Tillis, Burr Vote Against Universal Paid Sick Leave for 1.46M North Carolinians in Coronavirus Bill

1.46 million North Carolinians lack paid sick leave, but Sens. Tillis and Burr voted AGAINST paid sick leave for workers impacted by the virus

NC advocates demand Sens. Tillis and Burr defend hard-working North Carolinians.

Raleigh, N.C. – Piedmont Rising Executive Director Casey Wilkinson released the following statement after Senators Tillis and Burr voted today against legislation that would have provided paid sick leave to 1.46 million North Carolinians:

“This legislation, while an important step in the right direction, is just the beginning of what North Carolina families and small businesses may need in the coming weeks and months. This is about being prepared and having the resources we need to protect health care workers, our families, and our economy as the coronavirus continues to spread. North Carolinians need to trust that their leaders will put their health first. Senators Thom Tillis and Richard Burr’s votes today against expanding paid sick leave puts millions of Americans at risk and undermines the health of the people they serve. In the middle of a national emergency, North Carolina families deserve better.”

Background:

• Nationally, there are 32 million people who lack paid sick leave, including 1,462,772 in North Carolina.

• In North Carolina, there are more than 420,000 people who work in the food service industry. Their median hourly salary is $9.26, and the vast majority do not have paid sick leave and cannot afford to miss work unpaid. These individuals, their families and the untold number of people they interact with on a daily basis are all put in harm’s way because of our leadership’s inability to act.

• 3,407,310 adults, or 41.9 percent of the state, are at higher risk of serious illness if infected with coronavirus. With so many families potentially impacted by this pandemic, we must do everything we can to protect our state’s most vulnerable people.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Jessica Coscia, 919-247-7999, jessica@piedmontrising.org

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