From BILL LONDRIGAN
Kentucky State AFL-CIO
Dear Brothers and Sisters:
It certainly is with heavy heart to have to report on the continued spread of coronavirus among our members, their families and all workers whether represented by a union or not who have been subjected to less than optimal or appropriate social distancing and access to appropriate and functional personal protective equipment, not just in health care occupations but in our factories, construction sites, grocery and retail establishments that remain open.
There is no doubt that worksites that have been deemed essential include a broad range of employers and occupations and without clear guidance have placed workers in danger of contracting coronavirus. I have been in contact with several unions that have been experiencing great difficulties in getting their employers to do the right thing and either temporarily cease operations, pay workers while operations are suspended or, if no other option is available to remain open with minimal, appropriately socially distanced operations, availability of appropriate PPE, continuous and reasonable screening for coronavirus symptoms. Workers should not be used as some sort of crash test dummies in order for employers to continue producing products and services that are not likely to be in demand for the foreseeable future.
There are more than a few reasons to adopt an approach to workplace coronavirus protection that treats workers in workplaces that remain open to the same degree as we are protecting school students at all levels, bars and restaurants and other employers deemed non-essential – by closing, reducing or changing their mode of operation to the point where personal contact is minimized or eliminated and failing that closing until it is safe.
Over the weekend it was reported that a member of the Bricklayers Union, Brother Aron Jordan died from coronavirus while working in Detroit. Please check out Aron’s story in the C-J linked below. It was also reported that a bus driver in Louisville and member of ATU 1447 was diagnosed with coronavirus as ATU 1447 President Theo Hamilton has been fighting TARC management over the safety of his members for weeks.
In Madisonville five workers at the GE Aviation facility represented by the IUE have been diagnosed with coronavirus yet operations continue. I know there are numerous other instances of workplaces where the safety and health situation for your members and their families is at risk each and every day.
Just take a look at those working at Kroger and Meijer and other retailers who have to come into contact with the public on a continuous basis. Just look at those in health care who are on the front lines and interacting directly with numerous people who are known to be infected. One way for us to understand and react to current circumstances is by being informed. To that end we have updated our website https://ky.aflcio.org/ to include information about COVID-19 and the things that can be done to slow the spread and protect our members, their families and all of the people of Kentucky.
I would also like to let you know that we are exploring options for conducting our COPE meeting. While the Primary Election Date has been pushed back until June 23, we wanted to try and get our endorsements made within the coming weeks. We have been in contact with the National AFL-CIO to explore using the teleconferencing program known as Zoom. Once we have obtained the proper approval for using this platform and make sure that it works effectively, we will send you the necessary information to participate in the COPE meeting via teleconference. Additionally, if folks cannot access this method we will also have phone hookup available. This is certainly not the way we would like to undertake our endorsement meeting, but under the circumstances it is probably appropriate to consider this approach. You will get further information in the coming weeks.
We should all be thankful for the fact that organized labor played a decisive role in electing Andy Beshear Governor. While we certainly have not gotten all of what we have sought of late from his administration, the people of Kentucky, our members, their families would have been totally screwed if Matt Bevin were still governor. So, I guess if I were looking for a bright spot it would be that.
Otherwise, we are living through some tough and scary times Let us all please pause today and every day to think of those that have contracted this horrible virus, those who are helping those infected and especially those that have died and will die. Please follow the guidelines for social distancing, hand washing, mask wearing, staying home and keeping informed. We CAN help limit the spread of coronavirus not only among our personal lives but also those we represent.
In Solidarity, Bill.