Local 100 Leading Westchester Earned Sick Leave Fight

MAY 8 -- Approximately 60 people – including dozens of TWU Local 100 school bus workers – rallied in White Plains for county legislation that would grant paid sick days to many workers who now don’t get them from their employers. Local 100 is leading the fight in Westchester on behalf of our members working for private companies in the county.

Speakers at the rally included Westchester County Legislative Leader Catherine Borgia (D-Ossining), who sponsored introduced the Earned Sick Leave law in March; Joseph Mayhew, Secretary-Treasurer of CWA Local 1103; David Schwartz, a retired high school teacher who is now Vice Chair of the Westchester-Putnam Working Families Party.

But one of the most compelling and dynamic speakers to step up to the podium was one of our very own: School Bus Operator Jamare Pabon, a mother of four who works for Royal Coach. If she doesn’t go to work because she is ill, she doesn’t get paid. If she stays home to care for a sick child, she doesn’t get paid. “There is no choice,” she said. “You have to go to work. Either you go to work or you don’t pay your bills. We don’t want to go to work sick. We don’t want to spread disease. Westchester has to pass this bill!”

Orlando Vasquez (pictured in center with dark glasses), Vice Chair of the School Bus/Paratransit section brought about 35 Local 100 members to the White Plains rally.