DCNA demands DOH test nurses exposed to COVID-19
“Blatantly irresponsible” and “dangerous.” That’s what the District of Columbia Nurses Association (DCNA) is calling the D.C. Department of Health’s failure to test all health care personnel who have been exposed to patients or staff. “A patient at United Medical Center in southeast D.C. has died from COVID -19, and another patient at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital tested positive for the virus,” said DCNA. “In both cases, DC Health refused to test the nurses and other hospital staff who cared for the patients, thus jeopardizing not only their health, but the health of other staff members at the hospitals and their families.” At Howard University Hospital, a nurse died from corona virus last Friday. He was the first member of DCNA and National Nurses United to succumb to Covid-19, and DCNA Executive Director Edward Smith warned that “If an inordinate number of clinicians become ill in the District, it will result in a tremendous strain on D.C. hospitals to deliver care during this crisis, and we don’t want that to occur in the nation’s capital.”
Loudoun Supervisors leave transit workers at the curb
Although the new CARES Act provides $25 billion in funding to keep bus service running and transit workers paid, ATU 1764’s John Ertl reports that the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors has turned down their share of the federal funding, causing Local 1764 members to be laid off at Loudoun County Transit. “They said they don’t want to have to bother to front the money and be reimbursed later,” says Ertl. “We are dedicated public servants and we deserve to get paid during this crisis!”
Local 1764 is urging calls to Loudoun Supervisors to accept the funding; click here for names and contact info.
MLB shuts out Nats concessions workers
The Nats’ Opening Day -- originally scheduled for today -- has been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the union representing the folks at Nationals Park who pour the beer, prepare food and sell merchandise “stand to get nothing unless the MLB and the Nationals take action.” Major League Baseball reportedly will make $1 million per team available to pay stadium workers, but UNITE HERE Local 23 says that so far the Nationals have not committed to pay the 1,200 sub-contracted workers employed by Levy Restaurants. The cost of paying the out-of-work concessions workers “pales in comparison to the $39.5 million average profit teams made in 2019,” says Local 23. Workers are calling on the league and the Nationals to commit to pay its subcontracted food service workers for the first 40 home games they’re likely to miss. Click here to sign the petition.
Federal paid sick leave takes effect today
Starting today, if you are a construction worker at a company with less than 500 workers, you have a right to paid sick leave. Any worker facing unpaid wages, discrimination, family and medical leave act (FMLA) violations, unemployment compensation, workers’ compensation, sexual harassment, barriers to employment, or sick leave violations should contact @WashLaw4CR at 202-319-1000 ext. 118
AFL-CIO's HIT steps up to the plate
As the economic and health effects of the COVID-19 pandemic continue to ripple across the metro-area community, the local labor community is pulling together. The AFL-CIO Housing Investment Trust contributed $10,000 to the Community Services Agency's Emergency Assistance Fund to help laid-off union members. “We are honored to help respond to the immediate daily financial needs of the local labor community in the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan area where we are headquartered,” said Chang Suh, AFL-CIO HIT CEO and Co-Chief Portfolio Manager. "We're deeply thankful for the Housing and Investment Trust 's generosity," said CSA Executive Director Sonte DuCote. "More than that, we appreciate their confidence in our work to support labor during this challenging time. CSA helped local workers after 9/11 and we'll be there for them again in this crisis." Contributions to CSA's Emergency Assistance Fund can be made online or send a check payable to Community Services Agency, 815 16th Street NW, Suite 1100, Washington, DC 20006. Read more here.
MWC COVID-19 UPDATES
Legislative updates: click here for the latest updates, including Stay at Home Order Details for Maryland, Virginia, and Washington D.C. & What Are Allowable Recreational Activities in DC?
Unemployment Insurance: click here for the latest helpful information on UI.
CSA: latest resource updates posted here, including latest version of "WHEN THE PAYCHECK STOPS: An AFL-CIO Survival Guide to Unemployment" including a Spanish version.
Today's Labor Quote: “Look for the Union Label”
Look for the union label
when you are buying that coat, dress or blouse.
Remember somewhere our union's sewing,
our wages going to feed the kids, and run the house.
We work hard, but who's complaining?
Thanks to the I.L.G. we're paying our way!
So always look for the union label,
it says we're able to make it in the U.S.A.!
Song written by Paula Green, music by Malcolm Dodds ©1975, UNITE. Union of Needltrades, Industrial and Textile Employees. (formerly International Ladies' Garment Workers'Union and other unions). From the Collector Records album, Joe Glazer Sings Labor Songs
The Union Label Department was chartered by the American Federation of Labor on this date in 1909.
Today's Labor History
This week’s Labor History Today podcast: Socialists, suffragettes and fear at work
On this week’s show, Kurt Stand, who – at least until recently – was a bookseller at Busboys and Poets here in Washington, DC, tells us about his last days at work, Carl Goldman reminds us of the day in 1913 when 20,000 striking textile workers and their supporters gathered in front of the house of the socialist mayor of Haldeon, New Jersey, and Jessica Pauszek tells the story of Tough Annie, a woman of means who threw in her lot with working women in London during the struggle for women’s suffrage.
Last week’s show: COVID-19: An injury to one is the concern of all
The Supreme Court declares unconstitutional a 1918 Washington, D.C. law establishing a minimum wage for women - 1923
Major league baseball players end a 232-day strike, which began the prior August 12 and led to the cancellation of the 1994 postseason and the World Series - 1995
- David Prosten
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