Who is

Mothering Justice?
Mothering Justice is a statewide organization in
Michigan dedicated to empowering mothers to
influence policy on behalf of themselves and their
families. Through advocacy, leadership development,
voter empowerment and promoting family friendly
advocacy. Mothering Justice raises the voices of
mothers and help them become policy shapers.
The overall goal of this organization is to have a
well-organized group of mothers that can engage
fellow parents and lawmakers around a variety of
issues that affect working families.

What does

Mothering Justice Do?

VOTER ENGAGEMENT

ADVOCACY

Use economic fairness

issues to increase voter
enthusiasm

Amplify the voices of mothers

Establish a coalition of
organizations focused on
civic engagement of
mothers of color

Create momentum for

economic fairness issues
and inject them into the
2016 election debate

Create and run trainings

focused on increasing civic
engagement of mothers

Increase ballot completion

among low income and
mothers of color

LEADERSHIP
DEVELOPMENT
Create grassroots
momentum for
womensworkplace
fairness issues

Create meaningful
discussion spaces for
women with children

What
Mothering
Justice
Does?
FAMILY FRIENDLY ACTIVISM
It is Mothering Justice's goal to help advocacy organizations
increase their involvement from mothers by providing designated
spaces for children at organizational gatherings. Mothering Justice
understands that many mothers would like to participate in
organizational functions but are unable to because they feel
pressured to keep their children quiet or leave at any sign that the
child might be a distraction. Mothering Justice volunteers provide
stimulating child care for organizations and training for organizations
on how to host their own childcare.

Mothering Justice
Accomplishments
Civic Engagement
Through our civic engagement programs, we have reached out
to over 100,000 likely moms in Michigan encouraging them vote
in local, state, and federal elections.

Minimum Wage
In the Winter 2014, Mothering Justice became on one of the
founding steering committee members of Raise Michigan,
the campaign to increase the minimum wage. Raise Michigan
launched a ballot initiative that same year. The campaign was
successful in forcing the countrys first minimum wage increase
by a republican legislature and republican governor. The victory
was $9.25 per hour with raised tipped worker, which was a huge
victory for workers rights in the state of Michigan. The campaign
received over $1million dollars worth earned media and
Mothering Justice was the lead spokes group on the Campaign.

Mamas Conversations
Mothering Justice has held over 100 conversations with
moms statewide about issues that affect them directly in their
communities. Mama Conversations are the main organizing tool
of Mothering Justice. The conversations are designed to promote
a comfortable, honest conversation about the realities of raising
children in their community. Participants are encouraged to
speak about the positives and negatives of motherhood in this
time along with envisioning a reality where their values were
shared by decision makers. Each conversation is unique and
shapes a narrative about what should be done to make their
community more family-friendly and mother welcoming.

2016

Mamas Agenda
On behalf of the undersigned organizations, and the
millions of Michigan families we represent, we urge you
to support the Mothering Justice Mamas Agenda, which
encompasses five elements of economic justice for working
families in Michigan. The Mamas Agenda was developed
after extensive and ongoing consultations with Michigan
mothers, particularly those living in our states urban areas,
in order to determine the issues that most impact Michigan
families.
The five tenets of the Mamas Agenda are as follows:
AFFORDABLE CHILD CARE
PAID SICK LEAVE
RAISING THE MINIMUM WAGE
FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE INSURANCE
ELIMINATING WAGE THEFT

On the following pages are an in-depth description of each

issue and how it affects women across the state of Michigan!

AFFORDABLE CHILD CARE

In our conversations with mothers around Michigan, a single
theme comes up again and again. When asked about the
most important issue impacting a familys financial security,
mothers talk about the cost of child care. According to one
analysis of US Census Data, Michigan has the 12th highest
cost of infant care in the entire country, with an annual
average cost of $10,114. This represents almost half the
median income for a single mother in Michigan, and 13
percent of the median income for a married couple. The lack
of high-quality subsidized childcare and preschool keeps
Michigan mothers out of the workforce, and puts their
children at a disadvantage entering public school.

Per
ce n
t of

21%

Married-couple
family at
median income

($81,062)

41%
200% poverty

($39,580)
Source:
Michigan League For Public Policy

Mi

ch
Chi igan
ld c
are Famil
y
cos
ts fo Budg
e
raf
ami t Spen
ly w
ith t t on Ch
wo c
i
hildr ld Care
en (2
014)

55%
150% poverty

($29,685)

83%
poverty

($19,790)

