On Monday, March 16th, in response to the spread of COVID-19, Kim Bartmann closed the seven restaurants she owns in the Twin Cities, laying off all workers. On March 19th, we, the employees of the Bartmann group, were notified that our checks for the week prior to this closure, wages we had already earned, would not be available. Furthermore, a time and date when these checks would be made available was not given. We deserve our earned wages, especially in a time when so many of us are unable to work, and are struggling to make ends meet. We, the employees of Barbette, Pat’s Tap, Red Stag Supperclub, Tiny Diner, Book Club, Trapeze and Gigi’s Cafe, demanded that Kim Bartmann and the Bartmann Group pay us our earned wages. Workers reported, as a result of not making payroll, Kim Bartmann was withholding both hourly wages and tips from their final pay period, this is theft and we demanded that Kim Bartmann turn over these wages. For those of us who have had checks bounce from previous pay periods, we demanded that Kim Bartmann make these wages available immediately. Under Minnesota Statutes § 181.13, we are entitled to receive all of our final wages within 24 hours of this demand. Failure to provide final wages within 24 hours of this demand may result in a penalty of up to 15 days of additional wages. In her email, Kim Bartmann strongly urged all to apply for unemployment, which most of us have now done. But, unemployment is not a substitute for stolen wages and tips AND many immigrant workers may be ineligible for unemployment benefits. In order to ensure that we and our communities can pay for food, medical needs and other basic necessities, we are calling on the State of Minnesota to enact a policy for 15 days of Emergency Paid Time Off paid for by employers and provided to all workers, no exceptions, who have to miss work (including retroactively covering days that have already been lost) due to the coronavirus pandemic for any reason, be it for a temporary job shut down, personally getting sick, caring for kids when schools shut down, or any other related reason. The 15 days should be in addition to whatever benefits workers already have in their workplace. To avoid impacting small businesses, we are calling on the state to implement a separate tax on the largest businesses in the state including Amazon, U.S. Bank, Wells Fargo, Target, Ecolab and others, and small to medium sized businesses can apply for a tax credit equal to 100% of the paid sick leave benefit they have paid out. If workers have to miss more than 15 days for any reason related to the crisis, they should be able to access unemployment insurance benefits immediately without counting the benefit against the employer's experience rating, and with a moratorium on employer challenges during the pandemic. Finally, we remind the Bartmann Group that it is against federal law to retaliate against an employee for making a discrimination or wage-related complaint. This includes discharging, penalizing, disciplining or in any other manner discriminating against workers for this activity. 29 U.S.C. § 215(a)(3). Most of us, as bartenders, cooks, dishwashers, and servers in the industry, live from paycheck to paycheck. These paychecks were for hours ALREADY worked during a time that should have been considered hazardous to our health, exposing us to large amounts of people, and we deserve to be paid. We should not have to choose between paying for essential food, rent and medical supplies and compromising social solidarity (social distancing) or exposing ourselves to further risks.

As many healthcare workers are putting their lives at risk due to the coronavirus and are not getting a single penny of appreciation. They are the most important people that we need during this pandemic. Employees in healthcare are the most at risk than any other job and deserve to be payed hazardous pay for their hard work and dedication. The moral thing to do would be to pay ALL healthcare employees more during this crisis.

As a central station dispatcher we are the liaison between citizens and law enforcement, fire, and medical responders. We show up daily to do our part in case help is needed. By doing so we are not only putting our well being at risk but those in our homes as well. Additional income can help in assisting for childcare due to school closures, groceries, our family members or friends that are now unemployed, etc. Amazon warehouse workers who are paid an hourly wage will now receive double pay for working overtime over 40 overs per week and they also received a $2 increase in pay. Home Depot has also given employees additional 80 hours of paid time off which is designed to make sure sick workers stay home. Whole Foods employees received a $2 an hour increase. Stater Bros. employees working in stores, distribution, transportation, corporate offices and construction received a wage increase of $2 per hour. Target Corp. received a $2 an hour increase and also offered workers that are pregnant, 65 years or older, or who have underlying health risks, access to paid leave for up to 30 days. Starbucks is now paying their employees for the next 30 days, whether they come to work or stay home. Costco has also announced wage increases and better benefits recently as well as Walmart whose pay increased from $15-$19 an hour. Rapid Response claims they appreciate their employees, but do they really? Rapid Response Monitoring is stationed in Corona, CA and its main office in Syracuse, NY. There are now 1,468 positive cases and 27 deaths in California. New York state's death toll has reached 114, surpassing Washington state and accounting a third of all U.S. deaths. COVID-19 is REAL and extremely dangerous. Please help these employees and their families. You can also sign and share at https://www.change.org/rrms-prioritize-the-health-of-your-employees Thank you. Please view the links below: https://ibb.co/6w721QJ https://ibb.co/7Q73WWf

This is important not only for the workers but I believe the company at large--it improves relationships with higher management and it looks great in the public eye.

The mental health and addiction parity act says that health insurance needs to pay the same rates that a medical provider get paid. Nurse Practitioner's have comparable training and education and they get paid 3 times as much with benefits. Especially during this pandemic, in order for the people to get their mental health needs met, we need to take care of these providers as well.

