On Wednesday, April 24, the Dallas City Council voted 10-4 to pass an ordinance that will require employers to provide earned paid sick time for Dallas workers.
“On this historic day, the powerful voices of working people in Dallas have been heard,” said Jose Garza, Executive Director of Workers Defense. “Dallas City Council has done the right thing and voted to provide paid sick time to working families so that no one in Dallas has to choose between taking a pay cut or losing a job, and staying home to care for themselves or a sick child. We have fought for many years for this day and look forward to continuing to make sure that working people get what they deserve.”
Approximately 302,000 Dallas workers don’t have access to earned paid sick time, despite 71 percent of Texas voters who believe employers should be required to offer paid sick leave to their employees. Workers who lack paid sick time are disproportionately low-income and people of color. Those without paid sick time have to choose between taking a pay cut or losing a job, and staying home to care for themselves or a sick child.
Candice Quarles, DeSoto City Councilmember, Place 6, made headlines herself recently by leading the successful effort to gain paid parental sick leave for DeSoto staff members.
“The State of Texas prides itself on being so business friendly but it’s on the backs of its workers. Paid sick leave will ensure workers are not fired for catching the flu on their scheduled work day. I am very proud of the Dallas City Council on getting this passed for those who need it most, working class people,” Quarles stated
The vote followed a press conference and testimony from workers, faith leaders, public health professionals, labor leaders and social justice organizations. More than 100 people filled the City Council chambers during the vote to support the ordinance.
Paid sick time in Dallas has been supported by a strong, broad coalition over the years, including Dallas Black clergy leaders, Dallas AFL-CIO, DSA – North Texas, Faith in Texas, Local Progress, Planned Parenthood Texas Votes, Texas Equal Access (TEA) Fund, Texas Freedom Network, Texas Organizing Project, United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) 1000 and Workers Defense Action Fund.
“Today, over 300,000 residents in Dallas earned what was long overdue to them: worker dignity and the opportunity to seek care for themselves and for their loved ones in the inevitable situation that they fall ill, without having to decide between seeking such care or keeping a roof over their heads and putting food on their tables,” said Reverend Edwin Robinson of the Dallas Black clergy supporting the ordinance. “Today’s victory is a victory for all of Dallas, and today, we are one step closer to becoming the world class city that our residents deserve.”
Paid sick time is also an issue that affects children and public health. Parents without paid sick days are twice as likely to send their child to school sick, increasing the likelihood that children will spread illnesses. Additionally, service industries including food preparation have some of the lowest rates of paid sick time, exposing more people to illness.
“Today Dallas City Council decided to stand with working families in ensuring that no worker ever has to make the hard choice between earning a paycheck and taking care of themselves,” said Lorraine Montemayor, Political Director at the Dallas AFL-CIO.“We applaud our elected officials that voted for this vital policy in doing their duty to protect workers.”
The earned paid sick time ordinance, introduced by Councilmembers Philip Kingston, Omar Narvaez, Adam Medrano, Scott Griggs, and Kevin Felder in March will require private employers to establish and administer earned paid sick time policies for Dallas workers if an individual or family member experiences physical or mental illness, injury, stalking, domestic abuse, sexual assault or needs preventative care.
