Strikes during the COVID-19 pandemic

Strikes occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic due to many factors including: hazard pay or low pay, unsafe working conditions (due to poor social distancing or a lack of personal protective equipment), inability to pay rent. These strikes are separate from the various protests that occurred over responses to the pandemic.

Part of a series on the
COVID-19 pandemic
 COVID-19 Portal

Prison system strikes

A hunger strike occurred at York County Prison in Pennsylvania.[1] Another hunger strike happened in Otay Mesa, San Diego, California on 17 April 2020 at the Otay Mesa Detention Center.[2]

Rent strikes

Countries

Australia

A petition organised by the Kulin Nations (Melbourne) branch of the Industrial Workers of the World recorded nearly 20,000 signatures on its page.[3] This prompted the organisation of rent strike support groups in preparation for 31 March, when renters from multiple Council areas sent letters of demand to real estate companies and landlords stating their intention to cease paying rent beginning in April. Initial organisation came before announcement of a moratorium on evictions for six months by the Australian Federal government, and continued afterwards.[4]

Canada

In Toronto, renters protested in front of their landlords' mansions[5]

United Kingdom

In the UK all eviction proceedings have been suspended, and a three-month, extendable, moratorium on new proceedings imposed.[6] In addition household assistance of various forms has been made available to domestic tenants, and support for landlords has been extended via the banks.[6] However, students at the University of the West of England and Bristol University went on a rent strike against many landlords who continued to charge them full priced rent.[7]

United States
Activists in Seattle promote rent strikes on 6 April 2020
A person in Chicago in a 'Caravan rally'[8] promoting rent cancellation on 7 May 2020

On 1 April 32 residential tenants in Chicago went on strike.[9] One Los Angeles landlord, while trying to prevent a rent strike by emailing 300 tenants that they owe rent, inadvertently caused one by cc'ing, and not bcc'ing those tenants on the list who used the contact information to coordinate a strike.[10] A solitary renter in Colorado went on strike.[11] A group of at least 20 tenants went on strike in Oakland, California.[12] Almost a dozen renters in Austin, Texas went on rent strike in one building.[13]

According to the National Multifamily Housing Council, 69 percent of American renters were on time with rent by 5 April 2020, as compared to 81 percent in March 2020.[14] On 8 April 13 Philadelphia households went on rent strike.[15] In May 2020 thousands of New York City tenants declined to pay rent in a rent strike.[16]

Companies

Many commercial tenants, notably retailers, have called the situation a "force majeure"[17] as rationale for voiding lease agreements, although landlords still have to make mortgage payments.[17] These include Cheesecake Factory,[18][19] Mattress Firm[20] and Subway[17] have refused to pay April 2020 rent due to the pandemic,[21] and resulting unemployment.[22][23]

Organizations

Rent Strike 2020 is an activist organization that was formed during the 2020 pandemic to promote widespread rent strikes.[24][25] In Chicago, the Autonomous Tenant's Union has been advocating rent freezes as well as mortgage freezes and utility freezes.[26] A group of 100 renters in Kent, Ohio formed the Kent Tenants Union, which created a list of demands to pay rent.[27]

The International Alliance of Inhabitants is a global network of grassroots organizations active on all continents, such the Zero Evictions Campaign. It established the International Tribunal on Evictions which held sessions and collaborates with the UN Rapporteur on the Right to Housing. The IAI has mobilized early in the pandemic the Zero Evictions for Coronavirus campaign post on Facebook which has had hundreds of post of stories, proposals, practices, struggles for the right to housing from all over the world. It also has information on how popular organizations and their allies, local authorities, and governments are facing the housing crisis uncovered by the coronavirus. The IAI is also gathering on the Facebook page, Rent Strike hundreds of posts on struggles and activities related to the Rent strike.

