Editors Note: The UAW endorsed Proposition A which raised the minimum wage and provided paid sick leave.
The Springfield Daily Citizen carried this opinion piece, Sick leave law approved by voters levels the playing field for employees…
After reading Ryan Collins’ article “State Rep., Springfield Chamber say minimum wage law bad for business,” I felt the need to express a different view — that the dynamic between employers and workers in Missouri is not a level playing field. It is biased toward employers.
Adding to this off-kelter situation is that Republican legislators have their proverbial thumbs on the scale when addressing the matter of paid sick leave. This issue was brought about by initiative petition. Missouri’s voters broadly supported it. The reasons for voters’ support are obvious: The voters passed this because in the world where they live, too many of them have been forced to choose between staying home without pay when sick and subsequently not being able to pay for groceries or rent, as opposed to going to work while ill, risking potential greater damage to their health while also exposing fellow workers and the public to sickness.
