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Dear friends and supporters,
We recognize that this unprecedented crisis poses an incredibly difficult challenge for all workers, parents, families, and communities. At the same time, it is imperative, now more than ever, to fight for a future that benefits all members of our community equally and is free from corporate greed and exploitation. For too long, giant corporations have lined their pockets with profits on the back of hardworking families. This crisis has exposed the extent of their greed, and we need to stand together to demand policy measures that will shape the future we want. Together, we can demand our government to take action.
To that end, we have featured opportunities in this newsletter for you to take action and make sure that your voices are being heard. We hope that you will unite with us to call out the crisis-profiteering corporations.
You can help us promote these updates to your network by sharing our Facebook posts or by following and retweeting us on our new Twitter handle, You can receive regular updates from CLU by signing up on our website.
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We are united behind the idea that we must invest in people and communities to save lives and alleviate economic hardship in this public health emergency. This means protecting and empowering frontline workers who continue to go to work for the public good. On May Day, we, with the Massachusetts COVID-19 Response Alliance, are hosting a panel discussion featuring essential workers who will be talking about their experience on the frontlines of this crisis, impacts they are seeing in their communities, and the work they are doing to mitigate this crisis.
Save The Date
From Social Distancing to Social Safety:
Community Responses to COVID-19
May 1, 2020
12 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
The panel discussion will be followed by facilitated break-out rooms for participants to share their experience, what resonated about what was shared, and address any gaps. After brief reports from the small groups, the MCRA will share its vision for a coordinated three-phase struggle. Find more information about the event here.
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Resource Spotlight:
Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) Now Available
Earlier this week, a new program opened for workers who are not typically eligible for regular Unemployment Insurance. Click here to read more about the PUA and other help you can get when COVID-19 stops you from working.
#EvictionMoratorium Victory!
Earlier this week, an #EvictionMoratorium was signed into law in Massachusetts, helping families across our state keep their homes! Congratulations to our partners who pushed this bill to passage. Here's what the bill does:
- Stops landlords from sending Notices To Quit
- Stops courts from hearing eviction cases or entering judgments
- Stops sheriffs from enforcing executions for possession
- Stops late fees + negative reporting for COVID-19-impacted tenants
- Moratorium on residential foreclosures
- Moratorium on evictions of small businesses
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Workers Memorial Day, April 28, noon to 12:45 p.m.
This Workers’ Memorial Day, together with MassCOSH, we are hosting a commemoration online. At this event, we will honor workers who were killed, injured, or suffered from illness on the job and press for strong workplace health and safety protections for all workers so that one day this event will no longer be needed. Please join us via Facebook Live. Find out more information about this event and how you can participate here.
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World Asthma Day Action, May 5, 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.
On this year's World Asthma Day, join the Green Justice Coalition for a conversation about the low-income communities and the communities of color that are hardest hit by air pollution and tailpipe emissions, the high rates of asthma among these most vulnerable populations, and how these issues combine to make COVID-19 impacts more severe. Speakers will include advocacy groups, health professionals, and grassroots leaders working on the frontlines to address the root causes in "asthma capitals" like Springfield, Worcester, and Boston as well as state legislators promoting environmental justice legislation. Register here.
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Pandemic Profiteer Watch:
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Unmasked: The Corporations Backing a Lobbying Campaign Against the Use of the Defense Production Act
During this moment, in which we are all focused on doing our part, and caring for our loved ones and our community, it’s important that everyone who can do the right thing, do it and step up. However, a recent report by the Public Accountability Initiative, reveals that some corporations are standing behind the U.S. Chamber of Commerce lobbying efforts that endanger people who are risking their lives to care for those impacted by COVID-19.
It is unconscionable that when lives are on the line and doctors, nurses, grocery store workers, and other essential workers need supplies to protect themselves, their families, and their communities, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the multi-billionaire corporations it represents are lobbying against the Defense Production Act, forcing states, cities, and hospitals to compete for life-saving materials.
Sign the petition to the CEOS of 3M, Honeywell, FedEx, Amazon, and U.S. Bank: Immediately and publicly support the full use of the Defense Production Act and tell the US Chamber of Commerce to do the same.
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This week, we hosted a Corporate Research Party online! Thank you to everyone for attending and for helping us expose the biggest pandemic profiteers here in Massachusetts.
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If there is an update you think we should feature in our weekly communications, please email Lindsay McCluskey at [email protected].
Thank you for reading!
In Solidarity,
Community Labor United
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