Make the Road marches for paid sick days

by: WorkingFamiliesParty

Thu Oct 01, 2009 at 18:25

Hundreds of Make the Road New York members marched over the Brooklyn Bridge and rallied in Foley Square today in support of a New York City Council bill that would make paid sick days a basic workplace standard.

Guillermo Barerra, a father of two who was fired from a Brooklyn Restaurant for asking permission to go the hospital joined the spirited rally.  He told the Daily News about how he was let go: "She told me I was fired and she never wanted to see me again and I should never return...It's terrible. Employees should not be treated this way."

Over 2,000 New Yorkers have signed the WFP's petition calling on the City Council and Mayor to move quickly on the bill as city schools reopen and the flu season returns.

Joining the boisterous crowd were Councilmembers Gale Brewer, the bill's lead sponsor, Julissa Ferreras, Jessica Lappin, Mathieu Eugene, Dan Garodnik, Robert Jackson, Diana Reyna, and David Weprin.   Also in attendance were several soon-to-be Councilmembers including Brad Lander, Jumaane Williams, Jimmy Van Bramer, Ydanis Rodriguez, Mark Winston-Griffith, Margaret Chin and Stephen Levin -- many fresh off victorious insurgent campaigns.

More photos of today's rally: