Carrie, a waitress in South Portland, was forced to work a double shift in December of 2006, despite being sick. She pleaded with her manager to let her go home at the end of her first shift, but he refused because the restaurant was short-staffed. Carrie suspected that the manager didn't believe she was really ill, but that changed quickly when a half hour into the second shift, she began throwing up in front of customers.

by Carrie

Posted on September 26th, 2007 in Uncategorized by admin

Moms & Kids Make Your Voice Heard

Add Your Name & Your Child’s Name and Age!
Example: Jane Smith & son Josh, age 6

We the undersigned mothers and our children support paid sick days for Maine families because no mother should have to chose between her work and her family. Despite the fact that women perform more caretaking duties, working women are less likely than working men to have any paid time off, including paid sick days to care for themselves and their family when sick. Our children will also benefit from paid sick days. Sick children recover faster when cared for by their parents. When parents are forced to send their sick child to school or daycare, it takes a toll on the health of the child, other children, teachers, and child care providers. If we believe in family values, it is time to value families. By signing this statement you agree to have your name and the names of your children used in a print advertisement in support of paid sick days.

After you have added your name to this petition an e-mail will be sent to the given address to confirm your signature. Please make sure that your e-mail address is correct or you will not receive this e-mail and your name will not be counted.

Name:

E-mail address:

Last 50 signatories

Jennifer Kelleher
Kate Imbruno
Janine Reina King Sons Seth 4 and Devin 1
Emma Weekly-Fletes
Winona Prince
Angie Schickle
Pat McKeen
Sandra Doctoroff
TAMMY J. RYAN
Hilary Schneider & son Kaden, age 1
Violet Raymond
Nicole Brown & son Parker, age 6
Toby and Hattie Simon
Tracey Falla
Angela Haynes, MSW
Tanya Cattabriga, LCSW
sarah l.o. smith
Katy Cowles
Joanna & her son Michael Jones
Pamela, Susie, & Adam Hutchins
Anna J. Boll
Michaela Cavallaro
Karen Neale Leary
Jeanie Barnard
Velma McConnell
Nicole Witherbee
Donna L. Andrews, LCSW


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Educators, Nurses, & Parents Demand Paid Sick Days

Press Conference News

School nurses, educators, parents and children gathered in front of Longfellow School on September 25 to demand policies that will enable parents to stay home from work to care for sick children.

They pressed for legislation guaranteeing paid sick days for Maine workers and unveiled a new statewide poll demonstrating broad bipartisan support for the initiative.

Read the Kennebec Journal, Channel 8 WMTW, and MPBN coverage of the press conference.


Common Ground Fair

Volunteers spent three days in September at the Common Ground Fair in Unity, Maine talking to people about the importance of paid sick days for Maine families. We were able to collect 300 postcards signed by Maine voters asking their legislators to support L.D. 1454, An Act to Care for Working Families. See photos from the fair below.

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  1. Kim Simmons said,

    on September 27th, 2007 at 10:24 am

    I am furious that the Portland Press Herald chose not to cover this important topic. We should start a letter writing campaign (unless you’re saving that for another time)! It is great to see that 77% of those voting on the Channel 8 poll support the bill.

  2. Paul Raysik said,

    on October 8th, 2007 at 7:37 am

    I support LD 1454, I have sick days at the company I work for however we are punished at our yearly evaluation for using them in the fact that we get less of a cost of living raise if we use any of the sick time we have. We traditionaly loose form one half to one percent of our raise, this is not fair, we have one person who is an employee who has cancer and gets very sick after he has his treatments, he has been warned he is missing too much time from work! He is a 25 year employee! We work for the American Red Cross blood services in Bangor Maine! NICE HUH????

  3. Erica Swist said,

    on October 27th, 2007 at 6:34 pm

    I am very thankful for sick time from my company. They are very good about it because I work with the public and risk spreading my illness to others.
    Paul-I am sorry to hear about your coworker and his illness. Shame on the American Red Cross! He is obviously a dedicated employee to stay for 25 years. I definately support LD 1454!

  4. Anna J. Boll said,

    on November 1st, 2007 at 3:22 pm

    Just last week I received a informational flyer from the Brunswick schools alerting us to the increased concerns about pandemic flues. It is essential that we stay home from work and schools when we are ill. It is a public health issue as well as an economic one.

  5. Jeanie Barnard said,

    on November 5th, 2007 at 6:19 pm

    We all deserve sick days. Everyone deserves time off to use for a variety of purposes. Among them should be the ability to care for yourself or others when sick.

  6. Gail Roy said,

    on November 29th, 2007 at 3:11 pm

    I work at a nursing home as a CNA and we are penalized for calling out sick. If we are sick on a weekend or even hospitalized, we have to make up that weekend.

  7. Janine Reina King said,

    on January 9th, 2008 at 7:42 pm

    I am a mother of 2 and a navy wife. I am also a diabetic. During my childhood, paid sick time more than helped my parents (both full time bank employees) not only be there for me during times of medical emergency but continue to support my 3 siblings and I financially. Also having paid sick leave as a navy benefit really helped us out during my last pregnancy when I was unable to walk or care for our 2 year old son. I think this should be a benefit afforded to ALL employees not just those lucky enough for a large corporation or the military!

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