SEIU California

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 20, 2020

COMPREHENSIVE PANDEMIC PPE LEGISLATION WILL SAVE LIVES AND PREPARE FOR FUTURE CRISES

Sacramento, CA—Today, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) California applauded the Assembly Appropriations Committee for moving SB 275 by Senator Richard Pan (D-Sacramento) and Senator Connie M. Leyva (D-Chino) to the Assembly floor for a full vote. SB 275 will ensure workers will have the PPE they need and equip California to meet future pandemic needs and avoid catastrophic shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE) for healthcare and essential workers. The following statement may be attributed to Jennifer Esteen, San Francisco City and County Registered Nurse and Vice President of Organizing at SEIU Local 1021:

“Every frontline worker deserves protection. The work we do is essential, and so is our health and safety. Our lives, our families’ lives, and our communities depend on it. One of the reasons working class communities and communities of color are still struggling with community spread is that we are not protected at work and lack appropriate PPE supplies. New research shows preparing for the next pandemic will save money and lives. We urge the Assembly to pass SB 275 to protect all healthcare and essential workers so no hard-working Californian has to choose between feeding their families or going to work unprotected.”

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