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UNION CITY LABOR CORONAVIRUS WATCH: Legislative Update

Pepco pledges help for customers during crisis

AFGE & AFSCME sites cover coronavirus impact on government workers

Union Voice/Readers Write: "How can we help?"

Required Reading

Today's Labor Quote

Today's Labor History

[link removed] LABOR CALENDAR

Union City Radio: Weekdays, 7:15am - 7:20am
WPFW-FM 89.3 FM; [link removed] click here to hear today's report

Whether it's the latest news on how the labor movement is dealing with the coronavirus crisis or which union just organized a new workplace, Union City is your reliable source for labor news in the metro Washington area. Please help us build the DC area as a Union City by telling your friends and colleagues about us! Pass UC along or [link removed] sign folks up here. Thank you!
- Chris Garlock; mailto:[email protected] [email protected]

UNION CITY LABOR CORONAVIRUS WATCH: Legislative Update

Maryland
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan ordered the closure of all bars, restaurants, and gyms, effective at 5 p.m. Monday. The governor also announced measures to ease the financial burden that strict measures may create. Utilities will not be allowed to cut off services, including phones, cable TV, gas or water, and evictions will not be allowed until the emergency is over. Hogan said state and federal legislation is pending to assist anyone who faces real financial trouble. Although the Maryland General Assembly will shut down this Wednesday (about three weeks early), they'll focus on their highest priorities: passing a state budget and coronavirus legislation that would give job protections to people who are quarantined, and temporary unemployment benefits to people who lose pay because of the pandemic.

District of Columbia
Three pieces of [link removed] legislation dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic are expected to come up for a vote Tuesday at the DC City Council. Highlights include: wage replacement (adding to the definition of unemployment those temporarily unemployed because you quarantine or self-quarantine, or if you cannot work because your employer stopped or reduced operations), Small Business Grant Program funding, banning price gouging (prohibiting overcharging), and prohibitions on utility disconnections and evictions.

U.S. Congress
The House-passed Families First Coronavirus Response Act, expected to come before the Senate this week, is now being [link removed] held up by a single Republican congressman. The bill includes critical paid sick days and emergency paid family and medical leave provisions. Supporters are urging folks to put pressure on the Senate to pass Families First immediately. [link removed] Click here to contact your senators right now to be patched through to their offices!
- David Stephen; mailto:[email protected] [email protected]

Pepco pledges help for customers during crisis
With millions of people across Pepco's service area staying home as part of a plan to help prevent the spread of Coronavirus, Community Services Agency Executive Director Sonte DuCote reports that "Pepco has pledged to work with customers who may have difficulty paying their energy bills." Pepco is suspending service disconnections and waiving new late payment fees through at least May 1 and will continue to offer payment options to help customers. For more information contact Pepco's Customer Care Center at 202-833-7500 or visit their [link removed] website. Reach DuCote at mailto:[email protected] [email protected]

AFGE & AFSCME sites cover coronavirus impact on government workers
Thousands of AFGE activists and community members are visiting the union's website for information on how the coronavirus is impacting government workers and their agencies. AFGE's coronavirus resource [link removed] website includes: telework and travel guidance from various agencies; flexibility regarding medical prescription guidelines; updated bargaining guidance around coronavirus; guidance from OPM, DOL, OWCP, & CDC; specific information about coronavirus for employees in different sectors from the AFL-CIO.
AFSCME members are on the front lines, caring for and transporting those afflicted with the virus. Workers in emergency services, health care, child care, educational institutions and many others may come in contact with those infected by the virus, endangering themselves. AFSCME resource [link removed] website includes fact sheets, latest news, CDC and OSHA resources.

Union Voice/Readers Write: "How can we help?"
"Just wondering if Metro Council is directing donations to help those needing it most. Is there a specific CSA initiative or anything else?" asks Brian Finnegan, Global Worker Rights Coordinator in the AFL-CIO's International Department.
Contributions may be made [link removed] online or checks can be made payable to Community Services Agency, and mailed to 815 16th Street, NW, Suite 1100, Washington, DC 20006.

Required Reading
[link removed] These federal workers were exposed to the coronavirus while serving the public. Now they're quarantined
The Washington Post
[link removed] Veterans Affairs' staffing shortage raises concerns amid coronavirus outbreak
CNN
[link removed] U.S. Unions, Groups Urge Government Steps to Protect Workers From Coronavirus
The New York Times
[link removed] US flight attendants seeing financial strain due to coronavirus, union president says
ABC 11
[link removed] Culinary Union in negotiations with casinos about coronavirus impacts
CBS 8
[link removed] He was a Baptist pastor for 31 years. Now he leads the largest federal labor union.
The Washington Post
[link removed] Union wins $575M pension deal from Albertsons, Cerberus Capital
NY Post
photo: Melina Mara/The Washington Post

Today's Labor Quote: Kyle Lewis

"This crisis is going to reveal what *essential* work actually consists of. We must make sure that these occupations become the cornerstone of our economy rather than the afterthought they have been reduced to under neoliberalism."

Lewis is a researcher at [link removed] Autonomy, a research center aimed at rethinking work.

Today's Labor History

This week's [link removed] Labor History Today podcast: The Great Postal Strike, Watergate and "Casey Jones, the Union Scab" ; Longtime labor lawyer Jules Bernstein on the 1970 postal strike, AFL-CIO president George Meany on the Watergate scandal, and Pete Seeger on "Casey Jones, the Union Scab.
Last week's show: [link removed] Neutron Jack, Joker and Parasite

The leadership of the American Federation of Labor selects the Carpenters union to lead the eight hour movement. Carpenters throughout the country strike in April; by May 1, some 46,000 carpenters in 137 cities and towns have achieved shorter hours - 1890

A U.S.-China treaty prevents Chinese laborers from entering the U.S. - 1894

Staffers at San Francisco progressive rock station KMPX-FM strike, citing corporate control over what music is played and harassment over hair and clothing styles, among other things. The Rolling Stones, Joan Baez, the Jefferson Airplane, the Grateful Dead and other musicians request the station not play their music as long as the station is run by strikebreakers - 1968 Read more [link removed] here and see more photos/graphics [link removed] here; photo: Baron Wolman

Boeing Co. and the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace (SPEEA) come to terms on a new contract, settling the largest white-collar walkout in U.S. history. SPEEA represented some 22,000 workers, of whom 19,000 honored picket lines for 40 days - 2000

- David Prosten

Material published in UNION CITY may be freely reproduced by any recipient; please credit Union City as the source.

Published by the Metropolitan Washington Council, an AFL-CIO "Union City" Central Labor Council whose 200 affiliated union locals represent 150,000 area union members.

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