It is with great sadness that I inform you that, President Emeritus Harold “Sonny” Hall has passed away. Sonny served as TWU International President from 1993 until 2004, when he retired.
Funeral arrangements are as follows:
Viewing
Riverdale on Hudson Funeral Home
6110 Riverdale Ave., Bronx, NY
Jan.
The Words of Martin Luther King Jr. Reverberate in a Tumultuous Time
Credit : New York Times
Dr. King’s speeches have particular resonance today amid a year of sickness and death, Black Lives Matter protests and the storming of the Capitol.
The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
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January 10, 2022
To the Local 591 Membership:
Urgent, today is the last day to take action on your UBP benefits, If you have not done so please contact your EAP/MAP representative listed below.
Union Benefits Planners Action for 2022!
UBP is consolidating the TWU Local-Sponsored voluntary benefits direct deposit process.
TWU Local 591 President Gary Schaible is joined by AMT Executive Board Member Russ Dittmer to discuss the 401(k) eligibilty, and most importantly getting the maximum company match that was negotiated:
https://www.local591podcast.com
CDC Expands Eligibility for COVID-19 Booster Shots to All Adults
People age 18 years and older who received Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines may get a booster six months after completion of their primary vaccination series.
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Contact the location that set up your previous appointment. If you need to find a different location, there are several ways you canâ¯find a vaccine provider.
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You may choose which COVID-19 vaccine you receive as a booster shot. Some people mayâ¯preferâ¯the vaccine type that they originally received, and others may prefer to get a different booster. CDC’s recommendations now allow for this type of mix and match dosing forâ¯booster shots.
United Workers Can't Ground Airline's Vaccine Mandate
A man approaches a van from a COVID-19 vaccine mobile clinic hosted by McDonald's and the California Department of the Public Health in September in Los Angeles.
Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images
In early September, President Biden announced he was taking steps to get more Americans vaccinated and turn the tide on COVID-19.
On Thursday, the administration rolled out two of those steps — two different vaccine rules covering more than 100 million workers.
Deadline is Jan. 4: The first rule, issued by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, covers companies with 100 or more employees, applying to an estimated 84 million workers. Companies must ensure that their workers are either fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by Jan. 4 or that they test negative for COVID-19 at least once a week. The rule will take effect as soon as it's published in the Federal Register.
Workers must get paid time off to get vaccinated: Under the OSHA rule, employers must pay workers for the time it takes to get vaccinated and provide sick leave for workers to recover from any side effects.
Employers don't need to pay for testing: In a move that appears designed to push workers to choose vaccinations over testing, the rule does not require employers to pay for or provide testing to workers who decline the vaccine. However, collective bargaining agreements or other circumstances may dictate otherwise.
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Unvaccinated people must wear masks: Unvaccinated workers must also wear face coverings while on the job.
Health care workers don't have testing option under separate rule: A second rule issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services requires some 17 million health care workers to be vaccinated by the same deadline, Jan. 4, but with no option for weekly testing in lieu of vaccination. The rule covers all employees — clinical and non-clinical — at about 76,000 health care facilities that receive federal funding from Medicare or Medicaid.
Earlier, Biden had ordered federal workers and contractors to be vaccinated, with no testing option. Federal workers have until Nov. 22 to get the shots, while federal contractors have until Jan. 4.
Vaccine requirements have proved successful, but a backlash is expected
In rolling out the new rules, Biden administration officials said vaccine requirements are good for the economy and hailed the success of vaccine mandates, with only a small fraction of workers choosing to leave their jobs rather than comply. Employers from Tyson Foods to the Houston Methodist hospital system have reported vaccination rates topping 96%.
But well before the details of the rules were released, there was backlash from Republican-led states, with two dozen state attorneys general threatening to sue the Biden administration.
In a letter addressed to Biden on Sept. 16, they warned that a vaccine requirement would drive further skepticism of the COVID-19 vaccines and cause some workers to leave their jobs, further straining an "already-too-tight labor market." They also asserted that an OSHA rule would be illegal and disputed the notion that COVID-19 is a work-related hazard that falls under the agency's jurisdiction.
