CLEAR Coalition Urges Pennsylvanians to Stand Together to Defeat COVID-19
Local Officials & Lawmakers Have a Duty to Put Public Safety Ahead of Political Gamesmanship
HARRISBURG (MAY 11, 2020) – The CLEAR Coalition today called on all local officials and state lawmakers to follow Governor Tom Wolf’s science and data-driven Executive Orders that he has signed to help save lives and stem the spread of COVID-19 across our state.
“This is a deadly disease that has already cost more than 3,700 of our fellow Pennsylvanians their lives. Right now, we have more than 57,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19,” said Dave Fillman, Executive Director of AFSCME Council 13 and a co-founder of the CLEAR Coalition.
“People are dying. Opening businesses early or gathering in crowds without masks and without practicing social distancing will only put more lives at risk,” Fillman added.
CLEAR’s leaders support Governor Tom Wolf’s actions to compel counties to follow the state blueprint for relaxing restrictions in zones on a phased-in basis.
Wendell W Young IV, President of UFCW 1776 Keystone State, urged lawmakers and local officials to put the health of workers and their families ahead of any other considerations before choosing to ignore public health professionals and the experience of other cities and nations.
“I have already lost 7 of my members to this disease. An additional 650 of my members have tested positive,” Young said. “This is not the time to try and score political points. Opening up businesses too soon risks lives. I cannot believe that these people would want to go out in public without wearing a mask and risk bringing this deadly virus home to their families and their children. It’s unconscionable.”
Local 1776KS represents 35,000 members, including workers in retail, healthcare, nursing homes and in the public sector.
The CLEAR Coalition represents more than 900,000 working men and women across the state and its members have been working to protect all workers and their families throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Our members have been out there every day and there is absolutely no good reason why they should be put at further risk,” said Steve Catanese, President of SEIU Local 668. “There is no need for any reckless disregard of common sense and lifesaving safety protocols.”
For more information, visit www.clearforpa.org.