Partnership for Working Families
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Dear John,

This is an extraordinary time – this public health crisis is exposing the deep cracks in our social safety net, highlighting the incredible gulf between rich and poor, and revealing the undue influence wealthy corporations have over our democracy. The Partnership and our affiliates join our voices with the millions in communities across the United States demanding paid leave, free screening and care for those afflicted, and economic relief for all people in need.

The emergency legislation recently passed by the House ( H.R. 6201 [[link removed]] ) would not fully protect working people’s health or economic security. It exempts some of the largest [[link removed]] corporations in the world -- including Wal-Mart and Amazon -- from complying with the emergency law’s paid sick and family leave provisions (prioritizing their profits in a time of crisis). This leaves the health of our communities - once again - up to the whims of multi-billion dollar companies.

It’s for this very reason that forward-thinking cities like Oakland, California [[link removed]] have made it crystal clear: all workers - even so-called gig workers - are covered by local paid sick leave laws, without exception. San Jose council members last week introduced the strongest paid sick leave policy in the nation [[link removed]] . We need our local leaders everywhere to follow suit and fill the holes left by an inadequate federal response to this crisis.

Many are already passing bold policies . Some local jurisdictions, including Detroit, Atlanta, and DC, are temporarily suspending utility shut-offs. Miami-Dade and San Jose were leaders in banning evictions during the crisis. And the state of California is procuring hotels and motels to shelter houseless people and is also sending 450 travel trailers to locations around the state to provide shelter.

Everyone who has the power to act can and should do something right now to protect our communities. From your building and your block, to your city and your state, there are ways to support each other and create solutions that put people and community health above corporate profits.

We have specific demands for Amazon, the world’s first $1 trillion firm, and Jeff Bezos, the richest man on the planet. Athena, the national coalition we’re a part of, is pressing Amazon to protect our health - as workers, neighbors, customers - by offering every person who works there 100% paid leave to stay home if they need to, and by telling us what their plans are if COVID-19 disrupts their operations . Sign the petition to Jeff Bezos [[link removed]] .

We’ll be sharing resources and plans of action over the days and weeks ahead. Please let us know if there is an effort in your city-- be it a policy, mutual aid, or holding a corporation to account -- that we should lift up.

Thanks for all you are doing to keep all of our families and neighbors safe.



In unity,



Lauren Jacobs
Executive Director
Partnership for Working Families

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Partnership for Working Families
1305 Franklin St.
Suite 501
Oakland, CA 94612
United States
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Partnership for Working Families
1305 Franklin St.
Suite 501
Oakland, CA 94612
United States

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