Labor takes sides on the life-and-death issues of the day.
Like the line that Colonel Travis drew at the Alamo, the two sides are clear. The Dallas AFL-CIO is on yours. Please join us. Our next public action is 10:30 AM on Tuesday, April 28, when we observe Workers Memorial Day for worker safety. Computer users can click on this link. To join by telephone, call 1-816 423 4261 or 1-888-844-9904. The access code is 990839. The password is 769238. The meeting ID is 949 8174 4074.
Safety First!
Dallas has been fortunate to have the leadership of the labor-supported county leadership. But the state leadership and their co-thinkers are on a nationwide push to disregard scientific and medical advice. Lieutenant Governor Paxton makes his side clear when he says, “There are worse things than dying!” Here is our plan for Dallas:
Dallas County Economic Committee
Labor Subcommittee Recommendations
We must put workers first: Worker voices must be included in these decisions at every level, particularly workers left out by systemic inequalities.
- Working people are the ones whose lives and health are on the line, and workers must have a role in deciding whether it is safe to go to work;
- Workers should continue to provide input as Dallas County goes through this process;
- All employers must meet and confer with their employees or worker representatives before lifting emergency restrictions to receive input on the safety needs of their workers
- Decisions to reopen Dallas County should prioritize worker safety and public health;
- The COVID-19 pandemic crisis has impacted working families, immigrant communities and people of color across Texas the most. Dallas County must ensure our most vulnerable workers are prioritized;
- Pushing underserved communities such as immigrants out of much needed support and our public health system puts a strain not only on them and their families, but on the rest of society, making everyone less safe overall;
- These protections must apply to all residents, regardless of immigration status, criminal background, work history or employment status.
Meet Basic Needs for Working Families:
- Dallas County should continue to allocate money to funds that provide financial assistance to support workers left out of state and federal relief;
- Collaboration between County and organizations to provide free or low cost childcare, while school districts and other daycare facilities are closed;
- Guarantee hazard pay for essential workers and workers in industries that the state plans to reopen.
Protect Workers: Ensure all workers are protected on the job. As more people return to work and continue working, they must be able to work safely without endangering their families and communities.
- Streamline approaches for allocating and distributing personal protective equipment to working people in greatest need;
- Issue a workplace safety standard to protect front-line workers and other at-risk workers from infectious diseases;
- Provide workplace controls, protocols, training and personal protective equipment;
- Provide clear additional safety guidelines and sanitation requirements for different industries;
- When an employer does not meet these requirements, a worker can refuse to work without retaliation;
- Increase capacity to provide testing for everyone returning to work at no cost, starting with a priority for front-line workers that includes health care workers, firefighters and paramedics, construction workers and other essential workers.
Robust and Proactive Enforcement
Dallas County must put in place processes for violation and retaliation reporting, monitoring and accountability to ensure these recommendations are met
Access to Emergency Paid Leave is a Public Health Priority: Falling sick or caring for a sick loved one should not put families at risk.
- Under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) employees have the right to paid sick and paid family leave, pursuant to the Act;
- Dallas County Departments, including Public Health Departments that contact workers, must inform them of their rights under the FFCRA and provide quarantine or self-isolation orders to those who should take leave;
- Increase capacity to provide testing for everyone at no cost, starting with a priority for front-line workers that includes health care workers, firefighters and paramedics;
- Employers shall keep a list of and contact information every day for every worker for the purpose of identifying and notifying workers if they have shared a jobsite with someone who has been confirmed to have coronavirus;
- Employers, in coordination with local and state public health departments, must trace the contacts of infected workers and remove exposed workers from work with pay and without retaliation.
Retaliation Protections: Workers need stronger protections against retaliation.
All Employers in the County must:
- Provide clear information regarding workplace health and safety guidelines outlined in the County emergency orders;
- Provide clear information regarding the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, including informing workers of their right to paid sick and paid family leave, pursuant to the Act;
- Take no adverse action against a worker who declines to work, if the worker believes in good faith that the site presents an imminent health risk to the health of the worker or others due to coronavirus;
- Take no adverse action against a worker who has been quarantined, or advised to self-quarantine, due to possible exposure to coronavirus;
- Take no adverse action against workers that submit complaints of any violations of the health and safety rules in the County order, and take no adverse action against workers that request or utilize paid sick or paid family leave in accordance with applicable law or employer policies.
- Refrain from re-verifying an employee’s employment eligibility when the employee returns to work from approved leave or is reinstated to her job after being furloughed or layed off.
Robust and Proactive Enforcement
- Dallas County must put in place processes for violation and retaliation reporting, monitoring and accountability to ensure these recommendations are met.
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American labor insists that safety comes first and that “an injury to one is an injury to all,” especially in a pandemic! We’re doing all that we can. Special thanks goes out to our affiliated unions who are helping each other with safety issues. For example, Auto Workers Local 119 sent special appreciation to Sister Kym Grant and the Doctor’s Guild for helping them obtain personal protective equipment.
Take Care of the Sick!
United Texas labor, especially our retirees, has pushed hard for Medicaid expansion since the federal funds became available years ago. If more people had insurance, we'd be pushing back the virus.
Dallas labor and our many allies worked hard together to win paid sick leave, but state leaders, especially the Attorney General, were able to get a judge to rule against workers. If people have to go to work sick, the virus gets another advantage over the people.
Save Lives, Save Democracy!
Anti-democracy forces have been eroding American rights for some time. Today, they oppose letting us vote by mail to lessen the effect of the pandemic. Labor stands for democracy!
Unscrupulous politicians are using this crisis to disguise their efforts to implement unpopular programs. One such scheme is to privatize the post office. We stand with the postal employees and the people!
Take Action for Our Side
Once you choose a side, make sure it wins. Here are a few suggestions:
Attend union-led activities such as the Workers Memorial Day observation at 10:30AM Tuesday. Computer users can click on this link: https://aflcio.zoom.us/j/94981744074?pwd=VzNQWE96TU9jdldTWDBNc2Y3eEZ3UT09. To join by telephone, call 1-816 423 4261 or 1-888-844-9904. The access code is 990839. The password is 769238. The meeting ID is 949 8174 4074.
You are invited to join our Digital Organizing Group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/480049099406349/. Join our emergency texting service by texting the word “action” to 235246. You may express your opinions by calling 972-647-1893 during labor’s talk show, 9-10 AM Saturday on KNON.org or 89.3 FM.
More Actions Coming Up
Apr 26, (and every Monday) 5P: “Labor Live at Five” by Texas AFL-CIO on our Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dallasaflcio/
Apr 27, 2P: we'd like to invite to an exclusive Housing Strike 101 call with Jobs With Justice leaders, organizational partners, and working people just like you
Apr 28, 10:30A: Workers Memorial Day. "Remember the dead and fight like hell for the living," --Mother Jones
May 10: Mother’s Day
May 20: Deadline for AFL-CIO scholarship applications for union member families with graduating seniors
June 22: Dallas AFL-CIO Golf Tournament
Jun 20: Poor People's Campaign is planning a Moral March on Washington
