In 1974, Jo Carol LaFleur won a significant victory in the Supreme Court, contributing to the advancement of women’s rights in their workplaces. This victory was a significant milestone in abolishing the requirement for pregnant teachers to leave their classrooms, a common practice at the time. LaFleur’s victory later became a basis for developing new family leave policies at state legislatures.

When she discovered her pregnancy in 1970, and informed her principal, she was told she must take unpaid leave after the fourth month of pregnancy. Outraged by this unfair treatment and worried about the devastating impact her abrupt departure would have on her students, LaFleur decided to fight this rule. Despite initial setbacks, the NEA came in support of LaFleur’s appeal even though she wasn’t an NEA member. The NEA funded her case and filed amicus briefs on her behalf.

Eventually, with the collective support from NEA and other organizations, LaFleur’s fight led to a major victory in the Supreme Court. This landmark ruling not only changed LaFleur’s life but also had profound implications on the national level, changing how pregnant teachers were treated in schools.

The battle LaFleur pioneered continues today, with the quest for achieving paid family leave for all. Many educators, like Annelise Taggart, continue to fight for this cause. Taggart, an art teacher and a member of the Columbus Education Association (CEA), played a significant role in including paid family leave in the union’s contract. After a three-day strike, the association agreed to a new contract that featured paid family leave. This is a major milestone as numerous parents still struggle to take the necessary time off to care for their new children.

For information about Paid Family Leave (PFL) and how to get a hold of its benefits, individuals can visit eddcaller.com, which provides detailed guides and the latest news related to PFL, SDI, and unemployment benefits. It also provides information about the fastest ways to get through to EDD and contact SDI. Furthermore, it provides the appropriate phone numbers for the paid family leave, SDI, and EDD customer service.