WisCOSH Joins Paid Sick Days Milwaukee Coalition
WisCOSH joins 9to5 National Assoc. of Working Women and a growing coalition of organizations, unions and individual workers in urging the Milwaukee Common Council to pass the Paid Sick Days legislation that a large, and growing, list of Milwaukee City residents have asked for. More than 20,000 City of Milwaukee residents have signed petitions requesting the passage of a city ordinance which would allow anyone working in the boundries of the City of Milwaukee the ability to take time off from work, with pay, to deal with a family illness whether it is their own, their partner/spouse, child, parent.
Anyone who has had to work while ill (and who
WisCOSH views the ability to have time away from work to get healthy as an important workplace safety and health right as well as a basic human right. Having the ability to call in to take time off without prior arrangment to care for themselves or family member, and not lose pay while doing it, can be crucial to workers health and safety. Not having to come to work sick, work with ill coworkers or worry about an ill family member will increase productivity and reduce workplace illnesses and injuries.
Paid Sick Days Would Benefit Small & Medium Sized Employers
While a vocal minority of employers, mostly medium to large businesses which are members of the Metroploitan Milwaukee Assoc. of Commerce [MMAC], have claimed it would cause an unfair burden on them, or more often 'other, smaller employers', the passage of the referendum will save them money in improved worker health and increased customer service and customer satisfaction due to not being served by an ill or distracted worker.
Most often the "spokesperson" for MMAC [often a lawyer, Human Resources consultant or local big business CEO/CFO] claims to be speaking up on behalf of the small businessperson. WisCOSH has yet to hear from any small businesses, which is who MMAC claims to speak for on this issue, that would find it too burdonsome for them to comply with. In reality the anti-Paid Sick Days drive is for the benefit of big business. Many of these companies have workers represented by a union or have faced an organizing drive by one or more unions. Paid Sick Days are an issue that employers may have bargained for [most MMAC spokespeople claim their employees already have paid sick time] and either successfully kept it out or with unrealistic usage guidelines. It would then appear that local big businesses would then find the smaller businesses on more of an equal standing and may actually increase competition for customer loyalty and spending.
Updates
WisCOSH Celebrates Passage of Paid Sick Days in Milwaukee!
WisCOSH joins 9to5 National Association of Working Women, along with the people who work in the City of Milwaukee, in celebrating the adoption of legislation to require employers in the City of Milwaukee to provide up to 72 hours,or 9 days, paid sick time a year to their full time employees with part-time employess would receive a pro rated amount. Employers with fewer than 10 employees would only be required to provide 40 hours, or 5 days, paid sick days for full time employees and a pro rated amount to part time workers.
The passing of the binding referendum, which was presented to the general populace during the recent general election, makes Milwaukee the 3rd city in the nation to mandate employers provide paid sick days to their employees.
MMAC Takes Workers To Court Crying "Hardship"
2009-02-06 In a blatent refutation of the majority of Milwaukee voters who overwhelmingly chose to vote YES! to Paid Sick Days in the November 2009 voting the special interest lobbists for big business have managed to block the actuall implimentation of this basic human right that workers desperately need and is a proven benefit to businesses and their customers.
On Friday, February 6, 2009 MMAC and supporters of Paid Sick Days Milwaukee met in Milwaukee County Circut Judge Thomas R. Cooper's courtroom to settle the issue. After Judge Cooper told the businesses that were wanting to submit Amicus Curiae that they had plenty of legal representation present and if they wanted something introduced they should speak with them. However, he then moved to allow the injunction and recognized the it is unlikely regardless of his final decision that the case would be appealed to the highest of courts for final arbitration.
UPDATE! 2009-05-11 On Monday, May 11, 2009 Judge Cooper heard arguments from MMAC, 9to5 and the City of Milwaukee concerning why the legislation should or should not be enacted. At the opening of the proceedings the judge acknowledged that regardless of his decision in the case he fully expected the losing side to appeal and therefore would not issue a finding for 30 days. He then heard arguments from all.
FUll disclosure : WisCOSH is a part of the consortium of groups supporting Paid Sick Days as an important worker safety and health right which is needed by all workers regardless of economic disposition.
[Find more information here on the 9to5 Milwaukee website.]