These are extraordinary times. All workers at Burgerville have faced either severe cuts to their hours or have been furloughed--with no warning and no financial assistance. The workers that remain have little to no choice but to work in conditions that expose them and their loved ones to a deadly virus. For those who are furloughed, the company is telling us not to worry because of government assistance, but rent is due and the money isn't in our wallets. Burgerville has an obligation to us now. This has and will lead us to further insecurity for our kids, our homes, our food, and our healthcare. Amazon, Whole Foods, New Seasons, Market of Choice, and other companies are already offering workers hazard pay to acknowledge the increased risk that grocery and service workers are facing right now. As one of the few businesses that is able to stay open during the pandemic, it is our responsibility to provide the community with the support it needs--through our food and our health. The less of us who are exposed to the virus, the healthier the community. The less of us who have to rely on public assistance because we have the support of our employer, the more resources for workers laid off from businesses that are no longer open. Now is the time to prioritize that people remain healthy, fed, and housed.

NYS has mandated the closure of all schools and non-essential businesses in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Daycare centers have been asked to remain open to care for young children, with expectations to also be willing to accept additional students of first responders, offering waivers to go beyond our enrollment. This is in direct contrast to the recommendations of the CDC to maintain social distancing and limit group gatherings. Workers are expected to report to work and will not receive pay if they have not accrued paid time off. Daycare employees are expected to be on the front lines during this pandemic, risking their health, under no advice or supervision as to ensure proper safety and protection against this virus.

Us drivers have been left alone, sitting for weeks in quarantine to save our lives with no pay and unable to work. We get cussed, hit, called names, guns in our faces and treated badly for you, so why arent you now there for us? We are losing homes, cars, all we worked for. Many dont have food, a safe place to stay. We for sure cant get the tests you require, many states there are none! As for a doctors note....we are quarantined and doctors are overwhelmed, and we shouldn't have to! We've toiled to make you billions! Please check out this amazing article to hear about other drivers in this difficult time: https://thehustle.co/coronavirus-uber-lyft-drivers/amp/?__twitter_impression=true

Most Starbucks workers are making just enough to make ends meet. They cannot afford to be put on leave without pay. ******************************** La mayoría de los trabajadores de Starbucks recibe apenas suficiente para vivir al día. No pueden estar sin pago por más de un mes. Starbucks México está jugando con la salud y bienestar de cientos de familias Mexicanas.

We are exposing ourselves (and our loved ones) to COVID-19. We aren’t being paid for the extra work we’re doing or the risk we’re undertaking. We are terrified. We need our company to have our back by introducing hazard pay at the rate of time and a half, plus guaranteeing forced closure pay. Workers who are typically scheduled a certain number of hours per week need to be guaranteed that if their store closes, they will continue receiving pay equal to their average scheduled wages. For example, someone scheduled full time would receive a biweekly check totalling how much they would earn for 70 hours of work — that is two weeks of 40-hours, minus ten 1-hour lunch breaks through those two weeks. Why is this important? According to the UN, hazard pay is “a form of compensation granted to staff members who have been requested to remain and report for work in duty stations where very hazardous conditions, such as war or active hostilities, prevailed and where the evacuation of families and nonessential staff had taken place.” We are in the middle of a global crisis. PetPeople — and any necessity supply stores at large — are ensuring our communities can safely and comfortably quarantine/self-isolate. But the workers stocking the shelves have not received any sort of security from PetPeople, that we can be compensated for the essential service we are providing. PetPeople is telling us to stay home if we have a fever. That is insufficient — it requires workers to work until they get sick before they can receive any compensation for putting their lives in danger, and it does nothing to answer concerns of part-time or new team members who don’t qualify for medical insurance should they become ill. Retail grocery/necessity stores and hospitals are on the frontlines right now, but retail workers don’t have access to the same precautions and resources as hospital workers. Hazard pay and guaranteed closure pay provides security, comfort, and increased morale knowing our company has our backs.

The Coronavirus pandemic has already forced many businesses to close for their customers safety and their staffs safety. Despite the government offering to pay 80% of people’s wages Costa Coffee has refused to close its sites. Staff members should not have to be exposed to potential life threatening illness when the government is so willing and able to help people avoid it.

Target-owned Shipt, a delivery service, is currently hiring thousands of new shoppers in cities across the United States to meet the rising demand for home delivery of essential goods during this crisis. Shipt workers shop for and deliver groceries, medications and household supplies from local retailers. During this global crisis, we shoppers are working on the frontlines and risking our safety. The current policy--providing 14 days of financial assistance to those who test positive for COVID-19--isn't enough. In many cases, access to tests is limited or unavailable. Shoppers may need to be--and some already are--under self-quarantine due to exposure to COVID-19 or due to a sick or at-risk family member. Shoppers need expanded paid leave to provide us with the crucial support needed to make the safest decisions for ourselves, for Shipt customers, and for the community at large. Many Shipt customers are high risk populations--elderly, immunocompromised, and those with underlying medical conditions. It is imperative that Shipt shoppers have the support that they need to make safe, informed decisions that keep everyone as safe as possible. Grocery store retailers--including Trader Joe's and H-E-B--have begun making movements in this direction, implementing hourly pay raises, expanding paid leave, and introducing new safety protocols. On March 20th, Target, Shipt's parent company, increased wages, provided bonuses to team leads, and extended paid leave for higher-risk Target employees. With more and more shelter-in-place orders being enacted around the country, our work is vital. Shipt workers must not be left behind. **To any Shipt shopper who wants to join in this effort, you're invited to The Shipt List, a facebook community for Shipt shoppers.