SANTA FE, NM-Después de seis años de esfuerzos de organización, los trabajadores y los defensores celebran la firma de la Gobernadora Michelle Lujan Grisham de la Ley de Lugares de Trabajo Saludables en la actualidad. A partir del 1 de julio de 2022, los trabajadores de todo el estado podrán acumular una hora de licencia pagada por cada 30 horas trabajadas y hasta 64 horas anuales.
La coalición de bajas por enfermedad pagadas agradece a los patrocinadores del proyecto de ley, los Reps. Angélica Rubio, Christine Chandler y Patricia Roybal Caballero y a las senadoras Mimi Stewart y Linda López. Mimi Stewart y Linda López, por ser verdaderas defensoras de los trabajadores de Nuevo México, y a la gobernadora Michelle Luján Grisham por su apoyo.
Los trabajadores han estado luchando por esta legislación durante años, compartiendo historias personales con los legisladores sobre cómo se ven obligados a ir a trabajar enfermos o se arriesgan a perder su sueldo. Como resultado de este incansable trabajo, la licencia por enfermedad pagada es finalmente una realidad y beneficiará a todas las familias y comunidades de Nuevo México. Esta gran victoria ilustra la importancia de que los legisladores escuchen a los habitantes de Nuevo México: las personas que abastecen las tiendas de comestibles, cuidan a los niños de otros, cosechan y sirven alimentos y mantienen a nuestras comunidades en funcionamiento durante la pandemia. Los trabajadores de Nuevo México se presentaron e hicieron oír su voz.
Esta declaración está firmada por los siguientes:
- AARP NM
- NM Comunidades en Acción y de Fe (CAFe)
- Centro de Política Cívica
- El CENTRO de Igualdad y Derechos
- Enlace Comunitario
- Igualdad en Nuevo México
- Sindicato Nacional de Empleados de Hospitales y Asistencia Sanitaria Distrito 1199NM
- Centro de Derecho y Pobreza de Nuevo México
- Partido de las Familias Trabajadoras de Nuevo México
- La Voz de los Niños de Nuevo México
- OLÉ, Organizadores en el País del Encanto
- Somos un Pueblo Unido
- United Food Workers of America Local 1564
- Red de Mujeres por la Alimentación y la Agricultura
Declaraciones de trabajadores y organizaciones de todo Nuevo México:
Carissa Owen, Restaurant worker and NM CAFe leader, (Las Cruces, NM)
“Paid sick leave is long overdue for New Mexico workers. I have seen restaurants fund expansions, marketing, or new concept rollout instead of investments in their biggest assets: their trained and dedicated workforce. This legislation is necessary for the restaurant industry to take employee health seriously.”
Rosa del Carpio, Worker and El Centro de Igualdad y Derechos member, (Albuquerque, NM)
“I have been working in Albuquerque for almost 15 years without access to paid sick leave. I tested positive for Covid-19 after having to risk going to work to put food on the table. I was worried about getting tested in the first place for fear that a positive test result would force me to quarantine without any income in order to survive. What I feared most as a single mother was infecting my nine-year-old son. Thousands of workers around New Mexico find themselves in situations similar to mine. Having access to paid sick leave is not only a racial justice issue: it will save the lives of workers and families in our communities.”
Marshall Martinez, Director of Equality New Mexico (Albuquerque, NM)
“Paid sick leave is critical for LGBTQ New Mexicans. Queer and Trans people work hourly jobs disproportionately and already face extreme systemic barriers to healthcare. HB 20 helps with one of those barriers and will help provide LGBTQ New Mexicans the opportunity to be able to afford the time off to see our healthcare providers.”
Stephanie Welch, Director of Workers’ Rights at the New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty (Albuquerque, NM)
“No one should have to choose between a paycheck and protecting their and their loved ones’ health. Yet half of New Mexicans who work for private employers have to do exactly that because their employer does not provide paid sick leave. This law will ensure that workers get this basic right. We thank the workers from across the state who spoke out and advocated to legislators, and who won this victory.”
Anamaria Dahle, NM Working Families Party member, (Albuquerque, NM)
“Earning paid sick leave will allow me to obtain treatment to heal my injuries inflicted by my ex-husband over a decade ago. I will also be able to keep up with my doctors’ appointments for my autoimmune disease. So often, single parents’ health is put on the back burner. Thank you for passing HB 20.”
Iman Andrade, OLÉ member, (Albuquerque, NM)
“For me, winning paid sick leave means a safer workplace for me and my coworkers. This means people can actually stay home if they have COVID and not spread it to others. Workers need paid sick leave regardless if there is a pandemic. We can keep people safe from spreading colds and flus, especially in the restaurant and grocery industry. Our workforce is going to be much safer and I am so excited that HB 20 has passed the Senate.”
Bellanira Lozano, Somos Un Pueblo Unido member, (Santa Fe, NM)
“I am a single mother of four children and a domestic worker who takes care of elderly people in Santa Fe. The pandemic hit my family hard. We all got sick and didn’t get paid. This law means families like mine won’t have to decide between getting paid or going to work sick. It’s a tremendous victory for New Mexico’s workers.”
Oriana Sandoval, CEO of Center for Civic Policy, (Albuquerque, NM)
“Today we celebrate the passage of House Bill 20–a statewide Paid Sick Leave program for New Mexico workers. This legislation sends a clear message that families shouldn’t have to worry about shattering their family budget and getting buried under healthcare costs because they can’t afford to lose a day’s pay. We look forward to Gov. Michelle Luján Grisham signing this bold policy into law to take a step forward in ensuring New Mexicans have access to every resource they need to overcome the current pandemic and regain their stability–ensuring the success of our children and future generations.”
James Jimenez, Executive Director of New Mexico Voices for Children (Albuquerque, NM)
“Paid sick leave has long been a missing piece of the child well-being puzzle in New Mexico, with about half of our workforce lacking this basic benefit. The COVID-19 crisis has made this need even more critical, as families have suffered with the health impacts and the loss of job security and wages. The passage of this bill is a watershed moment for kids in our state and will go far in ensuring New Mexico parents and their families have the opportunity to live healthy lives and continue to contribute to a strong recovery. We applaud the Legislature for boldly rising to the greatest challenge of our time to secure this long-needed policy that will benefit the health and economy of our state.”