Bulletin: Call Your Reps About the Health Care Emergency Guarantee Act!

How’s it going, Philly? We’re somehow twenty-one weeks into quarantine, and things are no closer to “normal”: we’re still seeing 800-some new COVID cases a day, unemployment is still historically high, there are hurricanes, tornadoes, the China seeds... This guy ordered rosemary, but he got a dang squash instead! A China Squash!

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How’s it going, Philly? We’re somehow twenty-one weeks into quarantine, and things are no closer to “normal”: we’re still seeing 800-some new COVID cases a day, unemployment is still historically high, there are hurricanes, tornadoes, the China seeds... This guy ordered rosemary, but he got a dang squash instead! A China Squash!

Worse, the limited measures taken by the U.S. government -- $600 extra per week in unemployment benefits, eviction moratoriums, stay-at-home orders -- are starting to expire across the country, and, despite the obvious benefits to being the Free-Money-and-Did-Not-Kill-You Party, attempts to extend even these duct tape and spit measures have, so far, been stalled out in the Senate. The only “normal” things about this pandemic have been the responses of the political establishment: the Republicans don’t care about you, and the Democrats would rather not think of you at all, if they can avoid it.

And yet, this week, we got a well-timed reminder that the power to change society lies with organized workers in strategic industries; that workers can make corporate politicians do things that they really don’t want to do. It came from the Chicago Teachers Union, labor MVPs of the past decade (in education, at least), who, just by discussing a safety strike, forced Democratic Mayor Lori Lightfoot to walk back her plan for in-person education. 

We have an important choice to make this month. Do we accept an early “return to normal,” even though it almost certainly means thousands of Americans will get sick and die? Or do we rally with unions like CTU, like Teamsters #623, like PFT, like the Temple Association of University Professionals, like Philly sanitation workers in AFSCME 33, — with unions who, if organized and supported by the community, have the power to win measures like a better second stimulus and the Health Care Emergency Guarantee Act, and to keep schools remote until it’s safe. 

There are a ton of big fights coming up on those fronts, and more fights on fronts we could hardly predict in advance. Right now, we’re calling our state reps, especially Dwight Evans and Mary Gay Scanlon, about the Heath Care Emergency Guarantee Act (script here; these calls matter!), and we’re supporting organizing efforts through DSA’s Emergency Workplace Organizing Committee. Whatever happens next, this much is certain: Labor has power. Philly DSA stands with labor. And Philly DSA WILL be planting the China Squash. You can count on us. 🙂👍

This Week in Unions

Are you a union worker affected by the coronavirus crisis? Are you organizing in your shop or workplace to demand higher safety and sanitation standards? PHLDSA’s Labor Commission is convening a series of calls where representatives from unions in the greater Philadelphia area are discussing and coordinating responses. Email Paul Prescod for more information.

  • Trump’s attacks on the post office have been impacting Philadelphians in the form of widespread mail delays. “They were short-staffed before COVID,” APWU Local 89 President Nick Casselli told the Inquirer, “and now they don’t have the manpower to process the mail that needs to be delivered. “These are things that have never ever happened in the history of the post office.”
  • As mentioned above, Temple faculty and staff in TAUP voted overwhelmingly to demand all-online education for fall 2020. “The CUNY system lost 38 people in the spring. That should give us all pause,” said TAUP President Steve Newman. “Lives and health have to be preserved first.” With Temple administration so far refusing to budge, TAUP are going to need your help.
  • Greyhound Teamsters picketed Philly’s bus terminal last week, insisting that their next contract contain robust health and safety provisions. “People all across the country come through here,” said top union official Richard Hooker in an interview with the Inquirer. “We wanted to make sure our people are protected.”
  • Good luck to the Philadelphia Museum of Art Union, who will find out the results of their union election today, possibly between the time of writing and our 3 pm send time; check their Twitter for an update.
  • Finally, Your Philadelphia Union fell in last night’s COVID Cup semifinal after Union forward Sergio Santos Zaza-ed what would’ve been the tying penalty over the bar. It’s unclear what comes next for the Boys in Blue, though we hope teen phenom Brenden “The Medford Messi” Aaronson can find the time to stop by a Philly DSA meeting before his move to a European club. 

Events

Policy Paper Presentation: Fair Work Week PA
Monday, Aug 10 | 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm | Virtual

Phonebank for Medicare for All
Thursday, Aug 13 | 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm | Virtual

Phonebank for Medicare for All
Sunday, Aug 16 | 11:00 am – 1:00 pm | Virtual

Green New Deal Evaluation Commission Meeting
Monday, Aug 17 | 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm | Virtual

Phonebank for Medicare for All
Thursday, Aug 20 | 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm | Virtual

Women and Non Binary Comrades Social
Thursday, Aug 20 | 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm | Virtual

Committee Meetings & Branch Events

Steering Committee Meeting
Thursday, Aug 6 | 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm | Virtual

Save the Norristown Sewer Authority
Wednesday, August 12 | 5:00 pm  – 7:00 pm | 25 E Marshall St, Norristown, PA 19401

Suburban Happy Hour
Thursday, August 13 | 7:00 pm  – 9:00 pm | RSVP here to receive the Zoom link

Member Engagement Committee Meeting
Friday, Aug 14 | 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm | Virtual

BuxMont DSA: Virtual New Members Meeting
Wednesday, August 19 | 7:00 pm  – 9:00 pm | RSVP here to receive the Zoom link

Announcements

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Stay safe and wash your hands,

Philly DSA Bulletin Team

 

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