♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> Crossley: WELCOME TO "BASIC BLACK."

SOME OF YOU ARE JOINING US ON OUR BROADCAST, AND OTHERS OF YOU ARE JOINING US ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER.

I'M CALLIE CROSSLEY, HOST OF "UNDER THE RADAR," 89.7.

TONIGHT, THE VALUE OF ESSENTIAL WORKERS.

WE, LIKE YOU, ARE DEALING WITH THE EFFECTS OF THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC AND ARE TAKING PRECAUTIONS.

WE ARE WORKING WITH LIMITED STAFF, AND OUR GUESTS ARE JOINING US REMOTELY.

THE NUMBERS HIGHLIGHT THE GLARING INEQUITY.

LAST DECEMBER, THE URBAN INSTITUTE FOUND THAT DURING THE COVID LOCKDOWN, MORE THAN HALF OF BLACK, LATINO, AND NATIVE AMERICANS WORKERS HELD JOBS THAT HAD TO BE DONE IN PERSON, 42% OF ASIAN EMPLOYEES.

THAT PUT THESE ESSENTIAL WORKERS AT A HIGHER RISK OF INFECTION.

AS THEY STRUGGLED WITH SHORT SUPPLIES OF PROTECTIVE GEAR, FEW RECEIVED HAZARD PAY.

WILL THEIR EXPERIENCES SHAPE FUTURE PUBLIC POLICY ABOUT WORKPLACE PROTECTION?

AND WILL THEY FINALLY BE FIRST IN LINE TO BENEFIT?

JOINING US: CONGRESSWOMAN AYANNA PRESSLEY, REPRESENTING THE SEVENTH DISTRICT HERE IN MASSACHUSETTS; ATTORNEY DESIREE MURPHY, A SENIOR LABOR EMPLOYEE RELATIONS SPECIALIST AT UMASS MEMORIAL MEDICAL CENTER; JOHN SOARES, PRESIDENT OF LOCAL 718, BOSTON FIREFIGHTERS UNION-- HE IS AT THE AIRPORT AND IS JOINING US BY PHONE; AND KETURA'H EDWARDS-ROBINSON, A NURSE PRACTITIONER AT THE DIMOCK CENTER IN ROXBURY.

WELCOME TO ALL OF YOU.

CONGRESSWOMAN PRESSLEY I'M GOING TO START WITH YOU.

THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL STATED CLEARLY THAT RACISM IS A SERIOUS, THAT'S THE WORD THEY USE, PUBLIC HEALTH THREAT TO FOLKS OF COLOR.

NOW I ASK THAT IN THE CONTEXT OF OUR CONVERSATION, I ASK YOU TO RESPOND TO THAT BECAUSE HOW WILL THAT IMPACT POLICY GOING FORWARD AND WHAT IS -- WHAT DOES THAT ACKNOWLEDGMENT DO AS WE THINK ABOUT THE NEEDS FOR THE FOLKS OF COLOR, THOSE ESSENTIAL WORKERS WHO, AS I MENTIONED, WERE AT HIGHEST RISK FOR COVID?

>> WELL, I THINK IT'S ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THE IMPACTS OF SYSTEMIC AND STRUCTURAL RACISM.

AND CERTAINLY THAT'S ACROSS THE BOARD BUT THAT HAS BEEN LAID BARE AND MORS PRONOUNCED AND MORE EXACERBATED DURING THIS GLOBAL PANDEMIC.

I REPRESENT THE MASSACHUSETTS SEVENTH WHICH IS A VIBRANT DYNAMIC DISTRICT AND ONE OF THE MOST UNEQUAL IN THE COUNTRY.

AND A DISTRICT THAT WAS THE HARDEST HIT BY THE CORONAVIRUS IN THE COMMONWEALTH.

BECAUSE WE HAVE COMMUNITIES LIKE CHELSEA, ROXBURY, EVERETT, RANDALL, SO THESE ARE COMMUNITIES THAT LIVE DAILY WITH THE COULD CO-MORE BYITIES OF RACISM, FOOD DERTSDZ DESERTS, RESULTING IN THE HIGHEST RATES OF ASTHMA.

WE KNEW ANECDOTALLY ALREADY HOW THIS PANDEMIC WOULD PLAY OUT AND WHAT COMMUNITIES WOULD BE HARDEST HIT.