Companies covered by the OSHA rule can challenge it in court, and challenges are expected in the coming days.
Already, employers have expressed concern about the deadlines imposed by OSHA. Evan Armstrong, a vice president with the Retail Industry Leaders Association, says figuring out who's vaccinated and who's not and imposing a mask mandate for unvaccinated workers by an early December deadline will be a challenge for retailers, as will giving workers who decide to get vaccinated paid time off to do so as the holidays draw near.
"The holiday season is crucial for retail, and it's already busy," he says. "We had already been operating with the talent shortage pretty much the entire year."
This week, the Biden administration quickly asserted its legal authority in issuing the rule, citing the responsibility OSHA has to provide workers with safe and healthy working conditions and to act quickly when workers are found to be facing grave danger.
COVID-19 tests are administered at a 24-hour drive-through site set up by Miami-Dade County, Fla., and Nomi Health in August. Some workers will have the option of getting weekly COVID-19 tests instead of being vaccinated.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images
"A virus that has killed more than 745,000 Americans, with more than 70,000 new cases per day currently, is clearly a health hazard that poses a grave danger to workers," said a senior administration official.
Workplace outbreaks large and small have been documented, particularly in the first year of the pandemic. A congressional committee recently found that 59,000 meatpacking workers were infected with COVID-19 and that at least 269 of them died.
The federal government is largely relying on companies to self-enforce the rule
In the case of the OSHA rule, enforcement will largely fall to companies themselves. With only a couple thousand state and federal OSHA inspectors nationwide, there is no mechanism for checking up on millions of workplaces to see whether they are in fact keeping vaccination and testing records.
Rather, OSHA inspectors will mostly respond to employee complaints and add COVID-related inspections to their to-do lists when they are already on-site somewhere. Employers who violate the rule can face fines of up to $13,653 per violation for serious violations and 10 times that for willful or repeated violations.
There is an additional step some states will have to take before the vaccine-or-test rule takes effect. Twenty-one states and Puerto Rico have OSHA-approved state plans that govern workplace safety. Within 30 days, those states must enact rules of their own that are at least as effective as the federal rule.
Last month, the Labor Department threatened to revoke the state plans of three states — Arizona, South Carolina and Utah — that had not yet adopted an emergency rule issued by OSHA in June aimed at protecting health care workers.
While those same states and others could similarly delay the implementation of the federal vaccine-or-test rule, employers there may decide to move forward on their own.
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3028 - If my employer requires proof of my COVID-19 vaccination status, does that violate my rights under HIPAA?
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In general, the HIPAA Rules do not apply to employers or employment records. HIPAA only applies to HIPAA covered entities– health care providers, health plans, and health care clearinghouses – and, to some extent, to their business associates. If an employer asks an employee to provide proof that they have been vaccinated, that is not a HIPAA violation, and employees may decide whether to provide that information to their employer.
Vaccines protect workers and help business reopen safely, and are available at no cost to everyone in the United States age 12 and older. However, if you are unvaccinated and returning to work in person, there are steps you can take to protect yourself and others in the workplace.
Highly-vaccinated, but more cases than ever: Singapore shows the world what ‘endemic’ COVID might look like
Very good article in Fortune on the high level breakthrough infections in Singapore among fully vaccinated individuals and how COVID-19 is likely to become endemic and require new strategies for responding to and living with the disease....Even with over 80% of the population vaccinated Singapore is now experiencing the highest level of infections reported during the pandemic, (even with some restrictions still in place) but with vaccinations the number of hospitalizations is not as great.
CDC recommends that people in the following groups should receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 Vaccine at least 6 months after completion of their 2-dose Pfizer series:
People with moderately to severely compromised immune systems are especially vulnerable to COVID-19 and may not build the same level of immunity to 2-dose vaccine series compared to people who are not immunocompromised. CDC recommends that people with moderately to severely compromised immune systems receive an additional dose of mRNA COVID-19 vaccine at least 28 days after a second dose of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. This additional dose is intended to improve the response of people who are immunocompromised to their initial vaccine series.
