Undeterred
Member
I had symptoms of illness on Wednesday, March 25th, 2020. I reported these symptoms to my supervisor and, consequently, was made (by management) unable to return to work until I could obtain the results of a COVID-19 test. On that same day, I scheduled a COVID-19 test through my physician's office. The soonest I was able to schedule the test was on Friday, March 27th, due to the fact that Kentucky (as someone at my physician's office reported to me while scheduling the appointment) had just, two days earlier, set up the first testing site in Louisville, KY. For your information by the way, Kentucky apparently lagged behind other states (McAlister, 2020)...(as KY lags behind other states in many metrics) in their ability to quickly establish a testing site. I was informed at the testing site that I would be "...called in a few days." As of today, Wednesday, April 1, 2020, I have not received a call. I have reported as being symptom free to my supervisor as of Tuesday, March 31, 2020. Yet, I cannot return to work without the results of this test.
My question is this: should I be compensated for the time I couldn't work even though I followed all the procedural guidelines set forth by our governing bodies and the medical community? The advice was that if you feel sick, you should stay home. Well, I felt sick and stayed home. Now, I understand that if the test comes back as positive for COVID-19 that I will be compensated. However, what if the test comes back negative, or worse, I do not get a call? I have still followed all procedural guidelines, and in my opinion, have done the responsible thing, not only for my own well-being, but for anyone who may have been affected had I made the decision to continue to work while having symptoms of illness.
I have, as of today (April, 1,2020) contacted my local union hall (Local 89) to address this question. I was transferred to the office of
and was prompted to leave a voicemail message (which I did). I have yet to be called back. I am of the mind that we, unionized UPSers above all, should be compensated beyond the agreement recently met between our union and the firm so as to extend compensation to anyone who is laid-off due to following the procedural guidelines set forth by our governing bodies during this pandemic crisis. I think that a more amicable agreement could have been reached in this regard. The purpose of having reached out to union leadership was to ascertain, whether or not, an attempt was made to this regard. I, personally, demand fully accountability of our union leadership and representation (as I am paying for it through union dues) and fully expect a timely, courteous, and detailed response to that end. What are your thoughts?
My question is this: should I be compensated for the time I couldn't work even though I followed all the procedural guidelines set forth by our governing bodies and the medical community? The advice was that if you feel sick, you should stay home. Well, I felt sick and stayed home. Now, I understand that if the test comes back as positive for COVID-19 that I will be compensated. However, what if the test comes back negative, or worse, I do not get a call? I have still followed all procedural guidelines, and in my opinion, have done the responsible thing, not only for my own well-being, but for anyone who may have been affected had I made the decision to continue to work while having symptoms of illness.
I have, as of today (April, 1,2020) contacted my local union hall (Local 89) to address this question. I was transferred to the office of
and was prompted to leave a voicemail message (which I did). I have yet to be called back. I am of the mind that we, unionized UPSers above all, should be compensated beyond the agreement recently met between our union and the firm so as to extend compensation to anyone who is laid-off due to following the procedural guidelines set forth by our governing bodies during this pandemic crisis. I think that a more amicable agreement could have been reached in this regard. The purpose of having reached out to union leadership was to ascertain, whether or not, an attempt was made to this regard. I, personally, demand fully accountability of our union leadership and representation (as I am paying for it through union dues) and fully expect a timely, courteous, and detailed response to that end. What are your thoughts?References
McAlister, S. (2020, March 19). Why is Kentucky so far behind in coronavirus drive-thru testing? [video]. Retrieved from Why is Kentucky so far behind in coronavirus drive-thru testing?.