University strikes

Students at the University of Chicago went on a tuition strike[28] similar strikes are seen at Pomona College, The New School and others.[29] Students at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie have gone on a strike from classes, after the University refused to implement a Universal Pass system for the classes during the pandemic. PhD students at Columbia University began a strike, stating that their rent should be canceled, research stipends increased, and an extra year added to their programs to make up for lost time due to the pandemic.[29]

Students at the Universidad de Chile and Universidad San Sebastián in Chile, went on an online strike in support for the many students who do not own a computer or constant access to the Internet for online learning.[30]

Workers strikes

Amazon

Strikes occurred in mid-March 2020 in Italy,[31] and late March through 1 May 2020 at various US Amazon locations.[32][33]

In New York City, the Amazon worker who helped organize the walkout at the Staten Island Warehouse was soon fired[34][35] and New York City mayor Bill De Blasio has ordered an investigation.[36] Amazon executives had planned to smear the reputation of the organizer.[37] Amazon workers near Milan, Italy held a strike in mid-March to protest hazardous working conditions.[38] On 1 April 2020 Amazon warehouse workers in Michigan planned a strike over PPE protections for the coronavirus.[39] Amazon workers have been tracking known cases of the coronavirus in the US and Europe on Reddit, due to a lack of transparency from upper management.[40] Amazon workers again went on strike over safe working conditions on Monday 6 April in Staten Island.[41]

A minority of workers at various Amazon, Target, Instacart, and Whole Foods shops joined coordinated walkouts or sick-outs on 1 May 2020, in what was called an "essential workers general strike."[42]

Bus drivers

On 17 March in Detroit, Michigan, bus drivers went on a wildcat strike[43] over safety items like masks and cleaning of busses, and by the next day the drivers had all their demands granted.[44] Bus drivers in Birmingham, Alabama also went on strike.[45]

Distribution and logistics

In Australia, shift workers walked off the job at a Coles distribution centre in Victoria to demand more safety measures over COVID-19. The demands were proper provision and enforcement of social distancing measures and additional supplies of antibacterial wipes, and the strike was successful in securing these measures.[46] Workers at a Barnes & Noble warehouse in New Jersey went on strike on 7 April after 9 workers tested positive for Covid-19.[47]

In Memphis, Tennessee 200 workers at a Kroger warehouse went on strike after discovering that a colleague had tested positive.[48]

Food processing

In late March 2020, 50 workers at a Purdue poultry processing plant in Kathleen, Georgia went on a wildcat strike over working conditions and hazard pay.[49] On 27 April, employees walked out of the Pilgrim's Pride poultry processing plant in Cold Spring, Minnesota, in protest of how the firm is handling worker safety during the COVID-19 pandemic. On 28 April 50 workers at the Smithfield Foods' pork plant in Nebraska walked out when the heard the plant would not close after around forty-eight co-workers had tested positive for COVID-19.[50] On 7 May, fruit packing workers at Allan Brothers, in Washington state, walked off the job and protested outside the plant, saying the company has been lax and inconsistent about Covid-19 prevention, and asking for hazard pay.[51]

Grocery

Several dozen food packagers working for Linden Foods in Dungannon, Northern Ireland walked out of work due to safety conditions.[52] Smaller number of workers walked out or called in sick at Instacart,[33][53] and Whole Foods,[54] as well as other locations.

Manufacturing

Workers at General Electric walked off the job demanding to re-tool the factories to make ventilators,[55] which are in dire short supply due to the pandemic.[52] Workers at a Fiat Chrysler factory in Warren, Michigan went on strike over hot water for washing.[45]

Industrial Trade Unions in Lombardy, Italy have been threatening and organizing strikes over working conditions.[56][57]

Medical

Public sector doctors and nurses in Hong Kong went on strike for two weeks in late January and early February to protest against the Hong Kong government's refusal to close borders to contain the growing epidemic. Healthcare worker unions warned that the healthcare system would inevitably collapse unless strict border quarantine with Mainland China was enacted.[58]

In Papua New Guinea, 4,000 nurses are expected to strike over hazardous working conditions.[59] Doctors and nurses in public hospitals in Zimbabwe held a strike due to a lack of protective equipment.[60] Sanitation workers in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania[61] and Medway, UK[62] went on strike over protective equipment. Doctors in Hong Kong,[63] Jalalabad,[64] Jakarta[65] and Islamabad[66] all threatened strikes over a lack of protective equipment.

