Statement by Family Values @ Work Co-Directors on Passage of Paid Sick Days in Michigan

“Family Values @ Work congratulates MI Time to Care Coalition for the powerful organizing that spurred passage of an Earned Paid Sick Time bill in Michigan. The coalition had collected nearly 400,000 signatures to put an initiative on the November ballot, so that every employee in Michigan could earn up to 9 days a year, depending on business size, to care for themselves or a loved one or deal with the aftermath of domestic or sexual violence. On September 6, the legislature chose to pass the measure legislatively, making Michigan the 11th state with a paid sick days law.

“Nearly two million Michiganders would gain new access to paid time as a result of this statute. The law will also benefit many employees who already earn such time but face restrictions on when, how and at what cost they can use the days.

“The coalition has had to temper their celebration, however. Some lawmakers have openly discussed post-election plans to gut the paid sick days law they just passed. Lobbyists and special interests are pressuring the legislature to use the lame duck session to strip protections from the new law. They seem intent not just on circumventing the will of the people, but on dampening voter turnout by removing a highly popular item from the ballot.

“These legislators badly under-estimate the power of this coalition. As Danielle Atkinson, founding director of Mothering Justice and chair of MI Time to Care, put it, ‘The fight for earned paid sick time enters a new phase today. We will focus all of our time, energy, and resources to ensure the law is protected and families across the state are able to earn paid sick time.’

“All the partner groups in this coalition will mobilize to ensure that every legislator who voted for the bill hears from their constituents. They will do everything in their power to preserve the law they won. And they will work to achieve the highest possible turnout at the polls.

“The entire Family Values @ Work network stands with MI Time to Care in support of earned sick and safe time, democracy, and upholding the law. These grassroots victories in states and municipalities are paving the way for a national law, so that time to care becomes accessible and affordable for all.”

Family Values @ Work is a network of coalitions in 27 states fighting for – and winning – paid sick and safe days and family and medical leave insurance.

Below is the statement from coalition spokeswoman Danielle Atkinson, founding director of Mothering Justice and chair of MI Time to Care:

Statement from MI Time to Care on Passage of Earned Paid Sick Time Proposal

Nearly 2 million Michiganders to gain the opportunity to earn paid sick time

LANSING — The MI Time to Care campaign released the following statement on passage of the earned paid sick time ballot measure by the Michigan legislature from Danielle Atkinson, founding director of Mothering Justice and chair of MI Time to Care:

“We began this campaign with the goal of giving nearly 2 million Michiganders the right to earned paid sick time. Today, because of the hard work and advocacy of families who spoke up and shared their stories, Michigan joins 10 states and 34 jurisdictions with the passage of this long-overdue policy.

The fight for earned paid sick time enters a new phase today. We will focus all of our time, energy, and resources to ensure the law is protected and families across the state are able to earn paid sick time.

We know, just as legislators know, that voters across Michigan approve of the policy as-written. Our job now is to make sure the legislature does not cave to lobbyists and special interests and use the lame duck session to weaken the law it passed today.

Now that this is law of the land, we look forward to continuing to educate all Michiganders about the specifics of this new policy and what it means for the well-being of their families and communities.”