SEIU Calls For More Effective Pandemic Protections

The Service Employees International Union Local 668 hosted a press conference to alert members that in this Covid-19 pandemic, much more needs to be done to protect workers in all industries that the union represents. Steve Catanese, President of SEIU Local 668 led off stating that protections of all sorts are still falling short. Zack Perkins a County Assistance Case Worker in Delaware and Montgomery Counties is currently in self quarantine and described how in person interviews were being conducted without personal protective equipment and social distancing. Lesa Ramper, a Child Welfare Worker from Blair County is still looking for her superiors to provide PPE so that she can feel safe in her duties. Shawn Domenico, an Allegheny County Unemployment Counselor appreciates the guidelines supplied from the state and county, but looks for follow up to make sure that guidelines provided are being practiced and suggestions for improvements can be made. In all, Catanese summed up the union’s feelings that no employer should spare any expense in providing adequate physical protection with PPE and all employers should do better in implementing practices of social distancing. Catanese states that if the union and its limited budget can host a teleconference for its members, the state and other employers should be able to figure out a way to limit person to person contact and still perform the daily tasks needed.