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South Florida AFL-CIO Weekly Newsletter: April, 27th

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Welcome to this week’s South Florida AFL-CIO E-Messenger, your guide to labor news in Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties . Let’s dive in.

Here's what you need to know this week:

The union representing Miami-Dade bus drivers, Transport Workers Unions Local 291,  wants a judge to order the county to provide the kind of masks and cleaning supplies needed to keep one of the nation’s largest transit fleets operating safely during the coronavirus pandemic. Citing rationing so strict that bus drivers are issued only a single disinfectant wipe for an entire shift, the local Transportation Workers Union chapter said in a draft lawsuit that Miami-Dade’s bus drivers remain too vulnerable to exposure to COVID-19 from passengers still using transit to work and shop.

After weeks of requesting resources for sanitation and safety protocols, our Miami -Dade County Transportation workers have been forced to file litigation agianst Transit Director Alice Bravo for failure to fix the continuing life-threatening violations of safety protocols in the public transit system

The lives of patrons, operators and our communities are at great risk with every passing day that Ms. Bravo fails to address this situation. Visit Ridenotdie.com to take the Alice Bravo #RideNotDie Challenge and stand with our Transit Workers as they demand adequate protective equipment and more comprehensive security protocol.

Dozens of members from UNITE-HERE Local 355, the hospitality workers’ union in South Florida, taped signs to their cars and drove to House Speaker Jose Oliva’s Miami office, asking for a fix to Florida’s unemployment system. The union demanded that Oliva put pressure on Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, and increase unemployment benefits during the coronavirus pandemic.

Workers in the hospitality industry have been hit exceptionally hard by the economic fallout here in Florida. UNITE HERE 355 is doing everything they can to help those left jobless by this crisis.

Here's what's coming up:

The South Florida AFL-CIO COPE Committee held a series of electoral screenings earlier this month. Thanks to term limits the Miami-Dade County Commission is poised to see a sea change of representatives following this year’s election. Races to fill the odd numbered districts on the 13 member board will take place on August 18th.

The Central Labor Council will consider recommendations for action in these races at this month’s delegates meeting.

Miami-Dade COVId-19 Economic Recovery Task Force

The Task Force has established solely for the purpose of advising the Board of County Commissionerson issues related to an economic recovery in the County in the aftermath of COVID-19, including but not limited to: identifying resources, such as grants, loans, and other financial assistance, available to businesses in Miami-Dade County.

The Task Force shall consist of 19 members, which shall include one seat to be appointed by each County Commissioner, and one seat each to be appointed by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity; the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce; the Miami-Dade Chamber of Commerce, the Miami-Beach Chamber of Commerce, the Miami-Dade Beacon Council, and the Neighbors & Neighbors Association.

We believe that any meaningful economic recovery to take place in Miami-Dade, Labor MUST have a seat at the table. We've been diligently meeting with commissioners to ensure that there is a labor appointee on this taskforce.

Keep In Mind: 

Florida's unemployment system continues to make an example of itself. Record breaking numbers of out-of-work Floridians have started to seek out benefits, only to be met with a dysfunctional website and abysmal wait times on the phone. In fact, our unemployment system consistently ranks LAST in the nation because of it's low benefit caps and high eligibility requirements. Now, even as bottlenecks in the system begin to ease up, many of those that get through are finding that they've been deemed ineligible for benefits.

This is a crisis, and Governor DeSantis has the power to fix it immediately. We're encouraging anyone who has a story to share or simply wants the system to change to visit www.flworkersneedrelief.com to be a part of the effort to make this change. Working people in Florida need help, and our Governor should do the right thing by fixing the system so they can get it.

That's all for this week! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for more updates. If you would like to receive text message alerts from the Florida AFL-CIO (Msg & data rates may apply), text FLUNION to 235246!In Unity,South Florida Labor CouncilIf you have any comments, or would like something added to the newsletter, please let us know!

In Solidarity ,

South Florida Labor Council

If you have any comments, or would like something added to the newsletter, please let us know!