About 40 leaders of Minneapolis churches and synagogues stood on the steps of City Hall on Thursday and called on council members to pass a law that would give all workers the right to earn paid sick leave.
They are the latest group to join in the sometimes-heated conversation about workers' reforms and the realities of business, sparked by the Working Families Agenda proposed by Mayor Betsy Hodges and some council members. After a wave of protest from businesses led leaders to pull back on proposed predictable scheduling requirements, the focus of the discussion has shifted to sick leave.
Under the plan headed for a Nov. 4 public hearing, all Minneapolis employers would be required to provide paid sick leave at the rate of one hour for every 30 hours worked. At businesses with fewer than 21 workers, employees could earn up to 40 hours per year. Those at larger businesses could earn up to 72 hours.
Outside City Hall, Rabbi Michael Latz of the Shir Tikvah Synagogue gestured up to the third-floor offices of council members.
"You know up there how complicated life is when someone in your family gets sick ... exercise your moral courage," he said.
Some of the six people who spoke at the echoed other supporters' calls for laws that could help low-wage workers, who are often minorities.
"This is a very basic right, and it is a health issue," said Rev. Paul Slack of the New Creation Church. "And unfortunately, disproportionately people of color are affected by this."
Business owners have been more vocal in their opposition to the now-tabled scheduling proposals, which would have required employers to provide schedules weeks in advance and pay extra each time a schedule was adjusted. But some have also expressed concerns about the scope of the sick-leave proposal.
Business owners gathered last week at City Hall to tell council members that extending sick leave could have considerable financial implications for them and the local economy.
The religious leaders dismissed those concerns, noting that local government and faith groups have often come to the aid of businesses.
Rev. Laurie Eaton of Our Saviour's Lutheran Church said the unwillingness of businesses to consider such reforms is problematic.
"This is exactly what systemic racism looks like," she said.
Members of the group said they planned to take their concerns to their council members, and on to state legislators.
Council members have been gathering feedback on the proposals. Advocates of the plans, including Council Members Elizabeth Glidden and Lisa Bender, have said they intend to vote on a sick-leave ordinance before the end of the year.
If Minneapolis approves a sick-leave law, it will join 19 other U.S. cities, four states and one county who have made similar moves. It would be the first Midwestern city with such a law.
