Press Advisory: February 22, 2018

CONTACT: Anne Songcayauon, asongcayauon@workingfamilies.org, (201) 233-7735

Mayors of Earned Sick Day Municipalities Join Together to Call for Statewide Action

New Jersey Mayors that adopted earned sick days policies will join New Jersey Working Families, partner organizations, and workers in a press conference calling for statewide legislative action to extend coverage to all New Jersey workers

Newark- New Jersey mayors representing municipalities that have adopted local earned sick day laws will gather for a press conference at Newark City Hall on February 26th at 10AM to call on state legislators to pass statewide earned sick day legislation.

Organized by New Jersey Working Families and co-sponsored by labor, environmental, and community organizations, the Mayors and advocates will urge lawmakers to enact legislation that guarantees all workers access to earned sick days. According to state experts, 1.2 million New Jersey workers do not have earned sick days, and 1 in 4 workers have been fired or threatened with job loss for taking sick days.

In 2013, Jersey City became the first municipality to mandate earned sick days for all workers. Since then, 12 other municipalities in the state have passed ordinances to guarantee paid sick days. Upon the passage of a statewide bill, New Jersey will join 9 other states and Washington D.C. in guaranteeing a worker’s right to earned sick days that can be used to care for themselves or their family in the event of an illness.

WHAT: Early Earned Sick Day adopting New Jersey Mayors join NJ Working Families Alliance in support of Earned Sick Days for all workers

WHEN: February 26, 2018 at 10AM

WHERE: Newark City Hall, 920 Broad Street, Newark 07102

WHO: Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop, Morristown Mayor Timothy Dougherty, Montclair Mayor Robert Jackson, Bloomfield Mayor Michael Venezia, Passaic Mayor Hector Lora, New Jersey Working Families Alliance, New Jersey Chapter of Sierra Club, Anti-Poverty Network of NJ, New Jersey Work Environmental Council, and affected workers.