New York State legislators want to give unlimited sick leave to those NYC employees who suffer from illnesses linked to the 9/11 terrorist attacks, as NYC Mayor de Blasio is putting red tape in the way of help, writes Thomas Tracy in the New York Daily News.
A new 9/11 sick leave bill in the State Legislature opposes de Blasio’s idea of making separate deals with each city union instead of providing coverage to all sick city employees. The unlimited sick leave bill is one of three new bills collectively referred to as the “9/11 Heroes Bills.” One of the bills requests that more doctors be added to the NYC employees’ retirement system so that 9/11-related diagnoses can be made more quickly; the other asks the FDNY to classify certain cancers as site-related if they’re contracted by retirees within five years of retirement.
State Sen. Andrew Gounardes told reporters, “Our 9/11 heroes deserve straightforward, unlimited sick leave that’s not subject to the whims of any one administration. Our bill would guarantee sick leave for all New York City workers, no matter which union they are in or if they are even part of a union, now and in the future. Government should make it easy for our 9/11 heroes suffering through illness and this bill accomplishes that.”
A rally is scheduled for this Thursday in Albany to discuss the bills.
