I work with slaughterhouse workers and whistleblowers in the food industry who are deemed essential. But these industries do not treat workers with dignity and worth. Workers must be allowed to speak up safely when they see threats to public health – for the safety of workers, animals, and consumers. Most plant workers feel like they are valued less than the animals. Martina and Luis are plant workers who have expressed to me that unlike plant workers, animals are worth something even when they die. Trump says they have to work and plants need to stay open. He said he will make sure workers get personal protective equipment (PPE) and practice social distancing. But the USDA has been increasing the line speeds at slaughterhouses so fast that workers can barely keep up. Meat inspector whistleblowers, like Jill Mauer and Phyllis McKelvey, have publicly expressed concern that no worker or inspector could possibly sort products effectively at the USDA's new high speeds. But now, wearing the PPE, workers get overheated, they are getting fatigued because the masks make it difficult for them to breath. And Trump does not seem to care about public health. With so many workers sick and speeds even faster, how can people like Martina and Luis keep up and still keep food safe? The workers I speak with often remain anonymous due to concern for themselves and their families. They are essential workers and deserve clean and safe working conditions. If they are told to go to work, they at least deserve paid sick days off so that they don't spread sickness. Six Tyson workers have died in the outbreak already. To make things worse, if a worker comes into the plant with a fever, not only does that worker have to stay home until they are symptom-free, but so do any of their family members who work at the plant. Whole families are sent home with no pay. Some plants say they offer short-term disability if a worker is out for over two weeks, but none of the workers I have spoken to have ever heard of anyone getting that benefit. Luis said that it's very hard to get short-term disability ever, and that it only reimburses for 20 hours a week – not full-time hours. At Martina's plant, they offered workers a bonus to come to work during COVID-19. But after taxes, it amounts to only about $130/per month. Animals are being abused, poultry is often unsanitary, and workers are getting injured. I am already hearing that the plastic they are putting in between workers for social distancing is causing chemicals to build up in the plant. Workers have to communicate with masks on, and as it is getting warmer, they are getting overheated by PPE. It is hard for them to even access water with the protective equipment on their faces. It's not enough to just give them PPE and plastic dividers. The workers are told that they can go to human resources and their safety supervisors if they have safety concerns. But Martina and Luis said that they are not told how many people are sick in the plant or in which departments the ill people worked. The plant tells them nothing. Workers are discouraged from raising concerns. They need to be heard if Trump wants to keep these plants running. Tell Congress that the least it can do is to ensure corporations are not given a free pass to exploit workers in the food industry. Congress must pass a COVID-19 relief bill that guarantees protection for workers.

By mail

We, the undersigned call on The Association of State and Provincial Psychology Board and the American Psychological Association to move the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP) testing and State Board testing to remote testing online access. The current pandemic has lead to increased mental illness and a surge in mental health crises across the world. Clinicians are currently unable to gain licensure due to the Pearson test center closures or reduced test taking abilities. Once the test centers reopen, it calls into question the safety of clinicians taking the test in a potentially compromised environment for four hours. As a result, this is causing a delay of competent clinicians becoming licensed and being able to provide services and support to those struggling in the community. All the while individuals are struggling to manage their mental health symptoms during this lockdown. The delay is not only affecting our potential patients, but it is also affecting the clinicians. Each month, clinicians are spending hundreds, sometimes thousands of dollars to continue subscriptions to test materials in the hope they may be able to find a test date. Also, some clinicians suffer from medical concerns that make wearing a mask problematic and detrimental to performance. Wearing a mask for some leads to lightheadedness, feeling faint, or feeling smothered. Have validity tests been conducted for taking the EPPP while wearing a mask? Since starting this petition, we have learned that the LSAT is offering an online remote proctored test due to Covid-19. The Michigan Supreme Court has announced that the Bar exam will be taken online as a remote essay test. The Supreme Court of Washington has allowed an emergency diploma allowing those who registered for the bar exam in July or September to be licensed in the state without passing the exam.

I am a career coach and am hearing from many people who have lost their jobs. This is an unprecedented time where the economy will be reshaped. We might as well reshape it in a way that addresses our biggest threat--climate change. "The scientific evidence is that if we have not taken dramatic action within the next decade, we could face irreversible damage to the natural world and the collapse of our societies." --Sir David Attenborough

If they get their way, whether we live in the most rural address in the country or in a big city, soon we may not be able to mail or receive a letter or a package at all. Founded in 1775, the Postal Service is a critical component of American society as we know it. Especially now, we must all support the Community and Postal Workers Union (CPWU). Today, over 1,000 postal workers are forced off of work after contacting the Coronavirus COVID-19 on the job, and at least six of them have died.

If they get their way, whether we live in the most rural address in the country or in a big city, soon we may not be able to mail or receive a letter or a package at all. Founded in 1775, the Postal Service is a critical component of American society as we know it. Especially now, we must all support the Community and Postal Workers Union (CPWU). Today, over 1,000 postal workers are forced off of work after contacting the Coronavirus COVID-19 on the job, and at least six of them have died.

McConnell is calling the Senate back into session during a global pandemic. Instead of focusing on helping the people who are struggling during the public health crisis, he is working to install his political crony into a powerful lifetime role on the federal bench. At only 37 years old, Justin Walker would sit on the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals for decades to come. As a partisan operative, Justin Walker helped lead the lobbying campaign for Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation to the U.S. Supreme Court. He lauded Kavanaugh for providing a 'roadmap' to overturn the Affordable Care Act. And he made well over 100 media appearances to praise and defend Kavanaugh between June and October 2018. The influential D.C. Circuit decides important cases that impact our lives. From civil rights protections to issues of national security, some of the most significant issues of our time hinge on the decisions of the D.C. Circuit. Only a few short months ago, Walker was nominated and confirmed to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky despite his far-right record and the American Bar Association's determination that he was unqualified for the position because of his embarrassing lack of trial and litigation experience. Now, just months later, McConnell is fast-tracking Walker to the powerful D.C. Circuit because of their close relationship. Trump and McConnell's attempt to pack the courts with lifetime appointees who are unqualified to serve people in America may restart as early as next week. We cannot allow the American judicial system to descend even further into this partisan politicking. Of Trump's 56 appellate nominations, none are African American. Only one is Latinx. And just 11 are women. His district court nominees are similarly nondiverse. Walker's nomination only worsens Trump’s record on judicial diversity. Tell your senators to reject Justin Walker.

Due to the Pandemic and the Spread of the Corona Virus jails are overcrowded which makes social distancing hard , people with underlying health conditions are at great risk of catching the virus release them

CNY should not be held to the same stay home standard as downstate. Our businesses are unnecessarily suffering and we need to implement phase 1 of the federal government re-opening plan.

Removing the pandemic from every country must be the priority of all nations. It is not possible to both pay debts and direct the necessary resources to defeat this pandemic, COVID-19.

Labor unions, as organizations in civil society that form the groundwork of a democratic, pluralistic society, need determined, courageous leadership that understands the threat of fascism, and is willing and able to stand up to it. A union representing academic workers, who are under a systematic assault by well-financed right-wing groups (like Turning Point USA, which maintains a “Professor Watch-List”), has a particular responsibility in that regard. In the case of Lars Maischak, CFA accepted, defended, and continues to defend the decision by CSU to remove a faculty member from the classroom, accepting it as justified because the faculty member had been the target of violent threats by right-wing groups and individuals. This is a case of capitulation in the face of politically motivated violence unacceptable for a labor union in a democracy. There is no shame in admitting the complicity of your organization with right-wing violence. The only shame is in continuing to pretend it did not happen. By delegitimizing the experience and perspective of the victim, CFA keeps the victimization alive. CFA should take this petition as an invitation to become an effective force for the defense of democracy. For documentation, please see: https://www.mediafire.com/folder/yq9vcp8oi9s4e/

People are hurting financially and many are in need of food now. Farmers need a market for food that is now going to waste. Let's help hungry people and the farmers who grow our food!