John,
AFGE has been steadfast in our push for immediate action to help protect our members and the public we serve.
In this week's newsletter we've included important updates in our fight for the health and safety of government employees.
MASS MUTUAL HEALTHBRIDGE FOR FRONT LINE HEALTHCARE WORKERS
MassMutual is offering a free three year life insurance plan with a value of up to $25,000 to health care workers battling COVID-19. MassMutual is making extra efforts to help healthcare workers protect the ones they love.
Applications are now being accepted for eligible active healthcare workers nationwide (with the exception of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands).
HOW TO USE THE RETURN TO WORK INFORMATION REQUEST TEMPLATE
We have developed a return to work information request template intended to help you check the boxes for the work the agency needs to do before drafting a return to work plan.
If any number of employees were allowed to work remotely during the pandemic, your agency is contemplating returning them to work. Even if they don’t yet have a policy (or haven’t shared that one is being developed), they are planning for one.
We will have a right to bargain over that plan. Some of the bargaining will be substantive, and some of it will just be procedures and appropriate arrangements —just like when we bargain a CBA.
The health and safety requirements for returning employees to work are significant. The amount of planning an agency needs to do to begin returning employees to work is substantial. The requirements set out by OSHA and OPM lay out the parameters of the sort of work an agency should be doing, and those represent the foundation for this information request.
Click here to download the Return to Work Information Request Template.
NEW AFL-CIO WEB TOOL TO HELP WORKERS WIN SAFETY PROTECTIONS AT WORK
The AFL-CIO is launching a new “Am I Safe at Work?” web tool to raise awareness of what a safe workplace should be, and how a union can help achieve those goals.
The web tool contains fundamental information to empower workers to identify key COVID-19 risks in our workplaces, provides tools to join together with co-workers for better safety protections and guides workers on how to contact a union to help negotiate with an employer for safer working conditions.
Click here to learn more about this new tool from the AFL-CIO.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT COVID-19 AND THE ADA, THE REHABILITATION ACT, AND OTHER EEO LAWS
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has released updated guidance with respect to EEO laws and COVID-19.
Click here to review the updated guidance.
Please regularly check afge.org/Coronavirus to view important coronavirus updates.
Note: Information on this site is not intended to substitute for actual medical care or professional medical advice. If you believe you are, or may be ill, contact your primary care health provider immediately. Information on this website may change as the situation/recommendations/resources evolve. Please check back frequently.
Sincerely,
Dr. Everett Kelley
AFGE National President
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