Health and Safety
AFSCME Fact Sheets – Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Other Questions?
- Updated COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Fact Sheet (September 13, 2022)
- New Head Start Standards for Masking and Vaccination against COVID-19 (December 7, 2021)
- New OSHA COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing Requirements (January 14, 2022)
- New CMS COVID-19 Vaccination Requirements For Health Care Facility Staff (January 20, 2022)
- COVID-19: Best Practices for Library Workers (November 16, 2020)
- (Spanish version: COVID-19: Mejores prácticas para los trabajadores de bibliotecas)
- COVID-19: Best Practices for Courthouses (June 17, 2020)
- Re-Opening Childcare Programs: A Health and Safety Checklist (June 4, 2020)
- COVID-19: Best Practices for Returning to an Office Setting (May 20, 2020)
- (Spanish version: COVID-19: Mejores Prácticas para Regresar a un Entorno de Oficina)
- Workplace Preparedness and COVID-19 Response: Questions for Your Employer (March 2020)
- Cleaning and Decontamination of SARS-CoV-2 on Surfaces (March 18, 2020)
- COVID-19: Interim Guidance for Police, Sheriffs and Law Enforcement Officers (March 26, 2020)
- (Spanish version: COVID-19: Guía para Policías y Agentes de la Ley)
- COVID-19 & Social Assistance Workers: Preparing for Visits with Your Clients (March 17, 2020)
- COVID-19 Preparedness for Long-Term Care Facilities (March 2020)
- (Spanish version: COVID-19 Preparación para Centros de Cuidado de Salud a Largo Plazo)
- Interim Guidance on SARS-CoV-2 for Correctional Officers and Staff in Secured Facilities (March 19, 2020)
- Personal Protective Equipment for Healthcare Workers in a COVID-19 Environment (March 16, 2020)
COVID-19 RESPONSE
COVID-19 Response Resources
Vaccine FAQs
- Coronavirus Vaccination Frequently Asked Questions
- (Spanish version: Preguntas Frecuentes sobre la Vacunación contra el Coronavirus)
American Rescue Plan Act Resources
American Rescue Plan Act Webinar
- Bargaining for New Money in the American Rescue Plan Webinar (Spring 2021)
- View webinar recording and download presentation slides (Register or log in for access)
State and Local Aid Guidance from the U.S. Treasury Department
- Final U.S. Treasury Guidance on the $350 Billion in State and Local Government Direct Aid in the American Rescue Plan (January 18, 2022)
American Rescue Plan Act Fact Sheets
- Key Provisions in the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (March 12, 2021)
- Federal COVID-19-Related Paid Leave Tax Credits In the American Rescue Plan (April 27, 2021)
- Small and Mid-Size Employer Assistance Programs In the American Rescue Plan (March 26, 2021)
- New COVID-19 Vaccine, Testing and Other Public Health Funding In the American Rescue Plan (March 26, 2021)
- Medicaid Improvements and Financial Support In the American Rescue Plan (March 24, 2021)
- Help for Unemployed Workers In the American Rescue Plan (March 23, 2021)
- State and Local Government Direct Aid In the American Rescue Plan (March 23, 2021)
- Expanded Child Tax Credits and Dependent Care Benefits In the American Rescue Plan (March 22, 2021)
- Stimulus Checks for Individuals Under the American Rescue Plan (March 19, 2021)
American Rescue Plan Act Provisions for Specific Sectors
- K-12 Education Supplemental Funding From the American Rescue Plan Act (June 11, 2021)
- American Rescue Plan Funding for Higher Education Institutions and Students (June 1, 2021)
- Transportation Funding in the American Rescue Plan (March 31, 2021)
- Health Care Provider Relief In the American Rescue Plan (March 26, 2021)
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Funding In the American Rescue Plan (March 24, 2021)
- Water and Wastewater Debt Aid That Benefits Utilities (March 24, 2021)
- Funding for Libraries and Museums In the American Rescue Plan (March 23, 2021)
- Early Childhood Education Funding In the American Rescue Plan Act (March 22, 2021)
COVID-19 Emergency Relief Law
- Provisions in the COVID-19 Emergency Relief Law (December 22, 2020)
- Federal COVID-19-Related Leave Requirements (January 19, 2021)
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- (Spanish version: Requisitos federales de licencia relacionados al COVID-19)
