MEDIA ADVISORY FOR: 11 AM, Monday, July 20, 2020
CONTACT: fsoults@seiu32bj.org; (860) 471-5692
Black & Immigrant Essential Workers Rally to Demand Racial & Economic Justice on National Day of Action
Treasurer Wooden and Mayor Bronin join essential workers to tell companies and Congress to protect Black lives
WHO: Speakers include: CT State Treasurer Shawn Wooden, Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin, YWCA Director of Community Engagement and Advocacy Melinda Johnson, Vice President SEIU 11999 Almena Thompson, Lady Pamela Johnson, 32BJ Assistant District Leader Rochelle Palache, Aetna Security Officer Stephanie Chisem, Marta Sifuentes, widow of 32BJ SEIU COVID-19 Victim, Lady Pamela Selders
WHAT: Rally to demand passage of HEROES Act and support for racial and economic justice at Hartford health insurance companies
WHERE: 77 Huyshope Ave, Hartford, with caravan stops to deliver memorial candles at:
- CVS/Aetna Insurance, 151 Farmington Ave, Hartford
- The Hartford Insurance, 1 Hartford Plaza, Hartford
- Allied Universal, Security Contractors, 111 Founders Plaza #1001, Hartford
WHEN: Speaking program starts at 11 AM, Monday, July 20, 2020
HARTFORD, Conn. – Joining a National Day of Action in 20 cities, Treasurer Shawn Wooden and Mayor Bronin will join with Black and immigrant essential workers on Monday to speak about the intersections of COVID-19, the assault on Black lives, and the economic inequality that has devastated communities of color.
Speakers will demand the Senate pass the HEROES Act, which passed the House months ago, to provide essential workers with PPE, hazard pay and extended unemployment benefits.
After the speaking portion, participants will hold a caravan through Hartford, which will stop at key locations where companies have undermined the health and economic security of Black, brown, immigrant and other low-wage workers. Union members will give six memorial candles to each of these companies – one for each Connecticut 32BJ member taken by the pandemic so far.
The event will include words from the widow of one of the 32BJ SEIU members who died in Connecticut (over 130 union members have fallen across the East Coast). 1199 SEIU Vice President Almena Thompson will also pay respects to the costs of the crisis on healthcare workers.
The candles will be delivered to three sites -- the Aetna Insurance, the Hartford Insurance, and Allied Universal security. Allied Universal is one of five security contractors – the others are SSC, Securitas, G4s & SecurAmerica --- that have failed after months of negotiation to reach an agreement on affordable health insurance with 32BJ, the union that represents 500 security officers across Hartford County. These five contractors provide security for insurance giants like Aetna and the Hartford.
“The pandemic has made frighteningly clear how dangerous greed can be,” said Juan Hernandez, Vice-President of 32BJ SEIU and head of the union in Connecticut. “The five security contractors who provide security to the insurance industry are offering plans that would force workers to choose between feeding their families and protecting their health. These awful proposals were wrong before, and they’re even worse now, when the nation is reeling from the coronavirus and the assault on Black lives.”
The event is one among 20 across the country happening Monday under the banner “Strike for Black Lives.” Each will demand action from corporations and the government to dismantle white supremacy, end police brutality and ensure the health, safety, and economic well-being of every worker.
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With over 175,000 members in 12 states and Washington DC, including 5,000 in Connecticut, 32BJ is the largest building service workers union in the country.
Monday’s action is supported by four SEIU unions acting in conjunction to fight economic and racial injustice.
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