The Metro Washington Council’s Health Committee on Monday called on the DC Department of Health to intensify contact tracing for frontline healthcare workers who have been exposed to COVID-19. “If the District of Columbia is going to ‘flatten the curve,’ we must put in place a robust process of notifying potential asymptomatic carriers of the virus,” said committee Chair Djawa Hall of 1199 SEIU UHWE. In a letter to the DC Department of Health, the MWC made specific demands for health care workers in DC to create new guidelines for hospitals, community-based health organizations, and long term care facilities, which would require them to implement in-house contact tracing epidemiology programs, create guidelines for notifying workers within 48 hours when a patient or employee tests positive for coronavirus, and reinstate furloughed workers and train them to fill critical contact tracer positions. “A timeline of 48 hours for workers to be contacted is appropriate and can be achieved through occupational medicine,” said Hall. “Additionally, other essential staff unable to perform their regular duties during this time can be trained in this area. Frontline workers cannot and should not be expected to unknowingly put their lives on the line, without being able to take the necessary precautions to protect themselves and their families. “
- David Stephen The Montgomery/Prince George’s County COPE will host a legislative briefing via Zoom next Friday, May 8, from 10:00 a.m. to 12 noon with elected officials representing federal, state, and county governments. Confirmed guest presenters will include Congressman Anthony Brown, Maryland Chairman of House Economic Matters Committee Derek E. Davis, Prince George’s County Council Member At-Large Calvin Hawkins and Montgomery County At-Large Council Member Will Jawando. To register for the call click here. “Join us as these elected officials share valuable information on issues of labor and the COVID-19 emergency and take your questions on these issues,” said Committee Chair Dyana Forester. Please complete this survey to help organizers prepare for a productive conversation.
Women and their unions around the world are leading the way in spearheading calls for safety and health protection and urging that their governments ratify C190, the global treaty to end gender-based violence and harassment at work. They recognize that gendered economic challenges are worsened by COVID-19, which is hitting women and other marginalized groups especially hard. Find out about this and more union action around COVID-19 at the Solidarity Center. Mary Harris Jones was a tough organizer and her words still inspire today And if she took a look at our working conditions, I think I know what she would say If you’re talking about a Workers Memorial Day mourn the dead while you’re ringing the bell Just remember Mother Jones, when it comes to the living and you know we gotta fight like hell. Written by longshoreman Harry Stamper, sung here (with additional lyrics) by Anne Feeney |