In early June 2016, a coalition called Supporters of a Healthy Workforce Ordinance Act, petitioned for an ordinance that would give everyone the right to paid leave, collecting 24,000 signatures.
The effort to win paid sick leave had been raised in multiple community meetings by immigrant workers and others. This genuine expression of democracy led those in these community discussions to move to win a city ordinance for paid sick leave in Albuquerque. This was deemed to have the most positive impact for the city’s workers, especially low paid and immigrant workers who had no benefits at work. The proposal requires workers to receive 1 hour of paid leave for every 30 hours worked. Companies with 40 or more workers would be able to offer up to seven days of paid leave per year. Smaller businesses would offer up to five days per year of paid leave.
While this would be a major relief to most employees, an opposing coalition made up of the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce, NAIOP (a real estate organization), the New Mexico Restaurant Association, and Associated Builders and Contractors have decided that it would be “too burdensome” to provide this right to their employees. Of course these are the forces representing ruling class interests who benefit greatly from the low wage jobs that offer no benefits in Albuquerque.
Those in the community who mobilized to collect the 24,000 signatures understand the importance of the right to time off from work. Many workers in Albuquerque who work as servers, dishwashers, hotel staff, and other jobs that offer little or no benefits understand that when one becomes ill the more pressing issue becomes the possibility of losing one’s job.
Although the voice of the people was clearly expressed from the collection of 24,000 signatures, the proposition has to be approved by both the Albuquerque City Council and by the County Commission.
On August 1, the Albuquerque City Council met to discuss the proposed ordinance. A great number of people showed up in support filling the auditorium. With very strong support from the crowd, several people spoke out to voice everyone’s concerns.
Lucera Garcia, a member of El Centro de Igualdad y Derechos, a immigrant rights group in New Mexico and one of the members of the coalition that petitioned for the ordinance, spoke on behalf of the often ignored Spanish-speaking immigrant community. Garcia testified how after working 20 years and having suffered from a stroke she nearly lost her job since she did not have any paid sick time benefits.
Others gave testimony to the difficulties they faced while overcoming illness and working at the same time. The proposed sick leave ordinance for many Albuquerque workers means a significantly better life and opportunity to recover from illness without the hardship of lost pay or jobs. The City Council seemed very much in favor of moving this ordinance forward to a popular vote. The decision to place it on the November ballot now rests in the hands of the Bernalillo County Commissioners.
Party for Socialism and Liberation Presidential candidate Gloria La Riva, originally of Albuquerque, expressed her support stating, “Paid leave is a human right rather than a temporary governmental reform. We hope to move forward with this ordinance, we have the right to change, to revolutionize our workplaces and our country.” She went on to add, “I fully support the measure because my own mother, a Spanish-speaking woman who worked in Albuquerque, found herself in many situations similar to those described by the people advocating for paid sick leave initiative. My campaign is putting its full weight behind the passage of this ordinance in my hometown of Albuquerque.”
More updates and reports will be made about this initiative as it makes progress into the election year.
