español | English

In light of the immediate emergency faced by working people in the face of the coronavirus epidemic, we the undersigned ask Philadelphia’s City Councilmembers to amend the city’s Paid Sick Days law to respond to the conditions created by a public health emergency. The spread of the coronavirus and voluntary closures of schools and workplaces is not routine. Our paid sick days ordinance does not consider the kind of public health scenario we are facing. 

We need to expand our paid sick days ordinance to do more for more people. We need to address the needs of all workers. Philadelphia’s paid sick days ordinance only covers those who work for businesses with 10 or more employees and does not cover workers covered by collective bargaining agreements, contract and gig workers, per diem workers, newly hired workers, and others are not covered by the Philadelphia law. 

• A strong paid sick and safe days policy in the face of a public health emergency should include:
• Job protection – guaranteed return to the same job
• Workplace accommodations when possible, including allowing workers to work from home or to change work hours to cover care needs at home
• At least some paid time, including for workers who need to stay home as part of voluntary or mandated measures implemented by schools and workplaces
• Coverage for ALL workers in Philadelphia, including unionized workplaces, small businesses, per diem nurses, newly hired workers, gig economy workers, informal economy workers, and undocumented workers
• Continuation of job based health insurance
• Affordable testing and treatment and ICE-free health facilities
• Direct payments to workers who lose income
• Support to educate the public about the law

Philadelphia’s City Council must recognize that protecting public health includes protecting the workers who will be harmed economically, as well as protecting people who will be directly impacted by the virus.