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Strikes during the COVID-19 pandemic

June 10, 2023

Strikes occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic due to many factors including: hazard pay or low pay, unsafe working conditions (due to poor social distancing or a lack of personal protective equipment), inability to pay rent. These strikes are separate from the various protests that occurred over responses to the pandemic.

Overview of strikes

The COVID-19 pandemic in the United States has led to the highest number of total infections and deaths of any country, although per capita it is not the highest. The pandemic caused the unemployment rate to temporarily rise from roughly 2 percent to nearly 18 percent of the workforce, higher than the Great Recession of 2008, but lower than the peak of the Great Depression in 1933. Many employers for non-essential work shifted to teleworking to avoid infections in office environments at the suggestion of the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and by the end of March 2020, all 50 states in the U.S. had confirmed cases and deaths and had initiated stay-at-home orders. As a result of the high unemployment rates and social injustices that were laid bare during the pandemic, people began to strike for various reasons including rent strikes, prison strikes, university strikes, and worker strikes.[citation needed]

Prison system strikes

During the COVID-19 pandemic an array of social inequalities were exposed including the flaws of the prison system in the US that faltered under the public health emergency. As a result of mass incarceration in the US and unhealthy living conditions within the prisons, the incarcerated population is five times more likely to contract the COVID-19 virus.[1] At least 392,595 incarcerated people have tested positive for COVID-19 and at least 2,516 people in prison have died from complications related to the virus.[2] The US has the highest incarceration rate in the world, and often has crowded and unsanitary conditions causing difficulty in following CDC guidelines such as social distancing and hand sanitizing as hand sanitizers are often banned or limited in correctional facilities.[3] In response to the rising cases and crowded conditions, thousands of inmates were released; however, strikes continued to emerge as inmates protest their living conditions.[3]

A hunger strike occurred at York County Prison in Pennsylvania.[4] Another hunger strike happened in Otay Mesa, San Diego, California on 17 April 2020 at the Otay Mesa Detention Center.[5]

Additionally detainees of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have begun to strike in protest of unsafe and over-crowded conditions in ICE facilities. 60 women being held at an ICE facility Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma, Washington organized a hunger strike demanding the release of all vulnerable people.[6] Detained immigrants across three ICE facilities in New Jersey organized a hunger strike with 86 people being held in an ICE facility in Newark, New Jersey hunger striking and demanding their release given the inability to curb the spread of COVID-19 within the facility.[6] Responses to these hunger strikes in some cases have been violent with ICE officers using pepper spray on a group of Cuban asylum seekers in New Mexico after they organized a hunger strike.[6]

Rent strikes

United States

On 1 April, 32 residential tenants in Chicago went on strike.[7] One Los Angeles landlord, while trying to prevent a rent strike by emailing 300 tenants that they owe rent, inadvertently caused one by cc'ing, and not bcc'ing those tenants on the list who used the contact information to coordinate a strike.[8] A solitary renter in Colorado went on strike.[9] A group of at least 20 tenants went on strike in Oakland, California.[10] Almost a dozen renters in Austin, Texas went on rent strike in one building.[11]

According to the National Multifamily Housing Council, 69 percent of American renters were on time with rent by 5 April 2020, as compared to 81 percent in March 2020.[12] On 8 April 13 Philadelphia households went on rent strike.[13] In May 2020 thousands of New York City tenants declined to pay rent in a rent strike.[14]

Companies

Many commercial tenants, notably retailers, have called the situation a "force majeure"[15] as rationale for voiding lease agreements, although landlords still have to make mortgage payments.[15] These include Cheesecake Factory,[16][17] Mattress Firm[18] and Subway[15] refused to pay April 2020 rent due to the pandemic,[19] and resulting unemployment.[20][21]

Organizations

Rent Strike 2020 was an activist organization that was formed during the 2020 pandemic to promote widespread rent strikes.[22][23] In Chicago, the Autonomous Tenant's Union has been advocating rent freezes as well as mortgage freezes and utility freezes.[24] A group of 100 renters in Kent, Ohio formed the Kent Tenants Union, which created a list of demands to pay rent.[25]

The International Alliance of Inhabitants is a network of grassroots organizations. It established the International Tribunal on Evictions which held sessions and collaborates with the UN Rapporteur on the Right to Housing.[26]

Other Countries

Australia

A petition organized by the Kulin Nations (Melbourne) branch of the Industrial Workers of the World recorded nearly 20,000 signatures on its page.[27] This prompted the organization of rent strike support groups in preparation for 31 March, when renters from multiple Council areas sent letters of demand to real estate companies and landlords stating their intention to cease paying rent beginning in April. Initial organization came before announcement of a moratorium on evictions for six months by the Australian Federal government, and continued afterwards.[28]

United Kingdom

In the UK all eviction proceedings were suspended, and a three-month, extendable, moratorium on new proceedings was imposed.[29] In addition household assistance of various forms was made available to domestic tenants, and support for landlords was extended via the banks.[29] However, students at the University of the West of England and Bristol University went on a rent strike against many landlords who continued to charge them full priced rent.[30] Students at the University of Manchester launched a rent strike and occupation in November 2020, calling for a 40 percent rent reduction for the duration of the 2020/21 academic year, for the option of ending their tenancies early without penalty, and for additional help for self-isolating students.[31] In response to the rent strike the university cut rent by 30 percent for all students in university halls of residence.[32] Rent strikes were also announced in Autumn 2020 at the University of Glasgow, which resulted in a one-month rent rebate.[32]

University strikes

University strikes in the US

Students at the University of Chicago went on a tuition strike[33] similar strikes were seen at Pomona College and The New School.[34] Students at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie went on a strike from classes after the university refused to implement a Universal Pass system for the classes during the pandemic. PhD students at Columbia University went on strike stating that their rent should be canceled, research stipends increased, and an extra year added to their programs to make up for lost time due to the pandemic.[34]

