So much discussion of #PaidSickDays. Wonder how PEI ended up the 1st province with (limited) paid sick days (for workers with the same employer for 5 or more years)? 1/...

I believe I was in the room when the lights went on and made paid sick days possible in #peipoli

In 2006, the Binns gov't set up a commission to conduct a long overdue review of Employment Standards. The need for a review emerged from Women's Network PEI and @peiacsw advocacy for updates to caregiving leaves.

An Employment Standards review process was established, with a commission of three citizens to hear from the public and make recommendations. The commission included worker and employer representatives. (Light on labour if I remember)

Community organizers took a coordinated approach to making presentations and submitting briefs, mutually supporting each others' key points and endorsing each others' submissions. This was led by the PEI Working Group for a Livable Income.

I remember presenting to the employment standards commission on behalf of @peiacsw and making the case for paid sick leave using gender and diversity analysis. Not even making the business case. And, after a lot of questions, I remember seeing they were swayed.

The commission made its recommendations and, marvelously, recommended paid sick days among a suite of much-needed updates and changes, including many items community organizations worked hard to convince them of.

(Ugh - just burned my kid's breakfast.) Anyway, in 2007, the government changed and the positive recommendations from the commission (including caregiving leaves and sick days) fell under heavy, heavy behind-the-scenes counterpressure from employers.

It took until 2010 for significant changes to come before the Legislature. (Advocacy for changes to maternity and parental leave had begun in 2005). Positive changes happened, including paid sick days!

If I remember correctly, in debate the Legislature reduced the time an employee would need to be attached to an employer from 8 years to just 5 years before being eligible for paid sick days. Still, it was precedent setting legislation.

One of the recommendations of PEI Poverty Reduction advisory council that came out in 2019 was to undertake another, again long overdue, review of Employment Standards. A good process will matter. Strong coordination among advocates will matter. And it could make a difference!

(in five to eleven years LOL) /end