The White House posted a message about the defeat of the Nazis on its Instagram account without mentioning the USSR and sparked a wave of outrage among Russian netizens.
“On May 8, 1945, the United States and the United Kingdom achieved victory over the Nazis. The spirit of the United States will always win. In the end, that is what happens,” reads the post.
Documents regarding Voces complaints about unsafe conditions: Letters from Voces to companies; from OSHA to companies; from OSHA to Voces
Please right-click to open
Christine_Neumann-Ortiz_statement_on_essential_worker_safety 4/20/20
Voces_letter_to_Governor_and_Legislative_Leaders 4/10/20
Voces_letter_to_JBS 4/13/20
OSHA_letter_to_Voces on American Foods 4/16/20 (see pages 2-4)
OSHA_letter_to_JBS 4/16/20 (see pages 2-4)
OSHA_letter_to_American_Foods 4/16/20
Voces_letter_to_American_Foods 4/13/20
OSHA_letter_to_Voces_on_Echo_Lake_Foods_4/27/20
OSHA_letter_to_Echo_Lake_Foods_4/27/20
Voces_letter_to_Echo_Lake_Foods_4/22/20
While Trump pushes to have people go back to work, the fact is that for millions of low income and immigrant workers the economy didn’t close. Food industries kept going; health services did; nursing homes kept going.
In many of these ‘essential’ industries, Latinx are a large proportion of the workforce. And while Voces has a particular focus on immigrants, the issue of workplace safety in a pandemic concerns a great many workers.
But far too often, these essential workers do so without a proper safety environment; without assurance that if they get the virus they’ll have paid sick leave; without any serious consideration to their well-being at a time when special consideration is not only the right thing to do, it is essential for public health and a quicker end to the pandemic.
Voces has heard from these workers and has responded with force. After learning about the situation in two Green Bay meatpacking companies, Voces contacted not only the companies and the union representing workers at one of the firms, but also the Governor, Republican legislative leaders, and OSHA.
Below are documents concerning the issues at JBS Packerland and American Foods, two Green Bay meatpacking companies.
These include Voces’ letters to elected officials, the companies, and OSHA; also letters from OSHA.
Also included is a statement by Voces Executive Director Christine Neumann-Ortiz on theis issue.
Voces encourages any worker with problems related to the COVID-19 varius to contact their union , if they have one, and Voces.
Voces, as always, looks to unite people in a common effort in order to achieve maximum effect.
Postal workers have kept the mail moving during the crisis. Without urgent funding, the USPS will run out of money by September. It’s urgent we send Congress a message now. You know how we do, just click the link https://bit.ly/2K7ufCL and help us fight for our postal workers! #1u
President Trump’s executive order requiring meat processing plants to remain open despite numerous COVID-19 outbreaks in the factories could result in more people contracting the virus and possibly deaths.
Meat process plants have emerged as coronavirus hot spots as thousands of meatpacking plant employees across the country and 137 federal food inspectors have tested positive for the virus, according to the U.S Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service. To date, two federal inspectors have died after contracting the virus.
Nevertheless, President Trump issued an executive order April 28 prohibiting plants from closing.
“This administration seems more concerned with making good on its ‘reopening America’ slogan than protecting the health and safety of front-line workers and American consumers,” AFGE President Everett Kelley said. “Without enforceable protections for both front-line plant workers and federal food inspectors, the president’s action will result in more preventable exposures and possibly deaths.”
Federal food inspectors entering slaughterhouses and meat processing facilities lack basic protective equipment, including face masks and hand sanitizer, and social distancing is impossible since they must work nearly shoulder-to-shoulder with front-line plant employees, said Paula Schelling, acting president of AFGE Council 45, which represents 6,500 federal food inspectors nationwide.
“While the president’s order requiring plants to remain open is mandatory, compliance with the government’s safety guidelines is not,” Schelling said. “The health and safety of federal inspectors and plant workers is in the hands of an industry that the administration is now pressuring to stay open, no matter the costs.”
“Without protective equipment and testing of all workers, more employees will get sick and the safety of our food supply will be compromised. Proper actions are needed today, not months from now. This is a recipe for disaster,” he added.
For the latest news and information about the coronavirus, visit www.afge.org/coronavirus.
As the coronavirus outbreak raged on with cases in the U.S. nearing one million, employees at the Department of Veterans Affairs hospital in Baltimore were worried about their own health and safety. As frontline workers, they literally risked their lives coming to work without being given enough personal protective equipment (PPE) to protect themselves. Management did not provide testing to employees exposed to the virus or allow telework for those who could.
