Raise Up Massachusetts, a coalition backed by Local 888, has successfully campaigned to get all Massachusetts workers covered by Emergency Paid Sick Time. That includes municipal workers, who Gov. Charlie Baker had sought to exclude.
The coalition opposed this move, saying in a press release that it was unacceptable to deny benefits to “municipal employees – workers who are on the frontlines of the pandemic response and deserve the same protections as private-sector workers.”
The Legislature rejected Baker’s proposed amendment to the COVID-19 bill. Ultimately, the governor declined to veto any parts of the final legislation, and signed it into law.
“This legislative victory shows the importance of political action to Local 888 members,” said President Tom McKeever. “Municipal workers will now be entitled to the same protections as others.”
Among other things, the bill signed by the governor creates a new $75 million emergency COVID-19 sick leave program. It allows workers up to one week of paid leave, capped at $850, to quarantine, recover from the virus, get vaccinated or care for a sick family member.
The program is set up to reimburse employers for workers who take time off due to the COVID crisis.
The state does have an Earned Sick Time law that was passed by the voters in 2014. Generally, it provides 40 hours of paid sick time yearly. The coalition said that, during the pandemic, often this Is simply not enough.
For more on the Raise Up Massachusetts coalition, see [www.raiseupma.org/](<Raise Up Massachusetts, a coalition backed by Local 888, has successfully campaigned to get all Massachusetts workers covered by Emergency Paid Sick Time. That includes municipal workers, who Gov. Charlie Baker had sought to exclude.
The coalition opposed this move, saying in a press release that it was unacceptable to deny benefits to “municipal employees – workers who are on the frontlines of the pandemic response and deserve the same protections as private-sector workers.”
The Legislature rejected Baker’s proposed amendment to the COVID-19 bill. Ultimately, the governor declined to veto any parts of the final legislation, and signed it into law.
“This legislative victory shows the importance of political action to Local 888 members,” said President Tom McKeever. “Municipal workers will now be entitled to the same protections as others.”
Among other things, the bill signed by the governor creates a new $75 million emergency COVID-19 sick leave program. It allows workers up to one week of paid leave, capped at $850, to quarantine, recover from the virus, get vaccinated or care for a sick family member.
The program is set up to reimburse employers for workers who take time off due to the COVID crisis.
The state does have an Earned Sick Time law that was passed by the voters in 2014. Generally, it provides 40 hours of paid sick time yearly. The coalition said that, during the pandemic, often this Is simply not enough.
For more on the Raise Up Massachusetts coalition, see www.raiseupma.org/.>).