Sign the petition demanding that our government use its full power to access and manufacture the PPE we need. Go to www.1199SEIU.org to sign. Share it with your community

coronavirus made its way to American shores.

Governors have become defacto national crisis leaders, regularly engaging federal officials who dismiss states’ concerns and mock their projections, recommendations and death tolls. 1199SEIU members have been vocal leaders in the fight for access to the national stockpiles of crisis and emergency supplies and the production of personal protection equipment (PPE), ventilators, N95 masks, gowns, gloves, and other supplies. To that end, 1199 has mobilized members, connecting with elected officials and expanding information and communication outlets to keep workers informed and active. The Union hosted several regional and unionwide tele town hall events that included allies Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Sen. Corey Booker (D-NJ) and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), as well as 1199 National Benefit Fund Medical Director Dr. Van Dunn. Organizers, officers, and contract administrators have also implemented new ways of keeping in contact with members, including Zoom meetings, Twitter chats, and localized tele town halls.

Still, as the crisis unfolded, the Trump Administration sat back and engaged in a game of politics. Donald Trump and his advisors downplayed risk, called COVID-19 a hoax, race baited, pitted states against one another, and derided and contradicted some of the nation’s (and the world’s) most experienced doctors, crisis management experts and scientists. As tens of thousands continued to fall ill and die and as outraged caregivers across the country cried out for PPE, ventilators and “President Trump is trying to downplay everything. Today, we got a second cooler truck for the bodies at Wyckoff. These aren’t just bodies. These are somebody’s family members who could not have their loved ones beside them in their final hours; who can’t have funerals. I don’t know how much more real this can get.” - Gina Torres, X-Ray Technician, Wyckoff Heights Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY “Everything changes by the hour. I’m an ER nurse, so I’m used to constant change, but I’m not used to the kind of lack of leadership we are experiencing with this lack of supplies and constantly changing standards of care.” — Kimberly Aspelin, RN, Charles Regional Medical Center, La Plata, MD

JOIN THE FIGHT FOR THE PPE WE NEED. TAKE ACTION.

1. Sign the petition demanding that our government use its full power to access and manufacture the PPE we need. Go to www.1199SEIU.org to sign. Share it with your community. 2. Share your stories from the frontline on social media. Post a selfie with the hashtags #PPE, #WeAreEssential, #NormaRaeChallenge, or #1199OnTheFrontLine. Make sure you’re holding your “Give Me PPE” sign up over your head. 3. Be a part of your community. Make sure your friends, family, and neighbors are sharing the message of support for our caregivers by signing the petition and supporting our campaigns on social media.