Pittsburgh City Council unanimously votes to increase paid sick time for all workers

PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh City Council voted unanimously on Tuesday to increase paid sick time for all workers in the city.

Pittsburgh City Council President, Dan Lavelle sponsored the Pittsburgh Paid Sick Days Act, which increases the amount of paid sick leave workers can earn and use each year.

“I feel tremendous about it passing. This was a very long battle going back to when we first introduced it,” Lavelle said.

“Paid sick days are an essential part of a working family’s life and to ensure that you can have doctor’s appointments, to ensure that you can take your elderly parent to the doctors, or just ensure that you don’t have to come to work sick,” Marla Blunt with the SEIU said.

Large employers will now have to offer nine paid sick days - up from the five workers typically get each year. Small employers with 15 or fewer employees will now offer six days, up from the current number of three.

“I literally watched too many employees be affected and jump from job to job because they lose them because of taking care of their family, so this was a big push, not only for union workers but for our community,” Pamela Rall-Johnston with the SEIU said.

While SEIU cleaners, security officers and food service workers have led the charge for change, Tuesday’s vote includes all city workers.

Joshua Kunkle, who is a security guard Downtown, spoke about having to go to work after his son was born and had to spend time in the NICU. At the time, Kunkle didn’t get any paid sick leave.

“I had to choose between going to work or spending time with him the first two weeks of his life,” Kunkle said.

While the vote is a win for workers, Lavelle acknowledges that the beefed-up paid sick time may be financially challenging for small businesses in the city.

“I would expect some concern,” Lavelle said. “We discussed it at the table last week where there are some mom and pop shops that have legitimate concerns, but we are working to see ways that we can mitigate some of risks.”

Lavelle says he plans on working to find small business loans and grants through the URA to help out those who may need it. The increase in sick time begins in January.

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