JOB ACTIONS SPREADING ACROSS THE USA; WILL YOU BE READY TO TAKE A STAND IF SCHOOLS ARE NOT SAFE?

PayDay Report has an updated map of strikes around the country since March 1 (see below). Many working people from coast-to-coast aren't going to voluntarily be sent into work to get sick any longer. Nor should teachers when the NYC Department of Education sends employees back to physical schools. UFT members have to be willing to walk out if necessary if there is a second wave of COVID-19.

Some of these workers risking their livelihoods throughout the USA are non-union. They are leading themselves and not waiting for someone to tell them what to do. It's workers using their power to say, "Enough already."

I am reminded of the time when I was a young teacher and the UFT sent then Safety Director Ed Muir to speak to our staff at Jamaica HS. Ed had a great line: "There are some things in life worth dying for; the NYC Board of Education is not one of them." He received thunderous applause from the staff after he delivered those words. The UFT was still a functioning union back then.

I stand by what I said in the comments yesterday that anonymous comments and unsigned letters will not save us now although they are welcome here. Workers have to protect our lives. Labor is actually showing real strength. If we aren't willing to stand up for ourselves, our colleagues and the kids to protect our collective health if necessary, will we ever be ready?




This is a large excerpt of the Payday Report article from Monday.

Defying Trump’s Order, Nebraska Meatpackers Strike – PA National Guard Replaces Striking Nurses – Richmond Threatens to Fire Striking Bus Drivers

Our strike tracker is now up to 151 strikes across the U.S. (since March 1).

Earlier today, Trump announced that he intended to use the power of the federal government and the Defense Production Act to keep meat processing plants open throughout the United States. 

The move comes as massive outbreaks with hundreds of workers have hit meatpacking plants throughout the U.S. As a result, scores of meatpacking plants have closed because of outbreaks. 

Strikes and mass sickouts at a dozen meatpacking plants throughout the U.S. have led to the closure of additional plants. 

It’s unclear how Trump intends to use the Defense Production Act to force meat packing processing workers back into the assembly line. 

Organized labor immediately denounced the move.

Another job action:

The prospect of meat shortages, which increasingly seem likely according to experts as dozens of plants have been shut down by outbreaks or strikes, would be politically embarrassing to Trump. 

Shortly after Trump announced his intention to issue his executive order, more than 50 meatpackers walked off the job after 48 co-workers tested positive for COVID-19 at Smithfield’s plant outside of Lincoln, Nebraska. 

And another:

The Nebraska action follows a wildcat strike Monday night at Pilgrim’s Pride meatpacking plant in Cold Spring, Minn. 

Workers remain frustrated that the company hasn’t done enough to inform them of co-workers testing positive for COVID-19. 

With workers going on a strikeout fearing for their lives, it’s unclear how Trump will stop these workers from shutting down more plants.

And another:

Trump and some governors may call in the National Guard to replace frontline workers. 

After 19 patients died of COVID-19 at a nursing home in Northampton County, Penn., nurses went on strike to protest unsafe conditions. 

Today, Democratic Governor Tom Wolfe sent the P.A. National Guard to man the facility, a threat that could be applied to other facilities where nurses are striking. 

And still another:

In a sign of how widespread nurse strikes might become, SEIU Illinois Healthcare announced that they overwhelmingly passed a strike authorization vote to go on strike on May 8th.

“My co-workers and I have told our management that we need more PPE, and we need to know who has the virus in our facilities so we can help keep everyone safe, but they seem more focused on protecting their profits than protecting people,” said Francine Rico at Villa of Windsor Park in Chicago in a news release.

And one more:

As employers are unable to stop the massive tide of strikes gripping the nation, more employers may attempt to discipline employees. 

On Monday, more than half of all Great Richmond Transit Company (GRTC) bus drivers called-out sick to protest unsafe conditions. 

In response, the head of the Greater Richmond Transit Company threatened to fire bus drivers who called in sick Tuesday. The union protested the move. 

“Our union has had 32 members across the country die after contracting the virus, and hundreds have become infected. GRTC workers who are sick or have symptoms of COVID-19 should be able to stay home without being fired,” said ATU Local 1220 President Maurice Carter. 

“GRTC’s wrongheaded decision to threaten to fire workers, who call in sick, is disgusting and endangers the communities that my co-workers and I proudly serve in these difficult times.” 

The union has listed ten demands that they expect GRTC to meet. 


As of late Tuesday afternoon, GRTC has yet to announce any firings of bus drivers.