NEW YORK, NY – New York City will now provide Unlimited 9/11 Sick Leave to City workers who
participated in World Trade Center rescue, recovery and cleanup operations and contracted a 9/11-related illness. This sick leave is retroactive to September 11, 2001 and leave taken since then for a 9/11-related illness will be restored.
“My Administration has been working around the clock to provide the unlimited sick leave our brave City workers deserve,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “I want to thank and commend these heroes for putting their lives on the line and for helping us rebound into a stronger, safer and more resilient city. I’d also like to thank DC 37 Executive Director Henry Garrido and Local Presidents Vincent Variale and Oren Barzilay for working with us in good faith to deliver unlimited sick to these heroes.”
As part of the agreement, a City employee must obtain a diagnosis confirming that they have a 9/11-related illness. This can be facilitated through arranging an appointment with a medical doctor in the World Trade Center Health Program’s Centers of Excellence, created under the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010. Any federal certification confirming the diagnosis of a 9/11-related illness that was issued prior to this agreement will qualify for Unlimited 9/11 Sick Leave. Employees can continue to receive medical treatment from the WTC Health Program’s Clinical Centers of Excellence in which they are enrolled. Over 2,000 active employees will be covered by this agreement.
Henry Garrido, Executive Director of DC 37, said, “This important agreement gives these dedicated public employees, who sacrificed profoundly to assist in the rescue and recovery efforts at Ground Zero, the sick leave they need and deserve.”
