We Won Because of You

It's been a long road, but together, we did it.

Yesterday morning, Philadelphia City Council passed an earned sick days bill with a vote of 14-2. And this afternoon, Mayor Nutter signed it into law. Philadelphia is now the 17th city to pass earned sick days.

Thanks to your hard work and dedication, 200,000 workers will be able to start earning the time they need to care for the families they love.

Please take a moment to share your support for earned sick days using social media with the hashtag #PHLSickDays. And then take one more moment to thank the Councilmembers who voted yes and the Mayor who signed it into law.

We are looking forward to working with you as the new bill rolls out. Please keep an eye on www.phillyearnedsickdays.com and let us know how you think people can learn more about the bill by emailing us at policy@pathwayspa.org.

Created with flickr slideshow.

Created with flickr slideshow.

Join Us for the #PHLSickDays Vote this morning!

This is the last morning people in Philadelphia will wake up without a #PHLSickDays law on the books.

Join us at City Hall starting at 9:45 for our press conference followed by the City Council session.

If you can't be there in person, you can listen to the Council session on 900 WURD or watch at http://vp.telvue.com/preview?id=T01340&video=40960.

Thank you to everyone who made today possible! Check back on Twitter at @Earnedsicktime for updates throughout the day!

Earned Sick Days Vote is This Week - Here's What You Can Do!

If you support earned sick days in Philadelphia, now is the time to contact your Councilmembers! Bill 141026, Promoting Healthy Families and Workplaces, is scheduled for a vote on Thursday, February 12.

Here's how your voice can make a difference:

• Call City Council right now to share where you stand on earned sick days!
• Join us for a Tweetstorm tomorrow at 3 PM! Use hashtag #PHLSickDays. Visit our Facebook page to RSVP and to find sample tweets and posts.
• Come to City Council for the vote on Thursday at 10 AM! RSVP here.

Join Us For a Twitter Rally!

Join us!

What: Twitter rally for Philly paid sick days
When: 1– 2 pm ET
Where: Tweet from anywhere
Who: We’re targeting the #PhillyCouncil as a whole and particularly Councilmembers Mark Squilla (@cmmarksquilla), Jim Kenney (@JimFKenney) and Dennis O’Brien (@CouncilOBrien). Urge them to vote YES on the override.

Sample tweets (feel free to use these or draft your own personalized ones):
UPDATED 4/10/13 - Find more sample tweets here! Find Twitter handles for all Councilmembers here!

• .@cmmarksquilla 77% of #Philly voters want #PhillyCouncil to override Mayor’s #paidsickdays veto. Do you stand with us? Vote YES on Thurs.
• .@JimFKenney, #Philly voters want #paidsickdays and polling shows they won’t support candidates who deny them. Vote YES on Thurs.
• On Thurs, #PhillyCouncil can stand with workers & families, or with corporate interests. What will you do, @CouncilOBrien? #paidsickdays
• Think #Philly workers deserve to earn #paidsickdays? Call #PhillyCouncil TODAY, tell them to override veto: fb.me/1CInCKC77
• #PhillyCouncil, sick #kids and working parents are depending on you. Please vote to override Mayor’s #paidsickdays veto. #Philly #p2
• I don’t want to get sick because my server couldn’t afford to stay home. #PhillyCouncil please vote for #paidsickdays. #Philly
• 77% of Philly voters want #phillycouncil to override the #paidsickdays veto. Will you stand with voters, @cmmarksquilla?
• 90% of Philly voters support a #paidsickdays law. Will you stand with them, @CouncilOBrien?
• A plurality of voters say they are less likely to vote for a #phillycouncil member who refuses to overturn the mayor's #paidsickdays veto.

NON-PARTISAN VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO CALL, WALK, and HELP TO GET OUT THE VOTE!

HELP Vote for Homes! ON ELECTION DAY!

The Vote for Homes! Coalition is a nonpartisan coalition registering thousands of people who are living on low incomes, including those who are homeless, living with disabilities, or are formerly incarcerated.

Drivers and Assistants for Election Day are needed. 
Volunteers must come through a training to help transport voters and give voter ID information.

Voter Mobilization Trainings (pick one):

• Thursday, October 25, 2:30-4:30 pm (Snacks) or 5:30-7:30 pm (Pizza)
• Sunday, October 28, 2-4 pm (Snacks)
• Monday, October 29, 5:30-7:30 pm (Pizza)
• Friday, November 2, 1:30-3:30 pm (Snacks)

Trainings are held at 1515 Fairmount Ave., Phila. PA 19130.

RSVP at: www.voteforhomes.org 
Call if you need help with transportation!
HELP PITCH IN BEFORE ELECTION DAY!

Get Out the Vote!

Crossposted from the PathWays PA Policy Blog.

Today is Election Day, and a chance for your voice to be heard on the issues that matter to you. Please vote today so that our families, friends, and workforce can have more opportunities to succeed tomorrow!

Below is some information on voting that might be helpful for those of you who live in Pennsylvania.

If you are registered in a state other than Pennsylvania, please visit http://www.smartvoter.org/ to find your polling place, determine if you are registered, and to answer other questions.

Who is running for office today?

In Pennsylvania, we are electing elect members of local government, such as mayors, council people, township supervisors and district judges. To see exactly who will be on your ballot, visit http://www.smartvoter.org/pa/state/ and type in your information.

Do I have to register to vote?

In Pennsylvania, voters must be registered 30 days prior to each election. If you are not sure if you are registered, you can confirm your registration status in the Pennsylvania voter registration database.

If you are not registered to vote in today's election, fill out a voter registration form now so you will be ready for the next one!

Where is my polling place?

The Pennsylvania Department of State offers an online guide to help find your polling place on their website.

How do I use the voting system at my polling place?

Different counties use different types of polling systems. Visit Votespa.com to see the type of voting system you will use and to watch a demonstration of how it works.

What should I bring with me to the polls?

If you are a first-time voter or if you are voting at a new polling place, you should bring an approved form of identification. To see all approved forms, visit the PA Department of State voting website.

All voters may bring a list of candidates on the ballot and who they plan to vote for and/or a list of key issues or specific proposals that are on the ballot. The Department of State's Election Assistant gives you the opportunity to print a one-page sheet listing your polling place and items to bring (or not to bring) to the polls.

What are my rights as a voter?

To see your voting rights, visit the Committee of Seventy website for voting rights guides in several languages. The PA Department of State also has helpful information for older voters, voters with disabilities, and voters who have been convicted of a crime.

What if I have questions or problems on Election Day?

If you have questions or problems on Election Day, please call the Election Protection Hotline at 1-866-OUR-VOTE.

Remember, if you are registered in a state other than Pennsylvania, please visit http://www.smartvoter.org/ to find your polling place and to answer other questions.