Residents wearing face masks as a precaution against the H1N1 Swine Flu. Photo: MGN Online

Advocates say over one million New York City private sector employees do not have paid sick time. Councilwoman Gail Brewer, who represents Manhattan, and 37 co-sponsors are pushing to change that. She gathered with activists and advocates outside Department of Education headquarters in lower Manhattan Sept. 9 to urge passage of the ordinance by October, citing the mayor's declaration of no school H1N1 virus closures and its possible impact on working parents.

“Parents want to be home with their sick child, that is why we are trying hard to get this bill passed immediately,” Ms. Brewer told The Final Call. According to The Work and Family Legal Center, 39 percent of New York City school parents lack paid sick days.

“I have been in a lot of coalitions, but this is one of the biggest, which demonstrates the importance of this issue,” Ms. Brewer stressed.

One of the members of the coalition is registered nurse Mary Pappas, who many called a hero for vigilance last spring in detecting the swine flu at a Queens Catholic school. “As any school nurse will tell you, one of the best defenses against disease in our schools is making sure the kids stay home,” Ms. Pappas said. “But for many working parents without paid sick days, keeping the kids home is not always possible.”

One worker at the rally said even with paid sick days it is difficult to get a sympathetic ear from bosses. “I have paid sick time at the hospital where I work, but that doesn't prevent them from giving me a hard time when I call in sick; and when I call in that my child is sick I have to use my vacation time,” said Maria, from Brooklyn, whose last name was withheld.

“If you are a security officer in the city, you are going to be at work if you are sick,” noted Mike Fishman, president of a Service Employees International Union local.

According to Ms. Brewer, 84 percent of restaurant workers in the city do not have paid sick days.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who is running for a third term, has given qualified support to the sick leave ordinance, but has concerns about how the change could impact small businesses.

The Partnership for NYC, a leading business association, said in a statement that the group had not taken a position on the legislation. The association said members would consider paid sick leave a responsibility of any large employer, but in the current economic atmosphere new mandates could put jobs at risk.

Advocates said Ms. Brewer's ordinance is giving a boost to a national movement. Half of full-time private sector workers in America do not have paid sick leave benefits. Steffany Stern, policy coordinator for the Washington-based National Partnership for Women and Families, told The Final Call the issue had captured the attention of the late Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy who sponsored a bill last spring, Healthy Families Act or HR2460, that would expand paid sick live. Sen. Chris Dodd, of Connecticut, is carrying the bill through the Senate in Mr. Kennedy's absence, she said.

Debate over nationally mandated sick days' bill is also taking place in the House where Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) argued passing the bill would be a good thing. “This is about improving the quality of life of workers. It's about civil rights and women's rights,” Rep. Ellison said, speaking on the House floor. Protecting workers' rights is “part of a progressive vision that helps workers engage in preventative health care. “I think it important that we pass such legislation,” he added.

Ms. Stern said 13 cities and states are debating paid sick day legislation. “People are worried, they are told by everyone that they have to stay home with their sick child; and then they are told they will lose a day's pay or be fired and that's got to stop,” she said. No paid sick time disproportionately impacts people of color, women and low wage workers and is growing on the national radar, she added.

“This is becoming one of those perfect storm issues,” said Ms. Stern.