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COVID-19 Pandemic Resources

The Information on the pandemic and virus is constantly evolving, and this site is updated frequently.

COVID-19 has been declared a pandemic, and the disease is spreading rapidly across the United States. Federal, state and local governments are taking steps to slow the spread of the disease by limiting crowds in public settings, such as schools, workplaces, public transportation, and cultural and sporting events. These necessary measures not only disrupt everyday life, but cause economic uncertainty for millions of working people.

The labor movement is working nonstop to protect the health and safety of all workers, including workers on the front lines of this public health emergency. We have trained, educated and equipped our members with the tools they need to be safe on the job, but we are demanding additional urgent action to ensure employers implement comprehensive plans to protect front-line workers and reduce the risk of exposure to the general public. 

This crisis has exposed the shortcomings of our worker protection and health care systems. We cannot afford to allow cost considerations to discourage workers from taking the necessary action to protect public health. Workers should not incur additional costs for doing what is recommended or required, including staying home from work or getting the tests and treatments they need.

The pandemic also is beginning to inflict a heavy toll on the economy. We are doing everything we can to limit the negative impact on the livelihoods of working people, and we continue to demand dramatic action from local, state, and federal governments on a scale every bit as large as the threat.

Below are resources and guidance from leading experts, government agencies and America’s unions about the COVID-19 pandemic, and recommendations to limit its impact on working families.

GENERAL GUIDANCE AND RESOURCES

CDC: Prevention and Treatment
CDC: Guidance for Businesses and Employers Responding to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
CDC: COVID-19 Information for Travelers
CDC: COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
CDC: What to Do If You Are Sick with COVID-19

DOL: COVID-19 and the Workplace

OSHA: Protecting Workers: Guidance on Mitigating and Preventing the Spread of COVID-19 in the Workplace
OSHA: Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19
OSHA: Guidance on Returning to Work
OSHA: COVID-19 Control and Prevention
OSHA: COVID-19 Hazard Recognition

WHO: Information and Guidance Regarding the Current Outbreak of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)

Government of Canada: Coronavirus (COVID-19) Disease

DOWNLOADABLE MATERIALS

AFL-CIO: Coronavirus: COVID-19 flyer
Respirators and Face Protection 101

HARDSHIP ASSISTANCE AND RELIEF FUNDS

Participants in the Union Plus Mortgage, Credit Card, Personal Loan, or supplemental insurance programs may be eligible for additional hardship assistance. Visit Union Plus Hardship Help for eligibility requirements.

Labor Movement Relief Funds

Resources for Workers Impacted by COVID-19

The Global Labor Movement's Response in the Face of the COVID-19 Crisis

COVID-19 and Immigrant Workers

Domestic and Intimate Partner Violence and COVID-19

Take Action: Unions Respond to COVID-19

Priorities of the Labor Movement to Address the Coronavirus

In Memoriam: Union Members Lost to COVID-19

America's Five Economic Essentials

Safety First: Working People's Plan for Reopening the Economy the Right Way

The Labor Movement Responds to COVID-19

The Daily Brief

Industry-Specific Resources and Guidance

Airline Workers

Information, resources and updates for workers in the airline industry from the Flight Attendants, Air Line Pilots and Machinists unions.

General guidance and recommendations for airlines and airline workers from the CDC, Federal Aviation Administration, and OSHA, and specific guidance includes:

  • A communicable disease incident response checklist (AFA-CWA);
  • Guidance on preventing the spread of disease on commercial aircraft and on reporting onboard deaths or illnesses (CDC)
Construction and Building Trades Workers

Information, resources and updates for workers in the airline industry from CPWR, Heat and Frost Insulators, North America’s Building Trades Unions, SMART, Steelworkers and Utility Workers unions.

A preparation and response fact sheet from the Laborers’ Health and Safety Fund.

Educators and School Support Staff

Information, resources and updates for workers in education from AFT, including special bulletins on how to be prepared for educators and school support staff, higher education faculty and staff, and cleaning tips for custodians.

The CDC provides guidance for childcare programs and K-12 schools.

AFT and AFL-CIO provide resources for parents with school-aged children.

AFT's plan and AFSA's preliminary guide for school leaders to safely reopen schools.

Emergency Response Workers

Information, resources and updates for emergency response workers from the Fire Fighters, including interim guidance for Emergency Medical Services (EMS), a self-screening guidelines poster and 10 things locals should be doing in response to COVID-19.

The CDC provides guidance for EMS systems and 911 Public Safety Answering Points.

The Fire Fighters is tracking fire department personnel who tested positive for COVID-19.

Entertainment and Arts Workers

Information, resources and updates for workers in the entertainment and arts industries from the Musicians and Musical Artists unions, including a playbook to return to work safely.

Proposed health and safety guidelines from the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers.

Guidance to support safe and healthy theatre productions from Actors' Equity.

Government and Public Service Workers

Information, resources and updates for workers in government and public works from AFGE, AFSCME, APWU and Treasury Employees unions, including a special bulletin from AFT for public employees on how to be prepared.

OSHA provides interim guidance for border protection workers and solid waste and wastewater management workers.

Health Care Workers

Information, resources and updates for workers in the health care industry from AFSCME, AFT, Machinists and NNU unions, including personal protective equipment recommendations for nurses and other health care workers from NNU.

General guidance and recommendations for health care workers from the CDC, OSHA and WHO, and specific guidance includes:

  • Personal protective equipment recommendations for nurses and other health care workers (NNU);
  • Guidance on personal protective equipment use, the use of masks in community, home and health care settings and home care for patients with suspected novel coronavirus infection (WHO)

General guidance and recommendations for laboratory workers from the CDC and OSHA, including interim guidance from OSHA for deathcare workers.

Hospitality, Maintenance and Retail Workers

Information, resources and updates for workers in the hospitality, maintenance, food service and retail industries from United Food and Commercial Workers and UNITE HERE.

Maritime and Transportation Workers

Information, resources and updates for workers in the maritime and transportation industries from Amalgamated Transit Union, International Transport Workers' Federation, Machinists, Longshoremen, and Transport Workers unions, including protection protocols for vessels calling on ports in China from the Seafarers.

General guidance and recommendations for maritime workers from the CDC, including a marine safety information bulletin from the U.S. Coast Guard.

News and Advocacy

Blog

Service + Solidarity Spotlight: National Nurses United Leads Coalition to Urge CDC to Acknowledge COVID-19 Aerosol Transmission

February 25, 2021
Blog

Service + Solidarity Spotlight: Across America, Workers Hold Day of Action to Save Union Jobs

February 24, 2021
Blog

Service + Solidarity Spotlight: North Carolina State AFL-CIO Issues Workers First Agenda for State

February 23, 2021
Blog

Service + Solidarity Spotlight: Florida AFL-CIO: Standing Up Against COVID-19 Business Liability

February 22, 2021
Blog

Service + Solidarity Spotlight: Los Angeles County Federation of Labor Hosts Vaccination and Food Distribution Event

February 19, 2021
Blog

Service + Solidarity Spotlight: NABTU Offers All Training Centers and Union Halls for National Vaccine Distribution

February 18, 2021
Blog

Service + Solidarity Spotlight: DPE Announces Legislative Push to Advance Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

February 17, 2021
Blog

Service + Solidarity Spotlight: Major Labor and Environmental Initiative Announced in Rhode Island

February 16, 2021
Legislative Alert

Letter Supporting $350 Billion in Unrestricted Aid to States

February 12, 2021
Blog

Service + Solidarity Spotlight: St. Paul Labor Federation Distributes Food to Community

February 12, 2021
Blog

Service + Solidarity Spotlight: Houston AFM Members Perform Concerts for COVID Patients

February 9, 2021
Blog

Service + Solidarity Spotlight: Alabama AFL-CIO: In the Wake of Disaster, Unions Step Up and Make the Difference

February 8, 2021
Blog

Service + Solidarity Spotlight: Local Union Halls Opening Up for Vaccinations

February 4, 2021
Blog

Service + Solidarity Spotlight: BAC Sponsors National Ladder Safety Month

February 3, 2021
Blog

Service + Solidarity Spotlight: IBB Begins New Work at Philly Shipyard

February 2, 2021
Blog

Service + Solidarity Spotlight: Baltimore Teachers Union: Educators Hold Car Caravan

January 29, 2021
Blog

Service + Solidarity Spotlight: Iowa Federation of Labor Joins Legal Complaint on Unsafe Working Conditions at State Capitol

January 28, 2021
Blog

Service + Solidarity Spotlight: USW Members at Minnesota Nursing Homes Secure Wage Increases Amid Coronavirus Surge

January 27, 2021
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RECENT AFFILIATE STATEMENTS

UFCW: Biden Executive Orders Strengthen Worker Safety for Millions on Frontlines of COVID Surge

Mine Workers: Swift MSHA Action on COVID Emergency Temporary Standard Is Critical

Nurses Applaud Biden’s National Strategy for the COVID-19 Response

Actors' Equity Association: Delays in Vaccinations Further Damage the Arts Industry

Flight Attendants Welcome Biden Interstate Travel Mask Mandate

UFCW Statement on Biden COVID Relief Plan

Actors' Equity Association Has Paused Safety Approvals for Theatre Production in California Amidst Pandemic Surge

NNU: On COVID Surge, Nurses Urge Employers, Government, Public to “Listen to Nurses”

RWDSU-UFCW President Statement on Black Friday 

SAG-AFTRA: Important Safety Reminder

Resolutions

A Petition for an OSHA Emergency Temporary Standard for Infectious Disease | AFL-CIO  

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