2 of every 3

young children have

all parents
in the workforce

Mamas Stories
My husband and I both work full time and, to be honest,
earn a very comfortable living. However, after student loans,
mortgage, insurance bills and groceries we have meager funds
left for luxuries like vacations, new clothes, and even date
nights. We are not hurting. I know there are many people who
make it work with much less, but that doesnt mean it is easy.
Our son was born in May 2015. During my pregnancy I started
shopping around for child care, although my mother-in-law
(MIL) had offered to care for him as many days a week as we
needed, and my father offered to take a day, also. But infants
can be tiring, especially for aging parents. I wanted to have
backup. Also, I think there is great value in group child care
due to the socialization and developmental opportunities
offered.
I returned to work after 8 weeks (6 weeks disability, 2 weeks
vacation) home with my son. My husband works for a small
company and does not accrue paid time off or qualify for
FMLA. I had to return to work for us financially.
The child care centers in our neighborhood all had multiple
investigations on file with the state, and that turned me off.
Further, virtually none of them have green-space on their
property, which would require field trips to nearby parks.
With the infant-provider ration being 4-1 I couldnt imagine
this would happen regularly. The convenient center near my
work never returned my inquiries, and navigating to other
centers in/around downtown with an infant didnt seem worth
the effort, especially with the growing congestion and parking
issues faced. So we looked in Livonia. The place was great and
we loved it, but at $63/day for infant care full time care would
have stretched our budget. On top of that they have a wait list,
so even if we were able to make the finances work, they didnt
have space for him, and still dont almost a year later.

We looked at some other places, and found them even more

expensive (one was more than $80/day for infant care and you
still had to provide all of your own food and diapers) but we
were less impressed with their staff, which appeared to have
quite a bit of turnover, and facilities. The diversity remained an
issue for us as well.
I personally believe we need to rethink our family leave laws
and expand them. That in itself would impact the child care
industry greatly. What bothers me most about the state of
child care in my community is that it isnt equal and you get
what you pay for. My suburban neighbors have access to
newer and better-maintained facilities. In poorer urban areas
like Detroit, we have more limited options, in terms of the
quality of care our children will receive. These facilities cannot
typically pull the same tuition as centers in wealthier areas,
and I am sure this results in poorer pay and benefits for the
care providers, but also impacts the quality of care given and
the facilities in use. Beyond this, we know from research that
children learn best in diverse communities. Kids learn from
one another, everything from vocabulary and etiquette, to
social skills and empathy. Kids from higher socio-economic
families learn from kids from lower socio-economic familes
and vice versa.
My son will turn one next month and we still arent closer to
having ideal child care for him.
-Susan L, Detroit, MI

PAID SICK LEAVE

46%
of workers in Michigan
do not have access
to earned sick leave.

Source:
Michigan League For Public Policy

When workers clock in sick, they risk spreading illness to

their co-workers and their customers and, when parents
arent able to take their children to the doctor, they put the
health of other children and teachers at risk. More than 1.5
million Michigan workers, about 46 percent of the states
private sector work force, are not able to take a paid sick
day when they are ill. More than three in four food service
and hotel workers (78 percent) do not have a single paid
sick day. Workers in child care centers and nursing homes
- important jobs with vulnerable populations - also overwhelmingly lack paid sick says. For these families, each time
they take needed time off, they risk their families economic
security and jeopardize the publics health. Women are
much more likely to have caregiving responsibilities in
addition to their paid employment, including caring for
elderly parents, children or ill spouses/partner. Without paid
sick days, women are often left with no choice but to forego
pay in order to meet their families health care needs.

Mamas Stories
I work for an agency that allows you to earn paid sick time but
only after you have been employed for six months. Also, once
you have reached six months of employment you earn 1 day
of personal time each month. Last year, my daughter was 1
years old and had gotten sick. She was admitted to the hospital
for severe RSV and dehydration. I had only been employed for
5 months at this time. When I called my supervisor to let her
know that I would not be at work because my daughter was in
the hospital she responded, you will not get paid for the time
you are not at work and if you are out for longer than 3 days
than you have to provide us with a note from the doctor or
you may be terminated. I expressed to her that I understood
I would not get paid but I had to be with my daughter. She
then responded to me and said well you can come in to work
and work a few hours and then go back to the hospital. I was
shocked by her response as she is also a mother. I replied to
her that my daughter and her health is my priority and I will
return to work once she is discharged. I do not believe that no
mother should have to choose between work and her children.
Every parent should have the opportunity to earn paid sick
leave, no matter how long they have been on the job.

-Shantina H. Detroit, MI

RAISING THE MINIMUM WAGE

When you work hard in Michigan you should be able to pay
the bills, care for your children and family members, and
share in the benefits of economic growth. The minimum wage
was is intended to do just that: make sure that hardworking
Americans could earn enough to support themselves and their
families. In 2014 Mothering Justice help lead coalition that
fought to raise the minimum wage in Michigan. Volunteers
from all over the state carried petition to put an increase on
the ballot. Out of fear that voters would pass the measure,
legislators approved a smaller raise. It was because, and only
because, of Mothering Justice and our allies that Michigans
minimum wage increased to $9.25 in 2016 and increase every
year after. But this is not enough. The 2014 bill left behind a
key group of Michigan minimum wage workers - tipped
workers. We wont rest until all Michigan workers have a living
wage.

