Category: PACG Action

World Cleanup Event - After Action Report

9/21/2021

World Clean Up Event - After Action Report

Davenport RiverFront Bike Trail

Environmental Forum

We had 7 energetic volunteers on Saturday, September 18th to clean up along the Davenport RiverFront Bike Trail. We even worked our way into the woods on the north side of the trail, finding tires, a foldable chair, and a cooler of empty beer cans. All told, we collected 8 large bags of trash, and had some fun sharing our energy between PACG, NAACP and CCL (Citizens' Climate Lobby) friends! Thanks to everyone!

Lori McCollum

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A Message to Our Members - Protecting Iowa Workers

4/19/2020

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PACG Signs On to Protect Workers

A Message to Our Members

Protect the Lives and Safety of All Iowa Workers

Right now in Iowa’s fields, factories, and warehouses, in our hospitals, nursing homes, post offices, grocery stores, and beyond, thousands of Iowans are risking their lives to provide food, health care, and other essential services while facing high risks of exposure to COVID-19 in their workplaces.

For weeks, workers, labor unions, advocates, and the media have been reporting unsafe working conditions to employers and state agencies. But state leaders have refused to set any clear expectations for Iowa employers, and OSHA and other state agencies charged with protecting workers have been missing in action. Meanwhile, too many major Iowa businesses continue to operate with few or no safety measures in place.

We know that existing racial and economic inequities in our communities are exacerbated by this pandemic, and temp workers, low wage workers, workers of color, and immigrant and refugee workers are at particular risk. While workers have the right to report unsafe working conditions, many have reason to fear retaliation. Those brave enough to come forward too often find their reports falling on deaf ears.

We are already seeing the impact of unsafe working conditions, with multiple meatpacking and manufacturing plants shutting down due to the quick spread of COVID-19 among unprotected workers. We cannot afford to wait. We demand that our state leaders take immediate action and direct all Iowa employers to protect workers from further unnecessary exposure.

We call on Governor Kim Reynolds to protect the lives and safety of all Iowa workers by:

1. Immediately requiring all Iowa employers to follow federal CDC and OSHA guidance on steps to take to prevent workplace exposure.

At a minimum, steps must include:

Ceasing all non-essential operations and providing paid leave or access to unemployment benefits for affected workers.
Allowing employees who can work from home to do so.
Encouraging sick workers to stay home with pay, and eliminating barriers (i.e. doctor’s notes, discipline for absences) to taking sick leave.
Improving ventilation (e.g., increasing ventilation rates, installing high-efficiency air filters, negative pressure ventilation in certain settings).
Installing physical barriers (e.g., clear plastic sneeze guards).
Maintaining six feet or more between workers by moving workstations, slowing line speeds, or staggering shifts.
Arranging for staggered or longer break times so workers can maintain a distance of six feet during all breaks or meals.
Providing adequate sanitation supplies (soap, towels, gloves, sanitizers) and a clean working environment.
Ensuring that all work surfaces are kept clean and sanitized as often as needed.
Allowing easy and frequent access to bathrooms or hand washing stations, and providing workers with regular breaks to wash hands.
Allowing workers to wash hands upon arriving to work/entering the workplace, and ensuring full pay for all required preparation and clean-up time
Providing frequent, up-to-date education and training on COVID-19, proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE), sanitation procedures, or other relevant safety measures, in workers’ preferred languages.
Offering hazard pay and/or bonuses to all essential workers.

2. Ensuring all exposed workers access to medical care and emergency assistance, regardless of health insurance coverage or immigration status.

3. Directing Iowa Workforce Development to provide workers’ compensation to workers who contract COVID-19 at their workplaces.

4. Meeting with workers, self-employed, and independent contractors from essential industries to hear about the conditions they face and work with them to develop additional response plans specific to their industries, to be communicated to employers and workers in their preferred languages.