WITH THIS DECLARATION THAT RACISM IS A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS WHAT I HOPE WILL HAPPEN IS THAT WILL SHOW UP IN THE INVESTMENTS THAT WE MAKE IN OUR BUDGETS AND ALSO IN THE POLICIES THAT WE ADVANCE.

AND IN FACT, I INTRODUCED A BILL WITH REPRESENTATIVE BARB LEE AND SENATOR WARREN, THE ANTIRACERACISM AND PUBLIC HEALTH ACT, SO WE COULD DEVELOP ANTIRACIST HELP POLICY, BECAUSE NONE OF THESE DISPARATE HEALTH OUTCOMES OR POOR SOCIAL CONDITIONS, INEQUITIES OR CONDITIONS ARE NATURALLY OCCURRING, CALLIE.

THEY HAVE BEEN LEGISLATED AND THEY HAVE BEEN CREATED BY AN UNDERSNREVMENT COMMUNITY AND WHAT I WOULD CHARACTERIZE AS SYSTEMIC VIOENCE.

>> Crossley: LET ME CIRCLE BACK TO YOU KETURA'H.

YOU ARE WORKING AT DIMOCK, YOU WORK IN THE OB-GYN DEPARTMENT THERE.

TELL ME, EXPLAIN TO ME THE ISOLATION YOU FELT AT BEING ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT HAD TO GO TO WORK WHILE ALL AROUND YOU PEOPLE ARE IN LOCK DOWN, FOR ONE THING.

>> WELL, THE ISOLATION THAT I ACTUALLY FELT WAS MORE FOR MY OWN SOCIAL LIFE.

BECAUSE I WAS GOING INTO WORK AND BECAUSE I AM WORKING WITH PREGNANT PEOPLE, WHO HAVE A COMPROMISED IMMUNE SYSTEM I WANTED TO PROTECT MY PATIENTS.

SO I ISOLATED MY HUSBAND AND I WE FELT WE NEEDED TO ISOLATE OURSELVES FROM OUR SOCIAL LIFE.

SO AT TIMES IT REALLY DID FEEL ISOLATED WHERE ALL I DID WAS GO TO WORK OR I WAS AT HOME.

>> Crossley: AND OF COURSE NOW YOU'RE WORKING IN A HEALTH CENTER BUT ALL AROUND YOU AND EVEN VERY CRITICALLY WHERE YOU WERE WORKING, SHORTAGE OF PPE.

WHAT WAS THE IMPACT OF THAT AS YOU CONTINUED YOUR WORK?

>> YOU NEVER KNEW WHAT YOU WERE GOING TO GET WHEN YOU WALKED IN THE NEXT DAY TO CLINIC, IN TERMS OF IF THERE -- THERE WAS ALWAYS -- THEY ALWAYS MADE SURE WE HAD GLOVES AND MOOSKS BUT INTERMS OF WHO, WHERE IT WAS COMING FROM, HOW FREQUENTLY WE MAY HAVE NEEDED TO USE A MASK, THOSE THINGS CHANGED EVERY DAY.

SO IT WAS REALLY HARD TO I GUESS -- IT WAS HARD AT TIMES TO LIKE WRAP YOUR HEAD AROUND LIKE JUST HOW -- HOW YOUR EVERY DAY -- HOW YOUR CLINIC DAY WAS GOING TO GO.

AT THE PEAK OF THE PANDEMIC WE EVEN HAD -- THERE WAS EVEN A TIME WHERE WE HAD TO REMOVE HAND SANITIZERS AND GLOVES FROM OUR EXAM ROOMS BECAUSE THEY WERE WALKING OFF.

AND SO IT JUST -- IT WAS JUST ALARMING AT JUST HOW OUR WORLD CHANGED.

HOW SIGNIFICANT THE IMPACT THIS PANDEMIC HAS HAD ON OUR EVERYDAY LIVES INCLUDING HOW OWE OPERATORRED IN THE CLINIC.

>> Crossley: SO JOHN SOARES, WHO PRESIDENT OF THE FIREFIGHTERS UNION, THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN TO HOLD THAT POSITION ALL THE YEARS, THE 78 YEARS OF THAT UNION.

FIREFIGHTERS RIGHT OUT THERE HAVING TO GO TO WORK TOO WERE LEARNING ON THE JOB, REALLY, ABOUT HOW TO DEAL WITH THIS PANDEMIC.

>> CORRECT.

IT WAS EVERY DAY WE GOT OUT THERE IT WAS SOMETHING NEW.