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- New COVID-19 Testing, Vaccine and Contact Tracing Funding (January 14, 2021)
- Employee Retention Tax Credit (January 14, 2021)
- Extension of Unemployment Benefits for Workers Affected by COVID-19 (January 12, 2021)
- Coronavirus Relief Fund (January 11, 2021)
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- (Spanish version: Fondo de Ayuda contra el Coronavirus)
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- New Economic Impact Payments for Individuals (January 11, 2021)
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- (Spanish version: Nuevos Pagos de Impacto Económico para las Personas)
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- COVID Related Relief for DCAPs and Health FSAs (January 6, 2021)
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- (Spanish version: Ayuda relativa al COVID para los planes DCAP y las cuentas FSA de salud)
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COVID-19 Emergency Relief Law Provisions for Specific Sectors
- Federal Supplemental Funding for K-12 Education (January 19, 2021)
- COVID-19 Relief Funding for Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Assistance (January 15, 2021)
- New Federal Early Childhood Education Funding (January 14, 2021)
- New COVID-19 Funding for Transportation (January 14, 2021)
- Provider Relief Fund and Relief for Medicare Providers (January 13, 2021)
- Federal Supplemental Funding for Higher Education Institutions and Students (January 13, 2021)
CARES Act
- New Leave Requirements Mandated by Congress for COVID-19 – Updated January 2021 to reflect changes to the law enacted by Congress in the CARES Act and new guidance issued by the Trump administration.
Bargaining in Challenging Times
American Rescue Plan Webinar
- Bargaining for New Money in the American Rescue Plan Webinar (Spring 2021)
- View webinar recording and download presentation slides (Register or log in for access)
Alternatives to Layoffs webinar & resources
- Alternatives to Layoffs Webinar (Summer 2020)
- View webinar recording and download presentation slides and additional resources. (Register or log in for access)
Downloadable resources to help you bargain in challenging times
- Put Down That Ax: Alternatives to Layoffs
(En español: Deje de Lado el Hacha – Alternativas a los Despidos) - 10 Steps States Should Take to End Corporate Giveaways:
Greg LeRoy of Good Jobs First lists 10 steps states should take now to end corporate giveaways and generate enough tax revenue to cope with the pandemic fallout. - Digging for Dollars: A Guide to Local Government Revenues
(En español: Rastreando Dólares – Guía sobre Ingresos de los Gobiernos Locales)
AFSCME's Bargaining Toolkit
Getting Started
TOOLS AND TEMPLATES TO HELP YOU PREPARE: A lot of preparation goes into bargaining before the first session with management. Use these tools and templates to make your bargaining request to management, train your bargaining team, gather information, write language and more.
At the Table
TOOLS AND SERVICES TO HELP YOU AT THE TABLE: When you're bargaining at the table, use these tools to determine if the employer can afford the union’s economic proposal and how health and pension benefits proposals will impact members.
Bumps in the Road
MORE TOOLS TO HELP WITH DIFFICULT SITUATIONS: Bargaining can get especially challenging if the employer claims poverty, threatens layoffs or privatization or pushes negotiations to impasse. Use these tools to help you resolve these difficult situations.
Stay informed
AFSCME Staff Exchange
The Staff Exchange is an email group where AFSCME affiliate staff from around the country can get answers to questions, share challenges and victories and learn about developing issues that affect the members they represent. Registration and verification are required to join the group. Please submit this form to sign up.
AFSCME FYI Daily News Clips
Subscribe to the AFSCME FYI: The AFSCME FYI is a newsletter curated for AFSCME IU and affiliate staff that is sent out every weekday. The newsletter covers AFSCME developments and major labor issues at the national, state, and local levels.