Archive for category: COVID-19

The HEROES Act passed the Democratic-controlled House in early May, but Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell threatens to vote the bill down.

The HEROES Act among other things:

• Expands Medicare and Medicaid so workers who loose medical benefits can receive care at no cost.
• Extends unemployment benefits, including the $600 per week and grants a second round of $1200 stimulus checks.
• Protects our economy with a safe reopening
• Bans evictions.

Let’s send a strong united message with emails in support of the HEROES Act. Click here to add your name and send your Senators an email about the HEROES Act.

Benefits Extended through Oct. 31, 2020

The Union Trustees of our Medical Benefit Trust Fund proposed, and a clear majority of all Trustees voted to extend Medical Benefits for all participants of our Local 2 San Francisco Trust Fund through October 31^st, 2020.

Local 2’s San Mateo County Trust Fund is in the process of taking the same action: extending Medical Benefit coverage through October 31^st, 2020.

The Union is able to extend benefits because the Fund is continuing to pay for benefits (to Kaiser, Blue Shield, etc.) out of RESERVES (extra money) that our Union has built up over the years.

Since our Union contract settlement of 2006, each year we have had a “bucket of money” to spend on Wages, Pension contributions, and Medical Benefits. The Officers of the Union, in consultation with the Union Committee leadership, have made very prudent decisions which have built the strength of our Medical Benefit Fund. Each year the Union Committee has met to decide how much money would go into Medical Benefits, how much to Pension, and how much of a Wage increase we would get.

It was because of money built up in reserves that the Union Trustees were able to propose and implement Dental Benefit Improvements (from $2000 to $4000 per year coverage) earlier this year.

The wisdom of those decisions is apparent now. Because our Union did not just grab the biggest raises possible, but continued to built the Pension, and continued to build our Medical Benefit reserves, our Union Trust Fund is able to pay for our Medical Benefits during this time of crisis.

Enjoy the security of your Medical Benefits! You paid for them out of wage increases our Union chose to forgo in favor of building our Medical Benefit Reserves.

• June 1st: Child care centers
• June 15th: Sporting events and entertainment centers
• Mid- August (target date): Schools (with modifications)
• To be determined- Hotels and lodging for leisure and tourism

• 1) Wearing face coverings
• 2) Hand washing
• 3) Social distancing

This is not normal. Except it is.

Last week, George Floyd was murdered by an officer of the Minneapolis Police Department, while three additional officers stood by and watched. Yet again, a Black man was targeted and suffocated to death by the people who should, ostensibly, “protect and serve.” UNITE HERE condemns this action and demands swift and complete justice for Mr. Floyd and his family.

For months we have grappled with “the new normal” of living in the midst of COVID-19. We’ve struggled with job loss, with wearing masks, with the need to socially distance. What we need to grapple with, and change, is the historic normal. The commodification and the brutalization of Black people. From Emmett to Trayvon to Sandra to Tamir to Eric to Philando to Botham to Breonna to George Floyd and too many others—it has become “normal” to see our Black Brothers and Sisters being killed, and we cannot and will not stand idly by.

Our heartfelt condolences go out to the family and friends of Mr. Floyd. Black Lives Matter, George Floyd’s life matters. Justice must be served, and our country must change, because this “normal” should not be normal.