AND WHEN WE SPOKE ABOUT THIS PANDEMIC, EACH PERSON IT WAS A DIFFERENT THING FOR THEM THAT CAME FRONT.

SO WEE WERE DEALING WITH THAT EVERY DAY.

ALONG WITH WHAT THE NURSE WAS SAYING, THAT WE WERE DEALING WITH OUR PPE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAD THE MEMBERS SAFE BEFORE THEY WENT INTO THE HOMES.

AND TRY TO TREAT THE PATIENTS.

>> Crossley: NOW, I WAS STRUCK BY TWO THINGS ABOUT YOUR STORY.

FIRST OF ALL YOU GOT COVID.

>> YES.

>> Crossley: AND SECOND OF ALL JUST TRYING TO CONGRATULATE GRAPPLE AS KETURA'H HAD TO TO GRAPPLE WITH THE SHORTAGE OF PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT.

>> YES, I CONTRACTED COVID THE FIRST YEAR IN JANUARY, STARTED OUT THE YEAR WITH THAT.

AND ENDED UP HOSPITALIZED, THANK GND FOR KETURA'H, THE NURSES, I STILL HAVE SOME RESIDUAL EFFECT FROM IT.

TRYING TO -- I'M AT AN AIRPORT RIGHT NOW MILLION I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT MAKING IT ON THE SHOW TODAY.

BUT YEAH, JUST WALKING THROUGH AIRPORT I'M HAVING DIFFICULTY BREATHING.

>> Crossley: SO TALK TO ME AGAIN ABOUT THE SHORTAGE OF PPE AND WHAT THE IMPACT WAS ON BOTH YOU AND YOUR FIREFIGHTERS, OTHER FIREFIGHTERS.

>> WELL, RIGHT.

THAT WAS A BIG THING TRYING TO GET THE EQUIPMENT OUT TO ALL OF THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS.

WE HAD AN ORDER IN AS EARLY AS JANUARY, THAT GOT CANCELLED ON US AS FAR AS THE MASKS.

WE HAD THE GOWNS THAT WE WE WERE PUTTING ON EACH MEMBER.

WE DID A COMPLETE HAZ-MAT TRAINING.

WE ROTATED ALL THE COMPANIES THROUGH BRYANT AND TAUGHT EACH -- BRIGHTON HOW TO CLEAN HOW TO SANITIZE, HOW TO TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER.

BECAUSE THEY ARE LIVING IN A QUARTER IN THEIR FIREHOUSE WHICH IS LIKE A HOUSE AND THE PROBLEM IS, A LOT OF OUR FIREFIGHTERS ARE, A GOOD AMOUNT, ARE MARRIED TO NURSES.

SO THEY WERE TRYING TO ISOLATE THE TWO PLACES, ONE BEING THE FIREHOUSE, ONE THEIR HOME, AND STILL WITH A SPOUSE THAT'S TRYING TO DEAL WITH SAME SPACE.

SO WE HAD A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT THINGS THAT CAME OUT LATE.

I THINK AT ONE POINT WE ENDED UP WITH CLOSE TO 200 MEMBERS THAT HAD CONTRACTED COVID.

>> Crossley: SO DESIREE LET ME ABOVE OVER TO YOU.

WE HAVE HEARD THE SCENARIOS OF THE TWO ESSENTIAL WORKERS THAT HAD TO GO THERE, BE THERE, WE SEE WHAT SOME OF THE ISSUES WERE, AND YET AS WE'VE GONE PAST A YEAR YOU'RE SAYING THERE'S STILL NOT A STANDARD FOR VARIOUS REASONS FOR WHAT WORKPLACE SAFETY SHOULD BE.

>> RIGHT.

I THINK WE'RE STILL -- I THINK WE'RE FINALLY AT A POINT WHERE WE'RE GETTING THERE.

I THINK OSHA JUST IN THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS HAS A RELEASED MORE EMPLOYEE WORK PROTECTION CENTERED GUIDANCE THAT REALLY DOES GO THROUGH AND TALK ABOUT THE SPECIFICS FOR EMPLOYERS OUTSIDE OF HEALTH CARE AND EMERGENCY RESPONDER INDUSTRIES, MIGHT BE FOWRN RIGHT, BUT THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THEY ARE HAVING TO COME ONE A PROTOCOL WITH WHICH TO HAVE SUPPLY READY, AND MAKE SURE EVERYBODY HAS A MASK, HOW OFTEN THEY SHOULD BE CHANGING OUT MASKS, ALL THOSE DIFFERENT LOGISTICS THAT GOES INTO STREAMLINING, IN THIS ERA, NOT JUST HAVING FAULTY EQUIPMENT ANYMORE, IT IS BASICALLY THE AIR YOU BREATHE RIGHT?

