MomsRising Leader Expresses Disappointment in Earned Sick Days Veto, Says Mayor Ignored Will, Best Interests of Philadelphians
STATEMENT OF Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner, Executive Director, MomsRising, On Mayor Nutter’s Veto of Earned Sick Days Bill
CONTACT: Gretchen Wright or Molly Tomlinson, 202/371-1999
June 28, 2011
MomsRising Leader Expresses Disappointment in Earned Sick Days Veto, Says Mayor Ignored the Will, Best Interests of Philadelphians
“Today, Mayor Michael Nutter put the misplaced concerns of a handful of businesses above the public health needs of his city and the interests of Philadelphia workers and their families. By vetoing the Promoting Health Families and Workplaces Act, he is putting family economic security and Philadelphia families’ health at risk.
“At MomsRising, we heard from moms and dads all over Philadelphia who shared with us, with City Council members and with the Mayor, how important earned sick days are to them and their families. We strongly believe that no one should ever have to choose between going to work sick or leaving a sick child at home alone and losing a day’s pay…or even losing their job. We hoped that the Mayor would agree with us and we’re deeply disappointed that he doesn’t, as are the 210,000 Philadelphians who still can’t earn even a single sick day.
“When people can’t take time from work to get well or to take care of sick or injured family members, it doesn’t just hurt their families, it can threaten public health. People who come to work sick can make other people sick – co-workers, clients, customers, anyone they come in contact with.
“That’s why MomsRising joined forces with the Coalition for Healthy Families and Workplaces to deliver hundreds of “apple-o-grams” to City Council members with notes from Philadelphians supporting earned sick days, and help generate thousands of email messages and calls to the City Council and the Mayor’s office. We are disappointed, but we are not defeated. The needs of Philadelphia families and families all across the nation are too important to stop fighting for earned sick days now.”
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MomsRising.org is an online and on-the-ground grassroots organization of more than a million people who are working to achieve economic security for all families in the United States. MomsRising is working for paid family leave, flexible work options, affordable child care, and for an end to the wage and hiring discrimination which penalizes so many mothers. MomsRising also advocates for health care for all, toxic-free environments, and breastfeeding rights so that all children can have a healthy start. Established in 2006 and now celebrating its fifth anniversary, MomsRising and its members are organizing and speaking out to improve public policy and to change the national dialogue on issues that are critically important to America’s families. In 2011, for the second year in a row, Forbes.com named MomsRising's web site as one of the Top 100 Websites For Women.
