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Statement

‘A Momentous Day for Maryland’

January 12, 2018
Maryland, Paid Sick Days

Lisa Lederer, 202-371-1996

Statement from Ruth Martin, Vice President, Workplace Justice Campaigns at MomsRising.org, a national online and on-the-ground organization of more than 30,000 Maryland members and more than 1 million mothers and their families across the country, on the Maryland State Senate’s vote to override Gov. Hogan’s veto of HB1
“This afternoon, the Maryland State Senate followed the House of Delegates’ lead by voting to override Governor Hogan’s veto of HB1. After years of waiting and advocating for this bill, earned sick days will finally be a reality for workers in our state. This is a huge victory for Maryland’s working families and a momentous day for Maryland.
 
“More than 700,000 Maryland workers have suffered without paid sick days for too long, forced to make the awful choice between taking time off work to recuperate – or to stay home with a sick child – and earning a paycheck. Thanks to the Healthy Working Families Act, hundreds of thousands of workers will now be able to earn sick leave, ensuring that they can take the time they need when they or a family member falls ill, without risking their job. This law will give financial security and peace of mind to workers and stability to Maryland businesses. It will be a boon for our families, our economy and our public health.
 
“MomsRising is proud to have been part of the powerful Working Matters Coalition, which has provided essential leadership in the push to pass HB1. But ultimately, this victory belongs to the thousands of Marylanders who wrote letters, called their legislators, visited the State Capitol and shared their personal stories about why they need paid sick leave. It’s thanks to their tireless advocacy that this bill will now become law.”
 

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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.