Quinn Labor Letter

November 12, 2009 The Honorable Christine Quinn Speaker New York City Council City Hall New York, NY 10001 Re: The Paid Sick Time Act Dear Speaker Quinn, In the midst of what is already one of the worst economic downturns since the Great Depression, working people in New York City are facing a new threat. For those lucky enough to have a job, the chances of also having decent benefits are rapidly slipping. A study released last month from the Community Service Society and A Better Balance (Sick in the City) shows that nearly half all working New Yorkers do not have a single day of paid sick leave where they work -- and their numbers are growing. In 2004, 69% of ‘near-poor’ workers – those hovering just above the poverty line – had paid sick leave. Today, just 33% do. The number of low-wage Latino workers with paid sick days is particularly disturbing: just 28% report having paid sick days where they work. As representatives of nearly a million working men and women, we know firsthand how difficult it is to raise a family without a living-wage job and basic workplace benefits. But the lack of paid sick days is not only a worker’s rights issue – it’s a serious public health concern. To combat Swine Flu, public health officials have urged those feeling sick to stay home, and for parents to keep sick children out of school. But according to the Sick in the City report, 54% of all public school parents have no paid sick leave. Not surprisingly, 27% of low-income public school parents report sending a sick child to school, where they can

potentially infect their classmates and teachers. Worse, 30% of those same parents report bringing a family member to the Emergency Room because they could not take time off for a doctor’s appointment. Through strong contracts, most of the union members we represent have won paid sick leave. But the right to take a day off when you are sick should be a basic workplace standard for all New Yorkers. Under your leadership the City Council has fought for working people on countless occasions. We hope you can show that leadership again, by quickly passing the Earned Paid Sick Time bill. The bill would let every New Yorker earn paid sick leave where they work, while protecting small businesses. New York would not be the first city to make paid sick days universal, but it would help build momentum for a national paid sick leave movement. We hope the Council can act on this bill soon.

Sincerely,

Michael Fishman President SEIU 32BJ

Michael Mulgrew President UFT

Peter Ward Business Manager NYC HTC

Bruce Both President UFCW 1500

Stuart Applebaum President RWDSU

Roger Toussaint President TWU Local 100

George Gresham President 1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers East