COLUMBUS August 18, 2007 - A diverse coalition of faith, business, labor, and advocacy groups met today at the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1059.
Welcomed to the facility by UFCW Local 1059 President Becky Berroyer, attendees heard presentations concerning the Ohio Healthy Families Act by Statewide Campaign Manager Brian Dunn, Senior Policy Analyst Katy McKenzie, and Communications Director Jennifer Farmer.
The Ohio Healthy Families Act is an initiated statute which will be proposed to the Ohio General Assembly. If enacted as proposed, full-time workers in Ohio at companies with 25 or more employees would be allowed to earn 7 paid sick days each year. Part-time workers at these companies would be able to earn a pro-rated amount of paid sick days. Coalition members are committed to making this proposed statute an Ohio law.
After extensive discussion of the need for the legislation, initiative petition circulation requirements, and strategies for success, some personal recollections were presented.
Heather Rocco-Geissler, President of Challenger Aviation in the Dayton area, told of her company's policy that already provides much of what the law requires. Her testament to the positive employee retention rates and productivity of healthy employees was exemplified by her contention that "Vacation is a privilege, paid sick days are a necessity." Challenger Aviation is an example of what advocates call "high road" economic policy.
Unfortunately, too many Ohioans experience the other reality as related by Laura DeAloia, who was threatened with lost employment due to illness on the job. She described a situation of intimidation and eventual job loss as a result of her illness and absence from work.
Expansion of the coalition and large scale petition circulation are the immediate goals of the Ohioans for Healthy Families. Future events can be found on the campaign website www.sickdaysohio.org.
NewsPosted by Brian Dunn on September 2, 2007
Comments
Posted by Monica Butts at October 23, 2007 12:07 PM
Hello. I am ALL FOR THIS, and would love to support it. My question is why only for employers that have 25 or more employees? What about the small companies?
Thank you!