Minimum wage

increase to

$10.10
from

$7.40
would Help

1,017,000 Michigan workers26% of the states labor force

Source: UCLA Labor Center

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Mamas Stories
I am a single mother of 2 children ages 13 and 11. I currently
work full-time as well as attend college full-time. It is very hard
to take care of my children, and go to school on my current
salary. I appreciate the support from my family but they cant
support me financially. I dont get assistance from the state
because I do not qualify, so the struggle continues. Although I
am employed full-time, I make minimum wage and I struggle
to make ends meet. Some days I do not know if I would have
enough food to last until I get paid or if my lights will be cut
off due to non payment or a late payment. I shouldnt have
to worry about gas money to get to and from work. My kids
dont see my worries but they know that we are struggling.
They see the stress in my eyes and the dried tear stains on my
cheeks. My daughter asked if she can join gymnastics at her
school and I told her to let me know the price. She told me if
it cost anything she wont do it. That breaks my heart and no
one should have to deny their kids because they do not make
enough money. It bothers me that a woman who is working
hard and attempting to pursue her education, still Has to worry
about supporting her family. The minimum wage should be
raised to assist the working struggling mother who is trying to
make a better life for her children.
-Toneica C. Clinton Township, MI

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FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE INSURANCE (FMLI)

Family Medical Leave Insurance (FMLI) enables workers to get
by during periods of personal illness/disability or to care for a
loved one. FMLI is paid leave that can be used by an employee if
they are welcoming a new child, recovering from personal illness,
caring for a family member, or caring for a qualifying wounded
service member. In Michigan, workers are only eligible for FMLI if
their employers have more than 50 employees and if they have
worked more than 1,250 hours in the past year for that employer.
These restrictions leave out many Michigan workers. FMLI would
also benefit Michigans elderly population; when the elderly or
chronically ill have caregivers able to look after them, they are
able to be independent for longer, recover more quickly, and stay
out of nursing homes. In additional to clear benets for working
families, FMLI also helps employers. Family Medical Leave reduces
turnover in workplaces, saving businesses recruiting and training
costs by allowing workers to take a short break to deal with a
family emergency and then return to productivity.

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Mamas Stories
The day that I found out I was pregnant was one of the
greatest moments in my life. When youre a expecting mom
there are a lot of things that you are preparing for your new
born child. One of those things if you are a working mother is
determining what you would like to do with work. At the time
of my pregnancy my job offered me two options for maternity
leave which were either 6 weeks or 12 weeks leave of absence
under FMLA Law. The only thing these options guaranteed was
that once my leave was over I would be able to slide right back
into my position. This gives you a feeling of job security for
when its time to return to work, but doesnt give you any type
of security to support your family while you are on leave. Its
hard to continue to pay bills and take care of everyday tasks
when you no longer have a steady income which I dont think
jobs realize. If jobs offered some type of support even if it was
half of your pay it would make such a significant difference in
the lives of new moms. At the time my husband took a higher
position at his job to compensate for what was missing now
that I was on my leave. Doing this caused him to work longer
hours and more days which in a way is unfair to him, me, and
our newborn child because he doesnt get to spend much
time with us as he wouldve liked to. If my job wouldve offered
some type of compensation he couldve opted to not take on a
more demanding position. My daughter was born in October
and my leave ended after the holiday season which really put
us in a somewhat bind trying to make it off
of only one income.
-Tasha G., Detroit, MI

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ELIMINATING WAGE THEFT

For many workers in Michigan, the core concept of

employment - that you go to work, put in your hours, and
get paid - is routinely violated. Around the state, hundreds
of thousands of Michigan workers suffer wage theft. That is,
they are illegally underpaid or not paid at all. Common
techniques include refusal to pay overtime, forcing workers to
work off the clock, or omitting a workers last paycheck.
Industries where this problem is rampant include core
Michigan industries, including agriculture, food processing,
food service, textile manufacturing, and retail. While wage
theft happens all over the country, Michigan workers recently
filed a national case that brought the issue to the fore

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Mamas Stories

In 2008, I was a Sales Associate in the Womens Shoes

department at Macys in Novi, MI. I was subjected to unfair
wage treatment. I would ask permission to take my break
(15 minutes, two per 8 hour shift). But if I stayed in the
backroom, I was often forced to clock back in early, if we got
busy. During the holiday season, it was hit or miss if I received
either of my breaks or my lunch, even during a 8 hour shift.
There were multiple occasions where I assisted a customer
and if I didnt check them out, my commission was stolen by
another associate. And if I mentioned this to the Department
Manager, nothing was hardly ever done to reimburse me.
Then if I decided to involve H.R., I never got a response about
my complaint. I worked in this position for all of 11 months
until I was able to find full time employment elsewhere.
-Tomicka R., Warren M

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Mothering Justice
Partners