Labor Is Pioneering a New Kind of Relief Effort in the Twin Cities
Scores of workers across America have been laid off through no fault of their own, and still many of them are not eligible for federal benefits during these unprecedented times. In Minnesota’s Twin Cities, the Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation (MRLF) is organizing to provide support to those workers who can’t get the support they need from our federal government.
Led by President Chelsie Glaubitz Gabiou (UFCW), the MRLF is pioneering a new kind of initiative focused on filling that gap. The Twin Cities Hospitality Relief Effort is specifically designed to help laid-off hospitality workers who are being left behind. The labor federation is giving direct one-on-one assistance to dozens of these workers who need immediate help with health care, housing and money to survive.
“A lot of hospitality workers are not eligible for government assistance for a number of reasons: they receive much of their income from tips, they have families with mixed immigration status, they received a combination of wages and 1099 forms, or they worked for many different employers over the course of the year,” Glaubitz Gabiou explained. “These workers come from an industry that was the first to shut down, and they have a very long recovery ahead.”
The MRLF has 16 people trained to provide navigation services, and they are in place to keep the relief effort going. The navigators are doing direct outreach to those who need help the most, and they interact with community partners and government agencies to provide tailored support for each individual. They are a mix of union organizers, laid-off workers and labor federation staff, and many of them are bilingual. Their conversations with the people receiving help also has an organizing component, as the labor federation is promoting union values to these laid-off workers.
“The way that this team of front-line workers is coming together to take care of other workers in this industry is inspiring,” Glaubitz Gabiou said. “They’re helping people negotiate payment plans with their landlords, get access to active food resources and pharmaceuticals, and much more.” She pointed out that they have helped more than 150 laid-off workers and their families—90% of whom do not have access to unemployment insurance benefits.
The MRLF’s Twin Cities Hospitality Relief Effort is operating in close collaboration with its affiliates, including UNITE HERE Local 17, Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 13 and the Restaurant Opportunities Centers United. The initiative is receiving financial support from the LIFT Fund, the city of Minneapolis, Ramsey County, Minnesota, the Greater Twin Cities United Way, the Minnesota Nurses Association-NNU and UNITE HERE. The coalition recently held an online bingo tournament that raised nearly $5,000. And this funding is being used to support the relief effort and provide $200 cash grants to those laid-off workers who meet minimum standards.
“We have to keep fighting and scraping for people to take seriously the state that all workers are in,” Glaubitz Gabiou said. “It’s not just about surviving right now; we’re working to make sure we recover more resilient in the future.”
Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 05/13/2020 - 14:47Tags: Community Service
A Chuukese Registered Nurse’s Story During #NursesWeek
Let’s uplift Marina Robinson, a Chuukese registered nurse in Honolulu working in the OB-GYN department. She is proud to bring the idea of aterenges, or family, into her care work. She keeps pregnant people and their families safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Like so many others, Robinson is concerned that worker protections are not being prioritized in the nation’s response. Her concerns are heightened because of the high number of essential workers and the prevalence of existing chronic health conditions in Pacific Islander communities. Some states and counties are beginning to report that Pacific Islanders are disproportionately affected by COVID-19, including California and Nevada. Our society’s inequities are especially revealed during this pandemic.
That’s why we are fighting for major changes that will bring us through the COVID-19 health crisis as safe as possible and build strong and prepared communities for the future.
Join us to protect essential workers.
Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 05/12/2020 - 10:09Service + Solidarity: Meet Brent Kirby
Brent Kirby is a musician based in Cleveland and a member of the American Federation of Musicians (AFM) Local 4. In addition to his solo career, Kirby performs with Brent Kirby & His Luck and the Jack Fords and leads a monthly Gram Parsons revival. Kirby recently performed in a virtual concert series produced by the Cleveland Federation of Musicians Local 4 and the Local 4 Music Fund.
These concerts are part of a fundraiser for the Musicians’ Relief Fund, a fund working to assist northeast Ohio musicians who have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. All donations received by the Local 4 Music Fund will go toward the Musicians’ Relief Fund and to the assistance of our cultural community.
Donate here: go.aflcio.org/afm.
Tags: COVID-19
AFSCME: Strong Public Services Needed to Beat Pandemic, Reopen Economy
AFSCME launched two ads calling on Congress and President Trump to send aid to state and local governments to keep front-line public service workers on the job. AFSCME President Lee Saunders said: "Front-line health care workers, corrections officers, home and child care providers, sanitation workers and other public service workers put their lives on the line every day to save ours. America refuses to thank them with pink slips. Public service workers and the services they provide are essential to beating this pandemic and opening the economy."
Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 05/11/2020 - 08:11Hoosiers Need Help from Mike Pence, Not a Visit and Photo-Op
Brett Voorhies (USW) is president of the Indiana State AFL-CIO, a federation of more than 400 local unions representing nearly 300,000 working Hoosiers.
When [Vice President] Mike Pence returns to Indiana on Thursday, he’ll find Hoosiers in the grips of a crisis unlike anything we’ve witnessed in generations. Cases of the coronavirus are climbing, our health care system is being overwhelmed and countless working people are being forced to choose between our health and a paycheck.
We need more than a photo-op. We need help, and we need it now.
Unions are working to empower and protect those in harm’s way, but we should not have to do this alone. Our government must do its part to protect working people from infectious diseases.
But for months, President Donald Trump has stood in the way of the full-scale federal response that this moment demands. He ignored his own advisers, downplayed the virus, and wasted precious time that could have been used to prepare for the coming pandemic. He did not heed the labor movement’s early call for action and did not act quickly to secure testing, workplace plans and protective equipment. And as the crisis has worn on, he’s broken promise after promise.
In February, Trump suggested that the virus wouldn’t spread beyond 15 U.S. cases. Today, the United States has suffered more coronavirus deaths than any country in the world—including nearly 1,000 Hoosiers.
Once the crisis was too devastating to ignore, the Trump administration promised to deliver 27 million tests by the end of March. When that deadline arrived, they had fulfilled less than 4% of their own goal.
That national failure is hurting us here in Indiana. Earlier this month, the state health commissioner announced a goal of processing 6,300 tests per day, but equipment shortages have limited us to just half that rate. Across the state, Hoosiers are in the dark about our own status as well as the severity of the outbreak in our communities.
That lack of information is even more dangerous given working Hoosiers’ inability to stay safe on the job. Nearly a month ago, the state health department announced that the Trump administration would not send any additional protective equipment to Indiana. Since then, Hoosiers have been forced to scramble for donated—or even homemade—supplies.
Months into this pandemic, health care workers across Indiana are still being forced to ration gloves, reuse masks, and wear garbage bags in place of protective garments. It’s a travesty of historic proportions. At a time when our leaders are asking everything of working people—from punishing hours to emotional and physical exhaustion—the very least they can do is keep us safe.
This White House isn’t interested in putting the needs of working people ahead of political self-preservation. When pushed to distribute emergency supplies, Trump told reporters he wasn’t interested: “We’re not a shipping clerk.”
His son-in-law’s response was even more chilling: “It’s supposed to be our stockpile.”
That kind of selfishness is putting Hoosiers’ lives in danger. This virus doesn’t care about politics or party. It doesn’t care about news cycles or petty spats. It’s coming for all of us, and we’ll only be able to fight back if we work together.
Working people have always known that we’re stronger when we act collectively. More than ever, this is a time for our country to rally behind a cause that affects each and every one of us. To do that, we need a federal government focused on delivering results—not photo-ops.
This op-ed originally appeared at IndyStar.
Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 05/08/2020 - 15:19Tags: COVID-19
Economy Loses 20.5 Million Jobs in April; Unemployment Jumps to 14.7%
The U.S. economy lost 20.5 million jobs in April, taking payroll employment back to levels last seen in spring 2011 when the economy was recovering from the Great Recession, and the unemployment rate jumped by a historic amount to 14.7%, according to figures released Friday by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The unemployment rate for white males is 12.4%, the largest for white men in the post-World War II era and the first time it has been in double digits since that era.
In response to the April job numbers, AFL-CIO Chief Economist William Spriggs tweeted:
The unemployment rate in April jumped for all education categories, Less than high school from 6.8 to 21.2%, high school grads from 4.4 to 17.3%, some college and associate degree holders 3.7 to 15.0% and college grads 2.5 to 8.4%. @AFLCIO
— William E. Spriggs (@WSpriggs) May 8, 2020In another measure of labor market stress, among the 51.3% with jobs, the jump in part-time work for economic reasons was from 5,765,000 to 10,887,000; most of that reflecting slack business with a reduction in hours (4,043,000 to 9,939,000). @AFLCIO
— William E. Spriggs (@WSpriggs) May 8, 2020All industries reported drops in payroll in April (left of the vertical line), the largest loss in leisure and hospitality (the lowest wage industry-moving down the graph from the average wage of $30.01 an hour), higher wage industries (going up the chart) showed fewer losses. pic.twitter.com/id24EvK9Fh
— William E. Spriggs (@WSpriggs) May 8, 2020The index of average weekly hours fell 14.9% from March,in leisure and hospitality (food service and accomodations) the drop was a dramatic 43.1%. That with the increase in part time work because of slack, shows that those who remain at work are struggling. @AFLCIO
— William E. Spriggs (@WSpriggs) May 8, 2020The drop of 801,000 jobs in local government is a harbinger of things to come; from the effects of the shutdown of schools (468,800) to loss revenues. If aid to doesn't flow to state and local governments there won't be a recover. @AFSCME @AFLCIO
— William E. Spriggs (@WSpriggs) May 8, 2020In an odd world of convergence, the Black and white EPOPs moved closer (in the wrong direction of course). This is because of the devastating effects on entire industries, not just on front line workers. @CBTU72 @rolandsmartin @APRI_National @AFLCIO pic.twitter.com/QpFf9gsxsl
— William E. Spriggs (@WSpriggs) May 8, 2020This picture says it all. The dramatic turn of events tests our national leadership. The last 36 months showed anyone can continue to drive the car on a dry road and sunny skies, but, when there is a crisis, leadership matters. This is a failure to plan. @AFLCIO pic.twitter.com/VTT6OF30vp
— William E. Spriggs (@WSpriggs) May 8, 2020The Black unemployment rate in April was 16.7%, compared to 14.2% for whites (so not double), and more importantly in this environment, the share of people employed (EPOP) was 48.8% for Blacks and 51.8% for whites. @CBTU72 @APRI_National @NAACPecon @rolandsmartin @AFLCIO
— William E. Spriggs (@WSpriggs) May 8, 2020Average weekly earnings (not accounting for inflation) were lower in April 2020 than last April in construction, manufacturing and leisure & hospitality. This is another indication of the strain on those remaining employed. @AFLCIO pic.twitter.com/89tfOOQuOy
— William E. Spriggs (@WSpriggs) May 8, 2020The loss of jobs in April fell hardest on women, who after climbing to over half the American workforce, fell back to levels lower than last April. Whether we will devise a stimulus aimed at women in the work place will be the big challenge. @IWPResearch @lizshuler @AFLCIO pic.twitter.com/TsJqyzjljP
— William E. Spriggs (@WSpriggs) May 8, 2020A key age group hit hard in the April numbers were those 20 to 24, whose unemployment rate jumped from 8.7 to 25.7%. @AFLCIO
— William E. Spriggs (@WSpriggs) May 8, 2020A dramatic increase for women heading households: for married women, with a spouse present, the unemployment rate jumped from 3.0% in March to 13.1% in April, and for single women heads of household, it jumped from 5.3 to 15.9%. @AFLCIO
— William E. Spriggs (@WSpriggs) May 8, 2020Two signs of the discouraged worker affect: 1) In April the number of long term unemployed dropped from March (a sense they dropped out) and (2) the high share of workers who were in the labor force in March but dropped out of the Labor Force in April. @AFLCIO pic.twitter.com/r7gSVFqAli
— William E. Spriggs (@WSpriggs) May 8, 2020Another discouraged worker sign: The drop in people being unemployed as they re-entered or were new entrants to the job market from March to April. The drop in new entrants will be important in understanding how this downturn affects the Class of 2020 graduating now. @AFLCIO pic.twitter.com/ozHVjdOfBc
— William E. Spriggs (@WSpriggs) May 8, 2020If there is a silver lining, it is the very large share (78.3%) of the unemployed who believe they are on temporary layoff (or furlough). Their belief about returning to work will slow the spread of anxiety common in 2008, when job losses were viewed as permanent. @AFLCIO pic.twitter.com/U7Z7ca1L2A
— William E. Spriggs (@WSpriggs) May 8, 2020Every sector saw job losses in April. The largest losses were in leisure and hospitality (-7.7 million), education and health services (-2.5 million), professional and business services (-2.1 million), retail trade (-2.1 million), manufacturing (-1.3 million), other services (-1.3 million), government (-980,000), construction (-975,000), transportation and warehousing (-584,000), wholesale trade (-363,000), financial activities (-262,000), information (-254,000), and mining (-46,000).
