Journalists face double threat during pandemic
For a nation now largely confined at home, news reports – especially of local news – have become a literal lifeline for people who need to know how the COVID-19 pandemic affects their communities. Yet the men and women who report that news are now faced with threats to both their lives and their livelihoods. “Their jobs have always been challenging,” says Washington-Baltimore Newspaper Guild president Steve Cook. “But now there’s a very real danger as they cover this pandemic that they're going to contract a potentially mortal illness.” But the Guild, which represents some 20,000 journalists and other news workers nationally and 1,000 in the metro area, is also worried about the survival of the profession. “We're trying to save journalism, save local news,” Cook told Union City. While newspapers and online publications “are the best way to get accurate, reliable, and useful news that's vitally necessary, especially during a crisis like this,” many of the nation’s publications have been bought up by hedge funds in recent years and staff layoffs have spiked dramatically in recent weeks. “Their business model is not one that profits by bringing the news to people, it profits by stripping out the assets,” Cook said. The NewsGuild Executive Council recently unanimously passed a resolution calling for federal, state, provincial, and local governments to provide public funds to sustain news operations, as well as no layoffs, no furloughs, no buyouts or pay cuts, and recognition of workers’ rights. “The survival of journalism is at stake,” said Cook. Click here to sign the
Life-saving News Needs a Stimulus petition.
- Chris Garlock
IUOE 99 chips in
IUOE Local 99 has once again stepped up to support metro Washington union members with a generous $1,000 contribution to the CSA Emergency Assistance Fund. "Every contribution helps a member stay in their home, keep the lights on or put food on the table," said CSA Executive Director Sonte DuCote. "Workers and their families are being hit hard with job loss, reduced hours, and delays in obtaining unemployment,” said Local 99 Business Manager Don Havard. “These are unprecedented times, we all need to chip in." Added DuCote, "This is what solidarity looks like; we are very grateful!" Click here to donate to CSA.
How to Help: UNITE HERE Education and Support Fund
In addition to the various federal, state and local financial assistance programs available to workers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic (click here for latest details), labor or labor-friendly organizations are also setting up financial support vehicles. If you know of one, please let us know at [email protected]
Fund Name: UNITE HERE Education and Support Fund
Organized by: UNITE HERE
Benefits: UNITE HERE Local 7 members
About the fund: The COVID-19 pandemic is having a devastating impact on Baltimore workers in the hospitality industry. Event and travel cancelations have caused unprecedented layoffs at hotels, restaurants, university cafeterias, casinos, and Marshall airport. Tens of thousands are out of work, with no paychecks coming in. Funds are used to help hospitality workers: maintain family health insurance coverage during layoffs or reduced hours; pay for food, rent, and utilities; replace wages lost due to reduced hours and tips; retrain for new jobs during the business downturn
Today's Labor Quote: Gene Debs
“The master class has always declared the wars; the subject class has always fought the battles. The master class had all to gain and nothing to lose, while the subject class had nothing to gain and all to lose – especially their lives.”
Labor leader and Socialist Party founder Eugene V. Debs was imprisoned on this date in 1919 for opposing American entry into World War I. While in jail he ran for president, received 1 million votes.
Today's Labor History
This week’s Labor History Today podcast: Organizing during historic crises
On this week’s show, labor historians Dorothy Sue Cobble and Michael Merrill talk with the NoVA Coalition to Repeal Right to Work about how workers engaged in mass uprisings and organizing during previous historical crises. Plus American Prospect Editor at Large Harold Meyerson, on The Return of the Breadline and retired nurse and novelist Tim Sheard visits a New York City hospital during the pandemic.
Last week’s show: Coronavirus essential workers’ rights
International Hod Carriers & Building Laborers’ Union (today’s Laborers’ Int’l Union) is founded, as 25 delegates from 23 Local Unions in 17 cities—representing 8,186 Laborers—meet in Washington DC - 1903
- David Prosten
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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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