SAINT PAUL – Workers, advocates and elected leaders spoke out Tuesday in support of Earned Sick and Safe Time legislation that had its first hearings in both the Minnesota House and Senate this afternoon. (You can watch a replay of the press conference HERE.) Following the press conference, the bills (HF19/SF34) were heard in and passed out of the Labor Committees of both chambers.
House author Rep. Liz Olson (DFL – Duluth) shared why Earned Sick and Safe Time is so important for Minnesota families:
“During the COVID-19 pandemic’s darkest days, we saw just how important it was for people to stay home when they’re sick. But this was a problem well before COVID, and it’s a problem we’re ready to solve now,” said Rep. Olson, the bill’s chief author in the Minnesota House. “We can only succeed when all workers, families, and children have the opportunity to succeed. Earned Sick and Safe Time will empower workers to take the time they deserve to focus on their wellness, without having to focus too much on their paycheck.”
Senate author Sen. Sandy Pappas (DFL - St. Paul) shared why this bill is a priority for this legislative session:
“Minnesotans deserve to be treated with dignity in the workplace, and that starts with ensuring that every worker has a right to earned sick and safe time," said Sen. Pappas. "Today, we heard testimony from workers who have personal experience with the importance of paid time off to maintain their own safety, recover from illness, or care for a loved one without missing a paycheck. I'm grateful for the support of my DFL colleagues on the Labor committee for advancing this legislation, and I look forward to continuing to lead this effort to pass Earned Sick and Safe Leave in the Minnesota Senate."
Maria Vazquez, a housekeeper and member of CTUL from St. Paul, shared what this law would mean for essential workers like her across the state:
“As a worker in St. Paul, I benefit from the ordinance passed in our city. But people everywhere deserve sick and safe time. Before I had this benefit, I would go to work with a fever and be very sick, and other people would ask me ‘why are you going to work then you are sick?’ But when you don’t have these benefits, you don't have the luxury of missing a paycheck. It was a choice between my health and a roof over my head. This isn’t just about the health and safety of oneself, but of all workers.”
Speaking at the press conference, Laura Carpenter shared how about the importance of the “safe time” portion of the bill:
“When it was clear that I needed to access legal protection from my abuser, my community helped me find the Hennepin County Domestic Abuse Service Center. I was able to take the day off work and go downtown to the center where I was supported by an advocate that helped me navigate the legal system. This resource was invaluable for my family. I was able to leave at the end of that day with an order for protection for myself and my children and some more hope for our future. Being able to utilize this essential resource and others like it made a world of difference for us, but I wouldn’t have been able to access the daytime hours if I was worried about my job security or income.”
Rebecca Noecker, Ward 2 St. Paul City Council Member, shared how this policy has been a huge success in St. Paul and joined the push for statewide passage:
“This policy isn’t a hypothetical in St. Paul, it has been a reality in our city since 2017. It has been an unquestionable good for our city, for our community, for our families, for our workers, for our economy, for our health and for our business community. It has been such a success that we are expanding our policy in St. Paul. I encourage our legislature to make this policy a reality for all Minnesotans.”