Austin City Council Passes First Paid Sick Time Policy in Texas, U.S. South
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: Sam Robles, sam@workersdefense.org, (512) 466-9258
Bo Delp, bo@workersdefense.org, (202) 341-7191
Policy creates opportunity for all working families to earn paid sick time with private employers
Ordinance passes 9-2
Austin, TX – Today, Austin City Council passed an ordinance allowing all Austin workers to earn paid sick time. The ordinance was advocated for by the Work Strong Austin coalition, a diverse group of community, labor, and policy organizations and advocates.
The ordinance allows people to earn one hour of paid sick time for every thirty hours worked to use for themselves or to care for a family member. It applies to full-time, part-time, and temporary workers.
Coalition members include Workers Defense Project, Center for Public Policy Priorities, Unite HERE! Local 23, Young Active Labor Leaders, Fight for $15, and dozens of local businesses.
“After tireless organizing and advocacy, our coalition has fought and won an ordinance alongside our allies on Austin City Council that ensures all workers have the right to take care of themselves or a loved one when they are ill,” said Jose P. Garza, Executive Director of Workers Defense Project. “Tonight, working families in Texas have made history.”
“Hard-working Austinites can now breathe easier, because the new paid sick days ordinance will protect their families’ health and their jobs,” said Ann Beeson, Executive Director of the Center for Public Policy Priorities. “We’re grateful to Council Member Greg Casar, Co-sponsors Councilwoman Garza, Councilwoman Kitchen, and Councilwoman Tovo, all the supportive Council Members and the Mayor, the Work Strong Austin Coalition and all the Austin groups and residents that spoke up in favor of paid sick days.”
“After months of building a movement for paid sick days, I’m so proud of the efforts of our community to achieve this historic policy victory,” said Council Member Greg Casar, sponsor of the ordinance. “Austin is now the first city in Texas and the first city in the South to have a citywide paid sick days policy.”
“YALL of Austin is proud to have supported a paid sick leave ordinance for all Austin’s workers and is grateful for the resolution tonight,” said Amanda Cavazos Weems, President of YALL-Austin. “It has been a privilege to work with this coalition, and the vote validates our belief that Austin will lead the way in ensuring workers are treated with dignity and respect. When young workers stand in solidarity, we can achieve powerful change.”
This ordinance takes effect on October 1, 2018. The policy allows workers to begin earning sick time immediately, and guarantees employees can care for themselves, a family member, or anyone that is seen as the equivalent of a family member to deal with a health issue or a domestic violence incident. Individuals working for employers with 15 employees or less will be able to earn up to six paid sick days per year. Individuals who work for companies with 15 employees or more will be able to earn up to eight days per year. Individuals working for an employer with five or fewer employees will also be able to earn six paid sick days per year, but with a delayed effective date starting October 1, 2020.