FOR THE FIRST TIME OPERATORS OPERATING IN THEIR FRONT LINE CAPACITY AS OPPOSED TO JUST BEING ON THE FRONT LINES AND KIND OF GOING ABOUT THEIR DAILY WORK.

>> Crossley: SO WILL VACCINES NOW THAT WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE VACCINE ROLLOUT BECOME THE GOLD STANDARD IF YOU WILL OF WORKPLACE PROTECTION?

I MEAN WILL IT -- I KNOW THAT THERE ARE THINGS STILL BEING WORKED OUT IN THIS ARENA.

BUT -- AND HOW WILL EMPLOYERS HANDLE THAT?

SO QUITE DIRECTLY, CAN EMPLOYERS MANDATE THAT FOLKS WHO ARE COMING IN AND REMEMBER WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ESSENTIAL WORKERS BEING MOSTLY FOLKS OF COLOR WHO HAVE TO COME IN, HAVE TO GET THE VACCINE?

LET'S START THERE.

>> YES.

SO MANDATING THE VACCINE, THERE'S NO AT THIS JUNCTURE EXPRESS AUTHORITY TO DO IT.

I THINK YOU KNOW THE THREE VACCINES THAT WE ARE DEALING WITH ARE ALL AUTHORIZED IN EMERGENCY FASHION.

THERE IS NO CASE LAW OR PRECEDENT FOR MANDATING VACCINES BASED OFF THAT AUTHORIZATION.

THAT SAID, THERE IS NO EXPRESS PROHIBITION UNDERNEATH THAT MANDATE.

MOST OF THE GUIDANCE WE HAVE FROM THE OTHER AGENCIES LIKE THE EEOC AND OTHER PROTECTION AGENCIES REALLY FOCUSES ON HOW VACCINE INTERACT WITH THEIR LOSS.

FOR EXAMPLE MAKING ACCOMMODATIONS FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE MEDICAL CONDITIONS BY WHICH TAKING THE VAC SEEN WOULD EXACERBATE OR CAUSE A SEVERE REACTION OR PEOPLE WHO HAVE RELIGIOUS EXEMPTIONS.

BUT THOSE ARE REALLY KIND OF BEING SUPPLANTED INTO THIS NEW, WHAT COULD BE A NEW PROGRAM RIGHT?

BECAUSE IT'S VERY NEW VACCINES.

WE'VE JUST BEEN DOING IT OVER THE LAST YOU KNOW SEVERAL MONTHS REALLY.

SO THERE'S STILL A LOT OF OPEN QUESTIONS AND THEN ON TOP OF THAT YOU HAVE THE SUPPLY ASPECT WHICH ISN'T REALLY A LEGAL MATTER BUT MORE SO A LOGISTICAL MATTER.

I SAY ALL THAT TO SAY IT IS POSSIBLE RIGHT, FOR PRIVATE EMPLOYERS TO MANDATE.

BUT THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT QUALIFICATIONS THAT GO INTO THAT.

THAT IT'S NOT GOING TO BE A ACROSS THE BOARD MANDATE.

I THINK THAT'S SAFE TO SAY, BECAUSE OF ALL OF THE OTHER LAWS I JUST MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY.

BUT IN DOING THAT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO AGAIN ADDRESS SOME OF THE EQUITY ISSUES THAT WE KIND OF ALREADY ALREADY TALKED ABOUT IN TERMS OF ACCESS, IN TERMS OF YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO IF SOMEONE HAS SYMPTOMS.

ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE GOING TO FLOW INTO THAT, THAT MAKE THAT A PRETTY HEFTY LIFT AT THE OUTSET I THINK AT THIS JUNCTURE.

>> Crossley: SO CONGRESSWOMAN PRESSLEY ALL OF THIS STIFF COSTS.

WE KNOW -- STUFF COSTS.

WE KNOW THAT TO HAVE A VACCINE, TO HAVE THE PROPER AMOUNT OF PERSONAL PROTECTION EQUIPMENT FOR THESE FRONT LINE AND ESSENTIAL WORKERS, IT COSTS MONEY.

AND THE AMERICAN RESCUE ACT IS NOW THERE, A LOT OF THAT MONEY WENT TO LOCAL AND STATE GOVERNMENTS.

