Workers addressed Princeton council Monday night, calling for council members to implement a policy that would give them earned sick leave.
PRINCETON - Mothers, fathers and teenagers came out in droves at a council meeting Monday night, arguing for earned sick leave for all private sector workers.
"We are all humans, we all get sick. We all deserve at least once a year to be paid for that," Juan Garcia, who has worked in the town for 15 years told council members Monday night by way of a translator.
The new Princeton logo designed by town resident Jeff Leonard. Garcia was one of many local workers to speak out Monday against some Princeton businesses' policy of not giving earned sick leave to workers. Together they urged Princeton Council members to pass an ordinance that would force local businesses to give workers the ability to take sick time without fear of losing their jobs or suffering financially.
The turnout was organized in part by New Jersey Working Families, which released a statement Monday night saying that there are only 11 cities in New Jersey with paid sick time laws. Trenton passed their law just over a year ago.
"Earned sick time gives workers basic security, protects the public health, and provides benefits for businesses like lower turnover and higher productivity," Analilia Mejia, executive director of New Jersey Working Families said in the statement.
Her words were echoed by families and supporters at the meeting Monday.
Craig Garcia, of New Jersey Working Families, told council members that many Princeton residents and workers believe earned sick time already exists in all Princeton businesses and that there's no need for an ordinance.
But that's not the case, he said.
"There's many, many workers in this town - folks that live in this town - that don't benefit from sick days," Garcia said. Some of those workers who attended the meeting Monday, stood up in support of Garcia's comments.
One woman addressed councilmembers with her children by her side. She explained that her daughter was diagnosed with asthma when she was young and often gets sick.
"It's not easy. It's hard to find one person who - in the minute - will take care of your daughter," she said.
Garcia said council members have been discussing the issue for a little less than a year and that he hopes Princeton will look at passing an ordinance soon.
Council members discussed a similar issue in November when they went over how much it would cost the town to extend sick leave benefits to all municipal workers.
During that discussion, town administrator Marc Dashield, explained a finding he had completed which showed that giving part-time municipal workers sick leave would not put a significant dent in the town's finances.
Council members agreed to let Dashield put together the specifics of implementing the policy change and promised to talk about it at a later meeting.
Anna Merriman may be reached at amerriman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @anna_merriman Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook.