Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our regular Service + Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
The Connecticut AFL-CIO reports that members of University Health Professionals Local 3837, an affiliate of the Connecticut American Federation of Teachers (AFT), held an informational picket on Thursday, May 27. The picket was held in an effort to tell UConn Health management that they demand a fair contract. For months, the union has sought telework, safe patient limits, support for workplace violence and COVID-19 related trauma, reduction in mandatory overtime and fair-wage increases. UConn Health management has repeatedly rejected fair proposals.
“Enough is enough,” said the union in a Facebook post. “After spending the last year calling health care workers ‘heroes,’ UConn Health is trying to gut our contract, reduce our benefits and force us to take a two-year wage freeze. On top of that, elected officials, including the governor, are refusing to raise revenue to invest in the community (like UConn Health) and are diverting federal funds that could be used for hazard pay for essential workers.”