Activists press for paid sick leave

Backers are collecting
signatures to force a new bill before the Ohio Legislature.

By DON SHILLING

VINDICATOR BUSINESS EDITOR

YOUNGSTOWN — The push is on to bring paid sick leave to all Ohio workers.

Supporters have been collecting signatures since May in order to place a proposed law before the state legislature. Organizers held a press conference Wednesday in Youngstown as part of a statewide effort to promote the bill.

“Everywhere we go, people are recognizing that this is something that Ohio needs,” said Brian Dunn, campaign manager for Ohioans for Healthy Families.

The coalition’s proposed bill would require employers with at least 25 workers to provide seven days of paid sick leave to every employee who works at least 30 hours a week. Those who work fewer hours would receive fewer sick days.

Sick days could be used to recover from injury or illness or go to the doctor. They also could be used for caring for spouses, children or parents who are ill or need help obtaining medical treatment.

Dunn said labor groups started the effort, but other members have joined such as the AARP and the Ohio Council of Churches. The group lists state Sen. Capri Cafaro of Liberty, D-32nd, and state Rep. Robert Hagan of Youngstown, D-60th, as supporters.

Similar efforts are under way in about a dozen other states, Dunn said.

He said 42 percent of Ohio’s private sector workers, or 2.2 million people, don’t receive paid sick leave.

Dunn said that’s unfair to workers, who are forced to come to work sick or send their children to school when they are sick because no one is home to care for them.

The coalition cites a study from the Institute for Women’s Policy Research that says businesses would actually save money by providing sick days. They would have less turnover and higher productivity, the study said.

The National Federation of Independent Business/Ohio is lobbying against the proposed law, saying it would increase costs for businesses and make them less competitive.

Ty Pyne, NFIB state director, said businesses would pay for sick days by cutting other benefits, he said. Besides, he added, workers might prefer their employer spend money on raises or vacation days, instead of providing sick leave.

Pyne said NFIB research shows that 93 percent of Ohio employers provide sick leave, although it’s not always paid, and 95 percent provide time off for employees with medical emergencies.

The coalition is trying to enact the law under a provision that allows bills to be presented directly to the state legislature. Supporters need signatures of 121,000 registered Ohio voters in order to have the bill introduced in January.

Dunn said the coalition has collected 140,000 signatures and will keep collecting them until the end of the year. Groups collecting signatures from the public often find many of the signed names are not valid, but Dunn said his group has been validating them and he’s confident the coalition will meet the state’s requirement.

The legislature can adopt the bill or reject it. If it’s rejected, the coalition would have 90 days to collect 121,000 signatures to place its proposal before Ohio voters in November 2008.

shilling@vindy.com