In April, unemployment rates rose among all major worker groups. The rate was 31.9% for teenagers, 18.9% for Hispanics, 16.7% for blacks, 15.5% for adult women, 14.5% for Asians, 14.2% for whites and 13.0% for adult men. The rates for all of these groups, except black Americans, represent record highs in the history of this measure.
The number of long-term unemployed (those jobless for 27 weeks or more) declined by 225,000 in April and accounted for 4.1% of the unemployed, as a sign of discouraged workers.
In advance of the release of the April job numbers, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka (UMWA) spoke about the unemployment crisis and what needs to be done about it:
Here is the good news: there are practical solutions on the table. We can use federal funding to keep people employed and guarantee everyone’s paycheck for the duration of the crisis. This concept is neither new nor radical. It’s been done before. Employers that have to lay off workers or shut down can certify their payrolls to the federal government. The government pays for the employer to pay their employees. No money goes to CEOs or to Wall Street—just to workers.
Payroll support has been endorsed across the political spectrum, from Republican Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri to Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. It’s supported by Alabama’s Doug Jones and Vermont’s Bernie Sanders. And it’s gaining traction among both business and labor. Yes, we must work out the details. But that’s what governing is. What better time to put aside party labels and do what is necessary to keep America whole?
Trust me, every worker would rather receive a paycheck than an unemployment check. But that’s not all we want. Our jobs are a source of dignity. A piece of our pride. We are ready to get back to work. We are ready to rebuild America—a nation built by unions. We’ve made this country better, and we’re going to do it again.
Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 05/08/2020 - 12:52Thanking Heroes for National Nurses Week: What Working People Are Doing This Week
Welcome to our regular feature, a look at what the various AFL-CIO unions and other working family organizations are doing across the country and beyond. The labor movement is big and active—here's a look at the broad range of activities we're engaged in this week.
Actors' Equity:
Our nation is in the midst of an interruption of business because of an economic and public health crisis. The idea that insurers would not meet the obligations of their policyholders is shameful and harmful to any economic rebound. - via @nytimes https://t.co/LY7Y8tKyUZ
— Actors' Equity (@ActorsEquity) May 7, 2020AFGE:
As public servants, we work hard behind the scenes to keep our country moving. We're #ProudToBeAFGE. pic.twitter.com/hMQowskYl1
— AFGE (@AFGENational) May 7, 2020AFSCME:
Front-line public service workers are risking their lives under the most difficult possible conditions. Believe it or not, many are being thanked with layoffs. Tell Congress to #fundthefrontlines before it’s too late. pic.twitter.com/3pIBLwGMKC
— AFSCME (@AFSCME) May 4, 2020Air Line Pilots Association:
#Covid19 is still spreading & #frontline #aviation workers are still risking their lives to transport medical supplies & personnel. Tell Congress: Require airlines to help #stopthespread & mandate compliance with public health guidelines. https://t.co/8QG0e2XU13
— ALPA (@WeAreALPA) May 5, 2020Alliance for Retired Americans:
Nursing homes, hospitals, & caregivers across the country are struggling to get the protective equipment they need while serving on the frontlines of this pandemic. Congress must take action to get this gear to them immediately! Sign our petition: https://t.co/rt8Hes00A0 #PPENow pic.twitter.com/cB1aGtrn6P
— Alliance Retirees (@ActiveRetirees) May 6, 2020Amalgamated Transit Union:
Help our sisters and brothers in the #MotorCoach bus industry, many who have been laid off. Unlike city #transit agencies, the Motor Coach bus industry was not included in the U.S. #CARESAct. Please visit https://t.co/7H1sBYS0r7 to sign the petition. #1u #Labour pic.twitter.com/FVXsH25ujx
— ATU, Transit Union (@ATUComm) May 7, 2020American Federation of Musicians:
Tonight @RayChewLive is kicking of his virtual series on Facebook Live to raise money for AFM freelancers who have been impacted by COVID-9. Ray's guests tonight include Funkmaster @george_clinton & guitar virtuoso @vurnt22 pic.twitter.com/tLHzFec838
— AFM (@The_AFM) May 7, 2020American Federation of Teachers:
Today is the first day of #NationalNursesWeek! Now more than ever our nurses are putting their lives on the line to keep us safe and healthy. Join us in celebrating our #HealthCareHeroes — enter the #ThankAHero sweepstakes today: https://t.co/D9MO34F9JO pic.twitter.com/GLV6ekVsHH
— AFT (@AFTunion) May 6, 2020American Postal Workers Union:
"USPS however is enormously popular..Trump can’t just blatantly choke off its survival funds..he’s taking the agency hostage offering to provide a $10B “loan” from the Treasury Dept. contingent on the public entity agreeing to his ..demands."-@JimHightower https://t.co/Az9Rd60PB9
— APWU National (@APWUnational) May 7, 2020Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance:
Happy #APAHM! Let's uplift Angel's story.
She is an EVS technician and keeps patients safe by disinfecting hospital rooms. Her work is critical to slow COVID19 but she needs our help → https://t.co/S9MG4BTPMt#AAPI2020 #EssentialNotExpendable #COVIDConvos pic.twitter.com/vhkUcGhdz2
Association of Flight Attendants-CWA:
Essential workers are our path out of this pandemic! We need an Essential Workers’ Bill of Rights #EWBOR to ensure they have health, safety, job, and compensation protections. #ProtectEssentialWorkers https://t.co/8c83U5sqdS
— AFA-CWA (@afa_cwa) May 7, 2020Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers:
@CongressmanBoyle sends this message of thanks to the hard working BCTGM members doing essential work in factories throughout Pennsylvania and the U.S.
"Your work is essential. Your work is vital. Thank you."https://t.co/5v8tqxFoR7
Boilermakers:
Great #Boilermakers *breaking news* to share ?: VICTORY after a 6-year battle to back workers ousted for organizing a union. Unions WORK! Read more ➡️ https://t.co/cb7VzYZj6w #UnionStrong #UnionsWork @FormAUnion pic.twitter.com/xxkLwOFoGj
— Boilermakers Union (@boilermakernews) May 7, 2020Bricklayers:
This #Census2020, remember that children count, too! Leaving them out of the census may reduce the amount of federal funding for programs like Head Start, WIC and more!➡️https://t.co/xLScxw7Bkk pic.twitter.com/fbVEi9oAyB
— Bricklayers Union (@IUBAC) May 6, 2020California School Employees Association:
It's #TeacherAppreciationWeek and we love our colleagues in the classroom! While we are keeping students fed and school sites safe and clean, our teaching brothers and sisters are helping students through online learning. We stand united with our teachers! @WeAreCTA @CFTunion
— CSEA (@CSEA_Now) May 6, 2020Coalition of Black Trade Unionists:
CBTU is mourning and outraged over the brutal, cold-blooded murder of #AhmaudArbery. We vow to make #AhmaudArbery’s death the beginning of the end of a system that allows racist murderers to go home instead of prison. #JusticeForAhmaudArbery pic.twitter.com/yI5qPfAbQ0
— CBTU (@CBTU72) May 7, 2020Coalition of Labor Union Women:
Paid leave will protect our families, get us working again, keep schools and workplaces safe. Congress must fix the loopholes in paid leave—it will save lives. Join @PaidLeaveforAll and protect workers. https://t.co/bf30YZeLwI #PaidLeaveforAll pic.twitter.com/RbDLVAk9iU
— CLUW National (@CLUWNational) May 4, 2020Communications Workers of America:
The United States is becoming more diverse every day. We need to make sure the census reflects our communities and our people. Do your part—answer the census today and rest assured your data is confidential. pic.twitter.com/NT7hON8roq
— CWA (@CWAUnion) May 5, 2020Department for Professional Employees:
We're proud and grateful for the work of union professionals in public service. Thank you public servants for all that you do! #PSRW #1u pic.twitter.com/pwNruyvs4y
— Department for Professional Employees (@DPEaflcio) May 7, 2020Electrical Workers:
This #IBEW local is helping turn moonshine into sanitizer and help save lives. https://t.co/FbPNfCrhoz
— IBEW (@IBEW) May 6, 2020Fire Fighters:
#IAFF seeks help from Congress to support #firefighters https://t.co/eiOS6myJ3y
— IAFF (@IAFFNewsDesk) May 7, 2020Heat and Frost Insulators:
Good morning, Brothers and Sisters! Please, continue to work safe. ?
