News release
Seattle Moms to City Council: No Germy Amendments!
September 8, 2011
Lisa Lederer, 202-371-1996
MomsRising Delivers Stuffed Germs to Encourage Passage of Sick Days Bill
They look huggable, but don’t be fooled – you won’t want to cuddle up with these animals. Moms and kids this morning delivered stuffed germs to members of the Seattle City Council to encourage the passage of the sick days bill without amendments that might limit the number of Seattle workers covered by the legislation. The stuffed animal “germ-o-grams” included notes from Seattle moms, dads and others about the importance of paid sick days for them and their families.
MomsRising, the online and on-the-ground grassroots organization of more than one million members fighting for economic security for families, helped to organize the delivery and messages through e-outreaches to its Seattle-area members. The organization is working closely with more than 75 organizations that are part of 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.
“We’re encouraged that the sick days bill has such tremendous support from local organizations, but opponents want to add on germy amendments that would weaken the bill,” said MomsRising Executive Director Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner. “Where an employee works, or the size of that company, should not determine whether they can take care of themselves or sick kids without losing a paycheck. More than 100,000 Seattle workers don’t have paid sick days, and it’s time our work policies aligned with responsible, common sense public health practices.”
Among the germ-o-gram messages were:
A sick child who needs to stay home for as little as 2-3 days can cost a parent their job without sick days.
—Renny, Seattle, WA
I don't want to be served by a sick waiter or a sniffling sales clerk. No one does! The only way to stop the spread of illness is to pay for sick days off.
—Jenny, Seattle, WA
I am in health administration, and this one is a cut-and-dry issue. Forcing workers to choose between losing wages (in this economy, especially) and going to work sick is an untenable situation. This was message was driven home recently when I was served dinner by an unwell employee who, I'm sure, couldn't afford to give up that day's wages -- it was not a pleasant experience. Please support the sick days bill without any dilutions. Sick workers are not beneficial workers.
—Lisabeth, Seattle, WA
The paid sick days ordinance was drafted in collaboration with many small business owners and is backed by more than 75 local organizations in the Seattle Coalition for a Healthy Workforce. The bill passed a City Council committee last month, and is set to be voted on by the full City Council on September 12.
MomsRising has been working with its partners in Seattle to garner support for the paid sick days ordinance, sending in nearly 4,500 letters to City Councilmembers, testifying at hearings, speaking at Council and community events, and delivering to Councilmembers a book of stories about the importance of paid sick days to Seattle families.