Archive for category: COVID-19

Since Friday, as a measure to flatten the coronavirus curve most Bay Area counties will be requiring people to wear masks in public. In San Francisco people riding transit, working, doing construction or shopping should wear masks and should maintain 6 feet social distancing. Not wearing a mask “is a misdemeanor punishable by fine, imprisonment or both.” Masks are not required for walking, jogging hiking or biking. Click for more details.

Back at the end of March, the labor movement won some of its big demands in Congress, which passed a law that gives most workers up to $1200, plus an extra $600 per week in unemployment benefits if you are laid off (this will last until July 31). Trump government is sending the money this week and taking credit for what the progressive movement forced him to do. If you already filed your taxes and have direct deposit, your $1,200 check will come in the next couple weeks.  People who filed returns without direct deposit and have to wait for the mail.  Click here for the information.

Bernie gives Biden his endorsement with conditions: an economy that works for all, education, climate change, immigration reform and repairing the healthcare system. Click here to watch the full video.

Marriott and other giant corporations promised last year to treat workers and communities better. But the New York Times ran an article today about how Coronavirus has revealed what these companies really think: “They just say: ‘We don’t need you. You are on your own,’” said William Gonzalez, a Local 2 member, in the article.  “All the executives, Sorenson and the others, they get paid millions every year, and we just get a few dollars,” Sonya Bautista – another Local 2 member – said in the article. “We give our soul to give our best for our company. I try hard to make the rooms beautiful for guests so they will come back. It’s not fair. Marriott doesn’t care about us.”

All around the US and Canada, UNITE HERE is pushing hospitality corporations like Marriott — which made billions in profits over the last ten years — to take care of the workers who’ve made them so successful.

The blog Mission Local reported that San Francisco is going to prioritize moving seniors who don’t have housing into hotel rooms. Local 2 continues to push city officials and community activists alike to remember that hotel workers — whether they have a union or not — deserve special protections when hotels are used for emergency situations. UNITE HERE supports housing the vulnerable, but is fighting to make sure that workers have the health care they need, and that they don’t get penalized for protecting themselves.