Essential Workers
Add Your Name: Essential Workers Deserve Respect and Fair Pay!
Essential frontline workers have put their lives on the line for our community during this pandemic. Now, it is time for lawmakers to respect essential workers by protecting them from lost income if they get sick or risk infection at work. Use this tool to ask your legislators to support the Essential Workers Emergency Leave Act (HF 41/SF 331) .
Episode #10 | April 30
In this edition, workers discuss how Black essential workers have navigated the overlapping crises caused by police violence and COVID-19 and chart a path forward to a more just Minnesota where we can #DeliverBlackDreams.
Episode #9 | April 16
This edition we heard the stories of essential healthcare workers with SEIU who are in the middle of a fight for a fair contract with Allina Health.
Workers at eight Allina facilities are picketing each Wednesday in April following a vote to authorize an Unfair Labor Practices (ULP) strike if Allina management continues to offer shameful proposals, including a 0% pay increase in the coming year. RSVP HERE.
Episode #8 | April 1
We’ve seen people in power praise essential workers throughout this pandemic, but we know frontline workers haven’t been given the support they deserve before or during this pandemic. We’re sharing stories and organizing to help build power so working people – no matter our job, gender, race or zip code – get what we need to be safe. Watch as the MN AFL-CIO brings together Manufacturing workers to talk about their experience working durning the pandemic and how they are fighting to improve working conditions.
Episode #7 | March 26
The ROC-MN edition of the essential worker live video series! This series is a chance to hear directly from people working on the front lines during the COVID19 pandemic. We’ve seen people in power praise essential workers throughout this pandemic, but we know frontline workers haven’t been given the support they deserve before or during this pandemic. We’re sharing stories and organizing to help build power so working people – no matter our job, gender, race or zip code – get what we need to be safe.
Episode #6 | March 19
Childcare providers Helen White and Karin Swenson, two leaders with the Kids Count on Us coalition, talk about their expertise about how childcare workplaces can operate more safely, and push for the standards needed to protect workers, families and the community now and as we begin to reopen. Watch the video as they share their experiences in childcare, and the changes they need to see as experts in the field.
Watch it on Facebook HERE.
SPECIAL EVENT! | Saturday March 13th | Noon
Episode #5 | March 5
EPISODE 5: CTUL workers center member and cleaning worker Leticia Valle shares her experience as an #EssentialWorker in the COVID pandemic: "Even though they have plenty of cleaning products, masks and gloves, they don't really enforce it the way they did in the beginning....The people who have the authority to make these changes don't do anything about it."
Episode #4 | Feb 26
EPISODE 4: Nurses who are members of the Minnesota Nurses Association shared what it has been like for frontline essential healthcare workers during this pandemic.
Watch Directly on Facebook
Episode #3 | Feb. 19th
EPISODE 3: Members of UnidosMN from across different industries and parts of Minnesota talk about their experience as frontline workers.
Watch Directly on Facebook
Episode #2 | Feb 12th
EPISODE 2: Members of the Awood Center will talk about what is has been working like working in Amazon’s warehouses during COVID-19.
Watch Directly on Facebook
Episode #1 | Feb 5th
Episode 1: SEIU members from across MN talking about their experiences working during COVID in hospitals, schools and as a janitor in big box stores. Support them by asking your legislator to pass Emergency COVID Leave using this tool.
Watch Directly on Facebook
Take Action:
Essential frontline workers have put their lives on the line for our community during this pandemic. Now, it is time for lawmakers to respect essential workers by protecting them from lost income if they get sick or risk infection at work. Use this tool to ask your legislators to support the Essential Workers Emergency Leave Act (HF 41/SF 331) .
Learn more:
A letter from Essential Workers to Minnesota leaders: COVID Call to Action Sign On Letter (Coalition Letter to MN OSHA and DOLI)
Past Events:
Sept 17th, 2020: Essential Workers Forum Highlights Video
Oct 8th, 2020 National COVID Week of Mourning and Essential Worker Press Conference Livestream and Press release
Jan 28th, 2021 Frontline workers speak out for COVID Emergency Leave