On September 8, the graduate students' union at the University of Michigan declared a strike over concerns regarding their school's reopening plans.[35] The strike ended on September 17 following an agreement between the union and the university.[36]

On March 15, 2021, members of the Graduate Workers of Columbia–United Auto Workers began a strike at Columbia University over issues of union recognition and failures to agree to a labor contract.[37]

University strikes in other countries

Students at the Universidad de Chile and Universidad San Sebastián in Chile, went on an online strike in support for the many students who do not own a computer or constant access to the Internet for online learning.[38] The 2018–2021 UK higher education strikes by university staff overlapped with the pandemic, though they originated beforehand.[citation needed]

On October 19, the 1,300 University of Ottawa Support Staff members started a strike, following 19 months of unsuccessful negotiations, over cuts in Health Benefits, limited salary increases due to Ontario's Bill 124, cuts in parental leave and new retirement plan limitations. Due to COVID-19 gathering limitations, employees on strike had to use their creativity to develop different virtual picketing techniques to raise awareness.[39]

Workers strikes

Overview of 2020 United States essential workers general strike

Despite warnings from the CDC, jobs deemed "essential" for the function of society required employees to report to work amidst the pandemic. This included various healthcare, grocery and home supplies retail chains. Various workers at home supplies and grocery chains had initially complained that customers were not practicing social distancing recommendations, and that companies were not adequately providing the necessary equipment and financial security needed to minimize the risk of exposure to the virus, nor have enough of a safety net to stay home should they become infected with the virus.[40]

On May 1, 2020, essential workers at Amazon, Instacart, Target, Walmart, and Whole Foods organized a nationwide strike over lack of safety precautions, hazard pay, and benefits during the coronavirus pandemic. The date of the strike correlated with International Workers' Day, an international day to celebrate and recognize organized labor. It was part of a wave of strikes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Several labor unions provided support to these strikes including the AFL–CIO, Target Workers Unite, UFCW, and the IWW.[citation needed]

Unions have said in numerous statements that the inadequate preparations by these companies to make employees safe has led to higher illnesses and deaths from COVID-19. The United Food and Commercial Workers union said 72 of its members have died and more than 5,000 are not at work due to circumstances surrounding COVID-19.[41] Several labor unions provided support to these strikes including the AFL–CIO, Target Workers Unite,[42] UFCW, and the IWW.

Several major gatherings pertaining to the strike occurred in Staten Island,[43][44] near what many consider is the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic in the United States. Additional cities where major strike action occurred included Los Angeles,[45] and Richmond, Virginia.[46]

Several high-profile politicians including Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont[41][47] and Kamala Harris of California expressed solidarity with the workers.[48]

Amazon

Main article: Amazon worker organization

Strikes occurred in mid-March 2020 in Italy,[49] and late March through 1 May 2020 at various US Amazon locations.[50][51]

In New York City, the Amazon worker who helped organize the walkout at the Staten Island Warehouse was soon fired[52][53] and New York City mayor Bill De Blasio has ordered an investigation.[54] Amazon executives had planned to smear the reputation of the organizer.[55] Amazon workers near Milan, Italy held a strike in mid-March to protest hazardous working conditions.[56] On 1 April 2020 Amazon warehouse workers in Michigan planned a strike over PPE protections for the coronavirus.[57] Amazon workers have been tracking known cases of the coronavirus in the US and Europe on Reddit, due to a lack of transparency from upper management.[58] Amazon workers again went on strike over safe working conditions on Monday 6 April in Staten Island.[59]

A minority of workers at various Amazon, Target, Instacart, and Whole Foods shops joined coordinated walkouts or sick-outs on 1 May 2020, in what was called an "essential workers general strike."[60]

Amazon spokesperson, Av Zammit said that despite these strikes, the company is still functioning and that business has not been impacted by the sickouts across the county. Zammit said on the sickouts "the fact is that today the overwhelming majority of our more than 840,000 employees around the world are at work as usual continuing to support getting people in their communities the items they need during these challenging times."[61] Zammit also said that the company has undertaken intense procedures to keep the workplaces sanitized. Specifically, he stated that Amazon expects to spend more than $800 million in the first half of the year on COVID-19 safety measures, such as company-provided face masks, disinfectant wipes and hand sanitizer.[61] Amazon also announced that it intends to spend its entire second quarter profit, approximately $4 billion, on safety equipment for workers.[61]

On December 22, 2021, 2 Chicago-based Amazon facilities went on strike to demand better working conditions, the first ever multi-site strike at Amazon in the USA.[62]

Target

Adam Ryan, a liaison in Virginia for Target Workers Unite stated that the demands for Target workers included sick time off, hazard pay, limited customer access, and a shift towards pick up only for items at stores. Despite the concessions the company has made, Ryan and workers for TWU have stated that these concessions are not enough given that employees were already promised raises, and the paid time off does not pertain to every employee.[61]

In reaction to the strikes, and throughout the pandemic, Target announced that it intended to spend around $300 million on coronavirus-related expenses. This included higher wages, hazard pay, child care, paid sick leave for older and immunocomprised workers.[61]

Bus drivers

On 17 March in Detroit, Michigan, bus drivers went on a wildcat strike[63] over safety items like masks and cleaning of busses, and by the next day the drivers had all their demands granted.[64] Bus drivers in Birmingham, Alabama also went on strike.[65]

On 24 September, following disputes over labor contracts, workers for Metro Transit in Minneapolis–Saint Paul, Minnesota authorized strike action if talks continued to stall.[66]

