Pittsburgh council holds hearing on Bill 17‑36 to expand paid sick leave accrual and caps

Pittsburgh City Council held a public hearing on May 28, 2025, on Bill 17‑36, an ordinance that would amend the Paid Sick Days Act (Pittsburgh Code Title 6, Article 1, Chapter 6.26, Section 6.26.03) to change the accrual rate for paid sick leave to one hour for every 30 hours worked and to increase annual maximums to 48 hours for businesses with fewer than 15 employees and 72 hours for businesses with 15 or more employees. No vote on the bill was taken at the hearing; council members said the measure will return for a preliminary vote on June 4, 2025.

Supporters, including legal advocates, researchers and numerous members of SEIU Local 32BJ, told council that the proposed changes would expand access to leave for low‑wage workers, improve public health and address racial and gender disparities in paid leave access. Tyler Gillette, a staff attorney with the Women's Law Project, said paid sick leave "are vital for these workers to access the health the health care they deserve." Gabrielle Nguyen, a staff attorney at A Better Balance, highlighted the bill's two key changes: the faster accrual rate and the higher annual caps. "By making this change, Pittsburgh will join 15 states and 11 localities" using the 1‑hour‑per‑30‑hours accrual rate, Nguyen said, and the proposed caps would make the city consistent with several states and localities that guarantee up to 48 or 72 hours depending on employer size.

Several speakers described personal and occupational experiences they said illustrated the need for more leave. Diana Folsom, a senior policy analyst at the Keystone Research Center, recounted her own cancer diagnosis and treatment and estimated she had used "at least 26 hours" for appointments and "about 48 hours" for surgeries and treatments, saying that amount does not include additional recovery time. Security guards, cleaners and food service workers working in downtown office buildings, universities and museums said current leave levels force them to work while ill or to use limited PTO. Tianna Wilson, a security guard and SEIU 32BJ member, told council that when she was out with the flu "I was out for a week. That's half a paycheck. But I didn't have any sick time left, so I had to use PTO." Sam Williamson, Pennsylvania state director for SEIU 32BJ, recounted the law's history and urged quick passage: after court challenges and the COVID response, "40 hours is not enough," he said.

Opponents included the Pennsylvania Restaurant and Lodging Association. Lauren Brinjak, the association's senior director of government affairs, said association members ‘‘take very seriously the health and well‑being of workers’’ but urged caution, arguing the hospitality industry is operating on thin margins and that the changes would be "very challenging in terms of payroll costs as well as hiring, particularly for smaller operations." Brinjak asked council to delay further expansion, saying the current ordinance is relatively recent and had only recently been implemented across the industry.

Council members who spoke at the hearing expressed support for hearing from workers and indicated backing for the bill. Councilman Bobby Wilson said hearing directly from workers "is critically important" and said he was a co‑sponsor; he added, "we can be a leader here in the city of Pittsburgh to support workers." Councilwoman Smith asked to be added as a cosponsor during the hearing. Council President LaVelle noted the bill will return to council for a preliminary vote on June 4, 2025, and said members could not indicate their final votes at the hearing.

The hearing compiled testimony from attorneys, researchers and scores of workers who described occupational exposures, chronic injuries and the difficulty of scheduling medical appointments on shifts. Proponents cited studies and cross‑jurisdictional examples to argue that faster accrual and higher caps reduce disease transmission, increase use of preventive care and support worker retention; opponents cited economic impacts on small hospitality businesses. No formal amendments or votes were taken during the hearing; council members and staff will consider the testimony before the scheduled preliminary vote.

With the hearing closed, council adjourned. The ordinance will return for further consideration at the June 4, 2025 council meeting.