Vote yes on sick-leave issue

RECENTLY AN op-ed (June 22) questioned the intent of the sick-leave measure that will be voted on by Albuquerque voters in October. Once again attempts to protect employees from arbitrary actions of employers and respecting the economic security desired by their employees is derided.

Metro area businesses employ a significant number of workers, many of whom barely make minimum wage. They include the working poor who not only experience the stresses of finding jobs but earning enough to pay rent for safe affordable housing and provide for their families. A number of these workers are female heads of household. They go to work ill while they risk loss of jobs when their children are ill and miss school or the parent must schedule doctor appointments or, perhaps, must renew applications for SNAP . ...

This ballot question is not an attempt to control businesses; rather, it is an affirmation of the worth and dignity of these workers and an indication of the respect for their needs. Such regulations on businesses are not punitive — they are statements of the respect and value this community places on each person. They protect the working single mother whose 3-year-old child has to be taken to the doctor before returning to her preschool, who has no support system and who does not want to return to work the next day and be told she is fired because she had to leave work early the prior day. Is this the “discipline,” aka retaliation, that would no longer be possible? Then my vote is Yes . ... ANGELA MERKERT Albuquerque