Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/1260659
14 The Costume Designer Spring 2020 LABOR REPORT UNION LABEL Together is a good place to be, at home practicing social distancing until the coronavirus pandemic reaches herd immunity. At the time of the1918 pandemic, the population of Los Angeles was 600,000. Social distancing was imple- mented a week before San Francisco. It proved to be the best practice and lowered the number of infections in 1918 and helped Los Angeles flatten the curve. But a second wave of infections came as a result of dropping social dis- tancing too early. Today, the city of Los Angeles has a population of over 4 million and the population of Los Angeles County is over 10 million. We are doing our part to flatten the curve of the COVID-19 pandemic as it is peaking, but we will see a second wave if social distancing and mask-wearing guidelines are not followed. Together, we can flatten the curve and recover sooner. Let's not lose patience. There is much that can be done to help our economy recover. Testing healthcare workers, childcare workers, and food-service workers first while restarting select businesses in a timely manner while maintaining safe distancing. Did you know women are designated most essential workers? According to the Department of Homeland Security, women hold most essential critical infrastructure worker jobs. One in three jobs held by women in the United States is designated as essential. Will we remember the role women are playing when we are safe again? Nine out of 10 nurses and nursing assistants in emergency rooms and respiratory therapists on the frontline are women, as are grocery store cashiers and pharmacy workers. Non-white women are most likely to do these vital jobs that are underpaid and undervalued. They are the unseen workforce that takes care of those most in need. The CDG membership also has a very high number of women workers and we have seen wages stagnate over the past four years. We need to take it to the streets to secure pay equity for women in the motion picture industry, we can support and encourage other sisters and brothers doing what is considered women's work to organize for fair wages, healthcare, and a pension. As of this writing, this is Day 40 of coronavirus isolation. Will the 2020 pandemic be recorded in history as the defining year in the 21st century or will it be forgotten, brushed aside as a blip in time, when we return to our jobs and businesses? We are all staying home, distancing ourselves from each other, working in loungewear, eating while still in our jammies, working out, reading, and binge-watching multiple television series. Meanwhile, Fox News reports that this pandemic is "fake mainstream news" and called COVID-19, a mainstream news media stunt to hurt the current administration. The pandemic is called a conspiracy of lies by "socialist" democrats to crash the economy, make 45 look bad, and to end his election rallies. All the while the administration is attempting to block us from voting by mail in November. Mr. Trump has made governors responsible while claiming to be a war president. He claims that safety supplies and testing have been abundant, when have been unavailable and inaccessible. He tweets support of demonstrators demanding to put a stop to the stay-home orders and return workers to their jobs, re-open businesses, and "save" the economy, assuring it will all be fine. More likely, a second wave of infections could be affecting voters by the time the November election rolls around. Now is the time to call to our representatives in Washington to pass VOTE BY MAIL legislation. Together is a good place to be, at home practicing safe distancing until herd immunity is established. In solidarity, Betty Madden CDG Labor Delegate and County Federation of Labor Sergeant at Arms bmadden@cdgia.com MEMBER RESOURCES Motion Picture Industry Pension & Health Plans [MPIPHP]: service@mpiphp.org Click COVID19 for: Hardship Form, IAP Hardship Withdrawal FAQs, IAP Hardship Withdrawal Payback, Emergency Relief Resources: mpiphp.org/home The Motion Picture & Television Fund [MPTF]: Social Services, if you've lost insurance, counsel- ing, financial relief: mptf.com (323) 634-3888 Entertainment Health Insurance Solutions [EHIS in partnership with MPTF & Actors Fund]: Assistance in finding the best, cost-effective insurance: ehisca.com