?: Local 6 3rd year Apprentice Nicole Dalton. pic.twitter.com/l0xv3yq2W1
International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers:
HEY @abdisoltani!! Respect @ACLU_NorCal workers rights! Stop the delaying, and recognize @Nor_Cal_United immediately!! These antiunion tactics embody the worst of the private sector and have no place at progressive #nonprofits. #1u pic.twitter.com/5Ly7Nk2xjX
— IFPTE (@IFPTE) May 7, 2020International Labor Communications Association:
Introducing a new #WednesdayWisdom blog series: Crisis Communications Case Studies. We'll look at the strategies and tactics our members are using to respond to #COVID19. Our first study centers around @AFGENational. #1u https://t.co/ByXGFadsXk
— Labor Communications (@ILCAonline) May 6, 2020Ironworkers:
RT @NABTU and @CPWR released a new national disease control standard for U.S. construction sites. #COVID #coronavirus #COVID2019 #infectiousdiseases https://t.co/LFvWcZifKX
— Ironworkers. (@TheIronworkers) April 30, 2020IUE-CWA:
Today is our Solidarity Day of Action with GE Workers! Please sign our petition and tell @realDonalTrump and @generalelectric - workers are ready to make ventilators under safe conditions NOW! Bring our union jobs back to VA and TX! https://t.co/QQ4sCLzESO
— IUE-CWA (@IUE_CWAUnion) May 5, 2020Jobs With Justice:
"The answer to 'why is this happening' is pretty simple: Congress gave the Trump WH half a trillion dollars to distribute to big companies with almost no strings attached."
Meanwhile, the gov't gave working families crumbs
More from JWJ's @Handle4Adam ⬇️https://t.co/Nab668h80E
Labor Council for Latin American Advancement:
ensuring the continuance of our nation’s supply chain. We must ensure that this crisis can ultimately result in structural changes that can allow working families to thrive. From a fair and inclusive immigration reform, to protecting voting rights.
— LCLAA (@LCLAA) May 6, 2020Laborers:
Remember, every #UNION household counts...SO BE COUNTED! Fill out the #2020census TODAY! You can complete the census from home by mail ? online ? at https://t.co/C3fgyXeDVA or by phone ☎️ 844-330-2020.#LaborCounts #1uCounts pic.twitter.com/2Rj3v7Xu7o
— LIUNA (@LIUNA) May 6, 2020Machinists:
WRITE IN: Tell President @realDonaldTrump to take all necessary action to help save the 700 jobs at #Alcoa Intalco Works, a strategically important aluminum smelter in Washington state https://t.co/nSYdws6IHE
— Machinists Union ✈️?? (@MachinistsUnion) May 7, 2020Metal Trades Department:
Covid Stimulus Watch: New Website Documents Accountability Track Records of CARES Act Recipients | Good Jobs First https://t.co/Oogyx2pxoU
— Metal Trades Dept. (@metaltradesafl) April 30, 2020Mine Workers:
The entire UMWA family joins in mourning the passing of our General Counsel, Chuck Donnelly. We lift his family up in our prayers and hold them in our hearts at this most difficult time.https://t.co/eb2IhvP0Mq pic.twitter.com/mqAXi7kbcV
— United Mine Workers (@MineWorkers) May 7, 2020Musical Artists:
Thank you to those who have donated today! Not everyone can offer financial support right now. Instead, share our #GivingTuesdayNow posts with your network! The more people that see the AGMA Relief Fund, the more likely it is to receive donations. https://t.co/yO6RbpQMVX pic.twitter.com/h63PnLjfvh
— AGMA (@AGMusicalArtist) May 5, 2020National Air Traffic Controllers Association:
Nashville Metropolitan ATCT (BNA) members raised almost $2,000 which was used to buy meals for medical staff and AirEvac flight crews. “We were able to pay it forward because they bought us food during the government shutdown,” said Woody Hatchett. https://t.co/F0kBMs0RJO pic.twitter.com/IsOFZ0XzDQ
— NATCA (@NATCA) May 6, 2020National Association of Broadcast Employees and Technicians-CWA:
#Coronavirus/COVID-19 Informationhttps://t.co/LUyYTScPnK
— NABET-CWA (@NABETCWA) April 6, 2020National Association of Letter Carriers:
America overwhelmingly supports the Postal Service and values its essential deliveries of supplies, medications, COVID-19 test kits and information from the government #HeroesDelivering
For more information, please visit https://t.co/iGJL8IW0Yo. pic.twitter.com/iUvkWzUCAo
National Day Laborer Organizing Network:
A #MayDay message from #EssentialAndExcluded workers to the nation: If you accept our labor, you must accept our humanity. #AmnistiaYa #YNosotrosQue #AmnestyNow pic.twitter.com/CfoejTzsGv
— NDLON (@NDLON) May 1, 2020National Domestic Workers Alliance:
Slowing the spread of the #coronavirus requires most of us to stay home. But many care workers cannot . We can help domestic workers — and all of us — stay safe by donating to the #CoronavirusCareFund. We're all in this together! https://t.co/EuZnHCFunc
— Domestic Workers (@domesticworkers) March 16, 2020National Nurses United:
Union RNs placed shoes outside the White House, each pair representing a nurse lost due to insufficient PPE during #COVID19.
Put yourself in their shoes.
Honor the fallen.
And fight like hell for the living.
Call Congress NOW and demand they #ProtectNurses: (202) 335-6015 pic.twitter.com/yPtFbB91Fh
National Taxi Workers Alliance:
Our struggle reflected in a Pulitzer Prize winner's acceptance speech. Beautiful words @brianmrosenthal pic.twitter.com/ybU6ixeRbU
— NY Taxi Workers (@NYTWA) May 5, 2020NFL Players Association:
ICYMI: Players joined us in thanking and celebrating #frontliners all over who are spreading kindness amidst the #coronavirus pandemic. From nurses and doctors to teachers and police officers–we thank you! https://t.co/nUThb6SYLj
— NFLPA (@NFLPA) May 6, 2020North America's Building Trades Unions:
Dr. Camillo Ricordi, Director of @Diabetes_DRI’s Cell Transplant Program, spoke glowingly about Building Trades members, and our impact on diabetes research ?#BuildingTradesWhateverItTakeshttps://t.co/I0ZTltA1FR pic.twitter.com/mvWFLX7a6K
— The Building Trades (@NABTU) May 7, 2020Office and Professional Employees:
Thanks to their union, employees at Kickstarter had a seat at the table when management announced layoffs.
Though the deal was negotiated under difficult circumstances, its outcome—a 100% YES ratification vote—shows how important union representation is, in good times and bad. pic.twitter.com/kjq4Bxu9ZD
Painters and Allied Trades:
Construction workers are calling on @OSHA_DOL to do its job: ensure workplace safety standards protect American workers, not employer profits.
? Send a letter to OSHA now: https://t.co/hfpqCrPfFV ?
Construction workers are not expendable! #1U pic.twitter.com/bpkBlU1hRP
Plasterers and Cement Masons:
#OPCMIA members: A reminder to check out our COVID-19 resource guide and our COVID-19 information page. Stay well and stay safe! https://t.co/cY859a4GKo and https://t.co/idLx48eFxM
— OPCMIA International (@opcmiaintl) May 4, 2020Pride At Work:
Today we are joining over 75 other organizations to demand an Essential Workers Bill Of Rights. LGBTQ workers are on the frontlines, and they need health, safety, job, and compensation protections.
Sign our petition: https://t.co/0SxLYhT6tq pic.twitter.com/9QvWO7KED2
Professional Aviation Safety Specialists:
Thank you, Dr. Fauci, for your service to our nation and for recognizing the public servants on the frontlines of this pandemic. While they do not work directly with you, our members at the FAA and DoD understand your commitment. It is their commitment, too. #PSRW #PublicService https://t.co/UpmqiVs9qE
— PASS (@PASSNational) May 6, 2020Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union:
"They may need to wear masks, and I think that they should not be concerned about that requirement going to a store."
RWDSU President @sappelbaum explains how customers will need to #ShopSmart to keep everyone safe in the new reality of COVID-19.
Watch: https://t.co/bboglq8WnP pic.twitter.com/PzXZ651c1J
SAG-AFTRA:
Give nurses you know a shout out and thank them for their hard work, especially during these challenging times. #NationalNursesDay pic.twitter.com/KZVkcBFEQG
— SAG-AFTRA (@sagaftra) May 6, 2020Solidarity Center:
In #Nepal, 70% of industries are not following the government's order to provide regular payment to formal-sector workers during the #COVID19 crisis. @GEFONT @Sunil_brthttps://t.co/fbcriHeXZq
— Solidarity Center (@SolidarityCntr) May 7, 2020TCU/IAM:
Happy #InternationalWorkersDay to all of our Union sisters, brothers. #1u #MayDay pic.twitter.com/17BHPNzx8K
— Transportation Communications Union/IAM (@TCUnionHQ) May 1, 2020The NewsGuild-CWA:
Two-thirds support aid to local news organizations! That's great, but news orgs must compete with many others seeking aid in the wake of the pandemic. If you care about news, sign the petition: https://t.co/m59db4XOeQ #SaveTheNews https://t.co/UXtlREWYRI
— NewsGuild (@newsguild) May 7, 2020Theatrical Stage Employees:
Members of Theatrical Wardrobe Union Local 764 are fulfilling the desperate need for masks inside shelters where mothers and children lack critical PPE. #UnionStrong #UnionMade https://t.co/vtgYIchkjO
— IATSE (@IATSE) May 7, 2020Transport Workers:
ICYMI, @GavinNewsom stood up for #essentialworkers yesterday by clarifying that contracting #COVID19 on the job is a workplace injury. Thank you, Governor Newsom, for honoring our work! @TWU250A https://t.co/kymkTxpXOn
— TWU (@transportworker) May 7, 2020Transportation Trades Department:
Thank you to TSA officers who are on the front lines ensuring that Americans who still have to fly reach their destinations safely. #ProudToBeAFGE @AFGENational #PSRW pic.twitter.com/PISgdS4S8j
— Transp. Trades Dept. (@TTDAFLCIO) May 7, 2020UAW:
We're always thankful for our UAW nurses, but the COVID-19 pandemic is a sharp reminder of the sacrifices they make in order to care for their patients. #ThankYouNurses pic.twitter.com/0UOIkrj1fW
— UAW (@UAW) May 6, 2020Union Label and Service Trades Department:
Tell Congress: During This Pandemic, Support Our Public Postal Service https://t.co/akAkvU6J5X
— Union Label Dept. (@ULSTD_AFLCIO) May 5, 2020Union Veterans Council:
Today the battlefield is on the home front, and the enemy is a virus and an economic fall-out that threatens our stability.
Our @AFSCME heroes and all frontline workers need the supplies and resources to effectively face this fight head-on.#1u https://t.co/36JD1CGgzU
UNITE HERE:
While recovery actions already taken by Congress will help many, those efforts are disproportionately aimed at large corporations—not communities in need.