PLEASE TALK TO US ABOUT HOW THAT'S GOING TO HELP IN MAKING SURE THAT THE PEOPLE AT THE HIGHEST RISK AND THESE ESSENTIAL WORKERS WHO ARE IN THE GROUPS OF HIGHEST RISK GET THE BENEFIT?

>> WELL, FIRST I JUST WANTS TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT I THINK THAT UNDER THIS NEW ADMINISTRATION THIS IS REALLY THE FIRST RELIEF BILL THAT MAKES BIG STRIDES IN MEETING THE SCALE AND SCOPE OF THIS CRISIS.

AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THAT DIRECT RELIEF WHICH DOES SUPPORT OUR ESSENTIAL WORKERS, THAT INCLUDES A STIMULUS CHECK OR AT THIS POINT WHAT I REALLY REFER TO AS A SURVIVAL CHECK OF $1400, WEE HAVE EXPANDED THE ELIGIBILITY OF THAT PAYMENT.

IT ALSO INCLUDES A CHILD TAX CREDIT WHICH ALSO PROVIDES A SUPPLEMENTAL RESOURCE FOR FAMILIES TO MEET THEIR BASIC NEEDS.

AS WELL AS A MASSIVE INVESTMENT TO STRENGTHEN ACCESS TO CHILDCARE AND OUR PENSION SYSTEM.

AND THAT $100 MILLION OF AN INCREASE FOR WORKPLACE PROTECTIONS.

BUT WE NEED TO GO FURTHER THAN THAT.

SO THIS IS A BOLD BILL.

AND I THINK IT IS GOING TO GO A LONG WAY IN STABILIZING OUR FAMILIES, IN COMBATING THE VIRUS, IN WELL-POSITIONING US FOR A JUST RECOVERY ECONOMICALLY FROM THIS PANDEMIC BUT FOR OUR ESSENTIAL WORKERS WHO BY THE WAY SOME ONLY JUST RECEIVED THE MEMO THE DURING THIS PANDEMIC THAT THEIR WORK HAS ALWAYS BEEN ESSENTIAL BUT THEIR LIVES ARE, TOO.

AND SO YOU CANNOT PRIORITIZE THEIR LABOR.

AND NOT THEIR VERY LIVES.

AND SO NOT ONLY DO WE NEED TO INSIST THAT EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES ARE FOLLOWING THOSE OSHA AND CDC GUIDELINES FOR SAFE AND SANITARY WORKPLACE CONDITIONS.

WE NEED TO PASS AN ESSENTIAL WORKERS BILL OF RIGHTS.

I'M AN ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR OF THIS AND THIS WOULD INCLUDE HAZARD PAY, HIGHER WAGES AT LEAST $15 MINIMUM WAGE, PPE, HEALTH INSURANCE, ROBUST PAID LEAVE.

I CAN'T TELL YOU THE NUMBER OF ESSENTIAL WORKERS WHO CALLED ME AT ALL HOURS OF THE NIGHT.

I DON'T FEEL WELL.

MY CHILD IS SICK.

I'VE BEEN TOLD I HAVE TO REPORT TO WORK.

IF I DON'T REPORT TO WORK, CAN YOU ASSURE ME THAT I WILL STILL HAVE A JOB TO RETURN TO?

AND IT'S UNCONSCIONABLE THAT I CANNOT GIVE THEM THAT PEACE OF MIND.

SO WE NEED TO PASS AN ESSENTIAL WORKERS BILL OF RIGHTS, THAT I PASSED WITH CAN ASSEMBLY MEMBER RO KHANNA.

THE RIGHT TO ORGANIZE, AND THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT KAYLEIGH CALLIE ABOUT OH SHAH AND CDC GUIDELINES, WHISTLE BLOWER GUIDELINES, IN CASEWORKERS ARE NOT IN COMPLIANCE, THAT THEY CAN AFFIRM THEIR RIGHT TO THEIR HEALTH AND SAFETY AND DO THAT WITHOUT FEAR OF A REPERCUSSION.

THE OTHER THING IN THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN THAT I WANT TO LIFT UP ESPECIALLY WITH DIMOCK BEING HERE, I BOAST THE MOST COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS OF ANY CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, AT LEAST IN THE COMMONWEALTH AND PERHAPS IN THE COUNTRY, I HAVE 15.

