MISSOURI – In response to Mayor Tishaura Jones’ Paid Family Leave Proposal for All City Employees, Missouri Jobs with Justice released the following statement:
“Most of us work hard for our families, no matter our zip code, income, race, or job title. For too long, our families and communities have been forced to choose between making ends meet and being there for our loved ones in times of need,” said Caitlyn Adams, Executive Director of Missouri Jobs with Justice. “When a new child is born or a parent falls ill, the last thing we need is to worry about what our boss might think. Data shows that this policy will especially help women and Black and Brown workers, who are often the least likely to be able to afford unpaid time away from work for caregiving responsibilities. We applaud Mayor Tishuara Jones and the City of St. Louis for proposing paid family leave for all city workers. This bold proposal proves that our elected leaders can deliver on big sweeping promises to our communities. We look forward to the further development of this policy and the inclusion of it in the FY23 budget to be passed later this summer.”
This week’s announcement and pledge to invest $150 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds to north St. Louis in an effort to “reverse decades of disinvestment in our neighborhoods” is a great step toward ensuring everyone has the paid time off they need to recover from illness or care for a sick loved one.
More than 600,000 Missouri workers do not have access to paid time off to help an ailing family member, welcome a new child, or get the care we need to stay healthy. Most of these workers are in public-facing occupations like food service, personal care, and health care. These workers have kept our community running throughout the pandemic. When these workers are forced to go to work sick or leave the workforce to care for a loved one, it jeopardizes the health of our entire community.
We will continue to push our elected officials to invest in the people who make up our neighborhoods and communities. By coming together, we will build a Missouri where we all have what we need to live full, vibrant lives – no matter where we call home.
