Chicago labor and community groups are calling on mayoral candidates to support an ordinance that would allow workers to earn five to nine days of paid sick leave.
Nearly 82 percent of Chicago voters Tuesday supported paid leave in a nonbinding referendum.
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At small businesses that employ 10 or fewer people, employees would earn up to five paid sick days under the proposal. Businesses with more than 10 employees would be required to offer nine days of paid sick leave.
Opponents say such a measure would make Chicago less attractive to businesses.
“We will look very carefully at this, but generally we feel very strongly that until Illinois is on a better footing in terms of our competitiveness with other Midwest states, we would be opposed to this sort of mandate,” Theresa Mintle, president and CEO of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce told Crain’s.
Adam Kader, director of Arise Chicago Worker Center, said candidates should take a stand on the issue. He said the ordinance was introduced in March and has been sitting with the Committee on Workforce Development.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel and his challenger, Cook County Commissioner Jesus “Chuy” Garcia, couldn’t immediately be reached for comment. The runoff election between the two men is April 7.
Backers of the ordinance include the Chicago Teachers Union, Local 881 of the United Food and Commercial Workers and Planned Parenthood.
The proposal is part of a national push for paid sick leave laws. Connecticut, Seattle and cities in California, Oregon, New York and New Jersey have approved similar measures. Earlier this year, President Barack Obama asked Congress for a bill that would give workers the opportunity to earn seven days of paid sick leave. “It’s the right thing to do,” Obama said.
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