March 31, 2020
VIDEO: “PPE is my shield and armor”
A Coronavirus Warrior who works in the ER makes a heartfelt call for PPE.
NEW RESOURCES FOR HEALTHCARE WORKERS
COVID-19 TESTING: We still face a national shortage of tests, but testing centers are starting to open up across the state. Click here for testing eligibility and locations near you.
CHILDCARE: Our children and older loved ones need care when we go to work every day to lead our state’s COVID-19 fight. Click here for childcare resources across the state. We update this list regularly so check back frequently.
RENTAL & MORTGAGE RELIEF: Renters and homeowners impacted by COVID-19 now have temporary relief. Click here to learn more.
FACEBOOK LIVE TOMORROW — NEW TIME!
Join our weekly COVID-19 Facebook Live session on Wed., April 1 at 5:30 p.m. — featuring Rep. Katie Porter, a U.S. congresswoman from CA and healthcare warrior at the forefront of our state and our nation’s fight against this epidemic. We’ll focus on the surge that has started and is getting more intense every day. Join us to make sure we all understand what we need to do to protect ourselves and our patients during the surge.
SURGE CHECKLIST
Click here for the latest COVID-19 Surge Checklist. Let’s use it to hold all our facilities accountable by identifying and calling out hazards when we see them.
WE’RE DRIVING WORKPLACE SAFETY
SEIU-UHW members continue to lead the way on multiple fronts to protect ourselves, our patients, and our communities from infection:
Protection at Patient Windows: We’ve been advocating strongly at Kaiser for the installation of plexiglass at public counters — and now Kaiser has agreed to do just that in pharmacies, labs, and other patient windows statewide.
Working from Home: To minimize infections, SEIU-UHW members have been aggressively advocating for staff whose work can be done at home be allowed to do so. Now all of the CommonSpirit Health (Dignity) coders and patient financial services departments and the majority of Kaiser Call Center workers will be working from home. If you believe your work can be done from home but your employer won’t allow it, contact your SEIU-UHW steward or representative.
Masks from Home: Members who are not in close contact with COVID-19 patients are often not supplied any masks in hospitals — and most employers were refusing to allow members to use masks from home. But after workers voiced our concerns, Sutter Health, CommonSpirit Health (Dignity), and Kaiser Permanente have changed their policy and now allow all employees who are not supplied masks at work to bring their own from home if they choose.
THIS is what union strength looks like — workers raising our voices and leading the charge against this epidemic.
