United Auto Workers (UAW) Assistant Legislative Director Desiree Hoffman joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast and discussed the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, which, if passed, would ensure pregnant or postpartum women receive reasonable accommodations when working physically strenuous jobs.
Hoffman explained the bill mandates that pregnant or postpartum women be provided accommodations such as a lactation room, alternative job duties and access to water. While many of these issues are covered under Collective Bargaining Agreements, many other women throughout the U.S. need this protection. She is hopeful the bill’s language could be added into the National Defense Authorization Act during Congress’s lame-duck session.
Hoffman also talked about the UAW’s call for automakers to shift their entire supply chain out of China’s Xinjiang Province. A new report released by researchers at Britain's Sheffield Hallam University on the auto industry found most major automakers use components made by Uyghur Muslim slaves.
She also provided an update on the four-week strike by 48,000 academic workers at the University of California.
Listen to the entire episode to learn more about these topics.