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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: Interim Guidance for Businesses and Employers to Plan and Respond to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), May 2020
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 During a Pandemic fact sheet
OSHA: Information for Workers and Employers About the Coronavirus Outbreak
OSHA: COVID-19 Control and Prevention
OSHA: Interim Guidance for Business Travelers

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 and the Steelworkers 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.

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: Ohio AFL-CIO Mobilizing in Support of Workers First Agenda

January 21, 2021
Blog

Service + Solidarity Spotlight: ATU Local Leads Fight for Investment in Baltimore Transit System

January 19, 2021

Richard Trumka on Biden's COVID-19 Relief Plan and the PRO Act (Bloomberg Radio)

January 15, 2021
Blog

Service + Solidarity Spotlight: NATCA Members Guide First Flights Carrying COVID-19 Vaccine

January 15, 2021
Speech

Trumka: When We Make PRO Act the Law, We Will Need to Make Millions of New Union Cards

January 14, 2021
Blog

Service + Solidarity Spotlight: IBEW Members Integral to Production and Distribution of COVID-19 Vaccines

January 13, 2021
Speech

Trumka: Workers First Agenda Will Build Sustainable Economy and Stronger Democracy

January 12, 2021
Blog

Service + Solidarity Spotlight: Sacramento Central Labor Council Brings Holiday Joy to Children with Disabilities

January 12, 2021
Blog

Service + Solidarity Spotlight: Alaska Public Employees Pay Off Student School Meal Balances

January 11, 2021

Bill Spriggs on Trump's Failed Pandemic Response (Washington Post)

January 8, 2021

Richard Trumka on Biden’s Cabinet Picks, the Senate and Vaccinations (BloombergTV)

January 8, 2021
Blog

Service + Solidarity Spotlight: Working People Deliver Crucial Wins in Georgia

January 8, 2021
Blog

Service + Solidarity Spotlight: Rest in Peace, Byron Charlton

January 4, 2021

Richard Trumka on Delayed COVID-19 Relief (Bloomberg Radio)

December 18, 2020
Blog

Service + Solidarity Spotlight: The Season of Giving: IBEW Local 103 Holds Annual Christmas Toy Drive

December 18, 2020
Blog

Service + Solidarity Spotlight: Community Organizations Lead John Lewis ‘Good Trouble’ Marches and Votercades to the Polls in Georgia

December 17, 2020
Blog

Service + Solidarity Spotlight: The Season of Giving: Labor Brightens the Holidays for Hundreds of Illinois Kids

December 16, 2020
Blog

Service + Solidarity Spotlight: The Season of Giving: Two-Day Food Drive Held in St. Louis

December 15, 2020
  • Load More
RECENT AFFILIATE STATEMENTS

UFCW: National Press Conference on COVID-19 Surge Highlights Growing Threat to Grocery Workers on Frontlines of the Pandemic this Thanksgiving

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

UFCW: Meatpacking Wrongful Death Lawsuit Highlights Shocking Safety Failures Amid COVID-19 Surge

UFCW Demands Trump Admin. Stop Policy Endangering Poultry Workers on Frontlines of COVID-19 Pandemic

NNU: Nurses Welcome Biden-Harris COVID-19 Plan ‘It Could Save Tens of Thousands of Lives’

AFT, AFSCME, WSNA, and UNAC/UHCP Sue Trump Admin for Shelving Standard That Would Protect America’s Healthcare Workers From Exposure to Infectious Diseases

National Nurses Condemn Statements by Trump, Meadows To Dismiss COVID-19 Deaths, Downplay Toll of Pandemic

CWA: As McConnell Blocks COVID Relief Package, NC Workers Call on Thom Tillis and GOP Senate to Put Working Families Ahead of Politics

AFT: Healthcare Workers Refuse to Receive or Administer COVID-19 Vaccine Without Validation by Independent Third Party Experts

IATSE: President Trump Ends Negotiations, Abandons Workers in Need of COVID-19 Relief

Resolutions

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

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