The great turnout of workers with signs and chanting inspired all as we marched into the hearing room. Panels of supporters alternated with opponent panels for a session that lasted more than five hours.

Each panel in favor of the bill featured at least one worker telling compelling stories of the consequences when paid sick days are lacking, and most included business supporters as well. One worker had to testify behind a screen to conceal her identity as she described being fired by a Brooklyn bank for taking a day off to be with her hospitalized 2-year-old, even though her supervisor had said evidence of the hospitalization would be acceptable.  

Opponents continued to promote confusion, as when they tried to argue that any bill should require workers to share the cost of the benefit as they do in New Jersey – referring to what they called that state’s paid sick leave law. Actually New Jersey has a family leave insurance program, designed to provide wage replacement when a worker is out for extended time because of a new baby or serious illness. Council questioning Kevin Miller, a researcher at the Institute for Women’s Policy Research, cleared up that and other misinformation.

In addition to employers and workers from groups like Restaurant Opportunities Center and Make the Road, speakers in favor of the bill included experts from the fields of health, research, and employment law. Make the Road worker Maximino Santos, a chef, spoke in Spanish with a translator: “When the boss makes you work when you’re sick, you end up infecting the food and infecting customers. I had to buy a face mask so I wouldn’t infect the food from my coughing. After working five years, I lost my job two months ago because of missed days due to bronchitis and pneumonia.” He held up medical evidence indicating that as a 45-year-old he has the lungs of an 84-year-old man, since he delayed so long taking off work to go to the doctor.

Small business CEO Samira Rajan of Brooklyn testified that allowing staff to take time off when they’re sick “is a basic right and expectation. A sick employee is not performing their job duties, and depresses overall staff morale.” Rajan, who provides paid sick days, said an ailing employee could also pass an illness on to customers.

Sen. Chris Dodd, a lead sponsor of the federal Healthy Families Act, sent a letter of support noting that “New York has the opportunity to lead the nation by standing up for its workers and guaranteeing them paid sick days.”

Even business leaders against the bill had to agree that workers should not be fired if they have to take a sick day. But opponents are trying to delay action by saying they want to do a study to identify those bad employers. The measure has 35 sponsors – enough to overturn a mayoral veto if necessary. It’s time for Council Speaker Christine Quinn to call for a vote!

Here’s the invitation:

Stand with us at noon on the steps of New York City Hall to urge prompt action on this important measure to protect the economic security of working families and the public health of all New Yorkers.  This bill will:

• make it possible for working moms to keep sick kids home from school so they can get better and avoid spreading illnesses to their classmates;
• make it possible for the restaurant workers who prepare and serve your food to recover from illness without risking their paychecks and their jobs;
• make it possible for workers to go to the doctor when they need to, and not wait till they are so sick they end up in the emergency room;
• make it possible for the good employers who want to do the right thing to operate on a level playing field where all businesses provide paid sick days

Show your support for the reintroduction of the Paid Sick Time Act

• Come to the rally at noon on Thursday, March 25^th and stand up for paid sick days;
• Invite your members and fellow activists to attend;
• Add your organization’s letter of support to the growing stack (just email a copy to nycpaidsickdays@gmail.com. The New York City Paid Sick Days Campaign will deliver them to the Mayor and the Speaker);
• Follow us on Facebook & Twitter; and
• Send an electronic message to the Mayor and the City Council urging them to pass The Paid Sick Time Act now: http://capwiz.com/timetocareny/issues/alert/?alertid=14063926

To RSVP or for more information, call 212-558-2276.

For more information, contact Jocelyn at 212-558-2276. You can read more about the work of the coalition on their website.

Time to Care NY on Twitter

New Yorkers Deserve Paid Sick Days on Facebook

They had their moment in the sun at Union Square as part of a costume contest to select the “Most Contagious” and “Best Newly Discovered” germs. Among the judges, in white coat and stethoscope, was New York City Councilwoman Gail Brewer, who has introduced a bill to require businesses to provide paid sick days for all employees. Members of the press were provided with face masks.

During the morning rush hour Monday, supporters of paid sick days passed out fliers and postcards at four subway stations: 125th Street in Harlem, West 4th Street, Union Square and 86th Street, Mayor Bloomberg’s stop. The fliers urged the City Council to take action on the Paid Sick Time Act this year. A public City Council hearing is scheduled for Nov. 17, 2009, at 1 p.m.

In Union Square, Councilwoman Brewer delivered brief remarks and then took on her duties as a Germ Judge while a band provided appropriate accompaniment.

The event kicks off an ad campaign to raise awareness of the risk involved—particularly during flu season—of having so many New Yorkers reluctant to stay home when they’re sick because it costs them income. At least 1,000 ads drawing attention to the hazard of sick New Yorkers in public places will start appearing on subway cars. (In no small coincidence, the latest cover of the New Yorker features a swine riding on the subway, prompting apprehensive looks from her fellow passengers.)

Check out some examples of the ads.

The report found that low-income workers without paid sick leave are more likely to go to work sick, send sick children to school, be threatened by their employers, and use the emergency room for medical care than similar workers who have paid sick days.  With widespread concern about the flu and with legislation to require a minimum number of paid sick days  pending before the New York City Council, this research provides important new data on the implications of the lack of paid sick days for the spread of contagious illnesses and for health care costs.

Read the report:

http://www.cssny.org/userimages/downloads/Sick%20in%20the%20City%20report%20October%202009.pdf

The march was covered in the New York Post: Make the road for sick leave.

Correction to NY Post article:  the New York City Paid Sick Days coalition is not negotiating with the mayor over the number of paid sick days.

And in the New York Times: Health Care? Not if You Can’t Leave Work to Get It

Also the New York Daily News: New York workers deserve paid sick leave.