‘We Imagine in Paid Go away’ marketing campaign launches | Native Information

Proponents of paid family and sick leave hope to make a big splash with a social media campaign if Congress takes up the issue.

“This is a fundamental decision that I believe should be made with respect to the respect that families – whatever type of family – should be shown,” said US MP Peter Welch, D-Vt., On Thursday during a Campaign launch event via Zoom. “It’s about understanding that we have shared commitments in a society. But as part of this commitment, we have to build systems and structures so that this promise can be kept. And I believe that for this to become a reality, the federal government has to play an important role. “

Morgan Nichols, state director for the Main Street Alliance of Vermont, said the “We Believe In Paid Vacation” campaign aims to “raise awareness and strengthen Vermont’s strong support for adopting a just and robust national solution to paid vacation” . She estimates that about 40 percent of Vermont private employers offer some type of paid family vacation, but the guidelines are not always appropriate.

Her group is part of the Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FaMLI) Coalition, which is made up of more than 25 organizations across Vermont and works with other coalitions across the country on the subject. It counted more than 25 Vermont lawmakers signing a letter urging Congress to pass paid medical leave under President Biden’s proposed American family plan.

Akshata Nayak, of Jericho, owner of Little Patakha, a children’s book publisher, said the policy would “lead the way” for frontline and service workers who are putting their health and safety at risk to others during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as sole proprietorships like themselves .

“We know that without universal and comprehensive paid family leave, people will fall through the cracks,” said Nayak. “It is, simply put, whatever happens.”

A video for the campaign can be found on vtpaidleave.org and contains eight individual stories.

Eric Sorkin of Fairfax, owner of Runamok Maple, calls paid family vacations “important to everyone who works, this is most of us.” Right now, he says, it’s something you normally only find in larger companies.

“What a blessing it would be to be a small business owner and to know that the conditions are there,” he says.

Jessica Arencibia of Burlington, owner of Healing Arts Massage, says black people make up the majority of the service staff.

“It’s just the sector we’re in,” says Arencibia.

Liz Gamache, former Mayor of St. Albans, points out that there can be a high price to pay for quitting work to care for a family member.

Hyde Park hairdresser Erin Butterfield remembers going to Connecticut every week but never missed work looking after a loved one.

“It hit me months later – I regret focusing on things that don’t really matter now,” says Butterfield. “Work and financial matters shouldn’t have played a role.”

The video, said Welch after his screening, “shows the reality that is invisible to so many”.

“How is it that when you go to work you can be visible, there can be expectations that you get your job done, you can be given responsibilities that you willingly accept,” he said, “but if the whole Person who you are, that includes loving your mom or dad, that includes wanting to be there when your child is sick, who becomes invisible? That is not acceptable. “

Paid family vacation would have social and economic benefits, Welch said, because employees could attend to their family’s needs without worrying about losing their jobs and companies would not lose their employees. He told the meeting that he looked forward to working with them on this issue.

Molly Gray, Lt. Gov of Vermont called it one that is “close to my heart”.

“For anyone who has survived a family medical, care, pregnancy, miscarriage, or newborn care crisis, the need for paid family and sick leave is palpable, instinctive and so profoundly obvious, and especially here in Vermont,” Gray said, remembering when her mother fell ill in March 2019, working as assistant attorney general during the day and teaching law at night to make enough money to cover student loans and rent. “I used up all of my vacation and sick leave, which wasn’t much because I wasn’t there very long to be in the hospital and help my family deal with the medical emergency. When I ran out of paid vacation I started to wonder what would happen if I had to take unpaid vacation? How long would it be before I couldn’t pay my rent or my student loan or worse? Do I have to give up my job entirely? “

Citing the National Women’s Law Center, Gray said that between February 2020 and February 2021, 2.3 billion women completely quit work in the United States.

“Here in Vermont and across the country, a predominant reason for this has been childcare and dependent care,” she said. “According to data released by the Biden Administration, this pandemic has set back 30 years of women’s progress in employment and lost $ 64 million in wages and economic losses.”

House spokeswoman Jill Krowinski said a federal program that gives businesses of all sizes access to paid sick leave would be “a turning point for our state” and would increase equity.

“Vermonters need access to paid vacation,” she said. “The stories we heard in the video are the same stories I hear in my church every day.”

Senate President Becca Balint, who represents Windham County and appeared on taped video, said many people across the country could relate to stories of someone having to choose between paying and treating a health crisis. State lawmakers stand behind and support the Vermont congressional delegation, she said.

“It’s about fairness,” she said, adding that it’s also about helping women, people of color and single parents. “I really hope we’ll be fit in the next year or so to finally get the family paid vacation over the finish line. And I can’t wait to see this day. “