Our union continues to fight for critical investments and policy reforms that all of us benefit from. We as a union are focused on the financial, emotional, and physical well-being of our members and work every day to carry their concerns with us in our work with members in workplaces, communities, and in the halls of power.
We continue to be inspired by our members’ response to our calls to action, but more is needed! This pandemic has not slowed down and neither will we as a union. We urge federal, state, local, and community leaders to prioritize the needs and demands of working people in this time of crisis. Without them, our country would seize to function. Siblings, we need you to:
1. Tell Congress to save state and local public services and employees! Layoffs and furloughs are happening around our state and country as a result of a loss in revenue due to increased unemployment, lack of sales tax due to closures of bars and restaurants, and more. We cannot put corporate interests above the health and safety of workers. As a result, we need the US Senate to pass the Heroes Act passed by the US House containing $1 trillion in state and local aid! Send a message to Congress by signing this petition! You can make calls to your elected officials and access a script here.
2. Become an advocate for universal, single payer health care for ALL as a right and not a privilege. Our country is failing to live up to our shared values of serving the working poor and middle-class. We must do better and guarantee health care for every American. Now is the perfect time to advocate for this right. While the wealthy and well-connected are getting more powerful, working people are continuing to worry about access and ability to pay for health insurance and their premiums and co-pays if they are lucky to have insurance. Workers are worried about how they will afford to pay for exorbitantly priced prescription drugs and are watching loved ones and themselves being hurt by a system that benefits the few at the top at the expense of the rest of us. We need Congress to pass legislation guaranteeing healthcare for ALL.
3. Fight for mental health investments so we can truly modernize our systems to care for the overall well-being of Minnesotans and all Americans. We have fallen behind as a nation and state with regard to funding mental health services. In this time of many struggles, unknowns, and social distancing and isolation, now more than ever we must come together and listen to our friends, family, coworkers and perfect strangers and fight for a properly-funded and staffed, modernized mental health care system. Join our member-led weekly mental health check in, Tuesdays at 9am. Take our mental health survey.
4. Take to social media with the hashtag #FundTheFrontLines and #AFSCME5Proud and share a short video of how this pandemic is affecting you, your family, friends and community and why it is critical that politicians and leaders hear the concerns of working people. We need you to share your voice. Please tag us at @afscmemn5 on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram or email us directly at [email protected] with your stories, videos, and/or comments. Our union family must continue to share our perspectives and stories with leaders, members, and the public.
5. Sign this "thank you" note to express your support for Governor Walz's decisive, evidence-based directives!
6. Tell the Trump Administration to FULLY activate the Defense Production Act for corporations to create and distribute the Personal Protective Equipment that all workers need during this time of crisis. ACT NOW by clicking here and sign a petition to demand this live-saving power of the federal government. We cannot let corporate greed run our country while risking our lives.
7. We cannot wait for Donald Trump or others to get their act together. Our members are working right now to put their love and heart into creating homemade PPE and getting out to front line workers in correctional facilities, long-term care and group homes, et.al. Join their effort today and sign up here!
As a union, we have the “People Power” to fight back against corporate greed and put the interests of working people at the front of the line to make our communities safer and more prosperous. We can only ensure this is a possibility if we fight together, share our stories, and stay connected.
Siblings, “We Make Minnesota Work.” We must remain united and continue the good fight for the benefit of working people.
