Gary Winfield

Tomorrow: Sen. Winfield to Speak on Paid Family and Medical Leave Panel

CT Campaign for Paid Family Leave Presents Sneak Peak Screenings of “ZERO WEEKS”

WEST HAVEN— Senator Gary Winfield (D-New Haven) will join the Campaign for Paid Family Leave tomorrow, Friday, November 3 at the University of New Haven for the first of a series of “sneak peek” screenings of “ZERO WEEKS,” a new documentary that exposes America’s paid family and medical leave crisis.

A panel discussion will follow the film to discuss how a system of paid family and medical leave benefits Connecticut workers and businesses, and will feature local business owners and leaders, including Sen. Winfield, who during the 2017 legislative session advocated strongly for a bill that would bring paid family and medical leave to Connecticut.

“The stories in this film are no different than the stories of countless families right here in Connecticut whose lives have been turned upside down when presented with the heavy decision of taking time off work without a paid family and medical leave system in place,” Sen. Winfield said. “I hope that through this event, and many others, we can raise awareness about how this issue devastates communities across our state so that the next time paid leave comes up in the legislature, we can move it forward with more support.”

The United States is the only industrialized country in the world without a national paid parental leave policy, and is one of just a handful of nations that does not mandate paid leave for family caregiving. Without access to paid family and medical leave, workers are often forced to choose between their family, their health, and the job they need. “ZERO WEEKS” makes the case for guaranteed paid leave for every American who needs to take time off the care for a family member, recover from an illness, or welcome a new baby. Though the film will not be released until 2018, “ZERO WEEKS” has selected Connecticut as a “sneak peek” state because Connecticut is identified as one of the next states likely to pass paid leave legislation.

“‘ZERO WEEKS’ threads together the personal, family and business case for paid family and medical leave. No one should be forced to choose between the family they love, their own health and the job they need,” said Catherine Bailey, Deputy Director of the CT Women’s Education and Legal Fund (CWEALF) and Chair of the Campaign for Paid Family Leave.
“‘ZERO WEEKS’ shines a light on this critical issue and highlights why passage of a comprehensive paid family and medical leave program is so vital to Connecticut workers, businesses and our state’s economy.”

CT Campaign for Paid Family Leave
Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro
State Senator Gary Winfield (D-New Haven)
Isa Mujahid, paid leave advocate and founder of CT-CORE/Organize Now
Carmina Tessitore, small business owner
Moderated by Khadija Gurnah, Campaign Director for MomsRising

Panel Discussion on Paid Family and Medical Leave and screenings of “ZERO WEEKS,” a new documentary that exposes America’s paid family and medical leave crisis. RSVP here.

TOMORROW, Friday, November 3, 2017; 7:00 pm—9:00 pm
University of New Haven’s Alumni Lounge, 300 Boston Post Rd., West Haven

(Alumni Lounge is located on the second floor of Bartels Hall)