Flawed logic

I take issue with the Post- Gazette editorial board’s flawed logic in suggesting that the city of Pittsburgh overstepped by successfully defending the Paid Sick Day Act in court ( July 23, “Remember the Basics”).

The editorial board wrote that the state Supreme Court took an “interesting route” to reach its conclusion and that city leaders should have found a different way to make sure Pittsburgh workers get paid sick time. The court really didn’t. It simply enforced existing state law rather than siding with big business.

City Council and Mayor Bill Peduto knew that if “enlightened” employers were going to give us all paid sick days, they would have already done so. And the same Legislature that refuses to raise the minimum wage above $ 7.25 an hour wasn’t about to mandate paid sick time. For the Post- Gazette to argue that the city should have invested in those efforts rather than defending a democratically enacted ordinance from an attack by greedy corporations is insincere.

As a longtime 32BJ SEIU security officer who fought for paid sick days in 2015, I am one of the 50,000 Pittsburghers relieved to have this benefit. I could have benefited from it two years ago when I underwent surgery and worried constantly about the dreaded financial burden of making ends meet.

Instead of pointing the finger at the city for doing what’s right, how about turning it toward the wealthy business interests who try to stop progress for hardworking men and women looking to improve their lives?

TONEKA HARUNA

East Liberty