Plus: The mayor trialling a universal basic income has some advice for Trump
| | | | | | Hey readers, this week we looked at who are considered our essential workers — and the myriad ways society is failing them in this desperate time.
Whose work is "essential"? If you look at the people still grinding away as coronavirus sweeps through the country and the economy skids to a virtual standstill, you'll see those in jobs often considered low-skilled or low-status ― grocery store clerks, garbage collectors, domestic workers. The coronavirus crisis has laid bare just how vital these workers are to keeping our everyday lives running smoothly. And yet they’re among the country’s lowest paid, often with few benefits.
“Rent, bills, payments, they’re still waiting when I get home,” says Ezzie Dominguez, a house cleaner in Denver. She is the only breadwinner in her home since her husband was laid off, and she’s the only one with health insurance coverage for her children. “If I were to get sick, it would be like giving my family a death sentence.”
In the past week, a steady drumbeat of appreciation has been mounting for the underpaid, unsung heroes of American life, and advocates are calling for better wages and benefits in the long-term to truly reflect the value of their work. Will the government listen?
What do you think? We'd love to hear from you. Cheers, Laura, Amanda and Kyla |
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| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Here's Why We'll Never Treat The Climate Crisis With The Same Urgency As The Coronavirus. The delayed COVID-19 response was met with swift condemnation. But outrage about the decades-long delay on climate change continues to be waved away as alarmism. [HuffPost]
Migrant Farmworkers Feed America ― And They're At High Risk Of A Coronavirus Outbreak. Living in crowded dorms with no space to quarantine the sick, farm laborers are “petrified.” [HuffPost]
We Made So Much Progress On Plastic Bags. Coronavirus Could Undo It All. The plastics industry is mounting a campaign to push single-use plastics as the safest option, despite the science being far from clear. [HuffPost]
What It's Like Not Having Running Water During A Pandemic. Thwarting the coronavirus means washing hands and staying hydrated. That’s not easy for the 2 million Americans still without plumbing in 2020. [HuffPost]
Libraries Want To Turn Bookmobiles Into Free Wifi Trucks During Coronavirus Lockdown. The FCC says it’s ok for libraries to leave their hotspots on, but ignores questions about whether they can extend broadband access to the broader community. [Vice]
When Middle-Class Values Determine What's Essential. Poor people suffer when the definition of a “life sustaining” service ignores their needs. [The Atlantic] |
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