Joining @SEIUPA for a press call this AM about the response to COVID-19, the American Working Family Relief Plan, & the legislation that passed yesterday in the House to reopen non-essential businesses - hearing directly from workers. We'll do our best to share highlights #SEIU

"My commute to work that was once $4, is now $20 because SEPTA is not running" - Danielle
We need supports and hazard pay for at-threat essential workers who are on the front lines.

#protectallworkers - right now from Maureen, a healthcare worker "by pushing to reopen businesses right now b4 this curve is flattened, this is a dangerous political game to be playing...more people would get sick & it would really impact the care that our hospitals can provide"

"we need to make sure that the frontline caregivers are fully protected, and all Pennsylvanians, by having the curve flattened and the PPE available to us...as well as the testing that was promised to everyone" #protectallworkers #seiu

Marilu from @CASAforall "I'm terrified about the idea of going back to work...by passing this legislation (SB613) we're putting at risk not just lives like mine, but my children. I don't understand why we keep putting money before people.
#protectallworkers

Karina from @MakeTheRoadPA "it not hidden to anyone that more black and brown ppl like me & my children & my family are disproportionately inclined to be infected and returned to work. This is a fact that we cannot ignore..."

to Gov Wolf, she adds "We demand that you look after the interests of your constituents, & the black and brown families of PA. If we go back to work there will be profits, there will be revenues, there will be distance…but there will also be lives that will be effected."-Karina

From Angela, who is fighting for her family and for sick pay, and is worried right now because she needs the income from her job "I don’t think it’s safe at all. To hear 'they have to go back to work', that was a scary moment for me."

Many workers, like Angela, who follow what they were told to do by their doctors - they're losing their jobs, or not being provided any kind of sick pay. We need to provide paid sick leave for ALL workers. #protectallworkers

Hillary adds on to Angela's story, remind us that patients are struggling when home health care workers are sick, or cannot come to work. Slowing the spread helps everyone – workers, customers, communities, and our loved ones who rely on supportive care & home healthcare workers.

"...I can relate to the fear that businesses are failing. I owned a brick & mortar store..unfortunately I had to let that go. Sometimes, when the house is on fire, you have to let go of things that are devastating, b/c being alive & your loved ones being alive is more important."

Thank you Angela, for speaking your truth, and on the hard truth about priorities in this moment. Our lives, and the lives of our loved ones and neighbors are more important, more critical, than profits. #protectallworkers #seiu

From Darrin: Senate Bill 613 is "reckless" - "this should be a time where businesses are developing policies on proper cleaning, on proper PPE, and proper paid leave, and none of this is being discussed..."
#protectallworkers

"...No one wants to go back to work more than the men and women of organized labor…but the first commitment of organized labor is to keep ALL of our brothers and sisters safe, keep their families safe. That should be echoed in the chambers of Harrisburg..." - Darrin

"...This is clearly a situation of profit over people. Let s go back to work only at a time when it’s SAFE."
Thank you Darrin - an incredible testimony! #protectallworkers

How can we reopen non-essential businesses when the *current* essential workers that are working now are still unable to get the protections that they need? #protectallworkers

Q: "When, or under what conditions, would you feel safe returning to work?"
A: We can't put a timeline on this return. Maureen adds from her experience that when we do open back up, we need adequate testing, and abundant PPE. "What we have isn’t reliable just yet"

"I’m out there on the front lines fighting for this, but I really don’t want to die because someone made a bad mistake for the sake of money”

#protectallworkers #SB613

Ending strong on Karina from @MakeTheRoadPA "We are going to keep fighting. These are the our lives and the lives of our loved ones ...the lives of black and brown people who are more impacted by this virus."

Thank you to everyone who followed along on twitter, I hope I got everything correct! Huge thank you to the speakers who shared their experiences, and the partners, who I'll tag below once I confirm I have the full list. More content coming soon...
-AS