Even though things are gridlocked in D.C. right now, we're still having victories across the country!  For example, the Seattle City Council overwhelmingly passed paid sick days just this week– and MomsRising members are widely credited with helping to bring this about with their emails, calls, visits with leaders, delivery of member messages to elected leaders, and more. The voices and engagement of moms are powerful.

Momentum for paid sicks is growing--and not just in Seattle.  After the Mayor signs the bill, Seattle will become the 3rd city in the nation with a minimum paid sick days standard along with Washington DC and San Francisco.[1] Philadelphia and New York City are considering sick days measures, and Denver voters will consider a similar measure this fall.  Just this past June, the state of Connecticut passed a paid sick days bill.  In other words, additional cities and states are poised to follow Seattle with wins.

This is just the beginning!

*Can you pitch in $5 or $10 to help us keep our paid sick days campaign moving across the country so we can put our "mom power" to work in other cities and at the nation's capital to fight for paid sick days?

https://action.momsrising.org/donate/SeattlePSDWin/

Your contribution will help MomsRising keep up the momentum and pass paid sick days in more cities and states around the country.  By demonstrating that paid sick days is a winning issue for voters on a local and state level, we'll also be better able to convince Congress to move legislation on a national level. Our goal is for everyone who needs sick days to be able to take a day when they're sick.

Why paid sick days?

We’re moms and dads.  We know how fast the flu and other illnesses can spread through childcare centers, schools, and workplaces.  When employees aren't allowed to take sick days, they often have to choose between going to work sick or losing a day’s pay (and possibly their jobs) if they stay home sick or with sick kids.  Nearly 80% of workers with low wages don't have access to a single paid sick day, and nearly 40% of private-sector workers also lack a single paid sick day. [2]

This is a big problem – when sick folks aren’t able to stay home, it puts everyone’s health at risk – coworkers, restaurant patrons, school kids, and, well, everyone. Allowing workers with contagious diseases to avoid unnecessary contact with co-workers and customers is a fundamental public health measure. Our laws are clearly out of sync with responsible public health practices.

Paid sick days are good for working families, for public health, and for business.

Can you pitch in $5 to help us keep up the momentum for paid sick days? https://action.momsrising.org/donate/SeattlePSDWin/

Paid sick days would also help contain health care costs through prevention, early detection, and treatment of illness. And, with paid sick days, families will not be forced to send sick children to school where they will likely infect classmates and teachers; workers with paid sick days will not spread illness to their co-workers and customers.

It's a win-win policy that helps save lives and helps businesses thrive!  It's time for every city in the nation to have a paid sick days policy.

*Can you pitch in $5 now to keep the MomsRising paid sick days campaign rolling in cities and states across the country--and at the capital as well? https://action.momsrising.org/donate/SeattlePSDWin/

No one should have to go to work sick, or send their kids to school sick.

Together, we can change that.

Congratulations on the victories we've had together so far--and here's to many more victories for families in the future!

P.S. Giant thank you to the Seattle Coalition for a Healthy Workforce, including over 70 organizations along with MomsRising, for working so hard for this historic victory.[3]

[1] Seattle Times, September 12, 2011

[2] Marilyn P. Watkins, PH.D, Economic Opportunities Institute:  “Evaluating Paid Sick Leave: Social, Economic and Health Implications for Seattle,” May 2011

[3] "Seattle Passes Landmark Paid Sick Days Ordinance," Seattle Coalition for a Healthy Workforce