Today at the Oregon State Capitol, the Fair Shot for All Coalition along with workers, business owners and several state legislators, called on lawmakers to take immediate action on a strong paid sick days law. The coalition pointed to the state legislature’s lack of progress on paid sick days, retirement security and other issues affecting income inequality.
“Memorial Day typically marks the beginning of the end of the legislative session – and our lawmakers haven’t yet acted on key policy changes that will give hardworking Oregonians a fair shot, such as sick days and retirement security,” said Andrea Paluso, Executive Director of Family Forward Oregon and Chair of the Fair Shot for All Coalition. “We are standing here today with working Oregonians and business owners to send a message loud and clear: it’s time to pass critical policies for working Oregonians.”
Forty-seven percent of private-sector workers in Oregon currently lack paid sick time, forcing them to chose between working sick, sending a sick child to school or losing a day’s pay when they or a family member fall ill, according to Fair Shot for All.
Over the last few years three states and 16 cities passed laws and approved measures allowing workers increased access to paid sick days. Portland and the Eugene are among those approving their own city ordinances.
“Ensuring every working Oregonian can afford to stay home when they are sick will help keep our workplaces healthy and businesses strong,” said Senator Sara Gelser. “I’ve heard loud and clear how important this issue is to Oregonians. I promised the people who elected me that I would fight for it, and I’m here to keep that promise."
Low-wage workers are less likely to have access to paid sick days than higher-paid workers. In Oregon, 82 percent of those earning more than $65,000 annually have access to paid sick time, compared to 29 percent of Oregonians earning less than $20,000 annually, according to Fair Shot for All.
“I’ve worked at a grocery store in Salem for 19 years, but when I’m sick I still have to make a choice between staying home to get better or coming in to work,” said Melody Gramley, who works at a grocery store in Salem, Oregon. “It doesn’t matter if I’m coughing, sneezing, or have a fever – if I’m not at work, I’m not getting paid. It shouldn’t be a luxury to have a day to recover from the flu or to take care of your kids when they’re home sick. We need our legislators to take action to help working Oregonians – and we need them to do it now.”
More than 10,000 Oregonians have signed a petition in support of paid sick days.
“Let me be clear: until there is strong paid sick days bill on the governor’s desk, we’ll be working around the clock to make sure that Oregon workers have the dignity and respect they deserve,” said Paluso.
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