California's Day of Action for Paid Sick Days

What’s so important about paid sick days?

Daislyn Pease had the answer, when Channel Seven WKGO stopped her at the 9to5 table inside the San Jose Downtown Farmer’s Market.  California 9to5 was out in force on August 26th, for this second annual National Day of Action on Paid Sick Days. 

This year 9to5 canvassing teams totaling over 21 members descended on busy farmer’s markets in both San Jose and Los Angeles.  Bay Area chapter delegates got up early to distribute postcards and posters to over 250 women attending the annual Women’s Equality Day breakfast in Milpitas.  They were outside the doors to welcome women ticket holders before 7 AM!    And on a hot day in Los Angeles, with temperature hovering around 106 degrees, 9 volunteers talked to hundreds of people shopping at the Wilshire/Vermont farmer’s market or waiting for busses & metro trains.    9to5 was joined by activists like Elsie Myers from UTLA teachers union, workers like Cesar and Mariana from the Restaurant Opportunity Center, and members like Rosaura, Diane and Sheila from the nearby UFCW members services office.

With Labor Day parades and picnics around the corner, 9to5 will continue to make visible our struggle for that most basic of labor standards – our right to get sick or care for the sick -  without losing either our pay or our job.   Look for us in Sacramento or Wilmington on Sept 5th, decked out in purple Paid Sick Days shirts.  You just might want to buy one when you finish signing the petition!

Here are a few more pictures from Los Angeles: