We already knew that nearly 50 percent of workers who get sick are forced to choose between their health and their paycheck. For low-income workers, 76 percent find themselves without something many of us take for granted:--the right to a "sick day."

For millions of workers, losing a day's wages if they stay home sick is not even the worst-case scenario. Because as New York Times columnist Jim Dyer reminds us, many workers are actually forced to choose between their health and their job. Factory worker Alda Valdez, a mother of four, was fired for catching a cold:

"I asked the boss for permission to go to the hospital. She said, 'It's fine, go - but you don't have a job anymore.' "

If passed, the Paid Sick Days bill introduced August 20 by Councilwoman Gale Brewer (D-Manhattan) would vastly improve the lives of 1.2 million workers in New York by requiring all businesses in New York City to provide their employees between five and nine paid sick days (depending on the size of the business). With support from healthcare oranizations and unions including1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East and SEIU 32BJ, Intro 1059 faces opposition from business groups such business groups like the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, who argue that added costs might force some businesses to cut back on hiring.

The vast majority of Americans may not agree on much, but the importance of this healthcare issue is one issue Americans come together on. A nationwide poll conducted last year by the University of Chicago's National Opinion Research Center showed that a whopping 86 percent of Americans believe that employers should be required by law to provide paid sick days to workers.

Put things even more in perspective by reading the Jim Dwyer column in the NY Times: Health Care? Not if You Can't Leave Work to Get It.

Security guards marched to Miami Beach City Hall on Friday in a staged protest against Security Alliance ~ Photo © 2009 Carlos Miller, NBC Miami

In January, about seventy-five percent of the Security Alliance guards signed cards to form a union with SEIU--but since that time, he and the 50 or so security guards employed by Security Alliance of Florida in the Miami Beach area had been experiencing intimidation, scare tactics and harassment at the hands of their employer for exercising their rights to organize. Ruiz was the only one out of his coworkers who was willing to speak about their efforts to form a union on the record.

His reward for having the courage to speak out for what he believes in? Losing his job. "We are trying to make this city safer for everybody, but I was fired when they found out I was speaking out and wanted a union," said Richard Ruiz, who was terminated after working for more than two years for Security Alliance. "Employers shouldn't stop decent people from trying to have a better life."

Bank of America just won't stop.

The New York Post reports this morning that in just the first few months of 2009, Bank of America added 15,000 jobs to its workforce in India. This is after Bank of America cut 34,000 jobs in the US, and pledged to cut 35,000 more.

Bank of America CEO Ken Lewis just doesn't get it. It's time for taxpayers to call for him to go.

More than 20,000 people have already signed "taxpayer proxy cards" asking for CEO Ken Lewis to be fired and to reform Bank of America. Can you help us reach 30,000 in the next 48 hours?

Click here to sign your "taxpayer proxy card" - we'll deliver them to Bank of America during its annual meeting on Wednesday.

When CEO Ken Lewis was asked about the nearly 35,000 announced job cuts, he showed little care for his employees:

"I feel bad about firing people, but at least I have the courage to do it."

This is the same Ken Lewis who took home $35 million in compensation in the last two years, and the same Bank of America that may receive up to $199.2 billion in taxpayer dollars.

You'd think they'd have some semblance of responsibility to the American public. After all, it's our government's money that's helping keep Bank of America alive.

Think again.

Help us reach 30,000 "taxpayer proxy cards." Click here to sign yours we'll make sure it's delivered to Bank of America on Wednesday.

Bank of America CEO Ken Lewis is apparently only interested in his personal bottom line, and not that off his company, his employees, or his investors. It's time for him to go.

Thanks for all you do - and please pass this message on to your friends to help us reach our goal.

Visit http://takebacktheeconomy.org/ to join our April 28th actions across the country and find an event in your area.