“The Philadelphia City Council today added to the momentum around paid sick days by voting 14-2 to approve an ordinance that will guarantee workers in the city the right to earn paid sick time. This is a good day for Philadelphians and for the effort to ensure that all workers in this country have this basic right. We are extremely pleased that Mayor Nutter has pledged to sign this common sense proposal, after blocking similar measures in the past. Philadelphians will soon have the paid sick days standard they want and need to protect the health of their families and their community.

The momentum for paid sick days is undeniable. President Obama issued a stirring call for local action in his State of the Union address, members of Congress are reintroducing federal paid sick days legislation today, and Tacoma’s City Council approved the first paid sick days measure of the year last month. That is no surprise given the mountain of evidence demonstrating that paid sick days are good for workers, their families, businesses and the economy. Nineteen jurisdictions across the country have — or will soon have — paid sick days laws in place and many were established in just the last two years. We are thrilled that Philadelphia is now part of this growing trend and will be the 20^th.

The National Partnership commends the Philadelphia City Council for showing, once again, that it is committed to protecting the health and well-being of the city and its residents. And we congratulate the Coalition for Healthy Families and Workplaces, which has fought tirelessly for this victory. As other states and cities build on the progress, the case for a national paid sick days standard, the Healthy Families Act, grows stronger. No one should have to choose between their health or family and their job when common illnesses strike. It’s time for Congress to act.”