Rocca: One Small Voice

Tuesday, February 1, 2022 | 0

No one in the California Applicants' Attorneys Association is so self-unaware that we think our voice is bigger than it is. But having a small voice doesn’t mean we don’t have important things to say. And it doesn’t mean that no one is listening.

Sandy Rocca
(www.rolmlawyers.com)

Two weeks ago, we wrote that California needed to renew its commitment to working people whose families were sickened with COVID. They no longer had paid sick days to either quarantine themselves to recover or stay home to care for someone in their family.

We knew at the time that our sisters and brothers in the labor movement were trying to move heaven and earth to win pandemic paid sick days. We knew they were facing corporate California’s full force and fury. We knew that our voice was small. But we knew we had to add that voice to the call to action.

We did.

Eight days later, the editorial board of the Los Angeles Times added its voice to ours. And say what we had said. 

On that same day, the many voices were heard and the breakthrough broke through.

As you read this today, retroactive to Jan. 1, Californians who needed or will need pandemic sick days will be paid.

As CAAA members see every day, small wins make big differences in the lives of working Californians. 

We applaud the elected leaders who heard the small voices and did a big thing. 

Onward. Si se purse.

Sandy Rocca is president of the California Applicants' Attorneys Association. This opinion is republished, with permission, from the CAAA website.