After 2 vetoes, 7,000 signatures and 5,000 knocked doors, Philadelphians have Paid Sick Leave.
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About a year ago, after Philadelphia Mayor Michael A. Nutter vetoed the Paid Sick Leave bill for the second time, citing concerns for the economy, PA Working Families started a petition drive. They collected 7,000 signatures to get the issue on the ballot.
The group then took on the role of aggregating citizens into City Hall to testify in favor of the bill. And after Philadelphia City Councilman, Mr. Bill Greenlee, reintroduced the bill about a month ago, Ms. Kati Sipp, Director, PA Working Families, tells me that they knocked on nearly 5,000 doors in Philadelphia and motivated taxpayers to call their Councilperson.
Door knocking, talking to people in the community, says Ms. Sipp, “is an expertise we bring to working on these campaigns.”
Philadelphia today became the 17th city to pass Paid Sick Leave. Additionally, a Federal Paid Sick Leave bill today was introduced in Congress.
“There’s a national movement towards the idea that this is a reasonable policy for businesses to have,” said Ms. Sipp.
Ms. Marianne Bellesorte, Senior Director, Policy and Public Relations, Pathways PA, agrees wholeheartedly with Ms. Sipp. In fact, though Ms. Sipp led an impressive ground operation on this particular cause for nearly a year, it was Ms. Bellesorte who had been championing the cause since day one.
“It was a little disheartening after the two vetoes,” she tells Techbook Online in an exclusive interview following the bill signing, “it was an issue that meant so much to Philadelphians.”
Ms. Bellesorte said she knew the day would eventually arrive when Paid Sick Leave would come to Philadelphians.
“It’s an issue that’s becoming more and more important across the country,” she said, “It’s wonderful to stand here today to see it become law; we’re helping the momentum at the national level… it’s the right thing for business.”
Effective 90 days from today, workers employed by any business or organization in Philadelphia with 10 or more employees must earn one hour of paid sick leave for every 40 hours worked. Businesses with existing leave policies that meet the minimum paid sick leave accrual standards and other requirements within the legislation will not have to change their policies or provide for additional leave time.
A statement from Mayor Nutter reads:
“I am honored to sign into law this legislation that supports and protects Philadelphia’s hardworking men and women by providing mandatory paid sick leave. Now, our workforce will be able to take time off for preventive care, recover from an illness or injury, or to ensure that their family and personal business is well-cared for without worrying if it will affect their financial situation or physical health. This legislation balances the needs of workers and employers and I am proud to sign it. I want to thank Councilman Greenlee, the Mayor’s Task Force on Paid Sick Leave and the many advocates who worked together to create this important benefit.”
When asked if he regretted vetoing the bill twice, Mayor Nutter said he “regrets that we were in a financial and economic crisis that caused me to have to seriously evaluate the impact the bill may have on the city, the economy and the workers.”
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Photo: Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter signs the Paid Sick Leave bill into law/C. Norris – ©2015