NJ CITIZEN ACTION URGES SUPPORT OF NJ EARNED SICK AND SAFE DAYS LEGISLATION AT CHAMBER TRAIN

Passed out leaflets and hand sanitizer at Newark Penn Station as attendees boarded the train

Newark, NJ – Today New Jersey Citizen Action urged support of NJ Earned Sick and Safe Days Act (A1827/S2171) as passengers boarded the Chamber Train at Newark Penn Station. Attendees passed out fact sheets and bottles of hand sanitzer. The NJ Chamber of Commerce’s “Walk to Washington” is one of NJ’s premier private political events of the year, attended by legislators, regulators and members of the state’s executive branch.

“We’re in the midst of one of the worst flu outbreaks in years, and yet over a million New Jerseyans have to choose between coming to work sick and losing a days’ pay. While the lobbyists, corporate executives and legislative leaders on the Chamber Train likely have access to paid sick days – we’ll be passing out hand sanitizer to remind folks they can still catch the flu from those who don’t,” said Phyllis Salowe-Kaye, Executive Director of New Jersey Citizen Action.

State legislation (A1827/S2171) sponsored by Assemblywoman Pamela Lampitt and Senator Loretta Weinberg introduced on Monday would allow all New Jersey workers to earn up to 72 hours [9 days] of sick time.

“Not everyone can afford to miss a day of work. It is time we provide all New Jersey workers with the ability to take a paid day off of work so they can take the time necessary to care for their health and not put others at risk of infection,” said Assemblywoman Pamela Lampitt (D-6).

Over one million New Jerseyans lack access to any paid sick time off of work to recover from their own illness or to care for a sick loved one. All too often, the employees who go to work sick are those in lower paying jobs, such as retail and other minimum wage positions, without paid sick days. More than three quarters of Garden State food service and hotel workers do not have a single paid sick day. Child care center and nursing home workers also overwhelmingly lack paid sick days and they are the ones caring for the state’s most vulnerable and medically fragile residents.

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