100 signatures reached
To: Federal, state, and local government leaders
COVID-19 Pandemic: Bail out workers, not big businesses!
The coronavirus pandemic is proving to more and more people that a system based on private profit rather than human need is completely inadequate to provide for the health and safety of anyone but the super rich during the best of times, but even more so in times of crisis. Socialist Alternative Portland has compiled a list of demands that would immediately alleviate the suffering of workers, the poor, and unhoused people during this time. All measures should be paid for by taxing the rich and large corporations, not at the expense of workers or social welfare programs!
1. Completely free testing and treatment; no copays or coinsurance!
Charging for testing and treatment is not only cruel, but also decreases the likelihood that people will seek treatment, increases the rate at which the disease spreads, and directly harms the most at-risk populations who can’t afford the exorbitant costs of our for-profit healthcare system.
2. Rent, mortgage, and utilities amnesty!
Many workers are having their hours cut, being laid-off, having to stay home to care for children and family members, or otherwise having their incomes reduced. It’s a very positive step that Portland has been forced by grassroots pressure to suspend evictions during the outbreak. However, many workers under normal circumstances still live paycheck to paycheck, and will be saddled with debt if they are forced to pay back-rent in the coming months. Suspending payments until people are able to safely work again will reduce the pressure to work while infected and allow people to devote their limited resources to more basic expenses, like food and medicine. Not forgiving rent during this period will just postpone the wave of evictions until the end of the current crisis. No one should have to pay rent or mortgage payments for the duration of the state of emergency, including back-payments afterwards. Small landlords should be able to apply for emergency funds if necessary.
3. Direct cash disbursements, no means-testing!
Many workers, including those who work in the service industry, retail, and the gig economy, are facing a reduction in hours and layoffs. Others are being forced to miss work due to illness or caring for children staying home from school. We stand with Bernie Sanders in demanding that all adults be compensated $2,000 a month plus an additional $1,000 for every dependent during the crisis.
4. Housing guarantees: expand emergency housing!
Exposure, stress-related immune suppression, and the lack of access to clean water and sanitary supplies mean homeless people are at tremendously greater risk of contracting illness than the rest of the population. Portland has begun housing homeless people in unused hotel rooms. Continue to expand on this by reopening closed winter shelters and opening new shelters in unused residential and office space.
5. Hazard pay for workers working through the outbreak!
Many cities across the nation and world have put restrictions on establishments that can be open during the crisis, with only essential businesses being exempted. Workers essential to the health of our society, like custodial staff, medical workers, grocery workers, and more are risking their health to ensure that essential services are maintained throughout the outbreak. Exposure to pandemic-level biohazards is a hazard above and beyond their job description, and needs to be compensated as such. All of these workers should be paid time and a half during this crisis.
6. Release detained immigrants and incarcerated people!
While US and local governments are advising against and outright outlawing large gatherings, incarcerated people and immigrants in detention camps are being forced to remain in crowded and unsafe conditions. Portland should immediately hold virtual elections for a community safety committee that will oversee releasing all people incarcerated for non-violent crimes and anyone who doesn’t pose a direct threat to their communities. Anyone deemed unsafe by this committee should be provided with adequate, sanitized space and medical care.
1. Completely free testing and treatment; no copays or coinsurance!
Charging for testing and treatment is not only cruel, but also decreases the likelihood that people will seek treatment, increases the rate at which the disease spreads, and directly harms the most at-risk populations who can’t afford the exorbitant costs of our for-profit healthcare system.
2. Rent, mortgage, and utilities amnesty!
Many workers are having their hours cut, being laid-off, having to stay home to care for children and family members, or otherwise having their incomes reduced. It’s a very positive step that Portland has been forced by grassroots pressure to suspend evictions during the outbreak. However, many workers under normal circumstances still live paycheck to paycheck, and will be saddled with debt if they are forced to pay back-rent in the coming months. Suspending payments until people are able to safely work again will reduce the pressure to work while infected and allow people to devote their limited resources to more basic expenses, like food and medicine. Not forgiving rent during this period will just postpone the wave of evictions until the end of the current crisis. No one should have to pay rent or mortgage payments for the duration of the state of emergency, including back-payments afterwards. Small landlords should be able to apply for emergency funds if necessary.
3. Direct cash disbursements, no means-testing!
Many workers, including those who work in the service industry, retail, and the gig economy, are facing a reduction in hours and layoffs. Others are being forced to miss work due to illness or caring for children staying home from school. We stand with Bernie Sanders in demanding that all adults be compensated $2,000 a month plus an additional $1,000 for every dependent during the crisis.
4. Housing guarantees: expand emergency housing!
Exposure, stress-related immune suppression, and the lack of access to clean water and sanitary supplies mean homeless people are at tremendously greater risk of contracting illness than the rest of the population. Portland has begun housing homeless people in unused hotel rooms. Continue to expand on this by reopening closed winter shelters and opening new shelters in unused residential and office space.
5. Hazard pay for workers working through the outbreak!
Many cities across the nation and world have put restrictions on establishments that can be open during the crisis, with only essential businesses being exempted. Workers essential to the health of our society, like custodial staff, medical workers, grocery workers, and more are risking their health to ensure that essential services are maintained throughout the outbreak. Exposure to pandemic-level biohazards is a hazard above and beyond their job description, and needs to be compensated as such. All of these workers should be paid time and a half during this crisis.
6. Release detained immigrants and incarcerated people!
While US and local governments are advising against and outright outlawing large gatherings, incarcerated people and immigrants in detention camps are being forced to remain in crowded and unsafe conditions. Portland should immediately hold virtual elections for a community safety committee that will oversee releasing all people incarcerated for non-violent crimes and anyone who doesn’t pose a direct threat to their communities. Anyone deemed unsafe by this committee should be provided with adequate, sanitized space and medical care.
Why is this important?
The federal government just bailed out financial institutions to the tune of 1.5 TRILLION dollars in an effort to prop up the economy, while leaving suffering workers in the lurch. We’ve been hearing for years that there simply isn’t enough money to provide healthcare, college, and housing as basic human rights, but this massive corporate giveaway proves (just as it did with the 2008 bank bailouts) that the money is there when the 1% and big corporations need it. Due to federal inaction, local governments all over the country are being forced to enact increasingly radical measures to stave off financial disaster for workers and the poor, steps (like the eviction moratorium in Portland) which were previously considered “impossible.”