Distribution and logistics

In Australia, shift workers walked off the job at a Coles distribution centre in Victoria to demand more safety measures over COVID-19. The demands were proper provision and enforcement of social distancing measures and additional supplies of antibacterial wipes, and the strike was successful in securing these measures.[67] Workers at a Barnes & Noble warehouse in New Jersey went on strike on 7 April after 9 workers tested positive for COVID-19.[68]

In Memphis, Tennessee 200 workers at a Kroger warehouse went on strike after discovering that a colleague had tested positive.[69]

Food processing

In late March 2020, 50 workers at a Purdue poultry processing plant in Kathleen, Georgia went on a wildcat strike over working conditions and hazard pay.[70] On 27 April, employees walked out of the Pilgrim's Pride poultry processing plant in Cold Spring, Minnesota, in protest of how the firm is handling worker safety during the COVID-19 pandemic. On 28 April 50 workers at the Smithfield Foods' pork plant in Nebraska walked out when the heard the plant would not close after around forty-eight co-workers had tested positive for COVID-19.[71] On 7 May, fruit packing workers at Allan Brothers, in Washington state, walked off the job and protested outside the plant, saying the company has been lax and inconsistent about COVID-19 prevention, and asking for hazard pay.[72]

Grocery

Several dozen food packagers working for Linden Foods in Dungannon, Northern Ireland walked out of work due to safety conditions.[73] Smaller number of workers walked out or called in sick at Instacart,[51][74] and Whole Foods,[75] as well as other locations.

Manufacturing

Workers at General Electric walked off the job demanding to re-tool the factories to make ventilators,[76] which are in dire short supply due to the pandemic.[73] Workers at a Fiat Chrysler factory in Warren, Michigan went on strike over hot water for washing.[65]

Industrial Trade Unions in Lombardy, Italy have been threatening and organizing strikes over working conditions.[77][78]

In January 2021, about 200 workers at an oil refinery in St. Paul Park, Minnesota went on strike.[citation needed]

Medical

Public sector doctors and nurses in Hong Kong went on strike for two weeks in late January and early February to protest against the Hong Kong government's refusal to close borders to contain the growing epidemic. Healthcare worker unions warned that the healthcare system would inevitably collapse unless strict border quarantine with Mainland China was enacted.[79]

In Papua New Guinea, 4,000 nurses are expected to strike over hazardous working conditions.[80] Doctors and nurses in public hospitals in Zimbabwe held a strike due to a lack of protective equipment.[81] Sanitation workers in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania[82] and Medway, UK[83] went on strike over protective equipment. Doctors in Hong Kong,[84] Jalalabad,[85] Jakarta[86] and Islamabad[87] all threatened strikes over a lack of protective equipment.

Starting on September 12, several hundred registered nurses and other workers at the University of Illinois Hospital in Chicago participated in the 2020 University of Illinois Hospital strikes.[citation needed]

On October 13, about 400 nurses from Backus Hospital in Connecticut went on strike.[88]

Healthcare workers in Myanmar working on the country's COVID-19 response went on strike in protest of a military coup d'état, which inspired a nationwide protest and civil disobedience movement.[89][90]

In March 2021, about 150 technical workers from St. Charles Medical Center – Bend in Bend, Oregon went on strike for over 10 days. That same month, nurses at Saint Vincent Hospital in Worcester, Massachusetts also went on strike.

Restaurants

Other strikes occurred at a McDonalds[91] in San Jose California, where workers complained that they did not have enough soap to clean their hands,[65] and 20 workers at a McDonalds in Cicero, Illinois went on strike over paid sick days required by Illinois law, the walkout lasted 30 minutes and won the workers the paid sick leave.[65] Around 100 restaurant and retail employees in Durham and Raleigh, North Carolina went on a single day digital strike against unsafe working conditions and low pay and reduced hours.[92] In April 2020, workers at 30 restaurants went on strike over safety conditions.[93]

Retail

500 workers walked out of work at ASOS in the UK because the workers wanted to maintain social distancing.[94]

Sanitation

In Kent, United Kingdom, bin collectors and street cleaners working for Medway Council's contractor, Norse Group, balloted unanimously to strike over a lack of protective clothing and unsafe conditions regarding the virus.[95] The strikes were called off after a deal was reached.[96]

In New Orleans, United States, city sanitation workers went on strike beginning on 5 May 2020.[97]

Shipping

Wharf workers were stood down in the Port of Melbourne after they refused to unload cargo from a Chinese ship due to fears about coronavirus safety.[98]

Unrelated postponed strikes

In Italy, a planned airline transport strike unrelated to COVID-19 was postponed in February 2020.[99]

See also

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  95. ^ Jordan, Nicola (24 March 2020). "Coronavirus Kent: Medway binmen and street cleaners threaten to strike". Kent Online. from the original on 25 March 2020. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
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  97. ^ Sledge, Matt (11 May 2020). "New Orleans sanitation worker protest enters second week; dispute centers on pay, conditions". nola.com. New Orleans. Retrieved 3 August 2020.
  98. ^ Jacks, Timna (1 April 2020). "Melbourne wharfies stood down after refusing to unload Chinese ship". The Age. from the original on 3 April 2020. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  99. ^ "Italy airline strike postponed over Coronavirus: union spokeswoman". Reuters. 24 February 2020. from the original on 25 February 2020. Retrieved 3 April 2020.