Demand #CongressActNow to adopt a plan that meets the needs of workers & their families head on >>> https://t.co/lW3ooHQGZJ pic.twitter.com/BpFeWPMWtr
United Food and Commercial Workers:
Local 1500 has worked with the Governor’s office to ensure that our members have the resources necessary to support our #FrontlineHeroes. Thank you to all the first responders, essential workers, and #FrontlineHeroes everywhere! #UFCW1500 #1u #PPE pic.twitter.com/Gd5Yol81KR
— UFCW Local 1500 (@UFCW1500) May 6, 2020United Steelworkers:
Union pride, union made, union strong: American Roots! Check out their new video to find out how to get union face masks: https://t.co/cQYN5sZJ52 #USWUnity
— United Steelworkers (@steelworkers) May 6, 2020United Students Against Sweatshops:
This week’s #StudentWorkerWednesdays is at @KentState. Food service & other student workers like Shreya (pictured here) are demanding $15/hour, Aramark off campus, & clear communication re: their pay and future employment. Read Shreya’s story here: https://t.co/Go1OvkGqDB pic.twitter.com/HVl6mWlWon
— USAS (@USAS) May 6, 2020Utility Workers:
Great work from our sisters and brothers in #NY! ✊?
"@UWUA_Local_1_2 members are making face shields for workers on the front lines - hospital workers, doctors, nurses; they're contributing by making 40,000 shields." https://t.co/3iOkygNMHE #COVID19 #PPE #FundTheFrontLines pic.twitter.com/pnoztNJmJK
Working America:
Use this link to find information on the “Queer the Census 2020” campaign and important information for reaching out to the LGBTQ+ community: https://t.co/8gDBd6JUTy pic.twitter.com/F7pWOemiRh
— Working America (@WorkingAmerica) May 7, 2020Writers Guild of America, East:
THIS TUESDAY AT 8PM ET: @HollywoodHealth, WGAE and WGAW will host a Zoom webinar that focuses on the criminal justice system during the pandemic. Panelists include @OsopePatrisse, @alyphillip, @pugleesa & @MichaelWinship.
INFO/RSVP: https://t.co/hWHhvGD70a
Asian Pacific American Heritage Month: An EVS Technician’s COVID-19 Story
Happy Asian Pacific American Heritage Month! Let’s uplift Asian American and Pacific Islander workers this month—those who are on the front lines of COVID-19 and those who are on the front lines of our families and communities.
Angel is an EVS technician in Seattle: Her work keeps patients safe by disinfecting hospital rooms, including COVID-19 patients. Angel is critical to stopping the spread of infection, but workers like her are not being allocated enough personal protective equipment.
It is terrifying for health care workers when they do not have access to personal protective equipment and safe working environments. Without protection for workers, both patients and workers suffer. Angel is fighting for the rights and protections of workers like her. Join us to support the Essential Workers Bill of Rights, which includes guaranteeing safety protections for all workers on the job; universal health care access; compensation and job protections workers deserve for their heightened risks; and more.
We can't let Angel and millions of workers like her down. Join us in the fight and learn how to protect Asian American and Pacific Islander working people.
Kenneth Quinnell Thu, 05/07/2020 - 16:19
If Trump Wants Meat Plants Open, He Should Protect Their Workers
The United States now has more than a million reported coronavirus cases, by far the most of any country in the world. The health of our nation, physically and economically, depends on the safety of our workers.
That has always been true, but perhaps never more so than in the face of today’s crisis—and it’s why we need clear and decisive action from the White House.
President Donald Trump has given us more confusion than solutions, failing to use his executive authority to protect working people.
In times of crisis, the Defense Production Act is an important tool for mobilizing resources and producing emergency supplies. Trump hemmed and hawed on using it—he said he would use it only if “we need to invoke it in a worst-case scenario.” If this isn’t a worst-case scenario, nothing is.
Take critical ventilators. Not until after GM and Ventec revealed that they had secured suppliers for 700 parts, made a deal with the UAW to staff the Kokomo, Ind., plant and started setting up the plant did the president issue an order telling GM to do what it was already doing.
On April 28, Trump signed an executive order using the Defense Production Act to keep meat-processing plants open. By doing so, he overrode states and some of those plants themselves that know it’s not safe yet. We all want to keep the food supply chain intact, but we have to balance that against the very real risks caused by impatience and imprudence.
The United Food and Commercial Workers, the largest packinghouse union in America, knows of at least 20 meatpacking workers who have died from COVID-19. Five thousand more workers have tested positive for the coronavirus, are awaiting test results, have been hospitalized or have been exposed to the virus. Thousands more may be affected.
The president’s decision to reopen these plants without proper safety protections—on Workers Memorial Day, of all days—was dangerous and disgraceful.
What’s worse, Trump said he would also shield meatpacking companies from legal liability as long as they follow guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Occupational Safety and Health Administration for the facilities, which have proved to be wholly inadequate. Once again, this administration is favoring executives over working people, and the stock market over human lives. He is forcing workers to choose between a paycheck and their health.
This isn’t a choice workers should have to make. But Trump is essentially forcing their hand, ignoring the warning signs and using the Defense Production Act to keep open what should be closed until it is safe.
We need workplace safety standards based on safety and sound science, and we need the president to use his authority to make and distribute personal protective equipment to essential workers.
There is no time to waste. Like health care workers, front-line workers in meatpacking plants are facing similar PPE shortages, and many plants have become coronavirus hot spots. No one knows whether it is safe to go to work because the administration has utterly failed to plan for the tens of millions of tests we need to prevent exposure.
When workers are left unprotected, we get sick and cannot work. We can transmit the virus to our families and communities. If all workers are not protected from the virus, our economy will collapse.
Forcing meat-processing plants to remain open might temporarily satisfy Trump, but it doesn’t help contain the spread of the virus. It is a harmful and misguided use of what can be a valuable tool when properly applied.
The Defense Production Act can replicate successes of the past. Before America joined World War II, the labor movement led the way in calling for defense production. Henry Ford’s assembly line workers produced a B-24 bomber every hour, and California shipbuilders could make cargo vessels about every five days. Companies remained profitable and ensured workers on the front lines were properly equipped and compensated.
This contagion is fast-moving and the crisis it has wrought is rapidly evolving. We need to be faster in our response. We do not have a vaccine for this virus yet, but we have an answer to the lack of lifesaving equipment: America’s workers.
Trump needs to use the Defense Production Act for the right reasons, effectively and swiftly.
This op-ed originally appeared in The New York Times.
Kenneth Quinnell Thu, 05/07/2020 - 09:43Tags: COVID-19
Labor Radio–Podcast Weekly: Saluting Front-Line Workers, Remote Learning and More
The latest episode of the Labor Radio–Podcast Weekly features a daily salute to front-line workers in the Electchester community of New York, Chicago Teachers tackling remote learning and Richard Trevellick's fight for the eight-hour workday.
This week, Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 3’s Chris Erikson Jr. talks to "UCOMM Live" about the daily salute to front-line workers in Electchester, a New York City community built in the 1950s by Local 3 to house its members: "The windows open up, people start banging pots and pans and whooping and hollering."
Also on "UCOMM Live," actor Harold Phillips talks about the financial impact union television shows have on the community: "There were a lot of different unions that benefited from that one production being based in Portland, Oregon."
On "CTU Speaks," the podcast of the Chicago Teachers Union, it’s pretty clear that teachers don’t like remote learning, and students like it even less, but what about the parents? "CTU Speaks" talks with Andrea Mosley and Valerie Nelson, parents whose children attend Chicago Public Schools: "I was so confused, and I'm like, well, how do you start remote learning? But we don't have the tools in order to make that first week successful."
Plus, Labor History in 2:00 on labor pioneer Richard Trevellick, one of the early leaders of the U.S. labor movement and the fight for the eight-hour workday.
Check out all the Labor Radio/Podcast Network shows.
Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 05/06/2020 - 11:41Tags: Podcast
A Message to Workers: The Working People Weekly List
Every week, we bring you a roundup of the top news and commentary about issues and events important to working families. Here’s the latest edition of the Working People Weekly List.
Union Leaders' Message to Workers About COVID-19: "Leaders of America's unions send a message of support and thanks to the union members and workers who are keeping our economy going and providing all of us with basic needs and essential services."
Labor-Radio Podcast Weekly: Danny Glover, Jamie Partridge and More: "This week, actor and activist Danny Glover says, 'We need to fight a fight for the new future' on Work Week Radio (KPOO), and Jamie Partridge of Communities and Postal Workers United says, 'This pandemic is life and death, if not for you, for your coworker, for your family, for their family, for our customers' on Labor Radio (KBOO), which included an excerpt from this year’s online Labor Notes conference."
Plant Workers in Kentucky Fight for Safer Workplaces: "In late March, when workers at GE Appliances, a Haier company in Louisville, Kentucky, were mandated to work during the COVID-19 crisis, members of IUE-CWA Local 83761 sprung into action to make sure they were protected on the job. While the plant was shut down for one week, Local 83761 President Dino Driskell reached out to Gov. Andy Beshear and other elected officials who agreed to send letters to Haier calling for stronger workplace safety measures. The local’s internal organizing team, led by Kindre Batliner, organized some 1,000 members for a 'drive-by' rally on March 28, calling on Haier to keep the plant closed until stronger safety and health protocols were in place."
We're All in This Together: What Working People Are Doing This Week: "Welcome to our regular feature, a look at what the various AFL-CIO unions and other working family organizations are doing across the country and beyond. The labor movement is big and active—here's a look at the broad range of activities we're engaged in this week."
Rhode Island's Working People and the Response to COVID-19: "Patrick Crowley, secretary-treasurer of the Rhode Island AFL-CIO, spoke to Erik Loomis of the Lawyers, Guns & Money blog about the response from the state federation and the larger labor movement to COVID-19."
Helping Those in Need Is a ‘Labor of Love’ for Union Members in North Georgia: "Wearing face masks and gloves and sharing a determination to help their brothers and sisters in need, dozens of members of the Atlanta-North Georgia Labor Council sorted and bagged emergency food to hand out to union families on Saturday, April 18. The 'Labor of Love' food drive was a member-to-member relief effort in collaboration with the United Way of Greater Atlanta and the Georgia State AFL-CIO, in partnership with Margie’s House mobile food pantry and the city of Fairburn, Georgia, to help 300 union families who are now struggling to put food on their tables. It was one of a series of volunteer events that the labor council has coordinated to support union members and the wider community during the pandemic."
Worker Safety Above Political Gain: In the States Roundup: "It's time once again to take a look at the ways working people are making progress in the states."
Defend Global Supply Chain Workers Facing the COVID-19 Pandemic: "COVID-19 may not yet have sickened as many people in developing countries as in the United States or Europe, but more than 150 million workers in supply chains are already suffering the swift and massive impact of the pandemic. These workers have even less savings and weaker social protection systems than the very weak ones America's workers have. Just as we insist U.S. government assistance in this crisis must prioritize jobs and workers’ lives and livelihoods, global collective efforts must focus on millions of workers in global supply chains who have no safety net."
San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council Launches Food Assistance Program: "We are in an unforeseen crisis. Just a few weeks ago none of us could have predicted the economic impact created by the COVID-19 pandemic. Our members and our neighbors are in a financial and food crisis. Our entire labor council operation has converted to an emergency team focused on securing member benefits and running a substantial food distribution operation. To date we’ve distributed more than 150,000 pounds of food and served over 5,000 families in need. In the coming days, our distribution will provide food to more than 2,000 families per week, as our operations continually expand. I wish to commend our staff team for the work they are doing to keep this operation running, in the face of the health crisis swirling around them."
Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 05/05/2020 - 13:15Nevada’s Labor Movement Comes Together to Support Each Other
As the backbone of Nevada’s gaming and hospitality industry, more than 98% of the 60,000 members of the Culinary Workers Union/UNITE HERE Local 226 and thousands of other union members have been laid off since the pandemic began. Now, Nevada’s labor movement is swiftly responding to the unprecedented scale of need among union members and their families.
The United Labor Agency of Nevada (ULAN)—a partnership of the Culinary Workers Union, the Nevada State AFL-CIO, community organizations and Las Vegas-area labor unions—is providing services to not only union members, but also to people in the community who have been impacted by COVID-19.
“A number of different affiliates have contributed both funds and volunteers,” said Rusty McAllister (IAFF), executive secretary-treasurer of the Nevada State AFL-CIO. “A large part of the labor federation’s relief efforts are done through ULAN, helping to raise money and provide relief to those in need.” ULAN was founded 25 years ago by the Culinary Workers Union and the state federation. McAllister is currently serving as chairman of its board.
In addition to its food pantry, which receives funding from the United Way of Southern Nevada, ULAN also is offering rent and utility assistance, as well as handing out gift cards that were purchased from grocery retailers. And while ULAN is based in southern Nevada, the Northern Nevada Central Labor Council is also stepping up to help members in need.
Union members from a wide range of unions, including Bricklayers (BAC) Local 13, International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART) Local 88 and Teamsters locals 631 and 986, have been volunteering their time and efforts to help their brothers and sisters who are out of work. The Teamsters locals recently teamed up to bring a truckload of food from Southern California to Las Vegas to bolster the state’s relief efforts.
“I’ve seen firsthand what labor can do when we get involved and come together. Just the amount of work and effort from our union members is incredible,” McAllister said. “The tough part for Nevada is that we’re always one of the first states to suffer from an economic downturn and one of the last to recover.”
UNITE HERE’s Culinary Training Academy has put union members to work to run their own drive-through food bank. The Culinary Union’s members have been hit the hardest by the pandemic and many of the Nevada State AFL-CIO’s affiliated unions have stepped up to donate funds.
“Look out for each other,” McAllister said to union members across the country. “Those who have work, help out your brothers and sisters who are hurting as much as you can.”
Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 05/04/2020 - 09:38Tags: COVID-19
Mourn for the Dead, Fight for the Living: In the States Roundup
It's time once again to take a look at the ways working people are making progress in the states. Click on any of the links to follow the state federations on Twitter.
Alaska State AFL-CIO:
On this Workers Memorial Day, we remember and pay tribute to all those who have lost their lives on the job due to COVID-19, and those who have been injured or made sick from other preventable workplace tragedies.#WorkersMemorialDay pic.twitter.com/JdrIpFcyea
— Alaska AFL-CIO (@AKAFLCIO) April 28, 2020California Labor Federation:
America Is About to Witness the Biggest Labor Movement It’s Seen in Decades by @stevelevine in @MRKR https://t.co/YDDRKAeT3g #1u
— California Labor Federation (@CaliforniaLabor) April 30, 2020Colorado AFL-CIO:
Thank you @GovofCO for #DoingYourPartCO and expanding paid sick leave for all workers going back to work with the new #SaferAtHome phase. This important step will ensure workers aren't putting their paycheck or lives at risk.
— Colorado AFL-CIO (@AFLCIOCO) April 27, 2020Connecticut AFL-CIO:
Each year on #WorkersMemorialDay, working people throughout the world remember those who were hurt or killed on the job and renew our struggle for safe workplaces. Watch our Health & Safety Committee's video commemorating the day here --> https://t.co/2mxnpjT5QZ #1u pic.twitter.com/0epdCkyJWe
— Connecticut AFL-CIO (@ConnAFLCIO) April 28, 2020Florida AFL-CIO:
Despite some minor improvements, Florida’s Unemployment System continues to fail working Floridians.
Kayla Coalmoose of Gainesville shares her experience with Florida’s frustrating application process.
Sign the petition:https://t.co/RiigsiteVqhttps://t.co/7waLveYqLc
Georgia State AFL-CIO:
Thousands of families are facing job loss and food insecurity in Georgia. Our labor family is stepping up and providing labors of love. Today we helped distribute +300 bags of groceries in south Atlanta along with the @ATL_Labor, RDWSU SECC, & @unitedwayatl #1u #LaborOfLove pic.twitter.com/z8DaLsu7fu
— Georgia AFL-CIO (@AFLCIOGeorgia) April 30, 2020Idaho State AFL-CIO:
Today is Workers Memorial Day. You can make a difference by writing to Governor Little, ask him to put the health and safety of working Idahoans first while reopening our state! Follow this link to send him a message today!https://t.co/ElOpB7RD1m
#1u #Solidarity pic.twitter.com/m5htxaCFbz
Illinois AFL-CIO:
The Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission's emergency rule has been rescinded. Labor commits to keep up the fight to protect workers.https://t.co/ksKeUbYsgM
— Illinois AFL-CIO (@ILAFLCIO) April 27, 2020Indiana State AFL-CIO:
Unions are working to empower and protect those in harm’s way, but we should not have to do this alone.
Our government must do its part to protect working people from infectious diseases. https://t.co/QbnT0e5fpu
Iowa Federation of Labor:
This pandemic has threatened our communities & livelihoods. Congress must TAKE ACTION to expand aid to state and local govts right away, so public service workers on the #COVIDfrontlines have the resources to fight this pandemic and protect our communities. #FundtheFrontLines pic.twitter.com/sR7yex7cbm
— Iowa AFL-CIO (@IowaAFLCIO) April 30, 2020Maine AFL-CIO:
It’s time for an unemployment system that reflects the workforce of the 21st century. It’s appalling that only a fraction of workers qualify for support under the current system. #mepolitics https://t.co/OjhPwlMOtd
— Maine AFL-CIO (@MEAFLCIO) April 29, 2020Michigan State AFL-CIO:
Check out the #COVIDー19 page on our website for resources and background on how the labor movement is fighting this crisis and what you can do to get involved: https://t.co/u3EwTT9x7n #1u pic.twitter.com/Uy1i8yTm3O
— Michigan AFL-CIO ? (@MIAFLCIO) April 27, 2020Minnesota AFL-CIO:
JBS workers protest as officials outline importance of reopening Worthington pork plant https://t.co/2mEN7gJtml #1u @UFCW663
— Minnesota AFL-CIO (@MNAFLCIO) April 30, 2020Missouri AFL-CIO:
Read President Louis' opinion piece in the @MissouriTimes in response to state Rep. John Wiemann’s recent column. #moleg https://t.co/BewkqvCnQP
— Missouri AFL-CIO (@MOAFLCIO) April 30, 2020Montana State AFL-CIO:
#WorkersMemorialDay #Fightlikehell #1u https://t.co/2QSLvbnlX3
— Montana AFL-CIO (@MTaflcio) April 28, 2020Nebraska State AFL-CIO:
Are you kidding me? It's ok for people to contract COVID-19 and possibly die in order for others to get meat?
Despite COVID-19 case rise, Ricketts doesn't foresee closing meat plants | https://t.co/FlzKPeAB9r https://t.co/adgwlUCh8r via @AddThis
New Jersey State AFL-CIO:
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she made her choices “to assure that our coronavirus response puts working families first.” https://t.co/LyDspaCnKj
— New Jersey AFL-CIO (@NJAFLCIO) April 30, 2020New York State AFL-CIO:
Tell congress they need to pass a Cares2 relief package with Labor's priorities! Text Cares2 to 877877, https://t.co/HfFW95hWPL to learn more. #COVID19 #CoronavirusUSA #Covid_19
— NYSAFLCIO (@NYSAFLCIO) April 30, 2020North Carolina State AFL-CIO:
For every 10 workers who successfully applied for UI benefits, 3-4 couldn’t get through, and 2 others found it too difficult. That means additional 9-14 MIL workers could have filed for benefits had the process been easier. Read more here: https://t.co/ykSM83PZf6 #ncpol #ncga
— NC State AFL-CIO (@NCStateAFLCIO) April 30, 2020Ohio AFL-CIO:
Thanks for staying in the fight, Brother Harbaugh! https://t.co/emqTOr5i5I
— Ohio AFL-CIO (@ohioaflcio) April 30, 2020Oregon AFL-CIO:
"The 800-person staff represents an enormous expansion in just a matter of weeks, as COVID-19 has spread through the country, with governments shuttering numerous businesses." #1u https://t.co/bEqE7ps25W
— Oregon AFL-CIO (@OregonAFLCIO) April 30, 2020Pennsylvania AFL-CIO:
Check out this #solidarity from our Scranton CLC brothers from @IAFFNewsDesk fire house #7. We honor all following workers on Workers Memorial Day. #WMD2020 @AFLCIO pic.twitter.com/nMIDEaAPQW
— PA AFL-CIO (@PaAFL_CIO) April 28, 2020Rhode Island AFL-CIO:
Read this week's E-News: https://t.co/5uvHH4VoUF #1U #Unions #UnionStrong #Solidarity To receive in your inbox weekly, send us your E-Mail to Info@riaflcio.com #1U #Unions #UnionStrong #Solidarity #FrontLineHeroes #EssentialWorkers pic.twitter.com/ttS8BsBc4L
— Rhode Island AFL-CIO (@riaflcio) April 30, 2020Tennessee AFL-CIO Labor Council:
“If they are going to stay home, seeking to protect their health, they should continue to receive their unemployment benefits,” Rep. @JRClemmons said.https://t.co/cBtEs5Ix4k
— Tennessee AFL-CIO (@tnaflcio) April 30, 2020Texas AFL-CIO:
PRESS RELEASE: Gov. Abbott’s plan to start reopening Texas businesses lacks critical elements that would protect Texans who are required to return to their work premises. #txlege
Items unaddressed:
❌ Safety
❌ Workers' Compensation
❌ Paid Sick Dayshttps://t.co/xHYTlP3DWn
Virginia AFL-CIO:
Congrats and solidarity! https://t.co/nIY4rsfd4V
— Virginia AFL-CIO (@Virginia_AFLCIO) April 29, 2020Washington State Labor Council:
As our commemorations of #WorkersMemorialDay come to a close, we want to leave you with some words from a speech our Secretary Treasurer April Sims gave yesterday. The labor movement unites us all, and all of us are needed to fight for the movement. #1u #solidarityforever pic.twitter.com/7OSUcnSA6Y
— WA State AFL-CIO (@WAAFLCIO) April 28, 2020West Virginia AFL-CIO:
So many union members are essential workers! Here are USW 12625 members at Glasgow Health & Rehab: Jessica Branham, CNA, Chelsea Robinson, LPN, Kelli Pritt, Dietary, Amanda Elswick, CNA, and Annie Aubrey, LPN. Thanks Jessica, Chelsea, Kelli, Amanda and Annie!! Stay Safe!! ?? pic.twitter.com/yRxZtU3PN2
— West Virginia AFLCIO (@WestVirginiaAFL) April 29, 2020Wisconsin State AFL-CIO:
Wisconsin Republicans haven't come together on a COVID-19 response plan, https://t.co/487LhngxHQ
— WI AFL-CIO (@wisaflcio) April 30, 2020 Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 05/01/2020 - 12:28Labor-Radio Podcast Weekly: Danny Glover, Jamie Partridge and More
This week, actor and activist Danny Glover says, “We need to fight a fight for the new future” on Work Week Radio (KPOO), and Jamie Partridge of Communities and Postal Workers United says, “This pandemic is life and death, if not for you, for your coworker, for your family, for their family, for our customers” on Labor Radio (KBOO), which included an excerpt from this year’s online Labor Notes conference. Plus, “The Fight for Equality” from Labor History in 2:00.
Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 04/29/2020 - 13:14Tags: Podcast
Union Leaders' Message to Workers About COVID-19
Leaders of America's unions send a message of support and thanks to the union members and workers who are keeping our economy going and providing all of us with basic needs and essential services.
Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 04/29/2020 - 10:20Tags: COVID-19
Plant Workers in Kentucky Fight for Safer Workplaces
In late March, when workers at GE Appliances, a Haier company in Louisville, Kentucky, were mandated to work during the COVID-19 crisis, members of IUE-CWA Local 83761 sprung into action to make sure they were protected on the job. While the plant was shut down for one week, Local 83761 President Dino Driskell reached out to Gov. Andy Beshear and other elected officials who agreed to send letters to Haier calling for stronger workplace safety measures. The local’s internal organizing team, led by Kindre Batliner, organized some 1,000 members for a “drive-by” rally on March 28, calling on Haier to keep the plant closed until stronger safety and health protocols were in place.
“That rally was tremendous, the morale really lifted after that. The company wasn’t even willing to talk to us before,” said Ashley Snider, vice president of the Kentucky State AFL-CIO and IUE-CWA staff. “Thanks to the members' political action and the rally, Haier really started to listen to our concerns.”
Since the rally, workers at GE Appliance Park secured new safety protections, such as plastic barriers around workstations and other social distancing measures. Most notably, members of Local 83761 won a $2 an hour hazard pay raise and a flexible leave policy for workers at high risk from the coronavirus and those who have child care needs.
Members of Local 83761 have also donated extra face masks to other essential workers in the Louisville area, including members of Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1447, UAW Local 822 and Teamsters Local 783. However, the union is still working to get additional protective equipment in Louisville and is supporting similar member mobilization campaigns at shops across the country, including a GE plant in Madisonville, Kentucky, that builds plane engines and has several positive COVID-19 cases.
Snider is leveraging her relationships with political leaders to help those who have been laid off to start receiving unemployment benefits. After spending countless hours on hold trying to get more information on benefit issues members were having, Snider contacted Morgan McGarvey, the Democratic leader in the state Senate, who connected her directly with the manager of the local unemployment office who was able to speed up the benefit approval process for many of the workers the union represents. She explained: “Elections matter, and the people in office can actually affect our lives in a big way.”
As the labor movement looks toward the future, this crisis is demonstrating how every worker needs to be protected on the job. IUE-CWA has been receiving calls from employees in other plants asking how they can join the union. “We’re all in this together. It’s a scary time, but I’m so glad I have my union family and I know I’m supported,” Snider said. "And many workers without a union are starting to understand the value of having support on the job."
In an effort to further protect workers and ensure that our country has the tools and resources we need to fight this pandemic, the IUE-CWA is calling on GE to produce ventilators in its empty shops. To support its effort, you can sign IUE-CWA's petition.
Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 04/28/2020 - 12:35Tags: COVID-19
We're All in This Together: What Working People Are Doing This Week
Welcome to our regular feature, a look at what the various AFL-CIO unions and other working family organizations are doing across the country and beyond. The labor movement is big and active—here's a look at the broad range of activities we're engaged in this week.
Actors' Equity:
For updates on how you can protect yourself from COVID-19, resources and the latest statements made by Actors' Equity Association, be sure to check the Member Portal - https://t.co/H3xFIi87eu pic.twitter.com/ig3Z51TcDH
— Actors' Equity (@ActorsEquity) April 24, 2020AFGE:
If implemented too soon, issuing a new telework policy could worsen the crisis and unnecessarily expose millions of Americans to illness and potentially death. Human life is precious, and we must protect the health and safety of our government workforce.https://t.co/he6NVUi4af https://t.co/ThI7y995AB
— AFGE (@AFGENational) April 23, 2020AFSCME:
We're going to be fighting every single day to protect public services & public service workers during this crisis. Dedicated public service workers are risking their lives to keep our communities safe and running smoothly. They do not deserve pink slips. https://t.co/De2keP8HHr
— AFSCME ✊? (@AFSCME) April 24, 2020Air Line Pilots Association:
Thank YOU @RepPeterDeFazio for continuing to stand up for ALPA #pilots to help us keep our aviation system the safest in the world. #ToThoseWhoKeepUsMoving https://t.co/MfCJ0brwNE
— ALPA (@WeAreALPA) April 21, 2020Alliance for Retired Americans:
Alert: Many seniors infected with coronavirus exhibit unusual symptoms rather than the usual fever, persistent cough, and shortness of breath. https://t.co/gZ3uC0okfZ pic.twitter.com/YCNQsOaDnN
— Alliance Retirees (@ActiveRetirees) April 23, 2020Amalgamated Transit Union:
Get involved now by visiting https://t.co/SwcKJqTZn8 and go to the #SafeServiceNow section. #1u #COVID19 #Transit #TogetherWeFightTogetherWeWin pic.twitter.com/RMjBJc2XSO
— ATU, Transit Union (@ATUComm) April 21, 2020American Federation of Musicians:
The coronavirus pandemic has brought an unprecedented challenge to the entertainment industry & it's more important than ever that #UnionMusicians stand w/ @IATSE, @directorsguild, @Teamsters, @sagaftra, & @WGAEast
during this crisis. #1u https://t.co/X6IyDsxJTb pic.twitter.com/2wwRP0wXBI
American Federation of Teachers:
During a global pandemic, it is shameful that the Senate GOP slipped huge tax breaks for owners of real estate firms, hedge funds & private equity into the CARES Act. Aid should go to those who need it most, NOT millionaires & heavy hitters. Repeal the #MillionairesGiveaway NOW. pic.twitter.com/mhySh17sJ0
— AFT (@AFTunion) April 24, 2020American Postal Workers Union:
Pres. Dimondstein's statement:
At a time when the country needs us now more than ever, Mnuchin & his Wall Street cronies are attempting to exploit the crisis to raise prices, demonize heroic postal workers and cut servicehttps://t.co/68xgHuAHsL
Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance:
Shout out to local leaders who are taking action against the growing discrimination against Asian Americans!
????????
Shout out to our APALA Massachusetts Chapter for their day in and day out work to advocate for AAPIs and ensure our voices are heard! https://t.co/TLz2rtHWkc
Association of Flight Attendants-CWA:
AFA to DOT and HHS: Require Masks, PPE, and Suspend Leisure Travel https://t.co/eLrNi7cOLG
— AFA-CWA (@afa_cwa) April 24, 2020Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers:
Local 10G member Hazel Graesser is a machine operator at Treehouse Private Brands in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She and co-workers are packing store brand oatmeal seven days a week during the COVID-19 outbreak.
THANK YOU, Sister. ??#bctgmstrong #covid_19 #1u #coronavirususa #unionyes pic.twitter.com/TrpkDpvjTW
Boilermakers:
Thank you ❤️ to the essential crews maintaining our roads, buildings & other infrastructures. ? And thank you to the unions fighting to keep these workers safe! @NABTU @TheIronworkers @IBEW @roofersunion @GoIUPAT @IUBAC @LIUNA @steelworkers pic.twitter.com/mWTcJ5QHh2
— Boilermakers Union (@boilermakernews) April 23, 2020Bricklayers:
This is one of many ways to show our appreciation and respect to our hardworking frontline workers amid #COVIDー19. Thank you, BAC Local 1 #NewYork & @islandempanada for stepping up and showing your support!#solidarity #1u #BuildingTradesWhateverItTakes pic.twitter.com/OZecuhI28h
— Bricklayers Union (@IUBAC) April 20, 2020California School Employees Association:
Gov. @GavinNewsom joined our board meeting today to show appreciation for the important work our members are doing to serve their communities. We thank him for taking his valuable time to visit & we'll continue working to get #CA through this. #UnionStrong https://t.co/w62sZyLyfL pic.twitter.com/Vug07zkq1e
— CSEA (@CSEA_Now) April 18, 2020Coalition of Labor Union Women:
The death toll is increasing each day and without protective equipment, more and more public service workers on the #COVIDfrontlines are coming down with COVID-19 themselves. To the White House: Expand the DPA. We cannot win without these front-line workers. pic.twitter.com/VUO9YrhPVJ
— CLUW National (@CLUWNational) April 23, 2020Communications Workers of America:
We wish you and your loved ones a safe and happy Ramadan! pic.twitter.com/VqICYG2HMa
— CWA (@CWAUnion) April 23, 2020Department for Professional Employees:
Unlike other networks, @WeAreSinclair has abandoned its broadcast technicians by refusing to pay them during this global health crisis. We stand with Sinclair broadcast technicians and their union @IATSE in demanding compensation for expected work. #1u https://t.co/xcHNo7BlAi
— Department for Professional Employees (@DPEaflcio) April 23, 2020Electrical Workers:
Ontario #IBEW members give new meaning to serving on the front line . https://t.co/sFAFVESa0m
— IBEW (@IBEW) April 23, 2020Fire Fighters:
IAFF General President appears on MSNBC today. #Firefighters and paramedics are frustrated that they have not received the PPE they need to do the job the community expects them to do.” #coronavirus pic.twitter.com/RQwx1LOkz3
— IAFF (@IAFFNewsDesk) April 23, 2020Heat and Frost Insulators:
Thank you for being a part of the Insulators Union.https://t.co/JxFly8OVYz
— Insulators Union (@InsulatorsUnion) April 24, 2020International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers:
Welcome to your union, everyone at @IFTPE is standing with you!! We will be eagerly awaiting @NILC management, swift recognition of their employees #union! https://t.co/kMDgB52NY1
— IFPTE (@IFPTE) April 23, 2020International Labor Communications Association:
Ready for your entries into the 2020 Labor Media Awards Contest https://t.co/Z5ZipUIwY2 pic.twitter.com/lrZW7CaLwD
— Labor Communications (@ILCAonline) April 22, 2020Jobs With Justice:
THREAD: Today, JWJ sent letters to the five largest corporate landlords DEMANDING they:
? Forgive unpaid rents during the COVID crisis
? Cease evictions and foreclosures
? Support housing relief
If no response — we strike #OurHouseOurRules
Join us: https://t.co/tUBIkblXUw pic.twitter.com/4ho7ipGm8V
Labor Council for Latin American Advancement:
With school buildings closed around the country because of the coronavirus pandemic, educators say they are concerned about how these students and families are faring. @AFTunion https://t.co/neJZmnDwLO
— LCLAA (@LCLAA) April 21, 2020Laborers:
?WATCH NOW: A #THANKYOU video message to those of you still working, your sacrifice & courage has not gone unnoticed! #COVID19 #Coronavirus #1U
Click here: https://t.co/v95aWjmicb pic.twitter.com/SLM9ioZZ7d
Longshoremen:
https://t.co/YCMTsEuBRo In this time of crisis, the @ILAUnion @TheILAmobileApp ILA salutes its members and partners in this video for helping to keep American commerce moving – and doing it under safe working conditions with proper PPE.@NYSANEWS @PeterTirschwell @Nardijo @AFLCIO
— Int'l LongshoreAssoc (@ILAUnion) April 24, 2020Machinists:
Activate L!VE: Safety & Health amid #COVID19. #WorkplaceSafety https://t.co/Ut59VbaLqH
— Machinists Union ✈️?? (@MachinistsUnion) April 22, 2020Maritime Trades Department:
How can we expect to beat this pandemic if we cut our public services and give a pink slip to sanitation workers, health care workers and other public service workers? This is not a winning strategy. Congress: invest in state and local govts NOW. #FundtheFrontLines
— MaritimeTrades (@Maritime_Trades) April 23, 2020Metal Trades Department:
MTD President James Hart penned a letter to Congress yesterday thanking them for their bipartisan efforts to help American workers and businesses during this unprecedented time. See the text of the letter below. Or download the full letter here. https://t.co/jNNyMLbLiY pic.twitter.com/2HuwEvK1KY
— Metal Trades Dept. (@metaltradesafl) April 24, 2020National Air Traffic Controllers Association:
NATCA Pres @PaulRinaldi: Decreases in traffic across the NAS could provide an opportunity to modernize the system while it’s not running at top speed. It might help tremendously. @ATCA_now CEO Peter Dumont: I saw a meme about that. #ATCAchat #ATCAonline https://t.co/93hpgijHL1 pic.twitter.com/KLNiqhUtyW
— NATCA (@NATCA) April 24, 2020National Association of Letter Carriers:
Action needed: Congress must protect & strengthen the Postal Service during the COVID-19 crisis. Watch the video below to learn how to use NALC's website to contact your member of Congress & advocate for our brothers and sisters!#SaveThePostOffice #USPS_is_essential pic.twitter.com/nIvLDk4kfX
— Letter Carriers (@NALC_National) April 19, 2020National Day Laborer Organizing Network:
Grateful for chance to partner w/ @mrjoshhealey @rosariodawson @wkamaubell @lascafeteras @yosoyyosi @alphabetrockers and others to raise $ for the Immigrant Worker Safety Net Fund and the Black Housing Union. Details https://t.co/9fdBLLGeOc #yNosotrosQue?
