Pandemic Shines Light on Need for Unions, Organizing in the Time of COVID-19

Leslie is joined by Maria Somma, Organizing Director for the United Steelworkers (USW).
They discuss how Covid-19 has shined a spotlight on the devastating economic inequality in the United States, revealing low wages and a lack of access to affordable health care for many front-line, essential workers like food service workers, grocery clerks, delivery drivers and more.

This daily risk and poor compensation demonstrate how important it is to have a voice on the job.
Though workers want and need unions, organizing during a pandemic presents its own challenges.
And it’s not just blue collar workers who need unions; the pandemic revealed the urgent need for professional unions as well.

In a positive development, Union organizers and workers have found new methods of capacity-building by organizing remotely and holding campaign events through social media channels.

You can find out more by visiting USW.org, or following them on Twitter or Instagram, where their handle is @steelworkers.