Winning Sick Leave at the Citywide Level

[Omaha Steve]

http://labornotes.org/node/802

Winning Sick Leave at the Citywide Level
— Young Workers United

Young Workers United (YWU), a multi-racial San Francisco organization of young and immigrant workers, won an historic November victory when they achieved citywide paid sick day legislation.

Voters approved Prop F for Paid Sick Days by 61 percent on November 7, 2007, making San Francisco the first and only place in the nation where workers are guaranteed the right to a paid sick day for themselves and their families.

The paid sick days ordinance represents another step towards raising standards in the low-wage, non-union service sector in San Francisco.

Young Workers United works with young people in restaurants and on campuses to improve their working conditions. Matt Garron, a YWU member and bartender said, “There have been times when I’ve been sick and dragged myself to work anyway. It was a choice between my health and my rent. Nobody should have to make that choice.”

According to the Institute for Women’s Policy Research, barely half of all workers (51 percent) in the U.S. have paid sick days, and only one in three (30 percent) have sick days to care for sick children.
BUILDING A COALITION

Young Workers United members made paid sick days a priority for 2006 and formed a coalition of community groups, unions, and other organizations that represent low-income parents, workers, immigrants, and youth.

FULL story at link.