Union City LABOR CORONAVIRUS WATCH #1

Latest virus-related news affecting working people; please send updates to us at [email protected]

Mayor Bowser Adjusts the District of Columbia Government’s Operating Status
Starting Monday, March 16, through Tuesday, March 31, the District of Columbia Government will operate under an agency-specific telework schedule...

Cancellations of March NoVA Labor Activities
The following activities are cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic: 
CANCELLED: Mon. March 9th - Labor Listening Session with Delegate Jennifer Carroll Foy - 9am to 10:30 am.  
CANCELLED: Mon. March 9th - Delegate Jennifer Carroll Foy Post-Session Celebration - 7 pm
CANCELLED: Tues. March 17th - NoVA Labor Retirees Mtg - Noon - 2:00 pm
CANCELLED: Tues. March 17th - Rally to Support Federal Call Center Workers Organizing with CWA - 4 pm
CANCELLED: Thurs. March 19th - NoVA Labor Monthly Meeting - 7 pm
CANCELLED: Tues. March 24th - Jacobin Editor-in-Chief Bhaskar Sunkara at Busboys & Poets - 7 pm

POSTPONED: 2020 Labor Notes Conference

White House, House Democrats reach deal on coronavirus economic relief package, Pelosi announces
The White House and House Democrats reached agreement Friday on a coronavirus relief package to spend tens of billions of dollars on sick leave, unemployment insurance, food stamps and other measures to address the unfolding crisis...
Take action: Tell congress to pass the Families First Coronavirus Response Act now!

Union workers are more likely to have paid sick days and health insurance

COVID-19 pandemic makes clear that we need national paid sick leave legislation

As More Feds Contract Coronavirus, Agencies Scramble to Keep Employees Safe

AFL-CIO COVID-19 Outbreak Resources

Watch now: Trumka on labor's response to the COVID-19 outbreak
AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka on CNBC Closing Bell
AFL-CIO President Trumka on All in with Chris Hayes
President Trumka talks Coronavirus on Bloomberg

ATU has been closely monitoring the coronavirus (COVID-19) and the threats it poses for our members and the riding public. The International has been working with our Locals to ensure that transit agencies and private contractors are protecting our members’ health, safety and rights on the job. Meanwhile, some transit agencies have responded to the emergency by announcing expanded cleaning schedules, dispensing hand sanitizer and equipping drivers with antiseptic wipes and other supplies. Some are spraying disinfectant inside buses and distributing hand sanitizer. Some agencies say that coronavirus has not hurt their ridership. However, as more people become infected, as health experts predict, and social distancing expands, the confined quarters with other passengers on buses, trains and subways may be enough to force commuters to drive their cars rather than take public transit.

Protecting Asian American and Pacific Islander Working People In response to COVID-19
Our siblings in the Asian American and Pacific Islander community have also seen backlash from the virus as some wrongly and unjustly blame them for the virus. Viruses don’t discriminate and neither should we. Please check out the toolkit provided by our siblings over at APALA to learn more about protecting AAPI working people during this crisis as well.

Coronavirus Resources from the DOL
The U.S. Department of Labor has resources to help workers and employers prepare for the COVID-19 virus, also known as novel coronavirus.
New guidance outlines flexibilities that states have in administering their unemployment insurance programs to help Americans affected by coronavirus.

COVID-19: News from the world's trade unions

POSTPONED: 2020 Labor Notes Conference