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Wrangling over paid sick leave in Albuquerque
It a debate that rattled Colorado, New Jersey and Washington.
Now it Albuquerque turn.
Supporters of a proposal called the Workforce Ordinance say they hope this fall to make Albuquerque the first city in the state to require that employers offer paid sick leave to their workers.
They plan Monday to turn in the last batch of petition signatures needed to get the proposal before voters, though it isn clear yet whether the measure actually will end up on the Nov. 8 ballot or will have to wait until the next city election in October 2017.
A coalition of more than a dozen business groups including NAIOP, the commercial real estate development association; the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce; the New Mexico Restaurant Association; and Associated Builders and Contractors has come together to oppose the ordinance.
The business groups say that offering paid sick leave to every worker is a worthwhile goal, but the proposed ballot measure is far too burdensome.
It could force some businesses to leave the city, opponents contend, because of the paperwork it would require and the potential for litigation from workers who use the ordinance to sue their employers. They say the proposed ordinance description on the petition fails to point out many changes that would be required of employers.
ANDERSEN: Ordinance will change way businesses pay
four mom and pop questions on this petition are not what this ordinance is about, said Lynne Andersen of NAIOP. will basically change the way almost every business pays their employees. say the proposal is a common sense way to ensure that workers don have to choose between their paycheck and the health of a family member. Workers could use the sick leave for themselves or to care for a relative, or for absences related to domestic violence, rape or stalking.
They announced their campaign on Mother Day to highlight the potential benefit to working moms. But they say it also helps the community as a whole if a cook or child care worker can stay home rather than spread their illness at work.
WAGONER: Sick workers can all of us the debate is framed as, is just something we giving to workers,' said Elizabeth Wagoner, an attorney at the New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty. think it important for people to remember that it impacts all of us when a worker has to go to work sick.
A recent New Mexico Voices for Children study said it would cost private sector employers statewide $239 million a year to offer paid sick leave to those who don have it, or 0.35 percent of the private sector gross domestic product in New Mexico.
County has questions
The debate focuses on a seven page ordinance crafted by supporters. They are attempting to get it before voters using the petition initiative process outlined in the Albuquerque City Charter.real gold plated jewellery
It the same method that has been used to propose abortion restrictions, a tax for the BioPark and increases in the minimum wage. Voters approved the tax and minimum wage proposals.
The Workforce ABQ campaign has had 60 days to gather 14,218 signatures from people registered to vote in Albuquerque. Its deadline is Monday.
A variety of left leaning groups is backing the campaign, including Organizers in the Land of Enchantment, or OL; the SouthWest Organizing Project; El Centro de Igualdad y Derechos, an immigrant rights group; Strong Families New Mexico; and Early Educators United.
Supporters and opponents alike expect the proposal to reach the required signature threshold, though the city clerk, of course, is still verifying the petitions signed by voters.
After that, the proposed sick leave ordinance would go to the City Council, which can either approve the measure outright or send it to voters in the next general or municipal election. The council cannot amend it unless both the original and amended versions are put to voters.
Supporters hope the council will agree to put the proposal on the Nov. 8 ballot this year rather than wait for the 2017 city election.
Getting it on this year ballot would also require Bernalillo County approval.
County Commission Chairman Art De La Cruz said he usually open to adding any question suggested by the city if there room on the ballot. County Clerk Maggie Toulouse Oliver said it too early to say whether there will be room, in part, because the county is still formulating its own questions.
