Group protests, demands paid sick leave

DENVER -- The organization “Campaign for a Healthy Denver” is fighting for all employees to have access to paid sick leave, and on Tuesday the group set its focus on Starbucks Coffee.

The group held a peaceful protest outside the shop at California and 16th Street.

According to the group, employees do not receive paid sick days. Starbucks employees did not comment to the media and the company could not be reached immediately for comment.

Protest organizers say too many employees in the metro area are struggling with making ends meet because they do not have sick pay.

“When they are sick, or a child is sick, or a family member, they literally have to choose between losing a job or staying home with someone they love,” says Jason McCain.

The coalition includes more than 75 community and faith-based organizations, as well as labor groups.

They say their research backs up their prediction that employers who don’t provide paid sick pay will be feeling increased pressure in the future.

According to Allison Halprin Lovejoy of the F.R.E.S.C., “Sixty-five percent of voters with little knowledge of this issue are supportive right off the bat.”

Some employers complain that in a tough economy, providing paid sick pay could put them out of business, preventing many job seekers from gaining an opportunity to make a living at all, but it’s an explanation that protesters say they don’t buy.

“That’s a common line of defense from employers,” says McCain.

Companies that do business in Denver may be forced to pay sick leave if voters put their foot down.

The “Campaign for a Healthy Denver” organization just submitted a petition with more than 12,000 signatures to have a mandatory sick leave measure placed on the November ballot. It would require employers in Denver to grant nine days of paid sick time each year to full-time employees.