Restaurants

Other strikes occurred at a McDonalds[67] in San Jose California, where workers complained that they did not have enough soap to clean their hands,[45] and 20 workers at a McDonalds in Cicero, Illinois went on strike over paid sick days required by Illinois law, the walkout lasted 30 minutes and won the workers the paid sick leave.[45] Around 100 restaurant and retail employees in Durham and Raleigh, North Carolina went on a single day digital strike against unsafe working conditions and low pay and reduced hours.[68] In April 2020, workers at 30 restaurants went on strike over safety conditions.[69]

Retail

500 workers walked out of work at ASOS in the UK because the workers wanted to maintain social distancing.[70]

Sanitation

In Kent, United Kingdom, bin collectors and street cleaners working for Medway Council's contractor, Norse Group, balloted unanimously to strike over a lack of protective clothing and unsafe conditions regarding the virus.[71] The strikes were called off after a deal was reached.[72]

In New Orleans, United States, city sanitation workers went on strike beginning on 5 May 2020.[73]

Shipping

Wharf workers were stood down in the Port of Melbourne after they refused to unload cargo from a Chinese ship due to fears about coronavirus safety.[74]

Unrelated postponed strikes

In Italy, a planned airline transport strike unrelated to COVID-19 was postponed in February 2020.[75]

gollark: Okay, even if you don't need ATM-stolen levels of security, it still needs to be ridiculously secure.
gollark: Also, can you not, say, invisibly read from an RFID card someone had and take all their money?
gollark: That answer to 4.
gollark: Sorry. What?!
gollark: I can see a few problems:1. how are you planning to make secure bank cards?2. how will people trust the system?3. how is it actually more convenient than holding [CURRENCY] in your inventory?4. you will need it to be really secure - so secure that even if an ATM is stolen it won't be possible to meddle with the backend.

