Resolution 2021-03: Honoring Essential Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic

WHEREAS, the Democratic Party of Oregon Platform states “We support strong labor laws and the elimination of at-will employment laws.”; and 

WHEREAS, the Democratic Party of Oregon Platform states “We believe the growing income disparity between members of the wealthiest population sector and the average American worker is detrimental to labor, business, a dynamic economy, and a stable democracy.”; and

WHEREAS, essential workers are disproportionately people of color; and

WHEREAS, essential workers are disproportionately women; and

WHEREAS, essential workers often make less than $15 per hour, poverty wages that prevent essential workers from compensating for unexpected expenses related to COVID-19 illness; and

WHEREAS, COVID-19 has disproportionately sickened and killed essential workers and their family members; and

WHEREAS, more than 3000 essential healthcare workers have died from COVID-19 nationwide; and

WHEREAS, essential workers have been disproportionately impacted by grade school closures; and

WHEREAS, many essential workers have taken on additional responsibilities and undergone significant hardship to minimize the exposure of their aging parents and other family members to COVID-19;  and

WHEREAS, grocery workers, food service workers, and transit operators have not been included in priority vaccination groups to date;

NOW, THEREFORE, THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF OREGON RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:

Section 1. Oregon Democrats recognize that essential workers have been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and thank them for their labor and sacrifices.

Section 2. Oregon Democrats believe that essential workers should have no out of pocket expenses related to childcare and eldercare related to essential work.

Section 3. Oregon Democrats believe that all essential workers should make at least $15/hour and that no one working full time should earn a wage that puts them below the poverty line. We urge all employers of essential workers to provide hazard pay, including retroactive hazard pay for time worked during the COVID-19 pandemic that was not previously covered by hazard pay.

Section 4. Oregon Democrats believe that essential workers should have no out of pocket healthcare expenses related to COVID-19. This includes but isn’t limited to; vaccinations, testing, primary care, preventative care, and hospitalization expenses.

Section 5. Oregon Democrats call on Governor Kate Brown and the Oregon Health Authority to place grocery workers, food service workers, and transit operators in a priority group for vaccination.

Resolution submitted by Travis Nelson RN, Democratic National Committee Member

ADOPTED by the Democratic Party of Oregon on March 20th, 2021.