Backus United : Corona Virus Update 4/6

One of our nurses is in ICU tonight, from Covid-19 acquired at work. She is intubated. Please keep her in your prayers.

It is 60 days since our first case of Covid-19 in Connecticut.
Hospitalizations are down by 55 today (1445)
85 died today (2718)
The evening news had a lot of talk about an explosion of cases elsewhere in the country, both in areas that have not closed down as much as us and in areas where they have started opening.

The New London Education Association affiliated with CEA is meeting the leaders of the 4 unions from the hospital and the VNA at the Gemma Moran Food Bank on Broad St in New London.

They had offered to buy our unions a meal but we all agreed to pay it forward and donate to the local food bank.

In addition to the $1500 dollars they are donating each Union will be presenting the food bank with a check as well.

A message from Kelly:
Happy Nurses Week, Healthcare Leaders!

As we kick off our national nurses week celebration, I want to share the plans and theme we will be using as we seek to Protect Our Healthcare Heroes. When the WHO declared 2020 the Year of the Nurse and Midwife, we had no clue how prominent our members’ work would be! We know our nurses and health professionals didn’t go into this line of work to be called heroes; but you are all heroes to AFT!

To help raise visibility of the fastest growing healthcare union in the country (us!), please feel use the attached graphics and tag us: @AFThealthcare, @AFTunion and be sure to use the #NationalNursesWeek hashtag. We will also be using hashtags #ThankANurse, #ThankAHero, #NationalNursesWeek, #GETUSPPE, #DOYOURJOBOSHA. Also trending are #NursesWeek and #NursesWeek2020. Below are some themes we will using, along with some sample content.

Wednesday, May 6^th: Year of the Nurse

USE THE AFT NURSES WEEK FACEBOOK FRAME- and share with Members! Facebook profile frame. Use this for your affiliate page and your personal on as well!
WHO year of the nurse
Nurses are uniquely positioned as advocates in our communities because we’ve beenranked the most honest profession for 18 years.

Sample Tweets

When WHO designated 2020 the #YearoftheNurse none of us knew just how poignant it would be. This #NursesWeek, stay tuned for ways to #ThankANurse and #ThankAHero by PROTECTING our healthcare heroes. Learn more about the year of the nurse and midwife 👇https://www.who.int/news-room/campaigns/year-of-the-nurse-and-the-midwife-2020

Happy #NursesWeek! It's also the #YearoftheNurse and it's never been more important to protect our healthcare heroes. Stay tuned throughout the week for actions you can take. Learn more about the year of the nurse and midwife 👇https://www.who.int/news-room/campaigns/year-of-the-nurse-and-the-midwife-2020

Sample Facebook post

**please update your organization’s profile photo with the Facebook frame**

When WHO designated 2020 the Year of the Nurse and Midwife, none of us knew just how critical it would be that we not only #ThankANurse and #ThankAHero, but that we also PROTECT our healthcare heroes. That’s why this #NursesWeek, we’ll be sharing different ways you can help protect our healthcare heroes through calling on the government to act. Learn more about the year of the nurse and midwife 👇https://www.who.int/news-room/campaigns/year-of-the-nurse-and-the-midwife-2020

Thursday, May 7^th: Recognizing ALL healthcare workers

Resources

AFT’s COVID-19 resources for healthcare workers
A compelling article from the New York Times about service/maintenance staff at hospitals being overlooked during the crisis

Sample Tweets

This #NursesWeek, we remember that ALL healthcare workers are essential to the health of our communities. #ThankAHero, a hospital tech, a maintenance worker, ALL of our frontline heroes. Find resources for healthcare workers fighting #COVID19 here: https://www.aft.org/covid19-hc

When we say #ThankAHero during #NursesWeek, we also honor ALL of our frontline heroes. No one can be left behind in the fight to #GetUsPPE. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/04/nyregion/coronavirus-ny-hospital-workers

Sample Facebook post

On Day 2 of #NursesWeek, we’re thanking ALL of our frontline healthcare heroes! [**feel free to include some specific non-RN job titles you represent here] Hospital techs, maintenance workers, and all of our healthcare heroes need the protections to fight this pandemic. We won’t leave anyone behind in the fight to #GetUsPPE

You can find resources for ALL healthcare workers fighting #COVID19 here 👇https://www.aft.org/covid19-hc

Friday, May 8^th #ThankAHero by protecting us. #GetUsPPE

Resources

#GetUsPPE petition
Today please share any stories about members impacted by inadequate PPE

Sample Tweets

The best way to #ThankAHero? #GetUsPPE. Nurses and health professionals are protecting our communities every day. This #NursesWeek, tell the administration to protect us. https://sign.moveon.org/petitions/healthcare-workers-need-protective-equipment-now

Want to #ThankAHero during #NursesWeek? Tell the administration to #GetUsPPE. https://sign.moveon.org/petitions/healthcare-workers-need-protective-equipment-now

Sample Facebook post

The best way to #ThankAHero is simple. This #NursesWeek, tell the administration to #GetUsPPE.https://sign.moveon.org/petitions/healthcare-workers-need-protective-equipment-now

Weekend, May 9^th and 10^th

Resources

Sample Tweets

This #NursesWeek we’re focusing on how you can #ThankAHero by PROTECTING our frontline workers. OSHA’s inaction in the face of #COVID19 has been deadly. Tell Congress we need an emergency temporary standard now. #DoYourJobOSHA https://actionnetwork.org/letters/make-osha-protect-frontline-workers

Healthcare workers are doing their jobs every day to keep our communities safe. It’s past time to #DoYourJobOSHA. You can #ThankAHero during #NursesWeek by telling Congress we need an emergency temporary standard now. https://actionnetwork.org/letters/make-osha-protect-frontline-workers

Sample Facebook post

On Workers Memorial Day, AFT members from around the country filed 40 OSHA complaints as part of a #DoYourJobOSHA National Day of Action to highlight the agency’s refusal to investigate employers placing workers at grave risk of infection and death from the coronavirus.

