mterested Cleveland wonen

The prer feminist delegates from Cleveland are Jane Campbell Director of WomenSpace' Dorothy Duke Consultant to National Council of Negro Women Author of "Sex Discrimma non in Housing”

Eva dimacek State President of NOW Barbara Jams Regional Vice President of Coalition of Labor Union Women

Loma Moreske National Board Member of NOW

Native American Woman Protests Daughter's Racist Education

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New York (LNS) Jeanne Baum, a Native American is currently appealing her Conviction charges of being an "unft mother”

Woman.

Baum's fight began in 1975 when one of her daughter Siba's teachers, in criticizing a paper Subo bad submitted. wrote Indians got what they deserved. When officials at the Selden Long Island Junior High School refused to recognize the remark as racist. Baum removed Siba from the school

School district leaders responded by charging Baum in family court for withholding Siba from school without just rouse or valid reason" The family court judge ruled in favor of the school board, completely overlooking Baum's assertion that the school's 'ignoring racist behavior was tantamount to endorsing racism.

Baum presented arguments to an all white male panel of judges at a New York State Appeals Court on October 17 They will announce their decision in several months

A brief signed by 115 organizations and individuals in support of Baum insisted that the issue is racism and not Baum's neglect of Siba, which the school contends The brief stated that it is the "fundamental right of children to attend schools untainted by racial prejudice schools which foster each student's positive identity and self concept and advance each student's regard and respect for the equal status of all peoples and groups in this society It was signed by the American Indian Movement, the International Indian Treaty Council, the Native American Solidarity Committee. the Long Island Equal Justice Association and many other educators and civil rights groups

For the past two years. Siba and Jeanne Baum whe is a muscular dystrophy victim confined to a whol chair. have been living on the Blackfeet Reservation i Montana, where they went fearing that New York State authorities would try to put Siba in a foster home or an state youth facility

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After the latest court hearing Baum told 1,NS fight ren't really for myself or mnv daughter, but rather all children and their parents who have a right to a good education

Women Steelworkers Sue Bethlehem Steel

Chicago (INS) The United Steelworkers of America (USW) local at Bethlehem Steel's Burns Har bor. Indiana plant filed a massive class action sui m federal court on October. 10 against that company discriminatory maternity leave policies. The suit which was filed in behalf of the plant's 500 women steelworkers, asks for back pay compensation and in addition punitive damages of $20 million

"Whenever they found out you were pregnant sav around two or three months. you were out the door said Diane Gumulauski, chairperson of the local's in surance and Worker's Compensation Committer and ce chairperson of the district's Women's Caucus Not only that, they'd cut off your Blue Cross benefits too The Indiana Employment Security Division is also named in the suit because it refused to pay unemploy ment compensation to the women who were forced to take maternity leaves during the early months of their pregnancies

"Since most women are able to work until at least the seventh month of their pregnancy, it is obvious that and policy that would force them on leave early in them pregnancy woukl result in several months lost incon e said Diane Gumulauski "With the cost of living being what it is, we all know what the kass of income can mean to the typical working class family “

Union spokespeople said that Bethlehem Steel » pokey not only meant lost income, but forced several women to terminate then pregnancies rather than suffer the financial loss from early maternity leave