Dear John,
We are over a year into the Covid-19 pandemic and essential workers who have sacrificed everything to get us through this crisis are still working without enforceable protections. The NY HERO Act, a bill to protect workers from infectious diseases and give them a voice on the job in workplace safety issues is sitting on the Governor’s desk right now and he has one more day to decide whether to sign it.
We are hearing opposition from special interest groups pushing back on this vital legislation. Our voices must be louder. Join us to call Governor Cuomo now (518-474-8390) to tell him to sign the NY HERO Act without changes!
Since the NY HERO Act reached Governor Cuomo’s desk on April 23rd, over 500 New Yorkers have died from Covid-19. These deaths are a painful reminder that as New York reopens Covid is still here. As more people return to work, safety standards will be critical in order to save lives and protect small businesses from outbreaks and shutdowns.
Workers have joined together across the state as part of the NY Essential Workers Coalition to demand workplace safety protections and a voice on the job. These workers have done everything New York has asked of them to get us through the pandemic. I am one of those workers. As an assisted-living facility worker from the Bronx, I provided essential physical and mental health care our communities need. But due to unsafe working conditions in our facility during the pandemic, I tested positive for COVID-19 not once, but twice. Workers like myself have been called heroes. But in order to honor our heroes, we must protect them – from this pandemic and whatever comes next.
Governor Cuomo has a clear choice: either he can protect essential frontline workers and businesses with the NY HERO Act, or he can leave them vulnerable to more COVID outbreaks, shut downs, and job losses that harm all of us.
Please call Governor Cuomo today so we can make the NY HERO Act law and protect our essential workers, small businesses, and communities: 518-474-8390.
Can’t make a call? Sign this petition urging Governor Cuomo to sign the NY HERO Act!
In solidarity,
Evelyn Brown
Assisted-Living Facility Worker
Member of UFCW 2013
