Message from the President

Last week the World Health Organization officially classified the spread of COVID-19 a pandemic. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services and local County Health agencies keep reporting increases in the number of individuals testing positive for the disease. Last week, Governor Evers declared it a health emergency. Starting March 18, state K-12 schools will be closed through April 6, events are being cancelled, worship services are moving online and Universities are extended spring break in preparation for coursework to be completed online. 

These precautions will not halt the spread of the virus. But they are intended to flatten the exposure rate so that health facilities will have capacity to treat those most ill when that treatment is most needed.

Worksites are a key ingredient to producing that outcome. This local is especially mindful of the diverse scope of work members and non-members perform for a wide range of employers in several different industries in various locations. What we all have in common is our reliance on a steady income, reliable health insurance and fair sick leave policies to help us provide for ourselves and our families. 

Local 39 has been in contact with our major employers to assist in developing plans to mitigate the impacts of this highly contagious virus as we work together to slow the spread of the disease. 

We have expressed our expectation that mitigation plans associated with COVID-19 must include workforce provisions that provide:

As a Union, our concern will always be for the health and well-being of all employees. We believe these steps will help ensure equitable treatment by removing financial and circumstantial barriers, so everyone can assuredly follow precautionary guidelines and seek appropriate care.

COVID-19 is forcing many employers to enhance employee health and safety plans to align with CDC guidelines designed to prevent and deal with exposure. That includes encouraging employees to work remotely and paying for sick leave so that loss of income does not become a barrier for those without paid leave to stay home when they are ill. 

But when Tech giant Google gave orders to its workforce to work off site and extended paid leave to cover illness, they unwittingly unmasked a growing disparity among workers in IT. In, “Corona virus divides tech workers into the ‘worthy’ and ‘unworthy’ sick”, (see sidebar) Guardian contributor, Julia Carrie Wong uncovers what the pandemic is really saying about how differently outsourced workers can be treated by the contractors they work for. 

“The coronavirus pandemic has shone an unforgiving light on the social architecture that has both contributed to the tech industries incredible wealth – and allowed large numbers of people to be left vulnerable. That workers like those at Google’s Pittsburg office are falling through the cracks is no accident – their vulnerability is part of the incredibly lucrative design.” -- Wong

To anyone interested in maintaining the integrity of the contract, these questions deserve answers. But first they need to be asked. That’s where members are key. Each and every workday, you are the eyes and ears of the contract. Without your vigilance, our work and work rules can become so blurred they might eventually disappear. So, if you see something – say something to a Steward. They are there to follow-up and ensure the contract is fairly and faithfully followed.