CO Group Rallies for Paid Sick Days

DENVER - None of Colorado's federal lawmakers currently co-sponsor the Healthy Families Act. The proposed legislation would mandate six paid sick days per year for all workers. That's something Erin Bennett, Colorado director of Nine to Five, the National Association for Working Women, hopes to change.

"In low-wage jobs, we see that between 75 percent and 80 percent of workers don't have paid sick days. If they miss a day, people tend to be fired or lose a day's pay."

The proposed act is challenged by business interests, who say it would be too expensive.

Bennett says the act offers crucial protection to vulnerable workers - including most of those in the food service and retail industries.

"For people who are in situations where they are making minimum wage, one day's pay really means a lot to them. Missing one day could mean not being able to pay rent for the month or being evicted from their house."

Nearly 22 million women workers nationwide lack paid sick days at their jobs. Nine to Five is holding a rally today at the Mercury Cafe in Denver in support of the legislation.