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Statement

Statement of Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner, Executive Director, On Seattle Mayor McGinn’s Signing Of the Paid Sick Days Ordinance

September 23, 2011
Paid Sick Days

Lisa Lederer, 202-371-1996

Today, Mayor McGinn’s signature on the paid sick days ordinance brings us one step closer to nearly 200,000 more Seattle workers being able to earn and take paid sick days. The Mayor and the City Council understand how important paid sick days are, not just for families, but for public health, businesses’ bottom line and the economic health of our city.
 
When people have paid sick leave, they can stay home if they’re ill and avoid spreading illness to their co-workers, and in some cases, to clients, customers and other members of the public.  When parents have paid sick leave, they don’t have to send their children to school sick where they can infect other kids and teachers, or leave them at home where they’re unsupervised. 
 
We all get sick.  And when we’re worried about our kids’ health or our own health, we shouldn’t also have to worry about whether we can pay the rent or utility bills or if we’ll still have a job when we get better.
 
MomsRising is proud to have been an integral part of the effort to pass the paid sick days ordinance, along with several area businesses – including  Plum Bistro, Cupcake Royale, Tutta Bella, 5 Point Cafe, and more – and the more than 75 organizations that comprise the Seattle Coalition for a Healthy Workforce, whose leadership includes Economic Opportunity Institute Puget Sound Sage, UFCW 21, Legal Voice, Washington CAN, Puget Sound Association for Retired Americans, MLK Labor Council, and the Washington State Labor Council. 
 

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MomsRising.org is an on-the-ground and online grassroots organization of more than a million people who are working to increase family economic security, decrease discrimination against women and moms, and to build a nation where businesses and families can thrive. Established in 2006, 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, including criminal justice reform, immigration policy reform, and gun safety. MomsRising is working for paid family and medical leave, affordable, high quality childcare and early learning, and for an end to the wage and hiring discrimination which penalizes women — particularly moms and women of color — and so many others. MomsRising advocates for access to healthy food for all kids, health care for all, earned sick days, and breastfeeding rights so that all children can have a healthy start. MomsRising maintains a Spanish language website: MamásConPoder.org. Sign up online at www.MomsRising.org — and follow us on our blog, and on Twitter and Facebook.