 We are in the midst of an unprecedented public health crisis. Failure to act is putting our workers, our food supply, and our state’s economy at severe, unnecessary risk. We call on Governor Kim Reynolds, the Iowa Department of Public Health and Iowa OSHA to stand up for the dignity, safety and health of our neighbors and families and take immediate action by meeting with workers and directing Iowa’s business to take immediate and decisive steps to protect our state’s workforce from COVID-19.
 
As of April 18th 65 organizations have signed this petition.

Allison Ambrose

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What You Can Do Now - ACA Enrollment After Job Loss Due to the Pandemic

4/16/2020

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Letter to the Editor - Important Update
Regarding ACA Enrollment After Job Loss

Health Care Reform Forum

On behalf of, and with the approval of, the PACG Health Care Reform Forum, I submitted the letter that follows to the local QC newspapers, and it was published on Saturday, April 11. My involvement with PACG was duly noted. If you know of anyone who has lost his/her job and associated health insurance, please bring the potential assistance that might be available at healthcare.gov to his/her attention.

Because of the coronavirus pandemic, millions of Americans are losing their jobs. Those with employer-provided health insurance may also be losing that coverage at the worst possible time: leaving them with potentially no income and, if they become ill, no insurance coverage. The Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) offers them valuable resources.

Iowa and Illinois residents in that situation may be able to get insurance on the federal ACA Marketplace. They may also qualify for a premium subsidy or for coverage under Medicaid. The website healthcare.gov allows them to explore their options. It is important to note that they have a 60-day window after losing their employment in which to apply.

Although some insurers have waived some consumer costs of coronavirus treatment, such costs can still be very high, especially if hospitalization is required; moreover, other health care issues (broken leg, appendicitis) may still arise. Having good health insurance is essential.

The coronavirus pandemic has made us acutely aware of how important it is for all Americans to have access to good health care. The Affordable Care Act has already provided health insurance for millions of uninsured families, and it is there for many of us who need the coverage now. Our people need our government to uphold that law, not seek its overthrow in the courts.

One of the lessons we must learn from this terrible time is that good health care coverage needs to be strengthened and expanded to cover everyone, in good times as well as bad.

Karen Metcalf, Co-facilitator
Health Care Reform Forum
Progressive Action for the Common Good

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After Action Report - Crisis at the Border Visit with Bobby Schilling

2/6/2020

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After Action Report - Crisis at the Border Visit with
Bobby Schilling

Civil Rights Forum

The PACG Civil Rights Forum organized a visit with Bobby Schilling, who is running in the Republican primary for the Congressional seat of retiring Congressman Dave Loebsack. Immigration activists from the many organizations in the Quad Cities working on immigration issues met with Mr. Schilling to deliver our message, beginning with: "Children do not belong in detention." You can read our complete "ask" and some proposed legislation at our PACG Blog post.

We are trying to set up a similar meeting with Republican candidate Mariannette Miller-Meeks. We will also visit with other candidates or elected officials in both Iowa and Illinois. Contact Alta if you want to participate.

Alta Price

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World Cleanup Event - After Action Report

World Clean Up Event - After Action Report

A Message to Our Members - Protecting Iowa Workers

PACG Signs On to Protect Workers

What You Can Do Now - ACA Enrollment After Job Loss Due to the Pandemic

Letter to the Editor - Important Update
Regarding ACA Enrollment After Job Loss

After Action Report - Crisis at the Border Visit with Bobby Schilling

After Action Report - Crisis at the Border Visit with
Bobby Schilling

Archives

Categories

World Cleanup Event - After Action Report

World Clean Up Event - After Action Report

A Message to Our Members - Protecting Iowa Workers

​PACG Signs On to Protect Workers

What You Can Do Now - ACA Enrollment After Job Loss Due to the Pandemic

Letter to the Editor - Important UpdateRegarding ACA Enrollment After Job Loss

After Action Report - Crisis at the Border Visit with Bobby Schilling

After Action Report - Crisis at the Border Visit with ​Bobby Schilling

Archives

Categories

PACG Signs On to Protect Workers

Letter to the Editor - Important Update
Regarding ACA Enrollment After Job Loss

After Action Report - Crisis at the Border Visit with
Bobby Schilling