I LED THE FIGHT TO PRIORITIZE $7.6 MILLION FOR OUR COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS.

THEY'RE SO IMPORTANT IN ENSURING AN EQUITABLE PUBLIC HEALTH RESPONSE, ACCESS TO TESTING, AND CRITICAL PARTNERS IN TRUSTED VOICES AND VACCINE DISTRIBUTION TO GUARD AGAINST VACCINE RED-LINING.

>> Crossley: DO YOU HAVE A SENSE THAT THE GENERAL PUBLIC NOT JUST FOLKS OF COLOR WHO LIVE THIS EVERY DAY, HAVE A NOW SENSE ABOUT WHAT GROUPINGS ARE -- HAVE -- GROUPS HAVE BEEN MOST AT RISK AND CONTINUE TO BE, REALLY, AS WE STRUGGLE THROUGH HOW WE'RE GOING TO COME OUT OF COVID, I'M JUST CURIOUS TO KNOW, IS ALL OF THE INFORMATION THAT'S OUT THERE NOW, THE DATA, SOME OF THE STORIES WE'VE HEARD, ALL OF THAT, HAS IT ADDED UP TO THERE BEING A SHIFT IN THE THOUGHT ABOUT THIS?

CONGRESSWOMAN?

>> YES, I BELIEVE HAD A THAT THERE IS A -- WE KEEP USING THE WORD RECKONING.

I GROUP UP IN THE CHURCH SO IF WE'RE USING THE WORD LIKE RECKONING THAT IS QUITE LITERALLY OF EPIC PROPORTION.

ON PART TO THAT RECKONING, THE REALITY IS THAT NOT ONLY DO WE NEED TO AT THIS MOMENT ENSURE THAT WE ARE PROVIDE ARING EQUITABLE ACCESS TO THE VACCINE, PRIORITIZING THOSE HARDEST HIT COMMUNITIES, IN ACCESS TO THE VACCINE BUT WE HAVE TO ENSURE THAT OUR RECOVERY CALLIE DOESN'T TAKE US BACK TO A PRECOVID STATUS QUO NORMAL ONE WHICH WAS ALREADY INSUFFICIENT TO BEGIN WITH.

THIS IS THE INFLECTION POINTS AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE A JUST AND EQUITABLE RECOVERY FROM THE PANDEMIC, BUT THEN WE ARE CHARTING A DIFFERENT PATH FORWARD.

FOR ALL OF THE REASONS THAT I ENUMERATED AT THE TOP OF THIS, YOU KNOW.

THESE INEQUITIES ARE NOT NATURALLY OCCURRING.

THEY HAVE BEEN CREATED.

WE NOT ONLY NEED TO PRIORITIZE OUR ESSENTIAL WORKERS BUT IN THIS RECOVERY NOT FORGET OUR SMALL BUSINESSES PARTICULARLY THOSE THAT ARE OWNED BY PEOPLE OF COLOR WHICH HAVE BEEN DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED AS WELL AND BECAUSE OF A HISTORY FROM THE HOMESTEAD ACT TO NEW DEAL PROGRAMS TO THE GI BILL, BLACK AND BROWN AMERICANS HAVE JUST HISTORICALLY REALLY BEEN LEFT OUT OF LARGE SCALE GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION AND INVESTMENT.

YOU KNOW SO MY DISTRICT, THE MASSACHUSETTS SEVENTH IS ONE OF THE MOST UNDERCOUNTED IN THE CENSUS IN THE COUNTRY AND THEREIN, ONE OF THE MOST UNDERRESOURCED.

SO THIS IS THE INFLECTION POINT.

>> Crossley: KETURA'H, WHAT IS IT YOU WISH PEOPLE UNDERSTOOD ABOUT THE FACT THAT MOST OF THE ESSENTIAL WORKERS, INCLUDING YOURSELF, ARE PEOPLE OF COLOR?

AFTER YOUR EXPERIENCE?

>> ONE THAT WE'RE HUMAN, WE HAVE OUR TIMES WHERE WE NEED BREAKS AS WELL.

AND THAT THERE IS A MENTAL LOAD THAT WE'VE BEEN CARRYING FOR THE PAST YEAR.

AND IT'S GOING TO EVENTUALLY SHOW IN VARIOUS WAYS.

AND JUST YEAH, JUST -- WE'VE BEEN CARRYING A MENTAL LOAD FOR A WHILE.

AND THE -- I DO SEE THAT -- SORRY -- SO WE HAVE BEEN CARRYING A MENTAL LOAD FOR A WHILE.