External links

 
Wikiquote has quotations related to Strikes during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • "Covid-19 Strike Wave Interactive Map, Payday Report
  • "COVID-19 Class Struggle Timeline" Marx21
  • "Organizing In a Pandemic: Labor Notes Resources" Labor Notes
  • "COVID-19 Emergency Tenant Protections & Rent Strikes" Map, anti-eviction mapping project

June 10, 2023
strikes, during, covid, pandemic, examples, perspective, this, article, deal, primarily, with, united, states, represent, worldwide, view, subject, improve, this, article, discuss, issue, talk, page, create, article, appropriate, april, 2020, learn, when, remo. The examples and perspective in this article deal primarily with the United States and do not represent a worldwide view of the subject You may improve this article discuss the issue on the talk page or create a new article as appropriate April 2020 Learn how and when to remove this template message Strikes occurred during the COVID 19 pandemic due to many factors including hazard pay or low pay unsafe working conditions due to poor social distancing or a lack of personal protective equipment inability to pay rent These strikes are separate from the various protests that occurred over responses to the pandemic Contents 1 Overview of strikes 2 Prison system strikes 3 Rent strikes 3 1 United States 3 2 Companies 3 3 Organizations 3 4 Other Countries 3 4 1 Australia 3 4 2 United Kingdom 4 University strikes 4 1 University strikes in the US 4 2 University strikes in other countries 5 Workers strikes 5 1 Overview of 2020 United States essential workers general strike 5 1 1 Amazon 5 1 2 Target 5 2 Bus drivers 5 3 Distribution and logistics 5 4 Food processing 5 5 Grocery 5 6 Manufacturing 5 7 Medical 5 8 Restaurants 5 9 Retail 5 10 Sanitation 5 11 Shipping 6 Unrelated postponed strikes 7 See also 8 References 9 External linksOverview of strikes EditThe COVID 19 pandemic in the United States has led to the highest number of total infections and deaths of any country although per capita it is not the highest The pandemic caused the unemployment rate to temporarily rise from roughly 2 percent to nearly 18 percent of the workforce higher than the Great Recession of 2008 but lower than the peak of the Great Depression in 1933 Many employers for non essential work shifted to teleworking to avoid infections in office environments at the suggestion of the Center for Disease Control CDC and by the end of March 2020 all 50 states in the U S had confirmed cases and deaths and had initiated stay at home orders As a result of the high unemployment rates and social injustices that were laid bare during the pandemic people began to strike for various reasons including rent strikes prison strikes university strikes and worker strikes citation needed Prison system strikes EditDuring the COVID 19 pandemic an array of social inequalities were exposed including the flaws of the prison system in the US that faltered under the public health emergency As a result of mass incarceration in the US and unhealthy living conditions within the prisons the incarcerated population is five times more likely to contract the COVID 19 virus 1 At least 392 595 incarcerated people have tested positive for COVID 19 and at least 2 516 people in prison have died from complications related to the virus 2 The US has the highest incarceration rate in the world and often has crowded and unsanitary conditions causing difficulty in following CDC guidelines such as social distancing and hand sanitizing as hand sanitizers are often banned or limited in correctional facilities 3 In response to the rising cases and crowded conditions thousands of inmates were released however strikes continued to emerge as inmates protest their living conditions 3 A hunger strike occurred at York County Prison in Pennsylvania 4 Another hunger strike happened in Otay Mesa San Diego California on 17 April 2020 at the Otay Mesa Detention Center 5 Additionally detainees of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement ICE have begun to strike in protest of unsafe and over crowded conditions in ICE facilities 60 women being held at an ICE facility Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma Washington organized a hunger strike demanding the release of all vulnerable people 6 Detained immigrants across three ICE facilities in New Jersey organized a hunger strike with 86 people being held in an ICE facility in Newark New Jersey hunger striking and demanding their release given the inability to curb the spread of COVID 19 within the facility 6 Responses to these hunger strikes in some cases have been violent with ICE officers using pepper spray on a group of Cuban asylum seekers in New Mexico after they organized a hunger strike 6 Rent strikes EditUnited States Edit On 1 April 32 residential tenants in Chicago went on strike 7 One Los Angeles landlord while trying to prevent a rent strike by emailing 300 tenants that they owe rent inadvertently caused one by cc ing and not bcc ing those tenants on the list who used the contact information to coordinate a strike 8 A solitary renter in Colorado went on strike 9 A group of at least 20 tenants went on strike in Oakland California 10 Almost a dozen renters in Austin Texas went on rent strike in one building 11 According to the National Multifamily Housing Council 69 percent of American renters were on time with rent by 5 April 2020 as compared to 81 percent in March 2020 12 On 8 April 13 Philadelphia households went on rent strike 13 In May 2020 thousands of New York City tenants declined to pay rent in a rent strike 14 Companies Edit Many commercial tenants notably retailers have called the situation a force majeure 15 as rationale for voiding lease agreements although landlords still have to make mortgage payments 15 These include Cheesecake Factory 16 17 Mattress Firm 18 and Subway 15 refused to pay April 2020 rent due to the pandemic 19 and resulting unemployment 20 21 Organizations Edit Rent Strike 2020 was an activist organization that was formed during the 2020 pandemic to promote widespread rent strikes 22 23 In Chicago the Autonomous Tenant s Union has been advocating rent freezes as well as mortgage freezes and utility freezes 24 A group of 100 renters in Kent Ohio formed the Kent Tenants Union which created a list of demands to pay rent 25 The International Alliance of Inhabitants is a network of grassroots organizations