City Councilman Bill Greenlee had hoped to beat New York City to the punch in getting a bill passed in Philadelphia that would require most city employers to provide paid sick leave.
But chances of that happening are unclear. Since six new members joined City Council this year, Greenlee has been working hard to garner support for the bill Mayor Nutter smacked down more than a year ago.
"Our target is to get this done in the fall. We certainly have not given-up," said Greenlee, who along with City Council president Darrell Clarke introduced the bill in 2008. "The average person works 260 days and we're saying they should have seven paid sick days off… I don't see anything terribly wrong about that."
Greenlee would need 12 votes to override Nutter's veto. Nutter described the bill as "laudable," but echoed the Chamber of Commerce, warning it would put thousands of jobs at risk and discourage businesses from coming to the city.
The bill required businesses with 11 or more workers would have to allow employees to earn up to seven sick days a year and companies with 10 or fewer workers would have to offer four sick days.
"Mom and pop" stores with five or fewer workers were excluded from the legislation after small-business owners complained it would be too costly for them.
Meanwhile in New York City, a majority of City Council members there support paid sick leave, but City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, who's eyeing a run for Mayor refused to call the bill up for a vote claiming the timing is bad and would be costly for businesses. Mayor Michael Bloomberg has threatened to veto it.