ProgressOhio

Ohio Healthy Families Act Will Go To Ballot

130,000-member Ohio Education Association Joins Paid Sick Days Coalition

From a Press Conference held yesterday at ProgressOhio:

Ignoring the 270,000 Ohio voters who signed petitions calling for enactment of paid sick day legislation, the Ohio General Assembly has failed to pass or even vote on the Ohio Healthy Families Act within the time allotted under the "initiated statute" provision of the state Constitution.

"The leadership of the General Assembly has clearly ignored the 2.2 million Ohio workers and families who lack paid sick days and were counting on their elected representatives. When our elected leaders fail to represent their constituents, it is in the hands of groups like The Paid Sick Days Coalition to bring together the diverse groups affected and fight for what Ohioans need and deserve.

Our elected officials don't have to make the choice between a paycheck and caring for their family. The taxpayers, who are the backbone of our state's economy should be able to earn the same right to paid sick days."

The 130,000-member Ohio Education Association was introduced as the newest member of the coalition.

William Leibensperger, a high school English teacher who is OEA vice president, said the group's representative assembly voted to endorse the paid sick days law.

Mr. Leibensperger said situations in which parents cannot afford to take time off to care for an ill child have consequences for the health of other students.

"All too often, because of the lack of paid sick leave, loving parents have to make the ... difficult choice between a pay check and caring for the child," he said.

"As a result, sometimes children will come to school when they are too ill to be active participants in class, and they risk spreading illness to their classmates and others in the school building," Mr. Leibensperger said.

Mr. Dunn said over 2.2 million Ohio workers currently are unable to earn a single paid sick day.

"Over three and one-half million workers in our state can't take a paid sick day to care for a sick child. And an astounding 670,000 workers in this state who every day come in close contact with the public cannot take even a single paid sick day when they are ill," he said.

Backers said 58% of private sector workers already enjoy paid sick leave. Laws similar to the one proposed in Ohio are being considered in a dozen other states, but Ohio is believed the only one with a ballot campaign.