9to5 Appeals Ruling

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 20, 2009

For Immediate Release: July 20, 2009

9to5 Appeals Court Ruling on Paid Sick Days, Defends inclusion of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Protections, Coalition Partners Urge City to Join Appeal
 

Milwaukee- 9to5, National Association of Working Women, intervenor in the paid sick days legal case, will file an appeal Monday to Judge Thomas Cooper’s ruling on the ordinance. The organization and its coalition partners are continuing their efforts to urge Mayor Barrett, the Common Council, and City Attorney Grant Langley to join the appeal.

“As our partners in the domestic violence movement have pointed out, the crime of domestic violence continues to climb during the recession,” said Wisconsin 9to5 Director, Amy Stear, “At the same time, all signs point to an increase in the H1N1 virus this fall. We need to move ahead quickly to overturn Judge Cooper’s erroneous judgment that seeking shelter or taking legal action to stop domestic or sexual violence is somehow unrelated to the City’s job in protecting the health and welfare of its people.”

Stear noted that Judge Cooper upheld paid sick days as a minimum labor standard and dismissed every argument raised by MMAC alleging that the ordinance conflicted with state or federal laws or with collective bargaining agreements.  The sole ground for striking down the ordinance was the inclusion of steps for dealing with domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking

“Currently, without time off from work, victims in Milwaukee are unable to access the services they need to start a violence-free life,” said Carmen Pitre, Co- Executive Director of Sojourner Family Peace Center. “We can’t put someone in a position where taking time off work to escape abuse could mean losing the income they need to be independent and support their children. Police and prosecutors cannot bring perpetrators to justice unless victims are able to appear at legal proceedings. The Milwaukee Sick Pay Ordinance would have addressed these barriers to safety and given victims the small window of latitude necessary to prevent further violence.”