FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 1, 2019
Contact: Kenza Hadj-Moussa, 612-386-9556
Moorhead, Minn.— Today, TakeAction Minnesota joined advocates in Moorhead and across the state to call for paid time to care policies, including Earned Sick and Safe Time (H.F. 11) and Paid Family and Medical Leave (H.F. 5). Both bills have been heard in the Minnesota House of Representatives, but neither has been heard in the Minnesota Senate.
TakeAction Minnesota released the following statement:
“At TakeAction Minnesota, we believe in care, dignity, and justice for all. Together, we have organized and WON Earned Sick and Safe Time (ESST) in three cities across the state. But right now, workers across the state are still not guaranteed paid sick leave, and only 14% of workers have access to Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML). Without short-term or longer-term paid time to care, Minnesota families face impossible choices every day about getting the time off they need and making ends meet-it’s wrong.
Our state has an easy choice. A choice to put Minnesota families first.
This session, people across the state have shared their stories. Parents who were unable to bond with their newborns. Who were forced to miss pay when they stay home with their kids snow days—which we’ve had quite a few of this winter. We heard from Minnesotans in working in retail, restaurants, and child care who went to work sick, and others who faced disciplinary action when they refused.
House members have heard these stories during committee hearings. But the Senate has yet to hold a single hearing on either ESST or PFML.
We deserve to be heard.
Minnesotans shouldn’t have to choose between making ends meet and caring for themselves and their loved ones. We take care of each other and invest in our families.
We are calling upon our lawmakers this session to make the right choice—the simple choice—and pass paid time to care.”
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TakeAction Minnesota is a statewide, independent, multiracial people’s organization working to advance democracy and equity through organizing, political action, and campaigns. The organization has offices in St. Paul, Duluth, and St. Cloud.
