John,

Working people are risking our lives across the country, keeping our communities healthy, fed and safe, and we desperately need our country’s support and protection. Too many have inadequate personal protective equipment and lack clear and sufficient government standards to keep them safe.

The federal government has passed four rounds of COVID-19 emergency relief for essential workers, as well as those whose lives and livelihoods have been impacted, but much more is required.

John, I am counting on you to stand up for working people and our families across the country.

Millions of America’s workers have lost our jobs, with no certainty they will ever return. The numbers are simply staggering. Looking at the hospitality workforce alone, a large majority of workers in the hotel industry have been laid off. Emergency leave protections will help those who remain on the payroll, but too many workers do not qualify and the benefit levels for those who do will prove inadequate the longer this crisis persists.

State and local governments’ budgets have been ravaged, threatening the vital services we rely on now more than ever. Although federal aid will assist in maintaining some critical services, more money with greater flexibility will be essential for our long-term success.

With these challenges in mind, Congress and the president must adopt America's Five Economic Essentials that will ensure working people are at the center of the next relief package:

Keep front-line workers safe and secure.
Keep workers employed and protect earned pension checks.
Keep state and local governments, our public schools and the U.S. Postal Service solvent and working.
Keep America healthy—protect and expand health insurance for all workers.
Keep America competitive—hire people to build infrastructure.

Send a letter to your member of Congress now asking them to protect working people and our families.

In Solidarity,

Team AFL-CIO