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Ray of Light: Texas Grocery Workers Now Considered 'Essential' |
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Brother Anthony Elmo of the United Food & Commercial Workers Local 1000 passes along word that grocery workers in Texas have been deemed "essential," a status UFCW, joined by the Texas AFL-CIO, has called for.
"This means our members will qualify for emergency, free or subsidized childcare, in addition to other benefits," Elmo said. Elmo said the Texas Workforce Commission, which administers emergency childcare, has formally included grocery workers as essential.
It is heartening to see public officials recognize the risks taken by front-line workers who do not have the option of doing their jobs at home.
Congratulations to UFCW Local 1000 and other UFCW locals on their strong, successful advocacy on a fundamental piece of the coronavirus puzzle for working families.
Ricky Burris, President of UFCW Local 1000, posted a column on the subject in today's Fort Worth Star-Telegram. |
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48 Hours Before Taking Effect, Federal Judge Halts Dallas Paid Sick Leave Ordinance. Total Disgrace. |
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The Dallas paid sick leave ordinance was to take full effect this week, but an especially ill-timed travesty of a ruling by a federal judge in Sherman has cut off hundreds of thousands of working people who expected to access the benefit.
U.S. District Judge Sean Jordan swallowed the bogus argument that the ordinance is not a contingent benefit, but an hourly "wage" rendered invalid by a law blocking cities from raising the minimum wage. The usual suspects, including the Texas Public Policy Foundation, National Federation of Independent Business, Gov. Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton, celebrated taking coverage away from so many working people in the midst of the coronavirus crisis. The legal fight continues.
Recall that federal coronavirus relief legislation includes limited paid sick leave that will help many working people, but not all. Congress doesn't seem to think that mandating paid days off in a health crisis somehow upends federal minimum wage law.
Texas AFL-CIO President Rick Levy tweeted a statement. |
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Texas AFL-CIO Hosts YouTube LIVE Stream to Thousands via Cell Phones |
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In the coronavirus pandemic, the Texas AFL-CIO is working some novel avenues for communicating the needs of working families along with our traditional work. On Monday, Texas AFL-CIO President Rick Levy launched a new presence on YouTube, discussing the broad parameters of the pandemic. See it here: |
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To ensure you never miss a LIVE notification, we would like to send you a text. |
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2020 Census Training Webinar -Tonight, April 3rd at 6PM - Join Online |
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In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Texas AFL-CIO and APALA are indefinitely postponing social gatherings until further notice. However, we remain steadfast in our commitment to making sure that everyone fills out the census, understands why it is essential, and is familiar with the process so that they can help others as well.
Please click the link below to join our Census webinar: |
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Texas Democratic Party and Texas AFL-CIO Host Press Conference Call on Impact of the Coronavirus Pandemic on Workers |
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Tom Kennedy, a union plumber (UA Local 286) in Austin issued the following statement:
"We have not been able to procure a temporal thermometer on one of our jobs, so we're having to request that workers take their own temperatures at home. We are trying to make sure that we're not sharing any tools and we are dividing the trades."
Jackie Ryan, a grocery worker in North Texas issued the following statement:
"Most of our associates are working six days, longer than eight-hour shifts. I'm currently working a six-day week. Most of our associates are in their 50s and their 60s, reaching retirement age but they have been with the company, 15-20 years so they are key figures, they do essential jobs. To me, I feel like the company and the government don't realize the number of people we come into contact with. It's almost like corporate doesn't want to take responsibility. As far as hazard pay and sick leave, they should take into consideration just the sheer volume of people that we come into contact with on a daily basis."
Christian Murray, a gig worker in Central Texas issued the following statement:
"If a person knows they're sick, they know they can't stop working because they're not going to be able to get that unemployment. It creates a chain reaction because the system is too jammed up." |
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Workers at Denton State Home — Site of Largest COVID-19 Outbreak in Texas — Fear for Safety, Jobs |
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Staff at the Denton State Supported Living Center are being sent to work with residents who have tested positive for the coronavirus, but say they lack appropriate personal protective equipment and fear for their safety.
Those who refuse to work where they are assigned will be written up for insubordination — and anyone who resigns over concerns about the virus “would never be rehired,” according to an email sent to staff members and obtained by The Dallas Morning News.
Though employees were screened daily for coronavirus symptoms before the outbreak began, all staff were not provided face masks until Monday — 10 days after the first resident tested positive. |
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AFL-CIO Shares Unemployment Graphics to Help Workers Navigate Qualifications. Check Them Out. |
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Texas Alliance of Retired Americans Organize "Cough-In" for Dan Patrick's Birthday. |
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"The Texas Alliance for Retired Americans wants him to know they're not ready to follow him into that good night. They're old, but would very much like the chance to get even older, thanks very much, regardless of what that does to anyone's stock portfolio. Some of them would like to stick around and see how their grandkids get on in the looming recession, maybe even lend support." - via, Dallas Observer |
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Song of the Week - "Lonely Town, Lonely Street" - Bill Withers |
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Stay Safe And Healthy. We Can Do This. |
