This proposal is for the chapter to sign on to a coalition letter (https://bit.ly/3cdsz9W) in support of a COVID workplace safety bill that the DC Council will consider on Tuesday, February 2, 2021. DC Jobs With Justice, which is leading this campaign, has set a letter sign-on deadline of 1:00 pm this Thursday, January 28.

Given the short turnaround time for organizations to sign on to this letter, I'm going to set a close time of this vote for approximately 24 hours from now at 9:00 pm tomorrow, Wednesday, January 27.

Vote 'Agree' to sign on to the letter and 'disagree' to vote against signing on to the letter .

More information about the bill under consideration is below.

Next Tuesday, February 2, the DC Council will vote on the Workplace Safety During the Covid-19 Pandemic Emergency Amendment Act of 2021.

If passed this emergency legislation would:

• Require employers to comply with the mayor's workplace safety and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) orders.

• Prohibits retaliation against a worker for speaking out or seeking to rectify unsafe working conditions.

• Ensures that that workers who voluntarily quit their employment due to an unsafe workplace are eligible for unemployment benefits.

• Establish that COVID-19 is a compensable illness for the purposes of Workers Compensation.

• Authorizes Mayor and Attorney General to investigate violations and to assess penalties for violations of District safety requirements or unlawful retaliation.

• Allows workers a private right of action if retaliated against for taking action related to workplace safety.

All of these measures are necessary for a safe and responsible reopening but this bill will still require a concerted effort on our part to ensure that it gets the 9 votes needed to pass.