— NDLON (@NDLON) April 23, 2020National Domestic Workers Alliance:
Important data from @maketheroadnj — The next federal relief bill needs to include undocumented workers who are essential to the coronavirus response. But states can follow California's lead and create state relief funds that include EVERYONE right now. https://t.co/QDD5kIEAVm
— Domestic Workers (@domesticworkers) April 24, 2020National Federation of Federal Employees-IAM:
Until our nation's leaders figure it out, I guess we'll have to take care of one another. We salute you NFFE Local 2189. #InThisTogether #solidarityhttps://t.co/aXBoNj6BYm
— NFFE (@NFFE_Union) April 22, 2020National Nurses United:
Fully staff the VA NOW! Veterans' lives are on the line.
“Usually the ratio is one nurse to two critical patients. I’m having five critical ICU patients on ventilators. I’ve never seen anything like this," said Lobifaro, NNU RN.#COVID19 #SafeStaffinghttps://t.co/YDyBepdQjc
National Taxi Workers Alliance:
Already Struggling Taxi Drivers Face Added Challenge During Pandemic https://t.co/r1QINav3GL
— NY Taxi Workers (@NYTWA) April 17, 2020NFL Players Association:
It's Draft Day and we're excited to welcome our newest player members. ? Here's a message from Executive Director @DeSmithNFLPA to the incoming rookie class:#NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/wegdLscpeL
— NFLPA (@NFLPA) April 23, 2020North America's Building Trades Unions:
Our #BuildingTrades family up in New England showed their support for health care workers by driving by a local hospital in a truck with large digital messages on the side.
Take a look!https://t.co/NXVkwhhdQj pic.twitter.com/Kc3LdDhCqF
Office and Professional Employees:
“We’re all in this together” means we’re all in this together. @OPEIU459nurses, @Local40OPEIU, and a coalition of union allies (@Teamsters, @UNITEHERE, @MINurses, @SEIU) are demanding to be treated like the #EssentialWorkers they are. #1u https://t.co/nzInR7D7V6
— OPEIU (@OPEIU) April 22, 2020Painters and Allied Trades:
Matt has survived COVID–19. Listen to his solidarity message for fellow construction workers & working people everywhere.
“My time in there was the scariest in my life."
Congress, the labor movement has a question: Which side are you on?
⏯️Full Video: https://t.co/w5k0e1Mua6 pic.twitter.com/Y2s8lDqaFs
Plasterers and Cement Masons:
“While the country was riveted on the skyrocketing number of Covid-19 cases and trying to make sense of the incoherent response by the Trump administration, [the NLRB] continued its steady dismantling of workers’ rights.” What a disgrace! #1u https://t.co/xutb9c0v9e pic.twitter.com/A8mzKLhX9p
— OPCMIA International (@opcmiaintl) April 22, 2020Pride At Work:
LGBTQ folk are more likely to have been impacted economically by #COVID19. Unions can help mitigate some of the damage economically to working people. Organize!https://t.co/73e7W773rD
— Pride at Work (@PrideatWork) April 23, 2020Professional Aviation Safety Specialists:
Privatizing inherently government functions, such as air traffic control & USPS, are misguided schemes to give $$$ to corporations. PASS beat back calls to privatize ATC & supports our fellow unions trying to #SaveThePostOffice @NALC_National @APWUnational @NRLCA #MailHandlers
— PASS (@PASSNational) April 21, 2020Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union:
RWDSU Demands That @Macys Extend Contracts Through COVID-19 Pandemic.
Read the full release on our website: https://t.co/WUXV5RjVnT pic.twitter.com/1MChFgMtDB
SAG-AFTRA:
S/O to SAG-AFTRA recording artist members @llcoolj & @Nas on tonight's fundraiser in support of Healthcare Professionals on the frontline. #sagaftramembers https://t.co/KO7cDytao2
— SAG-AFTRA (@sagaftra) April 23, 2020Seafarers:
Recertified Bosun Ritche Acuman (right) reports that everyone arriving at the USNS Algol (pictured in San Francisco) gets a temperature check. He built a testing station in part to block wind. #1u #maritime pic.twitter.com/Z5HDTH7aJJ
— Seafarers Union (@SeafarersUnion) April 24, 2020Solidarity Center:
7 yrs after #RanaPlaza, when 1100+ garment workers were killed & thousands more injured, it's more clear than ever that worker rights, worker health, worker safety—ALL our health security is connected. No More #RanaPlazas! @cleanclothes @GLJhub @ILRF @GlobalFundWomen @equaltimes pic.twitter.com/VM1sBRAjs7
— Solidarity Center (@SolidarityCntr) April 24, 2020The NewsGuild-CWA:
Check out NewsGuild President Jon Schleuss discussing how to help #SaveTheNews @CJR
https://t.co/efuP7KoQQg @gaufre pic.twitter.com/pSN2IzuqYv
Theatrical Stage Employees:
Political Director Tyler McIntosh discusses the ongoing efforts to advocate for IATSE members on Capitol Hill during the COVID-19 crisis. https://t.co/P5u5e3ygCD
— IATSE (@IATSE) April 23, 2020Transport Workers:
We need PPE and safety mandates now!
Recommendations and guidelines are not enough. Profit-driven airline executives and bureaucratic transit agencies have already proven they can’t be trusted to do the right thing on their own.https://t.co/A9NWk6Ys3g
Transportation Trades Department:
Front-line workers in the #COVID19 fight need unions #1uhttps://t.co/EPzzM8JN4d
— Transp. Trades Dept. (@TTDAFLCIO) April 23, 2020UAW:
"Our members need to hear precise information about the threat of the virus, what is the action plan to combat this thing and whether or not they'll be safe. Right now, we don't see that as being solid enough to return to the workplace this early." https://t.co/MyTjxFaphh
— UAW (@UAW) April 23, 2020Union Plus:
Major labor union threatens to cancel convention in New Orleans if Convention Center doesn’t address local workers’ demands for relief | The Lens https://t.co/MU7oh5CzR5
— Union Label Dept. (@ULSTD_AFLCIO) April 21, 2020Union Veterans Council:
Great work @votevets, #USPS impacts our veterans community in a multitude of levels. https://t.co/p3sqwGkoLn
— Union Veterans Council (@unionveterans) April 23, 2020UNITE HERE:
Meet Vikas.
Recently, Vikas & his coworkers organized their hotel in Baltimore. ?
Under COVID-19, Vikas finds himself once again fighting for a fair deal.
But now, it’s on Congress to decide to put #WorkersFirst—or the hotel companies.
?TAKE ACTION: https://t.co/iLtKfaD5d8 pic.twitter.com/ScOt9SR9kg
United Food and Commercial Workers:
Thanks to @Browns QB Baker Mayfield for thanking grocery workers and sharing how customers can #ShopSmart during #COVID19.
Learn more about our #ShopSmart campaign here: https://t.co/nmUiv1GvBO. pic.twitter.com/OlXIK1dXJG
United Steelworkers:
The Fox in the Henhouse https://t.co/fju5QA9cjJ
— United Steelworkers (@steelworkers) April 24, 2020United Students Against Sweatshops:
Be in solidarity with @UnderArmour garment workers (pictured here outside the PT Kaho Indah Citragarment factory in Indonesia) TODAY by creating a sign that says “Under Armour pay your orders! Do right by garment workers! #WorkersOverUnderArmour” and taking a selfie! Tag us @USAS pic.twitter.com/Jl96blOX0P
— USAS (@USAS) April 23, 2020Utility Workers:
Indian Point is scheduled for shut down April 30. We can stop it. Please sign the petition telling Governor @NYGovCuomo this is not the time to close Indian Point and endanger clean steady power to #NewYork City and #Westchester. These are our jobs! https://t.co/whPITbiEJd
— UWUA National (@The_UWUA) April 23, 2020Working America:
We didn’t just speak with Democrats, even 60% of swing voters saw the need to address climate change. ???
