Activists Hail Passage of New Paid Sick Leave Ordinance in Dallas; Policy Takes Effect Aug. 1

Dallas' new ordinance requiring all employers in the city to provide paid sick leave will take effect August, and a study estimates the new policy will affect over 300,000 people in the labor force. In front of Dallas City Hall, labor advocacy groups Thursday morning celebrated the ordinance as a step forward for what they called "a basic human right." GOP state legislators this year tried unsuccessfully to prohibit cities from implementing paid sick leave. Dallas became the third city in Texas to craft a policy providing the benefit, joining Austin and San Antonio.The Dallas City Council passed the ordinance by a 10-4 vote in April. The policy is set to take effect Aug. 1 for businesses with 15 or more employees, and Aug. 1, 2021, for smaller businesses.Diana Ramirez, civic engagement director for the Workers Defense Project, called it a "historic victory" for Dallas' community activists.   Continue reading...