PHILADELPHIA – Councilwoman Helen Gym (At Large) released the following statement today upon learning two-thirds of her staffers will strike tomorrow in solidarity with hundreds of other women.
“I’m glad to support all of my female staffers who will be on strike tomorrow. ‘A Day without a Woman’ should remind us that women’s labor – paid, unpaid, and emotional – keeps our city and this country running. The fight for women’s rights and equality continues and I am proud of my staff’s solidarity with thousands of other women in Philadelphia and across the country. They will be missed tomorrow, and we’ll see how it goes without them.”
A national coalition, led by the Women’s March on Washington, has called for March 8th to be observed as a “Day Without a Woman.” Participants will take one or more of the following actions: take the day off from performing paid or unpaid labor; refrain from spending money (with exceptions for small, women- and minority-owned businesses); and wear the color red. Organizers have stated that this is intended to bring attention to “the enormous value that women of all backgrounds add to our socio-economic system – while receiving lower wages and experiencing greater inequities, vulnerability to discrimination, sexual harassment, and job insecurity.” It is inspired by recent actions including the Yemeni bodega strike in New York City and the national Day Without Immigrants, as well as the #GrabYourWallet campaign.
In Philadelphia, teachers at several schools are expected to participate in the Day Without a Woman. Events planned include a 1pm rally at Senator Toomey’s office and a 5pm protest in Logan Square.
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Councilwoman Helen Gym was sworn in as an At-Large Member of Council in 2016. Her primary concerns include addressing widespread poverty in Philadelphia, particularly through an emphasis on building a quality public education system. For more information, visit phlcouncil.com/HelenGym.