This #NursesWeek as we #ThankAHero by fighting to protect our frontline workers, it’s never been more important to tell Congress we need an emergency temporary standard now. Healthcare workers are doing their jobs every day. It’s past time to #DoYourJobOSHA https://actionnetwork.org/letters/make-osha-protect-frontline-workers

Monday, May 11^th

**Please highlight stories from members today and be sure to tag @AFTHealthcare**

MAKE SURE MEMBERS ARE INVITED TO THIS LIVE WEBINAR on private equity in healthcare in the time of COVID-19 presented by AFT’s Elizabeth Parisian this coming Monday from 1-2 pm EST. One contact hour will be awarded to participants. This may be of particular interest to those of you who deal with Steward Health Care and Prospect Medical Holdings. (The webinar will be recorded and accessible for later viewing.)

Follow the Money: The Rise of Private Equity in Healthcare in the time of COVID-19

Private equity deals in U.S. healthcare have more than doubled in the past 10 years. The inevitable consolidation of private equity-owned hospital systems often leads to closures, higher prices, and patients’ suffering, which is becoming even more pronounced during the COVID pandemic. In this workshop, we will talk about the private equity model and why it is so harmful to workers and patients alike; the various ways private equity has infiltrated the U.S. healthcare system; and how, through the union, we can be advocates for patients and caregivers.

Monday, May 11, 2020, 1 pm- 2 pm EST

Tuesday, May 12^th Wrap up & #ThankAHero sweepstakes (Also International Nurses Day)

Resources

#ThankAHero sweepstakes entry

Sample Tweets

As we wrap up #NursesWeek, you can nominate a frontline hero from @AFTunion’s #ThankAHero sweepstakes! https://sharemylesson.com/thankahero

#NursesWeek round up: How can you #ThankAHero? PROTECT our healthcare heroes.

Sign and share the call to tell the administration to #GetUSPPE https://sign.moveon.org/petitions/healthcare-workers-need-protective-equipment-now
Call on Congress to say #DoYourJobOSHA and issue an emergency temporary standard now. https://actionnetwork.org/letters/make-osha-protect-frontline-workers
Nominate someone for @AFTUnion’s #ThankAHero sweepstakes. https://sharemylesson.com/thankahero

#NursesWeek round up: How can you #ThankAHero? PROTECT our healthcare heroes. [**THREAD THE NEXT THREE TWEETS**]

1. Sign and share the call to tell the administration to #GetUSPPE https://sign.moveon.org/petitions/healthcare-workers-need-protective-equipment-now

2. Call on Congress to say #DoYourJobOSHA and issue an emergency temporary standard now.https://actionnetwork.org/letters/make-osha-protect-frontline-workers

3. Nominate someone for @AFTUnion’s #ThankAHero sweepstakes. https://sharemylesson.com/thankahero

Sample Facebook post

As we wrap up #NursesWeek, nominate someone for @AFTunion’s #ThankAHero Sweepstakes!https://sharemylesson.com/thankahero

Thank you all for all you do! We celebrate all our Nurses and Health Professionals this week- including you!

In solidarity,

Kelly

Kelly D. Trautner

Director | Health Issues

This is the link for our newest petition. From Manchester and Rockville hospitals

https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/echn_prospect_cov19_petition?source=facebook&

This is a reminder from our law firm

Going forward, attached is a document I believe AFTCT shared with local leaders soon after the start of the pandemic. I also shared a sample 30C.

I fully understand that these healthcare workers who have contracted the virus have a lot bigger fish to fry than filling out some form, but it should be done correctly to preserve their rights.

I’ve reattached the Guidance we put out and revised it to include some helpful hints on completing the form.

Below is a copy/paste of that section in case recipients of your email do not have time to open the attachment.

Below are some helpful tips in completing the 30C:

Date of Injury: this can be the date of diagnosis, the date symptoms began or the date of a known or suspected exposure resulting in contracting the virus.
Body Parts: whole body
Describe Injury and How it Happened: the following is an example, “While working as a Nurse, Tech, Healthcare Worker, I was working with or around patients (or equipment, bedding, etc.) diagnosed with COVID-19. I was diagnosed with COVID-19 and attribute it to my workplace.”
Be sure to check the box on the 30C indicating “Occupational Disease.”

As always, we are here to answer any questions and assist any local leader or member who needs assistance in navigating the Workers Comp process.

Regards,

Eric

Eric W. Chester

Ferguson, Doyle & Chester, PC

This benefit for frontline workers