Media contact: Ed Gilhuly | 305.807.6906 | egilhuly@leftcom.com

“Healthcare workers are on the front lines serving the public health. They face unprecedented challenges today taking on a pandemic and economic crisis. These caregivers, including the 24,000 represented by members of 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East in Florida, need the support of elected officials and government at all levels to protect their patients, their families and themselves.

“Our organization appreciates the elected leaders who recognize the danger and importance of these efforts, especially members in the House of Representatives who voted and passed the aptly-named Heroes Act. The Senate and the White House must follow the Democratic House leadership to pass this critical legislation. As the crisis deepens for millions of working Americans, it’s certainly not time to take a “pause” in relief, as many Republican politicians have proposed.

“We call on the Senate, including Marco Rubio and Rick Scott from Florida, to quickly pass this bill to protect those who are truly heroes in this historic crisis. At the same time, employers – particularly healthcare facilities – must step up and better serve their workers. Caregivers need better protections such as PPE, quarantine and hazard pay, and not be subject to short-sighted layoffs and benefit cuts in this special moment of need.”