San Francisco Labor Hails Passage of Sick Leave Measure

San Francisco has become the first city in the country to mandate paid sick leave for all employees.

The ballot measure passed with 61% of the vote and comes amid a new plan requiring employers to contribute to universal healthcare and a citywide minimum wage boost phased in over the last few years.

A similar wage boost failed to gain enough votes in Santa Cruz on Nov.7. Labor leaders and the grass-roots group of young service and restaurant workers who pushed San Francisco's sick leave measure celebrated the win as another forward-thinking, trailblazing milestone.

"This is the first place in the country that's won paid sick days. It's a basic worker right and human right. We are just ecstatic," said Sonya Mehta, an organizer with Young Workers United, which prevailed after spending just $15,000 on the campaign. The victory carried a whiff of prideful vindication, given Republicans' recent derision of soon-to-be House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for her "San Francisco values."

The measure requires that employers provide one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked by any employee, full-time, part-time or temporary. Businesses with 10 or fewer employees would offer a maximum of five days per year per worker, while larger employers max out at nine days per year. The time can be used to care for a sick child, partner or other loved one.

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