Dozens Testify for Paid Family Leave in MA, None Against

Dozens of workers showed up at the Massachusetts State House Oct. 27 to testify about the cost to families and the community when working people lack paid family and medical leave. They spoke in favor of The Family and Medical Leave and Temporary Disability Insurance Program Ac (H 1718 and S 1008,) which would make employees eligible for up to 12 weeks of job-protected paid leave to welcome a new child or recover from a significant illness or injury, or to care for a seriously ill family member. As Sen. Daniel Wolf, a committee co-chair and co-sponsor of the legislation, noted, “there is no one to testify against it. You can see why. You do have to ask yourself how it’s possible in Massachusetts in 2015 that we’re even having this dialogue.” Sen. Wolf pointed out that the U.S. is a total outlier. Even in “that bastion of human rights, Saudi Arabia,” employees have access to 14 weeks of [paid] leave.