Some family members may still need to take steps to protect themselves against COVID-19, such as children too young to get vaccinated or people with weakened immune systems. Any family member who is not fully vaccinated should keep taking steps to protect themselves and others. In general, people are considered fully vaccinated:
2 weeks after their second dose in a 2-dose series, such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or
2 weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine
If you are not fully vaccinated and aged 2 or older, you should wear a mask in indoor public places. In general, you do not need to wear a mask in outdoor settings. In areas with high numbers of COVID-19 cases, consider wearing a mask in crowded outdoor settings and for activities with close contact with others who are not fully vaccinated. People who have a condition or are taking medications that weaken their immune system may NOT be protected even if they are fully vaccinated. They should continue to take all precautions recommended for unvaccinated people, including wearing a well-fitted mask, until advised otherwise by their healthcare provider.
Information about the characteristics of these variants is rapidly emerging. Scientists are working to learn more about how easily they spread, whether they could cause more severe illness, and whether currently authorized vaccines will protect people against them.
Everyone ages 12 and older is recommended to get a COVID-19 vaccination. COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective, and the federal government is providing the vaccine for free to anyone living in the United States. You are not fully vaccinated until 2 weeks after the 2nd dose of a two-dose vaccine or two weeks after a one-dose vaccine. People who have been fully vaccinated can start to do some things that they had stopped doing because of the pandemic.
Outdoor visits and activities are safer than indoor activities, and fully vaccinated people can participate in some indoor events safely, without much risk.
Studies show that COVID-19 vaccines are effective at keeping you from getting COVID-19. Experts also think that getting a COVID-19 vaccine may help keep you from getting seriously ill even if you do get COVID-19. But while COVID-19 vaccines can keep you from getting sick, scientists are still learning how well vaccines prevent you from spreading the virus that causes COVID-19 to others. So even after vaccination, we need to continue using all the tools available to help stop this pandemic as we learn more about how COVID-19 vaccines work in real-world conditions. Although the vaccine supply is currently limited, the federal government is working toward making vaccines widely available.
Under federal law, you are entitled to a safe workplace. Your employer must provide a workplace free of known health and safety hazards. If you have concerns, you have the right to speak up about them without fear of retaliation.
If you believe you are being exposed to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, or that your employer is not taking appropriate steps to protect you from exposure to the virus at work, talk to your supervisor or employer about your concerns. OSHA provides recommendationsfor measures workers and employers can take to prevent exposures and infections.
You have the right to file a complaint if you feel you are being exposed to a serious health or safety hazard. If you have suffered retaliation because you voiced concerns about a health or safety hazard, you have the right to file a whistleblower protection complaint.
If you believe you have contracted COVID-19 on the job, OSHA recommends several steps you should take, including notifying your supervisor. Your employer can take actions that will keep others in your workplace healthy and may be able to offer you leave flexibilities while you are away from work.
Generally, your employer may require you to come to work during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, some government emergency orders may affect which businesses can remain open during the pandemic.
Under federal law, you are entitled to a safe workplace. Your employer must provide a safe and healthful workplace. If you have concerns, you have the right to speak up about them without fear of retaliation.
Under section 11(c) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act, a worker who refused to work would be protected from retaliation if:
The worker believes that they faced death or serious injury (and the situation is so clearly hazardous that any reasonable person would believe the same thing);
The worker tried, where possible, to get his or her employer to correct the condition, was unable to obtain a correction, and there is no other way to do the job safely; or
The situation is so urgent that the worker does not have time to eliminate the hazard through regulatory channels, such as calling OSHA.
Employers and workers can visit the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's COVID-19 webpage and frequently asked questions to learn more about reasonable accommodations.