It established the International Tribunal on Evictions which held sessions and collaborates with the UN Rapporteur on the Right to Housing 26 Other Countries Edit Australia Edit A petition organized by the Kulin Nations Melbourne branch of the Industrial Workers of the World recorded nearly 20 000 signatures on its page 27 This prompted the organization of rent strike support groups in preparation for 31 March when renters from multiple Council areas sent letters of demand to real estate companies and landlords stating their intention to cease paying rent beginning in April Initial organization came before announcement of a moratorium on evictions for six months by the Australian Federal government and continued afterwards 28 United Kingdom Edit In the UK all eviction proceedings were suspended and a three month extendable moratorium on new proceedings was imposed 29 In addition household assistance of various forms was made available to domestic tenants and support for landlords was extended via the banks 29 However students at the University of the West of England and Bristol University went on a rent strike against many landlords who continued to charge them full priced rent 30 Students at the University of Manchester launched a rent strike and occupation in November 2020 calling for a 40 percent rent reduction for the duration of the 2020 21 academic year for the option of ending their tenancies early without penalty and for additional help for self isolating students 31 In response to the rent strike the university cut rent by 30 percent for all students in university halls of residence 32 Rent strikes were also announced in Autumn 2020 at the University of Glasgow which resulted in a one month rent rebate 32 University strikes Edit Protesting during the 2020 Michigan graduate students strike University strikes in the US Edit Students at the University of Chicago went on a tuition strike 33 similar strikes were seen at Pomona College and The New School 34 Students at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie went on a strike from classes after the university refused to implement a Universal Pass system for the classes during the pandemic PhD students at Columbia University went on strike stating that their rent should be canceled research stipends increased and an extra year added to their programs to make up for lost time due to the pandemic 34 On September 8 the graduate students union at the University of Michigan declared a strike over concerns regarding their school s reopening plans 35 The strike ended on September 17 following an agreement between the union and the university 36 On March 15 2021 members of the Graduate Workers of Columbia United Auto Workers began a strike at Columbia University over issues of union recognition and failures to agree to a labor contract 37 University strikes in other countries Edit Students at the Universidad de Chile and Universidad San Sebastian in Chile went on an online strike in support for the many students who do not own a computer or constant access to the Internet for online learning 38 The 2018 2021 UK higher education strikes by university staff overlapped with the pandemic though they originated beforehand citation needed On October 19 the 1 300 University of Ottawa Support Staff members started a strike following 19 months of unsuccessful negotiations over cuts in Health Benefits limited salary increases due to Ontario s Bill 124 cuts in parental leave and new retirement plan limitations Due to COVID 19 gathering limitations employees on strike had to use their creativity to develop different virtual picketing techniques to raise awareness 39 Workers strikes EditOverview of 2020 United States essential workers general strike Edit Despite warnings from the CDC jobs deemed essential for the function of society required employees to report to work amidst the pandemic This included various healthcare grocery and home supplies retail chains Various workers at home supplies and grocery chains had initially complained that customers were not practicing social distancing recommendations and that companies were not adequately providing the necessary equipment and financial security needed to minimize the risk of exposure to the virus nor have enough of a safety net to stay home should they become infected with the virus 40 On May 1 2020 essential workers at Amazon Instacart Target Walmart and Whole Foods organized a nationwide strike over lack of safety precautions hazard pay and benefits during the coronavirus pandemic The date of the strike correlated with International Workers Day an international day to celebrate and recognize organized labor It was part of a wave of strikes during the COVID 19 pandemic Several labor unions provided support to these strikes including the AFL CIO Target Workers Unite UFCW and the IWW citation needed Unions have said in numerous statements that the inadequate preparations by these companies to make employees safe has led to higher illnesses and deaths from COVID 19 The United Food and Commercial Workers union said 72 of its members have died and more than 5 000 are not at work due to circumstances surrounding COVID 19 41 Several labor unions provided support to these strikes including the AFL CIO Target Workers Unite 42 UFCW and the IWW Several major gatherings pertaining to the strike occurred in Staten Island 43 44 near what many consider is the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic in the United States Additional cities where major strike action occurred included Los Angeles 45 and Richmond Virginia 46 Several high profile politicians including Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont 41 47 and Kamala Harris of California expressed solidarity with the workers 48 Amazon Edit Main article Amazon worker organization Strikes occurred in mid March 2020 in Italy 49 and late March through 1 May 2020 at various US Amazon locations 50 51 In New York City the Amazon worker who helped organize the walkout at the Staten Island Warehouse was soon fired 52 53 and New York City mayor Bill De Blasio has ordered an investigation 54 Amazon executives had planned to smear the reputation of the organizer 55 Amazon workers near Milan Italy held a strike in mid March to protest hazardous working conditions 56 On 1 April 2020 Amazon warehouse workers in Michigan planned a strike over PPE protections for the coronavirus 57 Amazon workers have been tracking