WHEREAS, The World Health Organization has declared the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus a pandemic; and
WHEREAS, Fifteen presumed positive COVID-19 coronavirus cases have been identified in Pennsylvania, and one presumed positive case has been identified in Philadelphia; and
WHEREAS, As COVID-19 coronavirus spreads, it is expected that increasing numbers of people will be placed in quarantine and unable to report to work; and
WHEREAS, Food, retail, health care and other service workers are particularly vulnerable to COVID-19 coronavirus given that their work requires interfacing with the public and cannot be completed at home; and
WHEREAS, Because service workers are among the country’s lowest paid workers, they face particular challenges navigating financially precarious times; and
WHEREAS, Service workers should be empowered to make decisions in the best interest of their individual and public health without the pressure of job loss or retaliation; and
WHEREAS, According to a recent survey conducted by One Pennsylvania and Make the Road Pennsylvania, and reported by the Sheller Center for Social Justice, over 26% of workers say that their employers had refused to let them take a day off when they were sick in the past four years, and over a fifth of respondents reported that their employers have retaliated against or threatened them for taking a day off because they were sick; and
WHEREAS, The winter moratorium from Philadelphia Gas Works and PECO utility shut offs ends on March 31, 2020, and “shutoff season” begins on April 1st, 2020; and
WHEREAS, It is imperative that the City of Philadelphia develop a plan that will ensure protections and support for Philadelphia workers, including, but not limited to, a continuity of health and paid time off benefits for current employees, a moratorium on evictions and utility shut off, earmarking funds for emergency cash grants, extending paid sick day laws, and clarification from the Mayor’s Office of Labor asserting the rights of workers and enforcement of complaints; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That City Council calls on the City of Philadelphia to develop an action plan and guidance to support and protect service and health care workers from the potentially devastating impacts of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.
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