Via the Seattle Coalition for a Healthy Workforce:

Today’s committee vote to pass Seattle’s “common ground” paid sick days ordinance is a big step forward for the 190,000 people working in Seattle who don’t have paid sick days on the job. We appreciate the leadership of Councilmember Nick Licata and the vote in favor by Councilmembers Jean Godden, Mike O’Brien and Sally Clark on this important public and family health issue.

100+ citizens pack City Council Chambers to applaud passage of proposed paid sick days ordinance by health and human services committee

Over the past 3 months, thousands of Seattle residents and workers have expressed their support for this proposal via emails, postcards, personal testimony, and phone calls to Council members. That’s no surprise: 78% of accommodation and food service workers and 55% of retail workers have no paid sick days, and 1 in 4 grocery workers report coming to work sick because they don’t have paid sick days.

The full City Council is slated for a final vote on the ordinance September 12th. Given the strong public support for the measure from Seattle’s workers, small businesses, faith, labor and community groups, we’re looking forward to the Council passing this paid sick days ordinance in September — making healthy, responsible prevention a part of the way we live, work and do business in Seattle.