Teamsters Local 166 - Barstow

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COVID-19 Situation Ft. Irwin

April 7, 2020 Update

Greetings again my fellow Sisters and Brothers at Ft. Irwin and Barstow. As you know the COVID 19 Pandemic is continuing. You all have been incredible in dealing with this and I am proud to call you my Sisters and Brothers! We want to let you know you are not alone, and we will get through this together! So far most of the members at the Ft. Irwin and Marine Base contracts have been deemed to be “essential” employees. If you work at Dyncorp the Companies Fact Sheets on COVID policy that was handed out and also the CBA allows an employee to put in to be off work through HR Office if they feel they are high risk or do not feel it is safe for them to be at work during this time. If you work at other Companies at the Fort and MCLB and Barstow, the basic same procedures exist, and you would also go to or call your HR Office. Remember you can put if for compensation while off work through edd.gov/covid19. As of print, the post is dealing with a possible active case. In Barstow there is 6 reported in  and more in other High Desert areas. Please continue to abide by the CDC guidelines that includes the social distancing practice like you have been doing. The government is looking at potentially reducing the number of essential employees in each area on a day to day basis. We are continually pushing the Companies to supply you with what you need on the job daily. On the face coverings that are being recommended, we are also working with the Company on that as well. 

3-17-2020

Sisters and Brothers,

These are very tough times but we will get through it. I want you all to have the link (below) to the government website to try to acquire extra sick leave, disability or unemployment should you need it, along with other good information. There will be updates on the EDD link to this information based on what Congress and the President agree to help American workers out.

From what I am hearing some of the Companies at Ft. Irwin are making you use all your PPL before any other benefits such as approved LWOP or more Sick Leave etc. based on what is approved by Congress and the President for "qualifying" events listed on the link below. Also the directive from the government says employers of 500 or less but we believe the government will change that to "all employers" but again that is being debated in the government this week to try to straighten that out. 

The link will be updated with any news and better benefits for this situation on a day to day process.

Stay Strong and follow the directives that will be coming down through your Supervision via the NTC, County,  and Local governments.

If you work at DynCorp and their Sub Contracts, there could be required OT coming up to get the rotational unit from Washington back home but they must go by Article 12.00.00 as with any OT. On the concerns of possible close contact in the process of turning in this equipment, the Union is requesting from the Companies that safety measures are put in place to try to keep our members safe. The Union also has requested that this rotation unit just drop and go the equipment to limit contact. We will update you if this is approved as we find out.

If you work in the Fire Dept. (EMS) Services areas at Ft. Irwin we are also working on appropriate safety measures with the Company to identify concerns brought to us by the Ft. Irwin Fire Dept. so that the safety of our members is ensured and the public.