References
  1. Czech, Ted. "'Sitting ducks': Immigrants at York County Prison on hunger strike amid coronavirus, group says". The York Daily Record. Archived from the original on 30 March 2020. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
  2. "COVID-19 concerns prompt hunger strikes and protests inside Otay Mesa Detention Center". Los Angeles Times. 18 April 2020. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
  3. "COVID-19 Rent Strike Pledge". Megaphone. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  4. "Australia's coronavirus lockdown has renters and landlords in a bind". SBS News. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  5. "Toronto renters are now staging protests outside the mansions of their landlords". www.blogto.com. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  6. "Government support available for landlords and renters reflecting the current coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak". GOV.UK. Archived from the original on 27 March 2020. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
  7. "University students staging 'rent strike'". BBC News. 31 March 2020. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
  8. "Organized Protest in the Pandemic Era". The Quarantine Times. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  9. "As COVID-19 Economic Crisis Deepens, Hyde Park Renters Strike". chicagomaroon.com. Archived from the original on 4 April 2020. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
  10. Scher, Isaac (2 April 2020). "A landlord sent an email blast to 300 tenants telling them to pay rent. It inadvertently helped them organize a rent strike". Business Insider. Archived from the original on 3 April 2020. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  11. "Coronavirus Pandemic: Colorado Man Goes On Rent Strike To Stay In His Home". 1 April 2020. Archived from the original on 3 April 2020. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  12. "Coronavirus Rent Strike in the Bay Area: Tenants 'Giving the Governor Notice' | KQED News". KQED. Archived from the original on 4 April 2020. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  13. EDT, Khaleda Rahman On 4/7/20 at 10:59 AM (7 April 2020). "Rent strikes gather steam as campaigners call for payments to be waived completely to help people survive COVID-19 crisis". Newsweek. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  14. Sisson, Patrick (8 April 2020). "'If thousands of people couldn't pay rent April 1, we'll have millions in May'". Curbed. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  15. Melamed, Samantha. "Philly's coronavirus rent-strike experiment has begun. 13 West Philly households are taking part". Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  16. Offenhartz, Jake (1 May 2020). "Thousands Of NYC Tenants Kick Off Historic Rent Strike, Distressing Landlords". Gothamist. Archived from the original on 5 May 2020. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
  17. "Retailers Warn Landlords They May Stop Paying Rent – The Real Deal". The Real Deal New York. 20 March 2020. Archived from the original on 28 March 2020. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  18. Kang, Matthew (25 March 2020). "Cheesecake Factory tells landlords it won't be able to pay rents on April 1". Eater LA. Archived from the original on 26 March 2020. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  19. "Because Working People 'Deserve a Rent Holiday as Much as the Cheesecake Factory,' Demand for Relief Grows". Common Dreams. Archived from the original on 27 March 2020. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  20. "U.S. Retailers Plan to Stop Paying Rent to Offset Virus". Bloomberg. 24 March 2020. Archived from the original on 29 March 2020. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
  21. Chang, Clio (27 March 2020). "Should I Pay My Rent on April 1? We Asked a New York Housing Organizer". Vice. Archived from the original on 27 March 2020. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  22. Arsdale, Greyson Van. "What to Know About Rent Strike 2020". Teen Vogue. Archived from the original on 27 March 2020. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  23. Aitken, Peter (27 March 2020). "Rent strikes across US during coronavirus coalescing into movement". Fox News. Archived from the original on 27 March 2020. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  24. Yaa, Nana (26 March 2020). "RENT STRIKE 2020". The New Inquiry. Archived from the original on 27 March 2020. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  25. Harris, Margot. "People around the world are trying to organize a large-scale rent strike through social platforms amid mass coronavirus layoffs". Insider. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  26. "Videos". FOX 32 Chicago. Archived from the original on 31 March 2020. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
  27. Reporter, BOB GAETJENS. "Kent renters unionize to protect those unable to pay rent". Record-Courier. Archived from the original on 1 April 2020. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  28. "500 UChicago Students Say They Aren't Paying Tuition Until The School Agrees To Cut Fees During Pandemic". Block Club Chicago. Retrieved 30 April 2020.
  29. Retta, Mary (24 April 2020). "Students Across the Country Are Going on Strike". ISSN 0027-8378. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
  30. Hurtado, Maria Elena (3 April 2020). "Students go on unprecedented online strikes for equality". University World News. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
  31. Tamma, Paola (13 March 2020). "Coronavirus sparks nationwide strikes in Italy". POLITICO. Archived from the original on 1 April 2020. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  32. Fordham, Evie (30 March 2020). "Amazon workers concerned about coronavirus safety walk out of Staten Island warehouse". FOXBusiness. Archived from the original on 31 March 2020. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
  33. "Amazon, Instacart Grocery Delivery Workers Strike For Coronavirus Protection And Pay". NPR.org. Archived from the original on 30 March 2020. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
  34. Palmer, Annie (31 March 2020). "Amazon fires warehouse worker who led Staten Island strike for more coronavirus protection". CNBC. Archived from the original on 31 March 2020. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
  35. "Amazon draws criticism for firing employee who led coronavirus protest". Engadget. Archived from the original on 1 April 2020. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
  36. Palmer, Annie (31 March 2020). "NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio orders investigation of Amazon's firing of strike organizer". CNBC. Archived from the original on 31 March 2020. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
  37. Blest, Paul (2 April 2020). "Leaked Amazon Memo Details Plan to Smear Fired Warehouse Organizer: 'He's Not Smart or Articulate'". Vice. Archived from the original on 3 April 2020. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  38. Moynihan, Isobel Asher Hamilton, Ruqayyah (17 March 2020). "Amazon warehouse workers in Italy are striking in outrage at the firm's response to 2 staff contracting coronavirus". Business Insider. Archived from the original on 6 April 2020. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
