February 27th, 2008 at 10:30 a.m.

Featured speakers will include

Assemblywoman Fiona Ma (D- San Francisco), author of AB 2716, the paid sick days bill

Kathleen Martinez, a single mother of three with two part-time food service jobs and no paid sick days. Several other workers will also share their personal stories about how they would benefit from this legislation

Art Pulaski, executive secretary-treasurer of the California Labor Federation, a co-sponsor of the bill

Dr. Mitchell Katz, MD, director of health with the San Francisco Department of Public Health

Martha Kuhl, RN, a registered nurse

Six million Californians - 40 percent of all workers in the state - do not get any paid sick days through their employer. Going to work sick creates an unhealthy work place and puts co-workers and customers at risk, but many workers have no choice. Nearly 90 percent of employers report employees coming to work with contagious illnesses. This bill, AB 2716, would allow workers to earn paid sick days that can be used to care for themselves, a sick family member, or to recover from domestic violence or sexual assault. This legislation puts California at the forefront of a national trend, as several other states, including Maine, Ohio, Massachusetts and Washington, DC are considering similar measures. For more information, visit www.paidsickdaysCA.org.