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LABOR DAY

LONG ISLAND ASSEMBLYWOMEN FAULT CONTE ON LABOR RECORD, SUPPORT GREEN RIBBON CAMPAIGN

HUNTINGTON, NY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2006 – In order to bring attention to the issues of working people in time for Labor Day, New York State Assemblywomen from across Long Island called Assemblyman Conte to task on his votes on bills related to workers.

Conte voted against a bill that came before the New York State Assembly to equalize pay for women in the legislature (AB#A06701), and against a bill which extended the benefits of the Family Medical Leave Act; the Families in the Workforce Act (AB#A01301):  This bill, in short, allowed employees of corporations of 10 or more employees to utilize disability benefits as an extension of the FMLA (Family Medical leave Act) to take time off to take off in a medical emergency for an immediate family member, and to take time off for parent teacher school conferences.  

“I am insulted, as a woman, by Assemblyman Conte’s opposition to equal pay for women and other worker related issues,” said Barbara LoMoriello, Candidate for the 10^th Assembly district. “I am so insulted that I am announcing a "Green Ribbon" campaign to alert every woman and working family in the district of Conte's lack of support issues important to them.”  To symbolize this campaign Barbara will wear a green ribbon on her lapel where ever she goes.  Green, of course, symbolizes money.  “Assemblyman Conte must be exposed for what he is,” continued LoMoriello.  “He is anti-Labor, anti-worker, anti-woman and anti-family.  He has proven this over and over for 19 years.  It is time for a change.”

"Women make up more than half of the workforce today,” said Assemblywoman Patricia Eddington (WFP/D-Medford) “And we need lawmakers that recognize that woman should get equal pay for comparable work Barbara will be that representative."

"As founder of the BPW-Islip chapter of the Business and Professional Women's Foundation I am intimately familiar with the wage disparity between women and men,” said Assemblywoman Ginny Fields (D-Oakdale).  “Women on average make 75 cents on the dollar of what males make, we need to stop this form of discrimination and allow everyone a fair wage."

To contrast Conte’s record Barbara LoMoriello stands for working with the business community to provide workforce housing so that the local business community can have the labor pool that it needs.  Barbara, of course, stands for equal pay for woman.  "In today's economy, families are working two and three jobs just to make ends meet because of the sky-rocketing cost of living and taxes.  It is unconscionable to me that Conte would choose to discriminate between the sexes when a woman can do the same job as a man can she should get paid the same as a man!  On election Day we will show Jim Conte and his " Old World " thinking that a woman can do his job and do it better and I will get the same pay."    

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Friends of Barbara LoMoriello, Phone: (631) 662-5975  e-mail: focus1@optonline.net