New York, NY –

New Law Gives 1.3 Million New Yorkers Right To Stay Home When Sick and Guarantees Paid Sick Leave for More Than 1 Million

Law Represents Major Step Forward for Workers’ Rights in the United States

Today the Center for Popular Democracy and Make the Road New York joined with their partners in the New York City Paid Sick Days Coalition to announce a historic agreement to give over one million New Yorkers the right to take paid days off from work to care for themselves or a sick family member. The new legislation represents a major step forward for workers’ rights in the United States and is the product of a four-year campaign involving dozens of organizations and thousands of supporters.

Andrew Friedman, Executive Director, Center for Popular Democracy said: “This agreement is a monumental step forward for workers throughout New York City. More than 1.3 million workers will no longer need to fear losing their jobs when they, or their children, get sick. More than 1 million workers will get paid sick leave benefits. I congratulate the many courageous workers who stood up and fought for what’s right, and the many Council Members, particularly Gale Brewer and Speaker Christine Quinn, for making those workers’ vision a reality.

“It’s an incredible feeling to know that I won’t ever again have to choose between my child’s health and my job,” said Juana Sanchez, a member of Make the Road New York and a mother of three.

“On behalf of the members of Make the Road New York we applaud Speaker Christine Quinn, Council Member Gale Brewer and Julissa Ferreras, and the members of the Paid Sick Leave coalition for announcing a deal to provide paid sick leave to over 1 million New Yorkers and job protection for each worker in this City,” said Javier Valdes, Co-Executive Director of Make the Road New York. “No longer will a parent have to make the impossible choice between whether to stay home to care for a sick child or go to work to feed their family.”

Make the Road New York member Freddy Castiblanco, who owns a bar and café in Jackson Heights, Queens, said: “This victory that protects workers from being fired for being sick creates a new ethical standard for workers’ rights. Today marks a milestone in the struggle of small business and workers working together to better our communities. I am so proud to be a small business owner in New York City, a city that protects its workers!”

Without this law, over a million workers – especially low-wage workers – were forced to choose between their own health, or the health of the family members, and a job.  In addition to extending critical protections to New York City’s working families, the law addresses a serious public health problem. Without sick leave, many workers had no choice but to go to work sick – exposing coworkers, clients, fellow commuters, and others to disease.

The new law, which will take effect in April, 2014, will guarantee paid sick leave for workers in New York City who work at employers with 20 or more employees. That threshold will be reduced to 15 employees in October, 2015. The law will provide unpaid sick leave to all other workers so that, although they are not legally entitled to be paid for the time they take off, they may do so with a guarantee that they cannot be fired.

The new law is a triumph for the coalition of community organizations, labor unions and elected representatives who worked tirelessly on a four years campaign to bring the new law to the statute book. The Center for Popular Democracy and Make the Road New York were joined by NYC City Council’s Progressive Caucus, the Working Families Party, 32 BJ SEIU, A Better Balance and the NY Paid Sick Leave Coalition.

Contact: Andrew Friedman, Executive Director, Center for Popular Democracy