Latest Updates on the Coronavirus Situation
Update: Stimulus plan is signed into law
March 27, 2020 5:30 PM
The $2 trillion dollar stimulus was approved by the House unchanged and was signed into law by the President.
The law will send a $1,200 check to people earning up to $75,000 ($2,400 for joint filers earning up to than $150,000 combined) and an additional $500 per child. People earning between $75,000 and $99,000 would receive prorated checks. Click here to calculate how much money you may receive. Our understanding is that people who can receive direct deposits will get these checks much faster. We will look into details to see how more of you can try to get direct deposits.
Update: Senate passes $2 trillion stimulus plan; bill moves to the House for a vote
March 25, 2020 10:32 AM
March 25, 2020 7:30 PM
The $2 trillion dollar stimulus bill will now move to the House, which is expected to take up the bill and pass it on Friday. At that point it will be sent to the President for his signature. Once it is signed it will become law.
$2 Trillion Federal coronavirus stimulus package
March 25, 2020 9:45 AM
Your union is closely watching the federal $2 Trillion Coronavirus Stimulus Bill. We want to thank all our members that called their senators in the last few days. The text of the bill is not yet final, but here you will find the details that the Senate Democrats just released, which outlines where things stand currently.
The Senate still has not printed a bill or voted on it. It will then go to the House, to be voted on.
We will continue to post on our website if any of these items change.
We will continue to closely monitor the situation so we can provide you with details on how this law may help HTC-represented workers and their families, like for example, any potential extension of unemployment benefits, direct payments to workers and families with children, and more. Stay tuned.
New health center hours 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
March 24, 2020 6:06 PM
In an effort to protect health center staff and to make sure that health care professionals are where they are needed most the Health Center's hours will be reduced. These reduced hours will allow for health center staff to rotate their schedules, which will help limit their chances of infection. The new hours will begin Wednesday, March 25th.
Union negotiating emergency safety protocols amid coronavirus outbreak
March 20, 2020 4:30 PM
The Union is negotiating, company by company, a special emergency agreement with the hotel industry to address pressing concerns to our members caused by the Coronavirus Crisis. We are calling the agreement the “Coronavirus Hotel Safety Protocol,” and most of the major hotel operators have already signed on to it (see below for a current list). We are in urgent and energetic discussions with those companies who, as of yet, have not signed.
HTC wins important arbitration extending healthcare to laid-off workers
March 19, 2020 8:00 PM
The Union won an important victory in arbitration yesterday, guaranteeing workers continued health care if they are laid off as a result of the Coronavirus crisis.
Changes to health center weekend pharmacy hours
March 18, 2020 4:45 PM
This weekend the Health Centers are taking measures to ensure that the they have enough staff to screen and test for COVID(19). This means each pharmacy will be open ONE day this weekend.
During the emergency, members will access most union office services by phone
March 18 2020 7:30 AM
Due to the health threat posed by the coronavirus pandemic, the medical director of the Benefit Funds has advised the Union to reorganize our office operations so that members will be able to deal with all the departments of the Union without coming to our headquarters on 8th Avenue. The Union clerical, dues, technical, and other office staff will be doing their work via online links from their homes. So, members should not come to the office except with an appointment.
New York unemployment website and phone lines unavailable due to high demand
March 16, 2020 9:27 PM
New York’s unemployment website and phone lines were temporarily unavailable today due to high demand, as the Coronavirus has led to a major increase in layoffs. We will continue to monitor the situation and keep you as up to date as possible.
Union Health Centers cancelling non-urgent appointments
March 15, 2020 5:00 PM
As a preventative measure to reduce the possibility of transmitting the Coronavirus (COVID-19), Union Health Centers will be cancelling all non-urgent medical and dental appointments for the next two weeks.
Our Union Health Centers are doing coronavirus testing
March 13, 2020 1:30 PM
As of Friday, March 13, all four of our Union Health Centers in New York City began Coronavirus (COVID-19) testing of HTC-represented workers covered by our Industry-Wide Health Benefit Plan and their eligible dependents, at no cost to participants and their dependents. However, the supply of test kits our health centers have is very limited at this stage due to the nation-wide shortage.
HEAT Department calling delegates regarding layoff-related contract provisions
March 11, 2020 2:48 PM
The HEAT Department has begun systematically phone banking union delegates to remind them of additional protections in the contract that kick in during layoffs. For immediate information, please call (212) 245-8100
A message from Union President Peter Ward
March 9, 2020 12:37 PM
I have been informed by the Administrator of the Industry-Wide Health Benefit Fund that our Union Health Centers in New York City are expected to have the ability to do testing for the coronavirus by the end of this week.