I DO BELIEVE THAT THAT IS GOING TO COME TO A HEAD AND MY HOPE IS THAT SENIOR LEADERSHIP AND THESE DIFFERENT WORKPLACES RECOGNIZE THAT.

AND TAKE CARE OF THEIR EMPLOYEES.

>> Crossley: SAME QUESTION TO YOU JOHN SOARES.

>> THAT'S -- I WANTED TO AGAIN GIVE KUDOS TO KETURA'H AND THE NURSES OUT THERE.

BECAUSE IT WAS LIKE GROUNDHOG DAY.

WAKING UP AND STARTING THIS ALL OVER AGAIN.

THAT GOING OUT AND SEEING PEOPLE, WE WERE GOING TO HOMES THAT PEOPLE HAD NO ONE IN THE HOUSE HAD A MAP SO WE WERE EMPTYING OUT TRUCKS OF OUR EQUIPMENT AND GIVING THE FOLKS IN THEIR HOMES SO THEY COULD GO AHEAD.

BUT IT IS A LOT, AND THAT TOLL THAT WAS TAKING ON, HERE WE ARE A LIMB MORE THAN A YEAR INTO THIS, AND STILL LEAD INTO IT WITH THE NUMBERS GOING UP AGAIN.

IT IS A CONSTANT BATTLE FOR US.

AND I DO ENCOURAGE EVERYONE OUT THERE, NOT ONLY AS A LEADER OF THE FIREFIGHTERS BUT AS AN AFRICAN AMERICAN WHO HAD COVID, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO GO OUT THERE AND GET YOUR SHOT.

TAKE THE ONE THAT WORKS BEST FOR YOU.

TO BE TO YOUR DOCTORS, TALK TO WHOEVER YOU NEED TO BUT GO AHEAD AND GET EITHER, WHETHER IT IS THE MODERNA, THE PFIZER OR THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON, SO WE CAN GET BACK TO A STATE OF NORMALCY.

>> Crossley: JOHN SOARES DO YOU FEEL, AFTER ALL THE CONVERSATION, AFTER THE PUSHES FOR HELP FROM THE FEDERAL AND THE LOCAL AND THE STATE GOVERNMENT, FOR ESSENTIAL WORKERS, DO YOU FINALLY FEEL SEEN?

>> IT'S BEEN A LOT, BUT WE HAVE BEEN, AND YOU KNOW AGAIN KUDOS TO THE CONGRESSWOMAN FOR ALL HER WORK.

WE APPRECIATE HER.

AND THAT'S WHAT IT TAKES, IS EVERYONE DOING THEIR PART.

TO GET THIS THING RIGHT.

AND I -- I DON'T KNOW ABOUT SAYING YET, IT'S BEEN A STRUGGLE.

>> Crossley: YES, I UNDERSTAND.

DESIREE, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU EMPHASIZE IS THAT THERE'S NO ONE SIZE FIT ALL SOLUTION, THAT, YOU KNOW, AS WE'RE GOING THROUGH THE TRANSITION PROCESS, HOPEFULLY, TO FULL RECOVERY, AND THAT MAY MEAN HERD IMMUNITY, IN THE WORKPLACE, THERE'S NO ONE UNIFORM SET OF RULES WE CAN PUT FORTH.

>> NO, I THINK THAT'S ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, IT -- ONE OF THE THINGS, RIGHT, THAT WAS MISSING THROUGHOUT THE LAST YEAR WERE AGAIN, CLEAR IDENTIFIED STANDARDS WHICH LEFT IT UP TO A LOT OF INDIVIDUAL ENTITIES, WHETHER IT BE INDUSTRIES OR EMPLOYERS THEMSELVES, COMING UP WITH WHAT WORKED.

AND I THINK AS WE MOVE AWAY FROM THAT AND GET TO STANDARDS AND HOPEFULLY AS CONGRESSWOMAN PRESSLEY MENTIONED THAT THERE ARE STANDARDS THAT RECOGNIZE EQUITY AND BUILD THAT IN.

BUT EVEN IF NOT IT'S GOING TO STILL BE UP TO EMPLOYERS TO KEEP AN EYE OUT AND BE FLEXIBLE IN TERMS OF LOOKING AT THE DISPARITIES WITHIN YOUR ORGANIZATION, EVEN FOLLOWING THE LAWS AND FOLLOWING THE GUIDELINES, THERE STILL -- PEOPLE ARE COMING TO WORK AT DIFFERENT PLACES.

