Rep. Ellison Statement on Minneapolis' City Council Approval of Sick Leave Ordinance

Statement

Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN) released the following statement after the Minneapolis City Council unanimously approved a sick leave ordinance. The ordinance will require businesses with six or more employees to provide at least 6 days of paid leave a year, and businesses with fewer than six employees to provide 6 days of unpaid leave. The leave could be taken when the worker or a family member is sick, or for safe time in instances of domestic abuse.

"This is a huge win for our community. The paid leave rule will help make sure working Minneapolitans never have to choose between getting healthy, and getting paid. I congratulate every worker, organizer, and activist who fought so hard for this rule. I applaud the Minneapolis City Council for approving it unanimously and Mayor Hodges for proposing action on earned sick leave in her Working Families Agenda.

"For far too long working parents have had to choose between caring for their children and going to work. For too long workers have had to choose whether to risk the public's health by going to work sick, or risk their family's livelihood. This is a big step in making sure they won't have to.

"There are a lot of great things about being from Minneapolis. But it's hard to be proud if we can't say we treat our workers well. The paid leave rule moves us towards a fairer economy, and it's a signature achievement."

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