FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

News from Engage Michigan

December 9, 2014

Contact: Marissa Luna, 989-798-3051, marissa@engagemichigan.org

Legislators Pass Bill To Prohibit Local Governments from Serving Citizens

Bill interferes with local governments’ ability to give workers the right to earn paid sick days

LANSING — Today, the Michigan Competitiveness Committee passed a bill banning local governments from ensuring workers the right to earn paid sick days.

“Nearly three out of four Americans are living paycheck to paycheck and taking time off to take care of themselves or a loved one when they’re ill could lead to a financial crisis,” said Danielle Atkinson of Mothering Justice. “Having the right to earn paid sick days would ensure that everyone has a fair shot at getting ahead and that no one would get left behind because of an unexpected problem at home.”

More than 1.5 million Michigan workers — about 46 percent of the state’s private sector workforce — are not able to take a paid sick day when they are ill.

“Our elected leaders in Lansing should join the growing number of states and communities that are enacting paid sick day legislation,” said Marissa Luna with Engage Michigan. “Instead, they are siding with corporate CEOs by preventing local governments from passing laws that can be life-changing for millions of Michiganders.”

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