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Wednesday, March 05, 2008 |
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SOCIAL JUSTICE: Acting Justly for Healthy Families
By St Mary Administrator @ 7:52 AM :: 293 Views ::  :: Human Concerns
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“…I will bring health and healing to it; I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security.” - Jer. 33:6
Respecting the health and dignity of all human beings is a core religious value for all faith traditions. This includes not just access to health care, but time away from work to recuperate from illness, as well as to tend to ill family members. Yet nearly one half of American workers in the private sector cannot take a sick day without losing a day’s pay, or even possibly their job. Nearly 100 million hard-working Americans cannot take time off to care for a sick child or elderly parent. They must continue to work, regardless of this need. The least fortunate among us bear a heavy burden when they get sick; less than one quarter of low-wage workers have paid sick days, although they‘re the workers who can least afford to lose a day’s pay.
The Healthy Families Act was introduced in Congress in March 2007. The Act would grant seven paid sick days to workers to care for themselves or a family member and would apply to companies with 15 or more workers. Campaigns to pass such legislation are underway in several states and cities, including Milwaukee. These efforts lay the groundwork for legislative action this year. Go to: www.paidsickdays.org for more information or to get involved. Urge our legislative leaders to cosponsor the Healthy Families Act. |
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