Today is Workers' Memorial Day, a day to honor and commemorate workers who have died on the job. 

These are workers like 59-year-old Samina Hameed, a Metro bus driver, who died of COVID-19 earlier this month and 13 meat industry workers who died after exposure to COVID-19 at work.

In the midst of a global pandemic, never before has the fight for healthy and safe workplaces been more important.

At Teamsters 117, healthcare members, public safety employees, grocery warehouse workers, waste haulers, delivery drivers, cold and food service workers, and so many more of you are putting your lives on the line every day to protect the public, provide critical services, and keep the supply chain moving. 

We are grateful to you for your service. 

Since the beginning of this outbreak, our Union Representatives and Shop Stewards have been working overtime to fight for more paid sick leave, access to personal protective equipment, and appreciation pay for essential workers.

If you have a safety concern at work, you can contact your Union Representative through our Union's website. 

With our Teamsters 117 Emergency Resource Guide, we have also been working to put members in touch with critical community services so that you can get the help you need. In our guide, you'll find public health information, food assistance, childcare for essential workers, resources for union families, mental health assistance, and much more. 

This is a challenging time for all of us. Now more than ever it's important to stick together, support and care for each other, and show gratitude and appreciation for the essential workers who are risking their lives to feed, serve, and protect us.

Because of you, we will emerge from this crisis stronger and more united than ever in our mission to improve the lives of working families and lift up our communities.