known cases of the coronavirus in the US and Europe on Reddit due to a lack of transparency from upper management 58 Amazon workers again went on strike over safe working conditions on Monday 6 April in Staten Island 59 A minority of workers at various Amazon Target Instacart and Whole Foods shops joined coordinated walkouts or sick outs on 1 May 2020 in what was called an essential workers general strike 60 Amazon spokesperson Av Zammit said that despite these strikes the company is still functioning and that business has not been impacted by the sickouts across the county Zammit said on the sickouts the fact is that today the overwhelming majority of our more than 840 000 employees around the world are at work as usual continuing to support getting people in their communities the items they need during these challenging times 61 Zammit also said that the company has undertaken intense procedures to keep the workplaces sanitized Specifically he stated that Amazon expects to spend more than 800 million in the first half of the year on COVID 19 safety measures such as company provided face masks disinfectant wipes and hand sanitizer 61 Amazon also announced that it intends to spend its entire second quarter profit approximately 4 billion on safety equipment for workers 61 On December 22 2021 2 Chicago based Amazon facilities went on strike to demand better working conditions the first ever multi site strike at Amazon in the USA 62 Target Edit Adam Ryan a liaison in Virginia for Target Workers Unite stated that the demands for Target workers included sick time off hazard pay limited customer access and a shift towards pick up only for items at stores Despite the concessions the company has made Ryan and workers for TWU have stated that these concessions are not enough given that employees were already promised raises and the paid time off does not pertain to every employee 61 In reaction to the strikes and throughout the pandemic Target announced that it intended to spend around 300 million on coronavirus related expenses This included higher wages hazard pay child care paid sick leave for older and immunocomprised workers 61 Bus drivers Edit On 17 March in Detroit Michigan bus drivers went on a wildcat strike 63 over safety items like masks and cleaning of busses and by the next day the drivers had all their demands granted 64 Bus drivers in Birmingham Alabama also went on strike 65 On 24 September following disputes over labor contracts workers for Metro Transit in Minneapolis Saint Paul Minnesota authorized strike action if talks continued to stall 66 Distribution and logistics Edit In Australia shift workers walked off the job at a Coles distribution centre in Victoria to demand more safety measures over COVID 19 The demands were proper provision and enforcement of social distancing measures and additional supplies of antibacterial wipes and the strike was successful in securing these measures 67 Workers at a Barnes amp Noble warehouse in New Jersey went on strike on 7 April after 9 workers tested positive for COVID 19 68 In Memphis Tennessee 200 workers at a Kroger warehouse went on strike after discovering that a colleague had tested positive 69 Food processing Edit In late March 2020 50 workers at a Purdue poultry processing plant in Kathleen Georgia went on a wildcat strike over working conditions and hazard pay 70 On 27 April employees walked out of the Pilgrim s Pride poultry processing plant in Cold Spring Minnesota in protest of how the firm is handling worker safety during the COVID 19 pandemic On 28 April 50 workers at the Smithfield Foods pork plant in Nebraska walked out when the heard the plant would not close after around forty eight co workers had tested positive for COVID 19 71 On 7 May fruit packing workers at Allan Brothers in Washington state walked off the job and protested outside the plant saying the company has been lax and inconsistent about COVID 19 prevention and asking for hazard pay 72 Grocery Edit Several dozen food packagers working for Linden Foods in Dungannon Northern Ireland walked out of work due to safety conditions 73 Smaller number of workers walked out or called in sick at Instacart 51 74 and Whole Foods 75 as well as other locations Manufacturing Edit Workers at General Electric walked off the job demanding to re tool the factories to make ventilators 76 which are in dire short supply due to the pandemic 73 Workers at a Fiat Chrysler factory in Warren Michigan went on strike over hot water for washing 65 Industrial Trade Unions in Lombardy Italy have been threatening and organizing strikes over working conditions 77 78 In January 2021 about 200 workers at an oil refinery in St Paul Park Minnesota went on strike citation needed Medical Edit Public sector doctors and nurses in Hong Kong went on strike for two weeks in late January and early February to protest against the Hong Kong government s refusal to close borders to contain the growing epidemic Healthcare worker unions warned that the healthcare system would inevitably collapse unless strict border quarantine with Mainland China was enacted 79 In Papua New Guinea 4 000 nurses are expected to strike over hazardous working conditions 80 Doctors and nurses in public hospitals in Zimbabwe held a strike due to a lack of protective equipment 81 Sanitation workers in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania 82 and Medway UK 83 went on strike over protective equipment Doctors in Hong Kong 84 Jalalabad 85 Jakarta 86 and Islamabad 87 all threatened strikes over a lack of protective equipment Starting on September 12 several hundred registered nurses and other workers at the University of Illinois Hospital in Chicago participated in the 2020 University of Illinois Hospital strikes citation needed On October 13 about 400 nurses from Backus Hospital in Connecticut went on strike 88 Healthcare workers in Myanmar working on the country s COVID 19 response went on strike in protest of a military coup d etat which inspired a nationwide protest and civil disobedience movement 89 90 In March 2021 about 150 technical workers from St Charles Medical Center Bend in Bend Oregon went on strike for over 10 days That same month nurses at Saint Vincent Hospital in Worcester Massachusetts also went on strike Restaurants Edit Other strikes occurred at a McDonalds 91 in San Jose California where workers complained that they did not have enough soap to clean their hands 65 and 