VIDEO: “I thought he was gonna die”

Seven of our SEIU-UHW member leaders had a videoconference with Governor Newsom yesterday to tell him firsthand what we’re experiencing on the frontlines — and we shared with the governor this story of our union brother Eddie . . .

GOV. NEWSOM TO US: “You are the heroes in this war”

Our videoconference with Governor Newsom yesterday made one thing clear: He respects us, he hears us, and he’s fully committed to getting us what we need to fight this pandemic.

Our call started with a heartfelt statement from the governor to all of us healthcare workers: “I cannot express enough how inspired I am by each one of you. When we talk about heroes — you are the real heroes in this war. And we are doing everything in our power to have your backs.”

PPE Alert:

On our call, Governor Newsom let us know the state has distributed 41.6 million N95 masks so far, of which only one million came from the federal government. This is totally unacceptable — click here to let Congress and the Trump administration know that we demand PPE!

The governor also confirmed that his office has secured 200 million masks a month for California (150 million N95 and 50 million surgical masks). Our facilities are running low right now, but a huge supply of masks and other PPE are on the way.

N95 Sterilization:

Starting on April 20, FDA-approved sterilization machines for N95 masks will roll out across the state. These machines sterilize up to 80,000 N95 masks each day, further bolstering our supply.

The governor assured us that he’ll turn to us for guidance throughout this crisis and that he’s fully committed to securing all the resources we need to fight the pandemic — including housing for caregivers . . .

HOUSING ALERT: Temporary Lodging for Healthcare Workers

We’ve been urging the governor to address the serious housing problems many of us are facing right now. Those of us who have been exposed to COVID-19 or tested positive need a secure place to quarantine in order to protect our loved ones from the virus.

Yesterday Governor Newsom took action on our calls for housing. He announced a new program to provide hotel vouchers and stipends for healthcare workers who have been exposed to or tested positive for COVID-19.

Eligible workers must (a) work at a healthcare facility in California, (b) have possible exposure to patients or individuals who may have COVID-19 (documented by a state or county public health official or medical professional), and (c) be unable to self-isolate or quarantine at home

Click here starting TODAY, April 10, to learn more and apply.

MEALS FOR HEALTHCARE WORKERS

Our union has formed a fundraising partnership with several organizations (Big Sunday, Ordermark Cares, and DoorDash) so healthcare workers in need can get $100 gift certificates for home-delivered family meals during this difficult time. Share this GoFundMe page with your friends and family and urge them to donate a meal to make life a little easier for caregivers and our families during this crisis.

ATTENTION KAISER MEMBERS: New Resources

We’ve worked with Kaiser Permanente to secure new benefits for Kaiser members: Temporary hotel accommodations for workers who work long shifts or who have been exposed to or tested positive for COVID-19, up to 80 hours more administrative leave for workers who test positive or are waiting for results, and up to $300 a week in childcare assistance. Click here to learn more.