Via Seattle Coalition for a Healthy Workforce:

Connecticut Governor Daniel Malloy

Following a 3 a.m. vote in the early hours of Saturday morning, state legislators in Connecticut approved the first statewide paid sick days legislation in the United States.

The bill, which now awaits approval by Governor Daniel Malloy, will ensure hundreds of thousands of service workers in Connecticut can take time away from work without penalty when they or their children are sick. Malloy, who won election in 2010, distinguished himself from his opponent in part by supporting paid sick leave standards as a right for all workers.

With its passage, Connecticut joins San Francisco, Washington, D.C., and Milwaukee in establishing minimum standards of paid sick days – and shows strong momentum is building around the nation for paid sick days, including:

• In Philadelphia, a paid sick days bill before the City Council could be voted on as early as sometime this week;
• In Seattle, a broad coalition has developed a proposal that could be passed before the next flu season;
• In Denver, supporters have filed a paid sick days initiative for the November ballot;
• The New York City Council has a veto-proof majority in favor of a paid sick days bill, but Council Speaker Quinn has thus far refused to bring the bill to a vote;
• Nationally, the Healthy Families Act was reintroduced to the House and Senate, which would allow American workers to earn paid sick days at their place of work.

Learn more about paid sick days for Seattle, and tell the Seattle City Council you support paid sick days!