The following statement may be attributed to Ernie Bennett, Philadelphia School District Leader at 32BJ SEIU:
“The Philadelphia School District members of 32BJ SEIU have been on the front lines of keeping our schools safe for the last eleven months. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, our essential workers have never had the luxury of staying home. Schools couldn’t open safely without our members showing up every day to maintain and secure the safety of school district buildings for everyone. I understand the concerns of parents and teachers at this moment. Our main concern is that the members that keep our buildings safe have:
·       Access to regular testing,
·       Contact tracing,
·       Adequate PPE,
and, as the vaccine rolls out to district employees, that our frontline, essential members are at the front of the line to receive the vaccine. They need immediate access to vaccination to continue to do the critical work necessary to reopen school buildings to teachers and students. The part that we play is vital in the safety of our schools and our communities.”
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With 175,000 members in eleven states and Washington, D.C., including 22,000 in Pennsylvania, 32BJ SEIU is the largest property service workers union