You have the right to file a complaint if you are required to work and believe you are being exposed to a serious health or safety hazard. If you have suffered retaliation because you voiced concerns about a health or safety hazard, you have the right to file a whistleblower protection complaint. No particular form is required and complaints may be submitted in any language.
Rapid testing was brought up on our weekly COVID call today. While these tests are not always accurate, we’ve requested where these tests were available. The attached document was sent out earlier this afternoon.
The COVID-19 Indoor Safety Guideline is an evolving tool intended to familiarize the interested user with the factors influencing the risk of indoor airborne transmission of COVID-19, and to assist in the quantitative assessment of risk in various settings.
Aimed at ensuring proper ventilation in indoor workplaces amid the COVID-19 pandemic, a new OSHA SAFETY ALERT lists measures employers and building managers should take.
Heating, ventilation and air conditioning professionals can help optimize building ventilation and keep HVAC systems properly maintained. Steps to consider include increasing an HVAC system’s outdoor air intake and ensuring exhaust air isn’t being pulled back into the building. Opening windows or other sources of fresh air also is recommended, when possible and safe.
This is something that American is just now looking into as the Association suggested this months ago. CRE is working on a rollout plan and has begun work in MIA. More information to follow as I receive it.
CDC expands definition of who is a ‘close contact’ of an individual with covid-19
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The updated guidance which health departments rely on to conduct contact tracing, now defines a close contact as someone who was within six feet of an infected individual for a total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period, according to a CDC statement Wednesday.
Wear a mask correctly and consistently for the best protection. Be sure to wash your hands before putting on a mask and do not touch the mask when wearing it. Make sure the mask covers your nose and mouth and fits securely under your chin and against the sides of your face.
DO choose masks that
Have two or more layers of washable, breathable fabric
Completely cover your nose and mouth
Fit snugly against the sides of your face and don't have gaps
COVID-19 Update: FDA Warns Consumers About Hand Sanitizer Packaged in Food and Drink Containers
Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is a condition where different body parts can become inflamed, including the heart, lungs, kidneys, brain, skin, eyes, or gastrointestinal organs. Children with MIS-C may have a fever and various symptoms, including abdominal (gut) pain, vomiting, diarrhea, neck pain, rash, bloodshot eyes, or feeling extra tired. We do not yet know what causes MIS-C. However, many children with MIS-C had the virus that causes COVID-19 or had been around someone with COVID-19.
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Dear Local Presidents:
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) weakened its COVID-19 guidelines this week. The sudden and controversial change says that people recently exposed to COVID-19 do not have to be tested if they are asymptomatic. This is a dangerous revision, since about 50 percent of COVID-19 transmissions happen before symptoms begin, when people may be most contagious.
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Health officials in several states – including Florida, Texas, Arizona, Illinois, California, New York, and New Jersey – are refusing to follow these new, lower testing standards. The Infectious Disease Society of America and the American Medical Association (AMA) have demanded that the CDC issue an immediate reversal.
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If your employers try to change COVID-19 testing protocols because of the new CDC guidelines, we urge you to push back to ensure the safety of our membership. Contact your division if you need assistance and advice.
We’ve been talking about this the last couple of weeks on the long-term effects of COVID-19 and how important it is to protect yourse lf and others. Article below.
They Beat Covid, But Debilitating Effects and Economic Costs May Linger for Years
Over several months, the Association along with other Unions have stated that management has been giving our members inaccurate information. The Quick Reference Guide (QRG) was originally designed as a source for quick reference information for our members and management. I was just advised that the Quick Reference Guide to Top Team Member Questions went live (link below) this morning.
The Safety team is currently working on a communication campaign for frontline leadership. The Corporate Safety managers in the field will review with their Ops leaders and encourage leaders to:
Where the Top Team Member Questions / Quick Reference Guide is going to be located (link below)
Helping leadership in familiarizing themselves with the questions
How to assist team members with obtaining the answers
United Covid Rouling Regarding Vaccine Mandate 11-8-21.pdf
