Albany, NY — The Albany Paid Sick Days Coalition held a press conference on Monday at Citizen Action of New York Capital District offices to call for an end to amendments and carve-outs of the proposed paid sick days bill, also known as Local Law C.
Local Law C would ensure that workers in Albany County are able to earn and use a minimum number of paid sick days each year. Last month the bill was amended to allow businesses with five or less employees to offer only unpaid sick days. This carve-out would impact almost half of Albany County businesses and leave 2300 workers without critical income if they have to stay home sick or take care of a child.
“On June 16, 2018 the Capital District Area Labor Federation representing over 30,000 union members in Albany County adopted unanimously a resolution in support of the proposed paid sick days law for Albany County,” said Mark Emanation, Regional Organizer for the Capital District Area Labor Federation. “We stand in solidarity with the 40% of private sector workers in Albany County who have no sick days, and we urge all members of the Albany County legislature to vote for Local Law C without additional amendments.”
“Paid sick days should be a basic right of all workers. The lack of paid sick days is especially hard for women and people of color, many of whom are stuck in low-paying industries. This can make it more difficult for them to take care of their own health and the health of their families,” said Ivette Alfonso, President of Citizen Action of New York.
Paid sick days laws are essential to the economic stability of working families and to the overall health of the larger community. Studies of paid sick day laws in other cities and counties also reveal positive impacts on businesses in the form of increased productivity and worker retention.
“For a decade, Clean and Healthy New York has worked to protect New Yorkers’ health and reduce harmful exposures in the home, child care settings, and work environments. Everyone is safer and healthier when sick workers can afford to stay home and get better, instead of sharing illness in the workplace. Child care providers in particular should be able to take a paid sick day when they need it, and we look forward to the public health improvements that Local Law C will provide for Albany County,” said Kathy Curtis, Executive Director of Clean and Healthy New York.
“Paid sick leave ensures that workers take the necessary time off to recover and return to work at a normal mental and physical capacity,” said Rossana Coto-Batres, Outreach and Education Coordinator for the Northeast NY Coalition for Occupational Safety and Health. “When paid sick leave is not an option, workers may never take the time they need to get better, or return to work sick, fatigued, and at a fraction of their normal capacity, leaving them vulnerable to occupational injuries and accidents at work.”
“I have worked for over 10 years in Albany County without any paid sick days. If I get sick or my kids get sick, I still have to show up to work. Otherwise, I won’t be able to pay my bills and could end up homeless. I’m asking Albany County legislators to pass Local Law C with no more amendments,” said Jacquie Jordan, supermarket worker in Albany County.
Local Law C also makes it possible for victims of domestic or sexual violence to take time away from work to receive treatment and take necessary steps to ensure their safety.
“The economic repercussions of community violence are undeniable. In the aftermath of a shooting, women are most likely to be homicide survivors or the caregivers for shooting survivors, which requires them to miss work. Most of these women work hourly jobs, with no paid sick time,” said Lisa Good, Founder of Urban Grief. “It doesn’t take long for them to feel the financial burden of missing even 2 or 3 days of work, which adds additional crisis to the traumatic experience of their loved one being injured or killed by gun violence. No woman should have to choose between sitting in ICU or going to work simply because she does not have paid sick time.”
“No one in Albany County should have to go to work sick to keep their job or keep food on the table. Paid sick days are a basic protection to which all workers should have access in a compassionate and just society,” said Emily McNeil, Executive Director of the Labor-Religion Coalition of New York State.
“I am proud to be sponsor of paid sick days–Local Law C– guaranteeing that workers in Albany county have the right to earn paid sick days that they can use for themselves or a loved one without jeopardizing their pay or their employment,” said Albany County Legislator Doug Bullock. “Our goal is to join the 44 local and state jurisdictions that have already passed paid sick days legislation across the country, including New York City and Westchester County. In fact, I consider passage of this law critical to the economic security of approximately 50,000 workers and their families, and an important step toward reducing health care costs for our county.”
Co-sponsoring organizations of today’s press conference included Albany County Central Federation of Labor; Capital District Area Labor Federation; Citizen Action of New York, Capital District; Clean and Healthy New York; Capital District Democratic Socialists of America; Habitat for Humanity; In Our Own Voices; Labor-Religion Coalition of New York State; NAACP, Albany Chapter; NENYCOSH; New York State Council of Churches; New York State Nurses Association; SEIU 32BJ; Urban Grief; Working Families Party, Capital District
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