JUST LIKE, YOU KNOW, JOHN MENTIONED.

THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT DON'T HAVE MASKS THAT, YOU KNOW, ARE PROMPT FOR THE WORKPLACE.

-- APPROPRIATE FOR THE WORKPLACE.

HAVING THAT EXPECTATION FALL TOO THEM WOULDN'T MAKE MUCH SENSE AS FAR AS EQUITABLE STAND.

KEEP THE LINES OF COMMUNICATION OPEN, TO KNOW ABOUT.

EVEN WHEN WE HAVE A POINT WHERE WE HAVE SOMETHING DEFINITIVE ON WHAT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DONE ABOUT.

>> Crossley: ONE THING I KNOW YOU'RE IN SUPPORT OF CONGRESSWOMAN PRESSLEY IS ESSENTIAL WORKERS HARD WORKERS HAZARD PAY.

BECAUSE IT'S QUITE SHOCKING TO UNDERSTAND THE LEVEL OF RISK ALL THESE ESSENTIAL WORKERS TOOK ON EVERY DAY AS KETURA'H SAID, THEY HAD TO KEEP GOING EVERY DAY BUT THEY WERE NOT SUFFICIENTLY ABLE TO HAVE A LIVING WAGE IN MANY INSTANCES.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

AND YOU KNOW AGAIN, THIS AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN IS THE FIRST PACKAGE I BELIEVE THAT REALLY MAKES STRIDES IN MEETING THE SCALE AND SCOPE OF THE CRISIS.

WITH THOSE $1400 SURVIVAL CHECKS, THE EXPANDED CHILD CREDIT, INCREASE IN WORKPLACE PROTECTIONS, AND THIS IS AN IMPORTANT INFRASTRUCTURE, $15 BILLION IN CHILDCARE.

WHICH IS ESSENTIAL FOR ALL WORKERS.

BUT ESPECIALLY OUR ESSENTIAL WORKERS.

AND STRENGTHENING THE ENTIRE PENSION SYSTEM.

BUT AGAIN OUR WORK HAD IN THERE, THIS IS THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN BUT WE HAVEN'T RESCUED EVERYONE.

EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED THE PANDEMIC HAS NOT DISCRIMINATED.

AND SO IN THAT IN OUR RELIEF I.T.

HAS TO BE ROBUST AND COMPREHENSIVE AND WE CAN LEAVE NO ONE BEHIND.

AND I DO BELIEVE THAT OUR LEGISLATION, THE ESSENTIAL WORKERS BILL OF RIGHTS SHOULD BE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THAT STRATEGY FOR AN EQUITABLE RECOVERY.

AND THAT INCLUDES A LIVING WAGE, WHICH, YOU KNOW, TO ME WOULD BE AT A MINIMUM OF $15.

BUT HAZARD PAY, PPE, HEALTH INSURANCE, ROBUST PAID LEAVE, SICK DAYS, AND BEGIN, THE RIGHT TO ORGANIZE.

-- AND AGAIN THE RIGHT TO ORGANIZE AND WHISTLE BLOWER PROTECTIONS.

>> Crossley: HAVE WE REDEFINED ESSENTIAL NOW?

>> I HOPE SO, IN THE SAME WAY THAT WE ARE REDEFINING INFRASTRUCTURE.

YOU KNOW, SO I HOPE THAT WE HAVE REDEFINED -- I MEAN AS I SAID, CHILDCARE IS INFRASTRUCTURE.

PERHAPS PEOPLE WOULD HAVE DEBATED THE MERIT OF THAT PREVIOUSLY.

I WOULD ALSO ADD THAT, YOU KNOW, THINGS LIKE PAID LEAVE, THESE ARE PAID FAMILY LEAVE THESE ARE THINGS WE'VE BEEN FIGHTING AND ORGANIZING FOR, DEMOCRATS HAVE, PROGRESSIVES HAVE FOR A LONG TIME AND THESE ISSUES HAVE BEEN MARGINALIZED.

BUT NOW -- >> Crossley: THEY'RE ON THE FRONT LINES.

>> UNPRECEDENTED TIMES CALL FOR UNPRECEDENTED MEASURES AND I BELIEVE UNPRECEDENTED MEASURES IN LEGISLATING.

>> Crossley: THANK YOU ALL WE'LL LEAVE IT THERE, FOR JOINING US.

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