November 12, 2009The Honorable Christine QuinnSpeakerNew York City CouncilCity HallNew York, NY 10001Re: The Paid Sick Time ActDear Speaker Quinn,In the midst of what is already one of the worst economic downturns since the GreatDepression, working people in New York City are facing a new threat. For those luckyenough to have a job, the chances of also having decent benefits are rapidly slipping.A study released last month from the Community Service Society and A Better Balance(

Sick in the City)

shows that nearly half all working New Yorkers do not have a singleday of paid sick leave where they work -- and their numbers are growing.In 2004, 69% of ‘near-poor’ workers – those hovering just above the poverty line – hadpaid sick leave. Today, just 33% do. The number of low-wage Latino workers with paidsick days is particularly disturbing: just 28% report having paid sick days where theywork.As representatives of nearly a million working men and women, we know firsthand howdifficult it is to raise a family without a living-wage job and basic workplace benefits. Butthe lack of paid sick days is not only a worker’s rights issue – it’s a serious public healthconcern.To combat Swine Flu, public health officials have urged those feeling sick to stay home,and for parents to keep sick children out of school. But according to the

Sick in the City

report, 54% of all public school parents have no paid sick leave. Not surprisingly, 27%of low-income public school parents report sending a sick child to school, where they can