If you have any questions for USWW please call us at (877) 536-8799.
Latest Corona Virus Information and Resources:
As the State of California confronts COVID-19, the Corona Virus, many of us are concerned about our safety at work, especially as service workers with lots of exposure to the public and public spaces. Below, we have provided links to the latest information from Cal/OSHA and the Center for Disease Control, as well as flyers that you can download and give to your co-workers. please contact USWW at (877) 536-8799 between 9am-5pm M-F. If you call at another time, please leave a message.
If you are facing issues at work related to the Corona Virus, contact your Organizer directly. Follow these links to reach your Division.
Allied/Multi-Services
Download Resource Info Graphics You Can Share
New Federal Relief Package Information:
Our union members fought hard to make sure the federal bailout wasn’t just another corporate giveaway. We won some important things by taking action together, including:
1) Every taxpayer making up to $75,000 a year will get $1,200 ($2,400 for married couples making under $150,000) and $500 for each child under 16.
2) A significant increase in unemployment insurance benefits that will amount to full paycheck replacement for most working people who lost their jobs during the crisis or cannot work due to the pandemic. The legislation increases payments by an additional $600 per week for all recipients, and extends payments for an additional 13 weeks.
Apply for Unemployment Benefits HERE
More information about the ways the new federal legislation can help you (English and Spanish)
Other Financial Support Services:
Paid FMLA: Paid leave to care for family member or self, provides percentage of salary.
Paid Sick Leave: One hour of sick leave for every 30 hours worked.
Utilities: PG&E moratorium on service disconnections for non-payment.
Utilities: energy, water, sewer, and communications companies under California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) jurisdiction should halt customer disconnections for non-payment as a result of the State of Emergency called by Gov. Gavin Newsom due to COVID-19.
Utilities: Southern California Edison suspending service disconnections for nonpayment and waiving late fees.
Cal/OSHA: Protect Yourself From Exposure to COVID-19
Cal/OSHA provides employers, workers and other safety and health professionals in California with vital information on what is required to protect workers from exposure to airborne infectious diseases such as the coronavirus.
Guidance documents, educational materials and model programs have been posted on Cal/OSHA’s website to help employer’s comply with the requirements. Cal/OSHA recommends employers review this guidance along with their existing procedures to ensure that their plans are effectively protecting workers.
The Department of Industrial Relations and Cal/OSHA ensure that employers have the information needed to protect workers during this state of emergency.
Employees with work-related questions or complaints may contact DIR’s Call Center in English or Spanish at 844-LABOR-DIR (844-522-6734).
Resources:
- Cal/OSHA webpage on Requirements to Protect Workers from Coronavirus
- Cal/OSHA Interim Guidelines for General Industry on 2019 Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)
Center for Disease Control: Latest Information on COVID-19
Here is the link to the Center for Disease Control resource page for COVID-19. It has important links to how you can stop the spread of the disease, information for people at higher risk, travel information, community resources and more.
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
Disability Insurance: Are You Unable to Work Because of Medical Quarantine or Illness Related to COVID-19?
Get short-term benefit payments to eligible workers who have a full or partial loss of wages due to a non-work related illness, injury, or pregnancy. Benefits are approximately 60-70 percent of wages (depending on income); ranges from $50 to $1,300 a week for up to 52 weeks.
Learn more: www.bit.ly/disbenefits
File a Claim: www.bit.ly/filedisability
Paid Family Leave: Are You Unable to Work Because You are Caring For an Ill or Quarantined Family Member?
Get up to six weeks of benefit payments to eligible workers who have a full or partial loss of wages because they need time of work to care for a seriously ill family member.Benefits are approximately 60-70 percent of wages (depending on income); ranges from $50 to $1,300 a week for up to 6 weeks.
Learn more: www.bit.ly/famileave
File a Claim: www.bit.ly/filefamileave
Unemployment Insurance: Have You Lost Your Job or Had Hours Reduced for Reasons Related to COVID-19?
Get partial wage replacement benefit payments to workers who lose their job or have their hours reduced through no fault of their own. Benefits range from $40-$450 per week for up to 26 weeks.
Learn more: www.bit.ly/unempinsurance
File a Claim: www.bit.ly/fileunemp
Paid Sick Leave: If You or a Family Member are Sick (or for Preventative Care When Civil Authorities Recommend Quarantine)
Use the leave you have accumulated or your employer has provided to you under the Paid Sick Leave law. Paid to you at your regular rate of pay or an average based on the past 90 days.
Learn more: www.bit.ly/leavesick
File a Claim: www.bit.ly/filewageclaim
Workers’ Compensation: If You are Unable to Do Your Usual Job Because You Were Exposed to and Contracted COVID-19 During the Regular Course of Your Work
Benefits include temporary disability (TD) payments, which begins when your doctor says you can’t do your usual work for more than three days or you are hospitalized overnight. TD generally pays two-thirds of the gross wages you lose while you are recovering from a work related illness or injury.
Learn more: www.bit.ly/caworkcomp
File a Claim: www.bit.ly/caworkcompclaim
Local Resource Lists: help with food, housing, childcare, financial and health related information
Please download and share these local lists that contain phone numbers and links to online agencies that can provide assistance.
East Bay Local Resource List
South Bay Local Resource List
Sacramento Local Resource List
Ventura Local Resource List
Los Angeles Local Resource List
Riverside Local Resource List
San Bernardino Local Resource List
Orange County Local Resource List
San Diego Local Resource List
New Limits to Crossing the Border with Mexico
Tips for Crossing the Border
Your Union
We are in conversations with our employers about a few of the larger questions that are not clearly covered in our contract. For example, what will happen in there is an outbreak in a workplace, what happens if there is a workplace shutdown or reduced schedule, and what happens in the event of a general quarantine. There are also many protections that we have under our contract around sick time and workplace safety that need to be enforced during these times.
What do I do if my employer won’t let me call in sick?
What do I do if my co-workers are coming in sick?
What if I am sick but out of sick days?
What happens if my workplace shuts down or there is a larger quarantine?
If you have any questions for USWW call us at (877) 536-8799.
Resources for leaders and Shop Stewards
The SEIU Property Services Division put together a number of resources for Service Workers. Shop Stewards and leaders that want to update their co-workers can download these to pass out at your worksite.
Ten Steps to Prevent Corona Virus -English
Ten Steps to Prevent Corona Virus -Spanish