The COVID-19 crisis has brought increased stress and hardship to workers in Massachusetts — along with increased fears of having budgets, services and jobs cut.
The 248 responses to the SEIU Public Services Division survey from Local 888 and 509 members showed some real surprises, but also reinforced general impressions of the havoc wreaked by COVID-19. One shocking result was that 15 percent of respondents answered “Yes” to this question: “In the last six months have you skipped meals or visited a food pantry because you could not afford enough food for yourself or your family?”
“The survey results show the need for immediate massive federal relief to ensure that workers and our communities can survive the current pandemic, and come out stronger on the other side,” said Local 888 President Brenda Rodrigues.”
“With so much suffering and pain in this country due to the pandemic, congressional Republicans were wrong to oppose the new $1.9 trillion stimulus bill backed by the Biden administrations.”
In particular, she said, “our states, cities and towns need the aid that has been held up for too long during the COVID-19 crisis.”
In the SEIU survey, 23 percent of respondents said that they or their co-workers had been hit with furloughs, a hiring freeze or unfilled vacancies. Budget cuts involving reducing or eliminating program or services hit the workplaces of 18 percent of those who answered the survey — while 22 percent they had seen a freeze in cost-of-living adjustments, pay cuts or cuts to such benefits as retirement.
Nearly half said they had experienced an increased work load.
About 26 percent of respondents said they had difficulty accessing day care either due to cost or a lack of availability in their area. That’s not surprising, considering the precarious situation day care providers find themselves in
An even greater share of SEIU members surveyed (34 percent) said they had run into challenges accessing medical care, either due to cost or availability in their area. In addition, 5 percent of respondents said they had moved in with others or had other people moved in with them because of financial problems.
To see national results of the survey, go to the Local 888 Facebook page at www.facebook.com/SEIULocal888. or click here.