One Year Later, A National Emergency on Swine Flu Proves Milwaukeeans Right

Posted on 11/03/2009 - 3:02pm

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 3, 2009

Contact: 
<p>Sangita Nayak 414-274-0920 sangita@9to5.org</p>

One Year Later, A National Emergency on Swine Flu Proves Milwaukeeans Right
Nearly 70% voted for paid sick days but implementation delayed in court by the MMAC

Milwaukee-On the one year anniversary of the November 2008 election for paid sick days, swine flu is a national emergency, vaccine is running short, and a Milwaukeean can still get fired for calling in sick. 9to5 will be in Milwaukee’s City Hall Rotunda asking elected officials to respect the will of voters for sick days. In the spirit of respecting voters, 9to5 will also join a coalition rally to support the democratically elected school board.

"A year ago Milwaukee voters proved ahead of the curve by passing the Paid Sick Days Ordinance just months ahead of the H1N1 flu outbreak. Milwaukee is one of the hardest hit cities in this national health emergency but, because the MMAC sued the city, many workers are still unable to stay home when they are sick," said Amy Stear, Wisconsin Director, 9to5. "In the food service industry over 85% of all workers do not have a single paid sick day.  Many feel they have to work even when they have flu symptoms, endangering their own health and risking the spread of illness to consumers."

9to5 Milwaukee continues to work on this right locally through a court appeal, statewide through legislation in the next session, and nationally, through growing support for the Healthy Families Act. 9to5 also joins other democratic efforts to respect the Milwaukee vote in issues such as public education and transit.

Stear added, “Milwaukee voters should inform our policies and were right on the paid sick day referendum. Voters also elected a school board to represent them and that’s why we’re here today with “Protect City Schools.” Its time that elected officials do their job, without the undue influence of corporate lobbyists like the MMAC. When it comes to issues of public health, education, transit, jobs, and green space, Milwaukeeans know best and want to safeguard our city. We’re in City Hall today to remind them that City Hall should respect democratically elected structures that matter to our families, and listen to their voters to create a better city.”