Celebrating Mother’s Day: Help Working Moms Pass California Paid Sick Days Law

California Progress Report, May 11, 2008

By Frank Russo

My son and I have given cards and a hug and kiss to my wife on this day in her honor and that of mothers all across California and the nation. Shortly we will visit her other in a convalescent hospital for more of the same.

Most of us do not think of today in the historical context of the first mother’s day and the origins of this day. You can read the original proclamation of mother’s day in a few select places today, among them the Frederick News Post online. They say:

“Julia Ward Howe, who wrote the "Battle Hymn of the Republic," was transformed by the carnage she witnessed during the Civil War and reports from Europe of Franco-Prussian destruction. So, she crafted a "Mother's Day Proclamation" in 1870, declaring that women should no longer accept their government's reasons for war and the consignment of "our sons to unlearn all that we have been able to teach them of charity, mercy and patience."”

Thank your mother. Celebrate today. Then let’s think of doing something for California’s mothers right here in sunny California: Passage of the landmark Healthy Families, Healthy Workplaces bill, AB 2716 by Fiona Ma, which would allow all California workers to earn paid sick days.

This bill has passed out of the Assembly Judiciary http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/07-08/bill/asm/ab_2701-2750/ab_2716_vote_20080415_000001_asm_comm.html and Assembly Labor Committee http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/07-08/bill/asm/ab_2701-2750/ab_2716_vote_20080409_000002_asm_comm.html on party line votes with Democrats supporting it and Republicans opposing it. It is pending in the Assembly Appropriations Committee with a number of other worthy bills. It’s time to put our money where our mouths are on this bill which will truly help California’s working mothers.

This weekend, working mothers shared stories about the difficulties they face when they or their children get sick, and urged lawmakers to take action. They reminded us that without paid sick days, they are just a few of the millions of working mothers in Los Angeles and across the state who must either forfeit wages, or go to work sick or send sick children to school or day care. “I have worked at the same fast food restaurant for more than 15 years, with no paid sick days and only a week of paid vacation,” said ACORN member Manuela Mendez. “Even though my husband and I both work, we have been struggling to pay our mortgage and all of our bills each month. I cannot afford to take time off work when I get sick, so I have to work sick for several days each year."

Ma’s bill would make California the first state to require employers to provide all workers with paid sick days. She reminded us this weekend that “Families, especially single mothers, have a hard time making ends meet as is. Working moms should not have to worry about losing a day’s pay or, in some instances, their jobs when they or their child become ill.”

A new study by the UC Berkeley Center for Labor Research and Education documents the public health policy benefits of Ma’s legislation.

Many groups have come together to support AB 2716, including the California Commission on the Status of Women , “9to5,” the California Labor Federation, California ACORN, the Labor Project for Working Families, Young Workers United, the National Association of Working Women- Los Angeles and Bay Area Chapters, the California Nurses Association, the Legal Aid Society- Employment Law Center, Parent Voices- the California Child Care Resource & Referral Network, and the Family Caregiver Alliance/National Center on Caregiving. More than 50 groups statewide are working to secure passage of this.

San Francisco adopted paid sick days in 2006, and the District of Columbia is about to follow. Paid sick days legislation is pending in Massachusetts and Ohio.

The Los Angeles City Council passed a resolution to support AB 2716 by a vote of 9 to1. It was introduced last week by City Councilmember Richard Alarcón (7th District). “The lack of paid sick days harms the health and well-being of our children, families and communities,” Alarcón said. “No one should have to risk their job to take care of their own or a family member’s health. I introduced this Resolution in support of the bill because it will benefit thousands of low-income workers, especially low-income women and working mothers, in the city of Los Angeles.”

More than two in five California workers have no paid sick days. Going to work sick creates unhealthy workplaces and puts co-workers and customers at risk – but many workers have no choice. AB 2716 would let workers earn paid sick days that they can use to recover from illness, care for a sick family member, or recover from domestic violence or sexual assault.

Paid sick days are a pressing public health issue. Liz Torres, Chief Executive Director of Worksite Wellness LA, points out that “WWLA goes into the worksite to provide information on essential preventive screenings and health care services for low-income workers including working mothers. Unfortunately, we have found that workers are not able to make or keep preventive care appointments because they do not have paid sick days. This legislation is particularly important for female low wage workers who are primary caregivers but cannot take time off to care for their family or much less for themselves”.

For more information, visit www.paidsickdaysCA.org.

Happy Mother’s Day to all who will benefit from this legislation.