Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel photo

Governor Walker signs away sick leave, May 2011

Remember when Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker signed a law overturning Milwaukee's mandatory sick leave? That was 2011. This is the news now from Milwaukee:

Emergency departments at Milwaukee-area hospitals have been forced at times over the last 10 days to divert ambulances elsewhere because a surge in patients with flu-like illnesses is approaching the 2009 swine flu pandemic, health officials said Wednesday.

People sick with the flu having been turning up in Milwaukee emergency rooms at three times the usual rate. To help stop epidemics like this, the federal government recommends that people with flu symptoms stay home from work. For the low-wage workers who are less likely to get benefits like sick time, it could mean a choice between public health and keeping their families afloat. That's a dilemma Milwaukee voters meant to ease when they passed the ordinance by referendum in 2008. (H/t @SprawledOut)

Bonus: Scott Walker gets the flu, 2012.