On Monday, Plainfield became the twelfth New Jersey municipality to adopt a paid sick leave plan, over continued objections from merchants who say it will harm their businesses.
The measure provides one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked, and the leave may be also be used for care of ill family members. It will take effect in 120 days, allowing time to educate those affected. In a public hearing before final passage, opponents said information was not disseminated in Spanish, so Latino business owners knew nothing about it. Merchants also decried daily $750 fines for noncompliance and additional record-keeping. Of 22 speakers before the vote, a majority opposed it, citing reasons such as outside influence and "secret maneuvers."
Dairy Queen owner Donna Albanese, who also heads the Plainwood Square Merchants Association and is vice president of the Special Improvement District, asked the council to table the ordinance, saying, "It's not a health law, it's a labor law."
Rev. Tracy Sprowls of First Unitarian Society of Plainfield said she talked about "brokenness" Sunday in church and said in tough times people "want to close our fist and not share," She asked the council to "consider the moral choice" of what the paid sick leave legislation means.
AARP official Evelyn Liebman said she represents 5,000 New Jersey members who "overwhelmingly support" paid sick leave,
When it came to a vote, Councilwoman Diane Toliver abstained, Gloria Taylor said "no," Tracey Brown, Barry Goode, Bridget Rivers, Rebecca Williams and Council President Cory Storch said "yes."
Objector Nancy Piwowar returned to the microphone after the vote and publicly renounced her AARP membership in protest.
--Bernice
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Dairy Queen owner Donna Albanese complains all the way to the bank. She probably gets paid whether she goes to work or not. She has a very successful business, and good for her, which makes enough money that it can support two families. I hope she becomes a billionaire! But please it’s time to stop the corporate greed in America and in Plainfield.
ReplyDeleteCorporate Greed? Ms. Albanese and her family have operated a decent and honest business for decades in Plainfield, providing job opportunities for many. How she chooses to operate her business should be her prerogative. And, if she doesn't have to go into work and still makes money GOOD FOR HER! She's achieved what so many others would like. I'm sure there have been many times when she is there 20 hours a day, for days on end - it's all a wash.
DeleteShe's built a business, she provides a service and she employs locals.
Operating a franchise in-of-itself is a very costly operation. Every last hard-earned penny that comes through the door is rightfully hers.
Of course, around these parts many folks believe my money should also be their money. Well, good news, this country still operates on a capitalist model and despite what's been going on over the past few decades, it has yet to forge into socialism.
It's always interesting to note how individuals like to be selective on which matters government should or should not be involved.
Let me know how you feel every time Uncle Sam decides to take a little bit more out of your paycheck? So what, it's only a few hundred dollars a year of your hard-earned money . . . a little bit at time . . .you'll never feel it, right? (just in case, it's sarcasm)
I agree with Oscar. I don't see a lot of corporate greed in the small businesses in Plainfield.
DeleteThere are similarities in may respects between the PMUA and the Sick Pay program. There is no question that the Agency and Pay Program provide Social Benefits. In the case of the PMUA over 170 jobs. In the case of the Sick Pay program obvious financial relief to those who are ill. The corollary to this is that both programs come at a price which the public pays. In a town where 17% of the population is below the poverty level and the majority live from pay check to pay check, many families can ill afford to subsidize these regressive mandated costs. The Sick Leave program , as do all government programs, requires administration. The information must be disseminated to 1,000 businesses in two languages. The businesses must be enrolled and submit periodic reports. The reports must be reviewed to assure compliance. Disputes must be adjudicated. Appeals administered and Council hired to defend appeals. In short, an Agency has been established and must be staffed. The PMUA is a significantly larger example. The Household collection is about $4.00/month or approximately %50 per year more than a private hauler. The Shared Service is about $320 which is exorbitant on the face of it, and there are rumblings of further rate increases. The inevitable tragedy is that the consequence of having created a monopoly is that abuse follows. The clear evidence is that our combined Collection fees are double or more than those of neighboring communities of comparable size and comparable volumes of collected waste. Admittedly, as with the Sick Leave program, there are those to whom these programs are an asset.. To the family struggling to make a living these additional costs are a liability. Who speaks for the retired couple living on Social Security. Has AARP spoken for them in their thirst for social justice? Who speaks for the father with several children who is unemployed and living on welfare to whom another several hundred dollars a year in unnecessary fees and tax payments is big bucks. As long as the public understands that they pay for all governmental programs and agree to make the necessary contributions then that is fine. After all we are a Democracy and the people's will be heard. Bill Kruse
ReplyDeleteHow do you link the PMUA to paid sick leave? You are all over the place with your post with many inaccuracies about the PMUA. This post is incoherent and should be removed. I'm surprised at you Bill
DeleteI regret your inability to understand. If you identify yourself I will attempt to explain. Bill
DeleteWhat's with Toliver abstaining?
