No delay in San Antonio’s Paid Sick Leave Ordinance

SAN ANTONIO (KTSA News) – A move to delay implementation of San Antonio’s Paid Sick Leave Ordinance has hit a roadblock.

Lawyers representing business groups in a lawsuit challenging the ordinance and city officials wanted to postpone implementation until December. They called for an emergency hearing Monday, but attorneys for Texas Organizing Project said they weren’t given proper notice of the hearing. Judge Monique Diaz agreed with them, so there was no hearing on the motion to delay implementation of the ordinance.

Joleen Garcia with Texas Organizing Project and dozens of other advocates for paid sick leave showed up for the hearing at the Bexar County Courthouse.

“Today the people of San Antonio are still in this fight. We’re ready to continue and defend paid sick days,” said Garcia.

Texas Organizing Project, Move Texas and other groups gathered more than 140 thousand petition signatures last year calling for a mandatory paid sick leave ordinance.

“What happened today in the courtroom was a showing that we do belong at the table,” said Garcia.

Outside the courthouse they chanted “no delay, no delay.” The proponents for mandatory paid sick leave want the ordinance to go into effect as quickly as possible, while city officials want more time to work on possible changes. A similar ordinance in Austin has been held up in the courts.

A lawyer from the state attorney general’s office sat next to Ricardo Cedillo, who’s representing business groups challenging the ordinance. Attorney General Ken Paxton intervened Friday in the lawsuit, saying the ordinance is unlawful.

Another hearing is scheduled Wednesday as city attorneys continue seeking a delay.

“The proposed agreed order to delay implementation of the Paid Sick Leave Ordinance preserves the ordinance, the work of the Council-appointed Commission and the ability of the City Council to make timely adjustments to the ordinance, if it chooses. By contrast, a court order indefinitely suspending implementation – such as what happened in the City of Austin – risks losing all of those things.” said City Attorney Andy Segovia.