The Time For Paid Medical And Family Leave Is NOW!
It could happen, thanks in large part to the influx of progressive legislators over the past couple of election cycles. And the expansion of grassroots organizing.
As WDEL reports, the legislation is coming, and is supported by a coalition of organizations:
- AAUW Delaware
- ACLU Delaware
- AFL-CIO
- AFSCME
- Black Mothers in Power
- Brandywine Buzz
- Building People Power
- Central Delaware NAACP Branch
- Delaware Alliance for Community Advancement (DelACA)
- Delaware Building and Construction Trades Council
- Delaware Coalition Against Domestic Violence (DCADV)
- Delaware Community Legal Aid Society, Inc (CLASI)
- Delaware Democratic Black Caucus
- Delaware Developmental Disabilities Council
- Delaware Nurses Association
- Delaware Paid Parental Leave Coalition
- Delaware Poor People’s Campaign
- Delaware Sikh Awareness Coalition
- Delaware United
- Delaware Women for Inclusion
- General Teamsters Local 326
- HerStory Ensemble
- Mental Health Association in Delaware
- Metropolitan Wilmington Urban League
- Metropolitan Wilmington Urban League Young Professionals
- Mt. Zion AME Church
- National Alliance on Mental Illness in Delaware (NAMI Delaware)
- National Coalition of 100 Black Women Inc Delaware Chapter
- National Partnership for Women and Families
- Network Delaware
- Plumbers and Pipefitters UA Local Union 74
- Progressive Democrats of Sussex County
- Progressive Democrats for Delaware
- SEIU 32BJ
- UFCW Local 27
- Unitarian Universalist Delaware Advocacy Network
- We Stand 4 Something
- Working Families Party
Just take a look at those organizations, and tell me how any Democratic legislator could vote against such a bill. I don’t think that any will. Had Quin Johnson stuck around, maybe him. But this legislation deserves to pass. I worked on unpaid medical and family leave legislation when I was in Dover, and the Chamber ran enough interference to stop that from becoming law. Ultimately, the Federal government enacted it and beat us to it.
Times have changed, though:
The coalition anticipates the movement to be aided by State Senator Sarah McBride, State Senate Majority Leader Bryan Townsend, and State Representative Debra Heffernan, who are expected to introduce legislation on the issue this year.
One name is notably absent from the article. I’ll write the imaginary response to this initiative:
Governor Carney is looking forward to hearing from all parties as he considers this issue. (He really stands for nothing save fiscal austerity.)
Bottom line: With Carney’s support, this bill could become law by June. I infinitely prefer this to, you know, drawing this out with hearings where the Chamber and others of its ‘ilk’ can conjure up all sorts of ‘horribles’. Nine other states (California, New Jersey, Rhode Island, New York, Washington, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Oregon, and Colorado) and the District Of Columbia have already enacted these protections.
Once the bill is introduced, I’ll be back to provide information on how you can help to make this become law.
What about the Jaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhbbbbbbbsssssssss?!?!?
Delaware will be less able to compete with Mississippi and Somalia for the worst employers. Don’tcha unnerstan econominks ?
I know you’re being ironic.
But, in fact, I think employees and families will be MORE likely to move to a state that offers this protection, if given a choice.