Full report: https://t.co/af7d0oc7MP
Writers Guild of America, East:
Earl Peterson is working remotely to make sure listeners are informed and aware, because he, like his fellow Guild Members, knows that #NewsIsEssential [12/ ] pic.twitter.com/Ba1uVh9XKP
— Writers Guild of America, East (@WGAEast) April 23, 2020 Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 04/27/2020 - 15:58Rhode Island's Working People and the Response to COVID-19
Patrick Crowley, secretary-treasurer of the Rhode Island AFL-CIO, spoke to Erik Loomis of the Lawyers, Guns & Money blog about the response from the state federation and the larger labor movement to COVID-19.
Here in Rhode Island, the state federation has been holding conference calls for local labor leaders every other day so our leaders, many of whom are still rank-and-file workers, can ask questions of the state’s political leaders. We’ve had Governor Raimondo join us twice, the State Treasurer, the Attorney General, the Secretary of State, the Senate President and our entire congressional delegation. Our leaders have been able to ask questions, sometimes pretty tough ones, about what steps the government has taken to address the crisis. It’s also been a chance to triage problems that have come up for our members. For example, in the early days of the crisis, there was a real concern that one of our hospital chains was going to start furloughing front line health care workers because they were hemorrhaging money after elective procedures were cancelled, cutting off a significant revenue stream. As a result of these calls, labor leaders were able to convince political leaders to investigate so folks could keep working.
Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 04/24/2020 - 13:24Helping Those in Need Is a ‘Labor of Love’ for Union Members in North Georgia
Wearing face masks and gloves and sharing a determination to help their brothers and sisters in need, dozens of members of the Atlanta-North Georgia Labor Council sorted and bagged emergency food to hand out to union families on Saturday, April 18. The “Labor of Love” food drive was a member-to-member relief effort in collaboration with the United Way of Greater Atlanta and the Georgia State AFL-CIO, in partnership with Margie’s House mobile food pantry and the city of Fairburn, Georgia, to help 300 union families who are now struggling to put food on their tables. It was one of a series of volunteer events that the labor council has coordinated to support union members and the wider community during the pandemic.
In March, as classrooms were closing and fear of the coronavirus was increasing, members of the Atlanta-North Georgia Labor Council volunteered their time to help AFSCME school support workers in the Atlanta public schools prepare breakfast and lunch for students forced to learn from home. “Union members have been coming out. We’re trying to not only help our members, but also help the community,” said Sandra Williams (RWDSU), the labor council’s executive director. Union members were also on hand in conjunction with Atlanta Jobs with Justice, to deliver lunch to faculty, residents and students of the Morehouse School of Medicine working at Grady Hospital earlier this month.
In other ways, the labor federation is working to assist those who now find themselves without a job or are experiencing financial hardship because of this crisis. Many members attended a Zoom town hall hosted by state Sen. Zahra Karinshak that included a panel on unemployment insurance with James Williams (IBEW), president of the Atlanta-North Georgia Labor Council, and Denise Beckwith, the unemployment division director of the Georgia State Department of Labor. The council also has worked with Jobs with Justice and many other community partners to provide community support. “We hope that members see our support, look at it with pride and they know they can rely on their union to come through for them,” Sandra Williams said. “People are very thankful, but they’re also fearful for their health.”
With some businesses allowed to reopen in the coming days, James Williams expressed concerns that Gov. Brian Kemp is putting money ahead of people’s safety and health. “Georgia is likely to run out of unemployment funds in the next few months, and this is a way to keep contractors employed,” he explained. If these workers are forced out of work a second time a few weeks from now, their unemployment claims are likely to be denied.
“Last year, we celebrated the 100-year anniversary of my local, Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 613, and we’ll be around for another hundred years,” James Williams said, looking toward a bright future for the labor movement in the north Georgia region. With volunteering events planned every other week for as long as they are needed, the members of the Atlanta-North Georgia Labor Council will be there to lift up their union family and their community.
Kenneth Quinnell Thu, 04/23/2020 - 14:47Tags: COVID-19, Community Service
Worker Safety Above Political Gain: In the States Roundup
It's time once again to take a look at the ways working people are making progress in the states. Click on any of the links to follow the state federations on Twitter.
California Labor Federation:
There are 11 days left until #MayDay2020 and front line workers still lack proper safety equipment, affordable, accessible health care & treatment. Show unity & #solidarity with workers of the world during this crisis. Sign the Workers' Bill of Rights now: https://t.co/VzdE9dXqp9 pic.twitter.com/50mBWxdvjD
— California Labor Federation (@CaliforniaLabor) April 21, 2020Connecticut AFL-CIO:
Our state's essential workers deserve to receive workers' comp benefits if they are stricken with #COVID19. Urge @GovNedLamont to sign an executive order today! #1u https://t.co/twboROWlsH
— Connecticut AFL-CIO (@ConnAFLCIO) April 20, 2020Florida AFL-CIO:
Florida’s Unemployment System is failing Florida.
Almost 94 percent of applicants haven’t received any support. For the few that have been approved, Florida’s weekly benefits are some of the lowest in the nation.
Sign the petition: https://t.co/3vmhNts86v pic.twitter.com/KRrxAyPve8
Georgia AFL-CIO:
Thousands of Georgians have been hit with job loss and food insecurity as our economy has reacted to the crisis. We’re proud to help our members & their families through hard times and ensure their safety at work when back on the job. #1u https://t.co/EziNbIfPrb
— Georgia AFL-CIO (@AFLCIOGeorgia) April 20, 2020Idaho State AFL-CIO:
The @CDCgov is prioritizing business over the safety of workers. We urge @CDCDirector to reissue guidance that treats essential workers as a priority. #EssentialNotExpendable
— Idaho State AFL-CIO (@IdahoAFLCIO) April 15, 2020Indiana State AFL-CIO:
The president wants to reopen the economy far too quickly. Worker safety and science have to come before politics and corporate profits.
Worker safety, economic recovery and public health are intertwined. Moving too fast or doing too little on one front makes everyone less safe.
Iowa Federation of Labor:
If you haven't received an Absentee Ballot Request form, apply here and mail back to your County Auditor: https://t.co/E5Kl2tkKd1
— Iowa AFL-CIO (@IowaAFLCIO) April 21, 2020Maine AFL-CIO:
If we had a few hundred more class conscious working people like Troy Jackson serving in Congress, we could turn this country around. #mepolitics https://t.co/xRA5KtJn6a
— Maine AFL-CIO (@MEAFLCIO) April 17, 2020Michigan State AFL-CIO:
Proud to announce our endorsement of two great candidates for Michigan Supreme Court: https://t.co/BmN2qRMvd7 #1u
— Michigan AFL-CIO ? (@MIAFLCIO) April 20, 2020Minnesota AFL-CIO:
The COVID-19 pandemic has turned the world upside down. Working people are now faced with unprecedented challenges. We want to hear from you. What challenges are you facing? You can let us know by taking our short survey. https://t.co/5GT1PxBAVs #1u #StayHomeMN @aflcio #mnleg pic.twitter.com/SMVtmEpgfr
— Minnesota AFL-CIO (@MNAFLCIO) April 21, 2020Missouri AFL-CIO:
State Auditor Nicole Galloway continues to fight for workers on the front lines. https://t.co/rzMYjvUwuR
— Missouri AFL-CIO (@MOAFLCIO) April 17, 2020Montana State AFL-CIO:
.@CooneyforMT & @Casey_Schreiner prioritize the needs of the ALL working Montanans who drive the state’s economy when they make decisions. #mtpol #mtgov https://t.co/T7EHcK6W0O
— Montana AFL-CIO (@MTaflcio) April 21, 2020New York State AFL-CIO:
Thank you to all those working hard during this crisis! #UnionStrong @nysut @CSEALocal1000 @uupinfo pic.twitter.com/8YMmNssmwl
— NYSAFLCIO (@NYSAFLCIO) April 21, 2020North Carolina State AFL-CIO:
What help is available for unemployed NC workers during the #COVID19 pandemic? We talked to our attorney to get answers to your questions about what can be a complicated system: https://t.co/E1znf5NES6 #1u
— NC State AFL-CIO (@NCStateAFLCIO) April 20, 2020Ohio AFL-CIO:
Nice. Now how about offering your workers free PPE, paid time off, and raises. https://t.co/0mik6BMRsA
— Ohio AFL-CIO (@ohioaflcio) April 21, 2020Oregon AFL-CIO:
“If anyone can keep us safe, it’s the working class. They will be the ones that allow us to not only survive COVID-19 but thrive as a nation,” said Local 2003 President Anthony Holton.https://t.co/d1tod6Hca0
— Oregon AFL-CIO (@OregonAFLCIO) April 20, 2020Pennsylvania AFL-CIO:
“Our frontline workers are risking their lives to save others. More than a million Pennsylvanians have been laid off. This is not a time to play games with our lives and livelihoods.” @Darrinkellypgh @AlleghenyLabor https://t.co/fF4x8PIqlk
— PA AFL-CIO (@PaAFL_CIO) April 20, 2020Rhode Island AFL-CIO:
COVID-19 Violence Prevention resources. pic.twitter.com/jpfdqEJNLN
— Rhode Island AFL-CIO (@riaflcio) April 21, 2020Tennessee AFL-CIO Labor Council:
"With each day of the coronavirus pandemic, Americans have grown increasingly grateful for things we used to take for granted, like grocery workers, without whom we could not meet our most basic needs."https://t.co/HZxJQY1H1k
— Tennessee AFL-CIO (@tnaflcio) April 21, 2020Texas AFL-CIO:
PRESS RELEASE: "Sadly, TX remains the only state that does not automatically provide workers' compensation to employees. Front line workers should not be forced to prove that COVID-19 was the result of a workplace contact to get benefits." https://t.co/VvAKyvU4gG
— Texas AFL-CIO (@TexasAFLCIO) April 20, 2020Virginia AFL-CIO:
#Quarantine isn’t complete without a union-made snack. Do you have yours? pic.twitter.com/AIhFTkDJbT
— Virginia AFL-CIO (@Virginia_AFLCIO) April 21, 2020Washington State Labor Council:
Check out Cherika's Corner, a new column spotlighting union members who are blazing a Path to Power and building power for working people. #1u #UnionStrong https://t.co/nkad4HT2D0
— WA State AFL-CIO (@WAAFLCIO) April 20, 2020West Virginia AFL-CIO:
So many of our union sisters, brothers are working in essential professions. Here’s Lara Horn, NALC member, walking in Elk City. John Fallecker, NALC, is in Mink Shoals, & APWU member Josh Kitchen is working the Charleston office. Thanks Lara, John & Josh!! Stay Safe!!!?? pic.twitter.com/fcBXQmraGU
— West Virginia AFLCIO (@WestVirginiaAFL) April 20, 2020Wisconsin State AFL-CIO:
Hats off to these American heroes. More than 40 employees lived at their plant for 28 days to make material to protect health care workers, https://t.co/MLaryeoHd2
— WI AFL-CIO (@wisaflcio) April 21, 2020 Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 04/22/2020 - 12:57