So the employees, who are members of AFGE Local 424, took the matter into their own hands. During a shift change last month, they joined forces with another union – the National Association of Government Employees (NAGE-SEIU) Local R3-19 – and gathered outside of their hospital. They held signs to highlight unsafe working conditions and demanded that management do better.
After the action, they saw immediate changes. More surgical and N95 masks were given to employees. The emergency room medical support assistants were approved for telework overnight.
“Just like other locals who have taken action in West Palm Beach, Carrollton, Salem, Biloxi and more, it is clear: when we show our power, we can win real change,” said Regina Smith, president of AFGE Local 424.
The local, however, intends to keep up the pressure as management is still slow to act in other areas. EMS workers who need powered air purifying respirators (PAPRs) to perform their jobs, for example, were instructed to share their PARPs. Management continued to refuse to test employees exposed to the virus. They are also not forthcoming with coronavirus cases in the hospital, so employees don’t trust that the info given is accurate.
Their next goal is to partner with Veterans Service Organizations for additional days of action with their legislators. Safe working conditions are more important now than ever now that more than 2,000 VA employees have tested positive for COVID-19.
“We need the VA to show their plans to test, track, and possibly provide grants to Veteran Service Organizations whom our veterans, hospitals, and communities depend on,” Smith added.
For more information about AFGE’s response to coronavirus, visit www.afge.org/coronavirus.
Since 1986, the Wisconsin Labor History Society has been remembering the seven who were killed by the State Militia while in an 8-hour-day rally on May 5, 1886. Up to 300 have attended in past years. This year, due to the Covid-19 restrictions, there was a brief ceremony and a wreath-laying at the historical marker site in the Bay View neighborhood of Milwaukee WI. View the event. Speaking briefly were Candice Owley, chair of the event planning committee and retired president of the Wisconsin Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals, and Steve Cupery, president of the Wisconsin Labor History Society.
On April 16th, PPT held a press conference with ATU Local 85, Rep Jake Wheatley, TransitCenter and local transit riders calling for state and federal support for hazard pay to transit workers, and for increased transit frequency on overcrowded lines. Check out the coverage below: https://www.pittsburghforpublictransit.org/new-roundup-press-conference-for-increased-bus-frequency-hazard-pay-for-workers/
May 4-8 is Teacher & Staff Appreciation Week – a week that takes on new weight and meaning as we stand in awe of the ways our educators have come together during these wild times to support students and “make it work” despite mountains of obstacles. Our new digital organizer, Christian Phelps, has created his inaugural blog post to celebrate the occasion! Check it out and share here!
The word “appreciation” seems hollow in the face of the remarkable efforts & talents of Wisconsin educators, but to all of the educators on the receiving end of this message: please know how truly and deeply your work, your time, your thoughtfulness, your resilience, your professionalism, your diligence, your concern, your support, your energy, your enthusiasm, and above all your love for the students you serve is valued – right now, and always. THANK YOU.
We at Wisconsin Public Education Network pledge to show our appreciation by continuing to advocate for the resources and policies that best serve our students and public schools so that our educators can do what they do best as best they can.
Stay tuned for new opportunities to join in this advocacy and the conversation. We’ve got some exciting things in the works.
Until then….get creative about making sure the educators in your life know how much you appreciate them!
– Heather
PS Help us track and amplify the amazing things teachers & staff are doing around the state to support Wisconsin students! Share what’s happening in your district and help us spread the love! Send videos, photos, graphics and stories to hdb@WisconsinNetwork.org or tag on on social media!
Facebook: Wisconsin Public Education Network
Twitter: @WiscEdNetwork
Instagram: @WiscEdNetwork
Click here to register: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_guql-H2qS22fnXY4u_1afA
This webinar will feature government representatives of several countries under harsh US imposed sanctions. The speakers will include:
Cuba — Ana Silvia Rodriguez Abascal, Charge des Affaires of the Cuban Mission to the UN
Zimbabwe — Dr. Frank Guni, Secretary for Administration, ZANU-PF North America
Nicaragua — Francisco O Campbell, Nicaraguan Ambassador to the U.S.
Syria — Dr. Bashar Ja’afari, Syrian Ambassador to the United Nations
Venezuela — Carlos J. Ron Martinez, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs
Iran – Majid Takht-Ravanchi, Ambassador to the United National
Click here to register: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_guql-H2qS22fnXY4u_1afA
