Coalition of Labor Union Women

This week has been a week full of victories for us! Starting with Birth Control Benefits, the Affordable Care Act, and Marriage Equality. 

"These case decisions are very important to CLUW. They are issues that CLUW has been involved in for a very long time. We are pleased to see all of our advocacy efforts yielding results on a large-scale level."  - CLUW President Connie Leak

On June 23, 2015, in East Texas Baptist University v. Burell, the Fifth Circuit Court rules unanimously in favor of employees in faith based jobs seeking contraception through the Affordable Care Act. The Religious Freedom Restoration Act ensures that religious freedoms are protected. However, in this case, the religious employers cannot deny employees contraceptive rights through the Affordable Care Act because the RFRA does not entitle them to deny services from third parties.

On June 25, 2015, the Supreme Court, in a 6-3 vote, has decided to uphold the Affordable Care Act. The Affordable Care Act has helped over 16 million uninsured people attain health insurance, of that 16 million 7.7 million are women, 2.3 million are African American, and 4.2 million are Latino. We are very pleased that they will be able to remain insured and be able to receive health care. With the uninsured rate being down in May 2015 to 13.2%, we still have work to do. 

• 24.3% of Latinos are still uninsured, that's nearly one in four. 
• 15.8% of African Americans are still uninsured. 
• 16.9% of all unmarried women are still uninsured, compared to married women's 11% uninsured rate.

On June 26, 2015, the Supreme Court, in a 5-4 vote, affirmed the right for same sex couples to be married legally in all 50 states. This is a huge win for the LGBTQ community.

“Today, the Supreme Court of the United States has recognized the equality, dignity and essential humanity of our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters and reaffirmed this country’s bedrock principle – engraved over the entrance to the Court itself – that all Americans are entitled to equal justice under law.” - Loretta Lynch, Attorney General of the United States.