Council Introduces Paid Sick Days Bill

Cough drops and tissues were passed out to DC City Councilmembers arriving early Tuesday morning for a pre-Council breakfast meeting. The "Get Well" packages were attached to briefing packets on the Paid Sick and Safe Days Act of 2007, which would provide a minimum standard of 10 paid days off for people to use to address health-related needs; for domestic violence victims to address the violence; and for parents to attend their children's school-related activities. The early start paid off for the DC Employment Justice Center and other members of the Paid Sick and Safe Days coalition when the bill was introduced later that morning with all 11 Councilmembers co-sponsoring the legislation. "This is a case of fundamental fairness," said Ward 3 Councilmember Mary Cheh as she joined Councilmembers Mendelson, Barry, Brown, Graham, and Thomas as a co-introducer. Council Chair Gray and Councilmembers Catania, Evans, Wells, and Schwartz also joined as co-sponsors. "We need to take care of the people in our city who are our workforce," added Ward 5 Councilmember Harry Thomas.
- reported by Mackenzie Baris