1. What issues do you think a union and an employer would have to
discuss/ negotiate during this pandemic? I encourage you to find a
citation that is reflective of the issues that might arise. (Stay healthy all,
do not panic, use common sense.)
Until there is an accessible vaccine for Covid-19, I think a lot of union negotiations
are going to revolve around health and safety in the workplace. Specific issues that
unions are already dealing with are virus testing in the workplace, and mandatory
PPE and cleaning rules. I think employers are going to need to assure the unions that
the safety of their workers is a priority, and negotiate new standards for workplace
safety and virus prevention, before people will feel safe coming back to work.
I think workplace covid and antibody testing needs to be a discussion in union
negotiations now, as people are beginning to be required to go back to work and the
virus is still on the rise in many areas. Many people have jobs that require constant
interaction with people- from actors on Broadway, to Disney World workers, to
teachers, and having access to consistent testing is important to keep on top of
possible outbreaks in the workplaces. This is important to be negotiated now, as
some workers are already reporting retaliation from their employers when they ask
onsite testing. Hollywood Reporter reports that this week when Disney World
reopened, they rescinded recall letter from 750 members of the Actor’s Equity union
after the union demanded testing for their members. The union released a statement
saying, “Since our public request that Disney test performers in the park, there have
been more than 114,000 new coronavirus cases in Florida. Rather than agree to
