COVID 19 Message to Our Members

Dear WPEA Members: 
 
Let me begin by sincerely thanking you—and all our members—for everything you are doing to help your community and your country through this unprecedented health crisis. Public employees are on the frontlines of this crisis, and you are proving how invaluable your work is, and the vital role our union members play in times like these. ​
 
Please know that your WPEA family is here for you during these difficult and challenging times. You are not alone. We are one union family, and we are in this together. 
 
To help you and all our members, we have mobilized our emergency operations to ensure that member concerns and services are being addressed as quickly as possible. In addition, we will be providing you regular updates, such as those noted below, on what actions your local union and the International are taking to protect all of our members. 
 
Here are some of the actions we want you to know about:

1. Working with agencies to ensure that members stay safe and suffer no loss of pay. This includes supporting agencies as they expand telework options, recommending trainings members can do as they work from home, and ensuring that members who are at higher risk of exposure have proper training and protective bequipment (though that is in short supply, as you have likely heard).
   
   
2. Working with the governor’s office, administration, and other leaders to help enact policies that will protect and support public employees and our families. Governor Inslee has already issued guidance that says no one in self-quarantine should suffer a loss of pay, and the legislature has passed legislation expanding use of shared leave. The Employment Security Department has also made it easier to qualify for Unemployment Insurance for those who have been laid off or are on reduced schedules. You can see a list of new policies at https://esd.wa.gov/newsroom/covid-19
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3. Working with UFCW International, the Washington State Labor Council, and other allies to make sure that governments at all levels are addressing the needs of working families as they respond to the crisis. We need compassionate policies that put people first.
   
   
4. The UFCW wants to ensure that all our members are aware of the critical updates about this coronavirus pandemic coming out of Washington DC. If you are interested in these updates, please text “Prepared” to 83071. These alerts will provide you invaluable updates on the Congressional effort throughout this crisis.  
   
   
5. To make you aware of the protective measures recommended by the Center for Disease Control (CDC), we will be posting key information on our local union and International union websites. We’re also hosting weekly conference calls with stewards to ensure they have the most up-to-date information, and that they can share the specific issues facing individual worksites.
   
   
6. To help ensure your safety, we are strongly encouraging all of our members to reach out to us if they have any workplace concerns about their personal health or workplace safety. It is essential that we hear of these concerns from you so we can address them with your employer as quickly as possible.    
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With respect to your health, and the health of your loved ones, it is essential that we all take smart steps to protect ourselves. For example, if you show any symptoms of the coronavirus, which include fever, dry cough, and shortness of breath, you should immediately call your healthcare provider. To find out additional information of what you can and should do to protect yourself, please visit www.CDC.gov. 
 
On a more personal level, I know that these are incredibly stressful days for you and all members of our union family. During such trying moments, we want you to know that your union will be here for you. As difficult as the days ahead may be, we will get through this together. 
 
Thank you again for all the work you are doing for the citizens of Washington State!
 
Stay safe,
 
In Solidarity, 
 
Kent Stanford, President