Austin Workers' Advocates Push For Paid Sick Leave Ordinance

EAST AUSTIN, TX — Workers Defense Project, a nonprofit advocating for the working class, will rally in support of a city paid sick leave ordinance they had a major hand in pushing now under threat from myriad lawsuits from those opposing the measure.

The historic ordinance passed in February gave Austin the distinction of being the first city in Texas — and in the South as a whole — to enact such an ordinance. Due to take effect in October, the local law compels companies to provide paid sick leave to its employees, regardless of size albeit on a sliding scale of accrued time off depending on business size.

But even before its implementation months from now, several pro-business groups and individuals have voiced opposition to the ordinance, framing it as government intrusion into the workings of the private sector. a coalition of business organizations led by the Texas Association of Business and the National Federation of Independent Business already have filed lawsuits against the city over the ordinance's passage. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a conservative Republican, recently joined the fray with opposition predicated on his belief the ordinance violates the Texas Minimum Wage Act making no reference to a paid sick time allowance.

In light of such mounting opposition, the WDP is fighting back, seeking to intervene in the business groups' lawsuit and filing a motion to have it dismissed. The WDP is joined in the fight with local restaurant L'oca D'ora, Austin electrician Joe Hernandez and the Texas Civil Rights Project, officials said.

To further voice their support of the ordinance for which they aggressively fought, WDP members plan to focus on the paid sick leave fight during their second quarterly canvass of the year on Saturday, May 12.

*We will also be registering people to vote, so if you are a deputy registrar please let us know in advance!" WDP officials wrote on their Facebook eventpage. Potential canvassers will be fully trained or paired with another participant who has already undergone the training, officials said.

Participants will gather at 10 a.m. in WDP headquarters, 5604 Manor Rd. before departing to the canvas areas. The group will then return to the WDP office for debriefing and lunch, according to their Facebook page.

"We’re fighting to protect paid sick days in Austin alongside L'Oca D'Oro, Austin electrician Joe Hernandez, and Texas Civil Rights Project," WDP officials wrote. "Late last month, Ken Paxton and special interest groups sued to stop the new policy benefiting over 220,000 workers. And now, we’ll fight to defend it in the courtroom!"

WDP officials have created the hashtag #PaidSickDays to spread the word of their efforts via social media.

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>>> Photos by Tony Cantú, from a Sept. 2 political rally at Texas Capitol