Jaffee Sponsors Legislation Improving Work Training for Women

Assemblywoman Ellen Jaffee (D-Suffern) will hold a press conference 11:30 a.m. Tuesday at Tomorrow's Workplace in Spring Valley to discuss a new law designed to improve workplace training for women. 

Jaffee sponsored legislation recently signed into law by Gov. Andrew Cuomo that would add a work force training program within the Department of Labor that is intended to help women attain higher paying jobs. The program would provide information about careers that offer higher levels of compensaiton and include skills developmenet and training to help women pursue those positions.

“I am concerned because the economic status of women is limited by their lower earning potential,” Jaffee said. “A potential solution to this problem is to train women for jobs that pay higher wages. These are often characterized as male jobs.”

Representatives of women's groups in the state praised Jaffee's work on the new law.

“With the leadership of Assemblywoman Ellen Jaffee, the Women’s Workforce Development bill will become the first piece of NYS legislation that acknowledges and starts to address the gender wage gap. This is a welcome accomplishment for Equal Pay advocates and women across New York,” said Beverly Neufeld, President New York Women’s Agenda and Director, Equal Pay Coalition. “Much needs to be done to create economic equity, but this legislation signals the willingness of our Legislature to work towards needed change. The successful passage also highlights the possibilities and benefits of bi-partisan collaboration. This truly is a “win” for New York State.”

Kelli Owens, Director of Government relations and Public Policy of the YWCAs of New York thanked Jaffee for her leadership in this matter.

"It marks the recognition by New York State’s policy maker that we must make intentional steps as a society to combat the gender wage gap and poverty among New York’s women,” Owens said. “By passing the Women’s Workforce Bill, the New York State Department of Labor and local Workforce Investment Boards will be giving women the information they need to make better career decisions. In turn, they will seek training and jobs that lead to higher wages and self-sufficiency.”

Owens and other representatives of the YWCA will join Jaffee for Tuesday, as will two local women who will speak about their own personal experiences and how they relate to the new law.