Sick Leave Law Up for Passage Monday

Supporters of a paid sick leave ordinance convinced the City Council to put it up for final passage on April 13, though it may be amended to meet concerns of employers who spoke out Monday.

The ordinance would allow certain employees of city businesses to accrue paid sick leave and was promoted as a public health issue when it passed on first reading in February.

When it came time for final passage in March, a large number of business owners raised objections and the council decided to postpone it to April. After hearing at length from both sides Monday, the council moved it to next Monday's agenda with the proviso that it be amended to reduce a fine for noncompliance from a maximum of $2,000 to $750, to affect only employers with five or fewer employees and not to publicize names of offenders.

Among the comments Monday, Alan Goldstein and Councilman Cory Storch favored a state-level paid sick leave law over a local one, but said Gov. Chris Christie would most likely veto it. Special Improvement District President Nimrod Webb said nobody checked to see whether city employers already have paid sick leave and deplored negative characterizations of business owners.

"To say that all employers are money-hungry - we've been demonized," he said.

Representatives of Rutgers' Center for Women and Work, Jersey Citizens Action and the National Organization for Women also spoke in favor of paid sick leave. A NOW member called lack of paid sick time "a public health nightmare," alleging patient deaths due to nurses coming to work sick.

"We all need sick days, and five days of paid sick days is not unreasonable," she said.

Chamber of Commerce President Jeff Dunn questioned why the ordinance was not presented to the Workforce Investment Board and added, "Why only urban areas? Why only Democrats?"

Carlos Ponton of the Plainfield Advisory Commission on Hispanic Affairs said there were "so many sides" to the issue and urged the governing body to "really take your time and look through everything."

Members of the Tri-County Latino Coalition of New Jersey described their efforts to work with the business community and employees.

"Employers were once employees," Councilwoman Diane Toliver said as she advocated more understanding of the issue on both sides.

Councilwoman Rebecca Williams noted the business owners had asked the council last month to table the measure for further discussion, which she said had taken place.

"There was input," she said. "Everyone is aware of this."

The ordinance, with amendments, will be up for a vote at the regular meeting, 8 p.m. Monday in Municipal Court, 325 Watchung Ave.

--Bernice