Cartoon: Christine Quinn, medicine woman

New York City legislators, labor advocates and business leaders have struck a deal on the hotly contested issue of paid sick leave.

City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, who has long declined to bring the matter to a vote, announced the agreement Thursday night.

"Throughout these negotiations I have always said that I was willing to listen and engage all sides," said Quinn in a statement. "Because of deliberate, thoughtful, and at times hard-nosed negotiations, we now have a piece of legislation that balances the interests of workers, small business owners, and local mom and pop proprietors across this City."