I have attached for you a list of precautionary measures the Council is sending to management, The Board President and the Chief Judge. These are what we insist on happening to ensure the safety of our membership. These are not hard and should be easily implemented.
Today the Executive Board with Council 31 participated in a conference call with management. We argued that we have been doing what has been asked of us during this crisis. We have put our health and the health of our families on the line because we know that what we do is important and necessary. We indicated that the level of our exposure to Covid 19 to our members attempting to follow the protocols put in place by management in the last week are no longer acceptable. We put forth our demands on behalf of our members for our work conditions going forward during this crisis.
We are now at time for solidarity. Read our list of precautionary measures. We started pushing for these at 4:00pm today. It is the board’s position that this is no longer optional, these need to be in place now. Tomorrow, if you feel that the situation is not safe; example too many people in the courtroom, no safe distance place to interview etc., walk away and contact your supervisor and contact us. As always, we will support whatever decision you make.
We are still working from home and following those protocols, but we are advising you to not put yourself in a dangerous work environment. Contact you supervisor and contact us.
Read the attachment.
Since we may still have to have some contact in the courthouses, we have ordered some supplies that will hopefully help. Member Lakshmi Jha’s friend is the owner of Koval Distillery. Koval is transferring its production to hand sanitizer. While Koval offering their products for free to first responders and those in need and operating on a go-fund me account to obtain supplies, we placed a purchase order and hope to have some of their product at all court sites very soon. They come in refill type amounts so keep any old dispenser bottles you may have. Also visit their go fund me and on your next supply run consider a bottle of Koval to ride out this crisis.
Finally, we are aware of the arguments that were made today in the presiding judge’s courtroom. Now is a time to get results and secure the safety of the members of this local. This issue will be addressed, just not today. This board knows how hard you have been working, how stressful this has been on you and your families. This board knows the dedication and commitment that you feel to this work and those that you serve. This board is grateful for the information that you give to us each and every day and for the courage you have all shown as we deal with this crisis. This board will continue, in solidarity with you, to fight for your safety and wellbeing.
While not on point, I think this quote can be modified to fit this crisis.
Climate change does not respect border; it does not respect who you are – rich and poor, small and big. Therefore, this is what we call ‘global challenges,’ which require global solidarity. Ban Ki-moon; Secretary-General of the United Nations from January 2007 to December 2016-
Kevin OchallaPresidentLocal 3315