by DC Jobs with Justice | Oct 23, 2012 | Campaigns, Paid Sick And Safe Days
On Tuesday, March 4th in front of a packed and tense audience of over 100 people, the DC Council voted unanimously to pass the Accrued Sick and Safe Days Act of 2007. The vote makes DC only the second city in the country to have a paid sick days law, and the first to provide paid time off to victims of domestic violence, stalking, and sexual assault. rnrnUnder the new law, full-time workers at businesses with over 100 employees will earn 7 days a year to take care of their own health, the health of family members, or address a domestic violence situation. Workers at businesses with 25-99 employees will earn 5 days, and workers at businesses of 24 or fewer will earn 3 days. Part-time workers will earn paid time on a pro-rated basis. rnrnWhile winning this groundbreaking bill over huge opposition was a big victory, we also suffered some losses: rnrn*By a 7-6 vote, the Council approved a change that says workers have to be at a job for a full year or 1,000 hours before earning paid sick time. This will especially hurt young workers, workers in high-turnover service sector jobs, and people re-entering the workforce, such as ex-offenders and TANF recipients. Councilmembers Vincent Gray, David Catania and Jack Evans pushed through this change, and Councilmembers Harry Thomas, Mary Cheh, Kwame Brown and Yvette Alexander voted in support.rnrn*The Council denied sick and safe days to several categories of workers, including tipped restaurant workers, health care workers in “premium pay programs”, and students employed through University work-study programs.rnrn*The law will also allow businesses to apply for an...
by DC Jobs with Justice | Aug 29, 2007 | Interfaith Worker Justice, Projects
rn rn rn rn___Weds, August 29____rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Third Church of Christ, Scientistrn rn rn Noon, 7:30 pmrn rn rn 900 16th St., NWrn rn rn Washington, DCrn rn rn rn rn J. Darrow Kirkpatrick will lead testimony services including scripturalrn readings on labor. rn rn rn rn rn rn rn___Friday, August 31___rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Adat Reyim Congregationrn 8pmrn 6500 Westbury Oaks Ct.rn Springfield, Varn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Rabbi Bruce Aft willrn lead services. rn rn rn Lulit Mengiste andrn Julio Lizima, hotel workers and members of UNITE HERE, will speak about thern Hotel Workers Rising campaign.rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Bet Mishpachah (GLBT)rn 8:00pmrn DC Jewish Community Centerrn 1529 16th Street NWrn Washington, DCrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Rabbi Bob Saks willrn lead services. rn rn rn Mackenzie Baris of DCrn Jobs with Justice will speak about issues impacting low-wage workers.rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Congregation Beth Emeth (C)rn rn rn 8pmrn rn rn 12523 Lawyers Rdrn rn rn Herndon, Varn rn rn rn rn Rabbi Steven Glazer will give D’var torah on economicrn justice.rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Northern Virginia Hebrew Congregation (R)rn rn rn 8pmrn rn rn 1441 Wiehle Avenue rn rn rn Reston, VA 20190rn rn rn rn rn Rabbi Alan Nosanchuk will lead services. rn rn rn Abdul Kamus of SEIU Localrn 32BJ will speak about issues affecting service workers.rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Oseh Shalom (RC)rn rn rn 8pmrn rn 7515rn Olive Branch...