ReplyDeleteDid she give a reason?
If she cannot understand the issues she should resign.
Stop your Dog whistling and go back to your Trump rally. What make you thing she doesn't understand the issues.
DeleteBecause she never offer, to her constituents or the people who pay her 10K stipend, any kind of reason behind her vote?
DeleteI am afraid this ordinance that is about benefits and nothing else will cause Plainfield jobs. I consider myself fairly progressive, but some progressive items go too far. Let's hope we don't regret this feel good legislation.
ReplyDeleteI will be moving my business out of Plainfield by the end of March
ReplyDeleteI hope you reconsider unless you are moving out of state. As soon as New Jersey elects a Democrat for Governor, paid sick leave will become state law. Moreover, your increased out of town rent will cost you more than providing this employee benefit.
Deletelook at the cost. Paid sick leave amounts to a 2% labor cost increase and some management time in completing paperwork. If labor is 25% of total costs, that's only a 1/2% total cost increase- and it is non-recurring. Compare that to my property tax increase which goes up 2% or more every year. Besides, workers treated well are better workers and that redounds to the business owner's benefit.
Richard Loosli
Christie has proven to be as much of a loser as Corzine. We can't win. Republicans are as bad as Democrats. We're still paying for Whitman's rip-off of the state.
DeleteI SIGNED NEW LEASE YESTERDAY MOVING TO NORTH PLAINFIELD HAHA PLAINFIELD AND I GOT INCENTIVE TO MOVE IN
DeleteI think it is time to review what Today is really all about:
ReplyDeleteSoothsayer. Caesar!
Caesar. Ha! who calls?
Casca. Bid every noise be still: peace yet again!
Caesar. Who is it in the press that calls on me?
I hear a tongue, shriller than all the music,
Cry 'Caesar!' Speak; Caesar is turn'd to hear.
Soothsayer. Beware the ides of March.
Caesar. What man is that?
Brutus. A soothsayer bids you beware the ides of March.
Caesar. Set him before me; let me see his face.
Cassius. Fellow, come from the throng; look upon Caesar.
Caesar. What say'st thou to me now? speak once again.
Soothsayer. Beware the ides of March.
Caesar. He is a dreamer; let us leave him: pass.
We are a republic Kruse. People are so stupid.
ReplyDeleteIf the Paid Sick Leave Ordinance was really about health then why are All Unions, Union apprentices, City employees, Public schools and Developers exempt? This question was NEVER answered. And don’t say all unions have better benefits because it’s a lie. Some Unions pay no sick time and that’s their prerogative but why should the small business in Plainfield. There are no big corporations in Plainfield. Franchises are privately owned and must pay franchise fees to the company no matter what their bottom line is. Why can’t any one understand that to stay in business the business must support itself and its employees or it fail. When all towns around us do not have this mandated burden it causes our long standing businesses unfair hardship. If there are three employees and because of the promise of heavy fines two of them are fired how much sick pay does an unemployed person get from his nonexistent job? That would be zero!
ReplyDeleteThis is driven by the Union supported “Working Families Party who is a grassroots political party” (statement off website) not a “health” driven party. When asked on a TV interview what do you attribute your success to, NJWF Director Analilia Mejia plainly stated “Don’t let them see you coming”. All but 2 of our city council representatives have wholeheartedly decided to back a group who condones ambush as a means to their end. The worst part, NJWF and one council woman through social media have demonized the business of Plainfield.
This administration seems to have only one goal, gentrification.