20 workers at a McDonalds in Cicero Illinois went on strike over paid sick days required by Illinois law the walkout lasted 30 minutes and won the workers the paid sick leave 65 Around 100 restaurant and retail employees in Durham and Raleigh North Carolina went on a single day digital strike against unsafe working conditions and low pay and reduced hours 92 In April 2020 workers at 30 restaurants went on strike over safety conditions 93 Retail Edit 500 workers walked out of work at ASOS in the UK because the workers wanted to maintain social distancing 94 Sanitation Edit In Kent United Kingdom bin collectors and street cleaners working for Medway Council s contractor Norse Group balloted unanimously to strike over a lack of protective clothing and unsafe conditions regarding the virus 95 The strikes were called off after a deal was reached 96 In New Orleans United States city sanitation workers went on strike beginning on 5 May 2020 97 Shipping Edit Wharf workers were stood down in the Port of Melbourne after they refused to unload cargo from a Chinese ship due to fears about coronavirus safety 98 Unrelated postponed strikes EditIn Italy a planned airline transport strike unrelated to COVID 19 was postponed in February 2020 99 See also EditList of strikesReferences Edit For Prisoners Pandemic Hits with Greater Force UC San Francisco Retrieved 12 April 2021 A State by State Look at Coronavirus in Prisons The Marshall Project 1 May 2020 Retrieved 12 April 2021 a b Williams Timothy Weiser Benjamin Rashbaum William K 30 March 2020 Jails Are Petri Dishes Inmates Freed as the Virus Spreads Behind Bars The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Retrieved 12 April 2021 Czech Ted Sitting ducks Immigrants at York County Prison on hunger strike amid coronavirus group says The York Daily Record Archived from the original on 30 March 2020 Retrieved 30 March 2020 COVID 19 concerns prompt hunger strikes and protests inside Otay Mesa Detention Center Los Angeles Times 18 April 2020 Retrieved 18 April 2020 a b c Immigration Detention and Covid 19 www brennancenter org Retrieved 12 April 2021 As COVID 19 Economic Crisis Deepens Hyde Park Renters Strike chicagomaroon com Archived from the original on 4 April 2020 Retrieved 1 April 2020 Scher Isaac 2 April 2020 A landlord sent an email blast to 300 tenants telling them to pay rent It inadvertently helped them organize a rent strike Business Insider Archived from the original on 3 April 2020 Retrieved 3 April 2020 Coronavirus Pandemic Colorado Man Goes On Rent Strike To Stay In His Home 1 April 2020 Archived from the original on 3 April 2020 Retrieved 3 April 2020 Coronavirus Rent Strike in the Bay Area Tenants Giving the Governor Notice News KQED Archived from the original on 4 April 2020 Retrieved 3 April 2020 Rahman Khaleda 7 April 2020 Rent strikes gather steam as campaigners call for payments to be waived completely to help people survive COVID 19 crisis Newsweek Retrieved 9 April 2020 Sisson Patrick 8 April 2020 If thousands of people couldn t pay rent April 1 we ll have millions in May Curbed Retrieved 9 April 2020 Melamed Samantha Philly s coronavirus rent strike experiment has begun 13 West Philly households are taking part Philadelphia Inquirer Retrieved 9 April 2020 Offenhartz Jake 1 May 2020 Thousands Of NYC Tenants Kick Off Historic Rent Strike Distressing Landlords Gothamist Archived from the original on 5 May 2020 Retrieved 3 May 2020 a b c Retailers Warn Landlords They May Stop Paying Rent The Real Deal The Real Deal New York 20 March 2020 Archived from the original on 28 March 2020 Retrieved 28 March 2020 Kang Matthew 25 March 2020 Cheesecake Factory tells landlords it won t be able to pay rents on April 1 Eater LA Archived from the original on 26 March 2020 Retrieved 27 March 2020 Because Working People Deserve a Rent Holiday as Much as the Cheesecake Factory Demand for Relief Grows Common Dreams Archived from the original on 27 March 2020 Retrieved 27 March 2020 U S Retailers Plan to Stop Paying Rent to Offset Virus Bloomberg com Bloomberg 24 March 2020 Archived from the original on 29 March 2020 Retrieved 1 April 2020 Chang Clio 27 March 2020 Should I Pay My Rent on April 1 We Asked a New York Housing Organizer Vice Archived from the original on 27 March 2020 Retrieved 28 March 2020 Arsdale Greyson Van 26 March 2020 What to Know About Rent Strike 2020 Teen Vogue Archived from the original on 27 March 2020 Retrieved 27 March 2020 Aitken Peter 27 March 2020 Rent strikes across US during coronavirus coalescing into movement Fox News Archived from the original on 27 March 2020 Retrieved 27 March 2020 Yaa Nana 26 March 2020 RENT STRIKE 2020 The New Inquiry Archived from the original on 27 March 2020 Retrieved 27 March 2020 Harris Margot People around the world are trying to organize a large scale rent strike through social platforms amid mass coronavirus layoffs Insider Retrieved 27 March 2020 Videos FOX 32 Chicago Archived from the original on 31 March 2020 Retrieved 31 March 2020 Gaetjens Bob Kent renters unionize to protect those unable to pay rent Record Courier Archived from the original on 1 April 2020 Retrieved 3 April 2020 The International Tribunal on Evictions denounces violations of the right to housing and land and calls for climate policies based on respect of human rights beginning from the moratorium of evictions ITE 2019 Session on climate change Sessions International Tribunal on Evictions Home International Alliance of Inhabitants www habitants org Retrieved 12 April 2021 COVID 19 Rent Strike Pledge Megaphone Retrieved 10 April 2020 Australia s coronavirus lockdown has renters and landlords in a bind SBS News Retrieved 10 April 2020 a b Government support available for landlords and renters reflecting the current coronavirus COVID 19 outbreak GOV UK Archived from the original on 27 March 2020 Retrieved 29 March 2020 University students staging rent strike BBC News 31 March 2020 Retrieved 2 May 2020 Pidd Helen 12 November 2020 UK coronavirus 33 470 people test positive in a day NI lockdown extended by a week as it happened The Guardian Retrieved 13 November 2020 a b Hall Rachel 26 November 2020 Manchester University students win 30 rent cut after Covid protests The Guardian Retrieved 26 November 2020 500 UChicago Students Say They Aren t Paying Tuition Until The School Agrees To Cut Fees During Pandemic Block Club Chicago 29 April 2020 Retrieved 30 April 2020 a b Retta Mary 24 April 2020 