Sacramento, CA – Today, the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Western States Council applauded Governor Gavin Newsom’s signature on AB 152 to extend COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave to essential workers until December 31, 2022. COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave was previously set to expire tomorrow on September 30 2022, leaving workers with only the state-mandated three paid sick days as the state faces the possibility of fall and winter surges of the highly transmissible virus. The following statement may be attributed to Todd Walters, President, UFCW Local 135:
“UFCW members are still dealing with the pandemic daily as workers come into our stores and pharmacies sick, and we’re staring down a fall and winter where viruses will be spread more easily throughout workplaces and our children’s schools. Because of this, UFCW members raised their voices to urge the California Legislature and Governor Newsom to extend this life-saving benefit until the end of the year and we’re glad they listened to us. Paid sick leave is absolutely essential for workers’ peace of mind so they don’t have to worry about paying the rent and buying groceries when themselves or a family member is sick.
“However, California has spent three years battling COVID-19 and scrambling to ensure workers have the ability to take time off when they’re sick every time the law is about to expire,” continued Walters. “We need a more permanent solution in place that workers can rely on year after year. UFCW commits to working with the new crop of Legislators and Governor Newsom to ensure workers have access to sufficient paid sick leave.”
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 29, 2022
Contact: Jenna Thompson, (949) 246-1620, [email protected]