  39. Palmer, Annie (1 April 2020). "Amazon workers protest at Michigan warehouse, calling for coronavirus protections". CNBC. Archived from the original on 3 April 2020. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  40. "Amazon Workers: Go on Strike. Now". Gizmodo. Archived from the original on 1 April 2020. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
  41. "Amazon "Profiting from This Pandemic" as Warehouse Workers Walk Off Job to Demand Safer Conditions". Democracy Now!. Archived from the original on 8 April 2020. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  42. Sollenberger, Roger. "Essential workers across the U.S. went on strike today — here's why". Salon. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
  43. Elk, Mike (28 March 2020). "ATU Shop Steward, Who Warned of COVID-19 Dangers, Dies From it". Payday Report. Archived from the original on 2 April 2020. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  44. "Strike for Your Life!". Common Dreams. Archived from the original on 6 April 2020. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  45. Greenhouse, Steven (30 March 2020). "Opinion | Is Your Grocery Delivery Worth a Worker's Life?". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 2 April 2020. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  46. "Coles workers strike over COVID-19". Sky News Australia. Archived from the original on 1 April 2020. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  47. Jr, Edward Ongweso (7 April 2020). "Workers Protest at Barnes & Noble Warehouse Where 9 Have Tested Positive for Covid-19". Vice. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  48. Macaraeg, Sarah. "Distribution slows after Kroger warehouse worker in Memphis tests positive for COVID-19". The Commercial Appeal. Archived from the original on 2 April 2020. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  49. pay.watagnet.com "Perdue Farms employees protest over COVID-19 concerns" 24 March.
  50. Marx21, Covid-19 Class Struggle Timeline. https://www.sutori.com/story/covid-19-class-struggle-timeline--L59HEhnbep7FLqq97Y9gCRpX, 27 & 28 April.
  51. Marx21, Covid-19 Class Struggle Timeline. https://www.sutori.com/story/covid-19-class-struggle-timeline--L59HEhnbep7FLqq97Y9gCRpX, 7 May.
  52. "40 food plant workers in Co Tyrone go on strike due to coronavirus fears". Q Radio. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
  53. Gurley, Lauren Kaori (27 March 2020). "Instacart's Gig Workers Are Planning a Massive, Nationwide Strike". Vice. Archived from the original on 30 March 2020. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
  54. Gurley, Lauren Kaori (30 March 2020). "Whole Foods Employees Are Staging a Nationwide 'Sick-Out'". Vice. Archived from the original on 30 March 2020. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
  55. Jr, Edward Ongweso (30 March 2020). "General Electric Workers Launch Protest, Demand to Make Ventilators". Vice. Archived from the original on 30 March 2020. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
  56. "Italy Calls General Strike: "Our Lives Are Worth More Than Your Profits"". Left Voice. Archived from the original on 3 April 2020. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  57. Welle (www.dw.com), Deutsche. "Italian workers protest against open factories as COVID-19 spreads | DW | 26 March 2020". DW.COM. Archived from the original on 27 March 2020. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
  58. Law, Violet (3 February 2020). "Hong Kong medical workers strike to demand total border closure". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 1 March 2020. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  59. Togiba, Lyanne (30 March 2020). "'Papua New Guinea is not prepared': 4,000 nurses to strike over Covid-19 readiness". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 30 March 2020. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
  60. "Zimbabwe doctors, nurses strike over little virus protection". AP NEWS. 25 March 2020. Archived from the original on 30 March 2020. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
  61. "Pittsburgh Sanitation Workers Are On Strike Over Lack Of Protections Against Coronavirus". BET.com. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
  62. "Strike threat over bin collections". Kent Online. 24 March 2020. Archived from the original on 25 March 2020. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
  63. "Coronavirus: Unions urges medics to halt work if Hong Kong Hospital Authority cannot provide adequate protective gear". The Hong Kong Free Press. 13 February 2020. Archived from the original on 14 March 2020. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
  64. "Intern doctors on strike demanding PPE". The Daily Star. 25 March 2020. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
  65. Arkyasa, Mahinda (27 March 2020). "Indonesian Doctors Threaten to Go on Strike over Lack of PPE". Tempo. Archived from the original on 29 March 2020. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
  66. "'Provide protective equipments': Pakistan doctors threaten strike amid COVID-19 scare". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 23 March 2020. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
  67. Reed, Brad. "San Jose McDonald's workers strike after their employer fails to provide sufficient soap during pandemic". rawstory.com. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
  68. McDonald, Thomasi (30 March 2020). "Triangle Fast-Food Workers Go on Digital Strike to Protest Unsafe Conditions". INDY Week. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
  69. Zhang, Jenny G. (9 April 2020). "California Fast-Food Workers Strike Over Chains' Insufficient COVID-19 Responses". Eater. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  70. LazenbySunday, Peter; March 29; 2020 (29 March 2020). "500 workers walk out of Asos factory after company fails to enforce social distancing". Morning Star. Archived from the original on 31 March 2020. Retrieved 31 March 2020.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  71. Jordan, Nicola (24 March 2020). "Coronavirus Kent: Medway binmen and street cleaners threaten to strike". Kent Online. Archived from the original on 25 March 2020. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  72. Leclere, Matt (1 April 2020). "Coronavirus Kent: Medway binmen and street cleaners threaten to strike". Kent Online. Archived from the original on 3 April 2020. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  73. Sledge, Matt (11 May 2020). "New Orleans sanitation worker protest enters second week; dispute centers on pay, conditions". nola.com. New Orleans. Retrieved 3 August 2020.
  74. Jacks, Timna (1 April 2020). "Melbourne wharfies stood down after refusing to unload Chinese ship". The Age. Archived from the original on 3 April 2020. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  75. "Italy airline strike postponed over Coronavirus: union spokeswoman". Reuters. 24 February 2020. Archived from the original on 25 February 2020. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.