Students Across the Country Are Going on Strike The Nation ISSN 0027 8378 Retrieved 2 May 2020 Ross McKenna 7 September 2020 University of Michigan s graduate student union to strike against in person classes MLive com MLive Media Group Retrieved 8 September 2020 Kozlowski Kim 17 September 2020 UM grad students end strike after gaining concessions on policing demands The Detroit News Digital First Media Retrieved 18 September 2020 Houlihan Glenn 20 March 2021 Columbia Graduate Workers Are on Strike Other Higher Ed Workers Should Follow Their Lead Jacobin Retrieved 7 February 2022 Hurtado Maria Elena 3 April 2020 Students go on unprecedented online strikes for equality University World News Retrieved 2 May 2020 U of O support staff go on strike CBC Retrieved 26 October 2020 Neuman Scott May 2020 Essential Workers Plan May Day Strikes Others Demand End To COVID 19 Lockdowns NPR Retrieved 12 April 2021 a b Essential workers across the U S went on strike today here s why Salon 2 May 2020 Retrieved 12 April 2021 Get Ready for Mass Strikes Across the U S This May Day In These Times Retrieved 12 April 2021 Target Walmart workers and others plan sickout protests over coronavirus safety NBC News Retrieved 12 April 2021 Lerman Rachel Tiku Nitasha Amazon Instacart workers launch May Day strike to protest treatment during the coronavirus pandemic Washington Post ISSN 0190 8286 Retrieved 12 April 2021 Christopher Weber 30 April 2020 Essential workers to strike May 1 over working conditions KBAK Associated Press Retrieved 12 April 2021 Amazon Whole Foods and Instacart workers organizing historic strike Richmond Times Dispatch Retrieved 12 April 2021 Kim Whizy Here s Why Amazon amp Target Workers Are Striking Today www refinery29 com Retrieved 12 April 2021 Knight Bill Essential workers deserve more Canton Daily Ledger Retrieved 12 April 2021 Tamma Paola 13 March 2020 Coronavirus sparks nationwide strikes in Italy POLITICO Archived from the original on 1 April 2020 Retrieved 3 April 2020 Fordham Evie 30 March 2020 Amazon workers concerned about coronavirus safety walk out of Staten Island warehouse FOXBusiness Archived from the original on 31 March 2020 Retrieved 30 March 2020 a b Amazon Instacart Grocery Delivery Workers Strike For Coronavirus Protection And Pay NPR org Archived from the original on 30 March 2020 Retrieved 30 March 2020 Palmer Annie 31 March 2020 Amazon fires warehouse worker who led Staten Island strike for more coronavirus protection CNBC Archived from the original on 31 March 2020 Retrieved 31 March 2020 Amazon draws criticism for firing employee who led coronavirus protest Engadget Archived from the original on 1 April 2020 Retrieved 31 March 2020 Palmer Annie 31 March 2020 NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio orders investigation of Amazon s firing of strike organizer CNBC Archived from the original on 31 March 2020 Retrieved 1 April 2020 Blest Paul 2 April 2020 Leaked Amazon Memo Details Plan to Smear Fired Warehouse Organizer He s Not Smart or Articulate Vice Archived from the original on 3 April 2020 Retrieved 3 April 2020 Asher Hamilton Isobel Moynihan Qayyah 17 March 2020 Amazon warehouse workers in Italy are striking in outrage at the firm s response to 2 staff contracting coronavirus Business Insider Archived from the original on 6 April 2020 Retrieved 31 March 2020 Palmer Annie 1 April 2020 Amazon workers protest at Michigan warehouse calling for coronavirus protections CNBC Archived from the original on 3 April 2020 Retrieved 2 April 2020 Amazon Workers Go on Strike Now Gizmodo Archived from the original on 1 April 2020 Retrieved 1 April 2020 Amazon Profiting from This Pandemic as Warehouse Workers Walk Off Job to Demand Safer Conditions Democracy Now Archived from the original on 8 April 2020 Retrieved 8 April 2020 Sollenberger Roger 2 May 2020 Essential workers across the U S went on strike today here s why Salon Retrieved 2 May 2020 a b c d e Repko Melissa 1 May 2020 Companies are failing workers Target employee says on day of planned protest CNBC Retrieved 12 April 2021 Amazon workers at 2 Chicago area facilities walk off job WGN TV 22 December 2021 Retrieved 23 December 2021 Elk Mike 28 March 2020 ATU Shop Steward Who Warned of COVID 19 Dangers Dies From it Payday Report Archived from the original on 2 April 2020 Retrieved 3 April 2020 Strike for Your Life Common Dreams Archived from the original on 6 April 2020 Retrieved 3 April 2020 a b c d Greenhouse Steven 30 March 2020 Opinion Is Your Grocery Delivery Worth a Worker s Life The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on 2 April 2020 Retrieved 3 April 2020 Moore Janet 24 September 2020 Metro Transit bus drivers light rail operators reject contract Star Tribune Retrieved 25 September 2020 Coles workers strike over COVID 19 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workers walk out of Asos factory after company fails to enforce social distancing Morning Star Archived from the original on 31 March 2020 Retrieved 31 March 2020 Jordan Nicola 24 March 2020 Coronavirus Kent Medway binmen and street cleaners threaten to strike Kent Online Archived from the original on 25 March 2020 Retrieved 8 April 2020 Leclere Matt 1 April 2020 Coronavirus Kent Medway binmen and street cleaners threaten to strike Kent Online Archived from the original on 3 April 2020 Retrieved 8 April 2020 Sledge Matt 11 May 2020 New Orleans sanitation worker protest enters second week dispute centers on pay conditions nola com New Orleans Retrieved 3 August 2020 Jacks Timna 1 April 2020 Melbourne wharfies stood down after refusing to unload Chinese ship The Age Archived from the original on 3 April 2020 Retrieved 3 April 2020 Italy airline strike postponed over Coronavirus union spokeswoman Reuters 24 February 2020 Archived from the original on 25 February 2020 Retrieved 3 April 2020 External links Edit Wikiquote has quotations related to Strikes during the COVID 19 pandemic Covid 19 Strike Wave Interactive Map Payday Report COVID 19 Class Struggle Timeline Marx21 Organizing In a Pandemic Labor Notes Resources Labor Notes COVID 19 Emergency Tenant Protections amp Rent Strikes Map anti eviction mapping project Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Strikes during the COVID 19 pandemic amp oldid 1157585449 Overview of 2020 United States essential workers general strike, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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