Council President Clarke
City Hall, Room 494
Philadelphia, PA 19107
darrell.clarke@phila.gov
Dear Council President Clarke,
As Philadelphia City Council approaches the end of this legislative session, we urge you to support
Bill No. 200328 which amends the Philadelphia Code by adding a new Chapter, entitled "Employee
Protections in Connection with COVID-19 Emergency Health Order."
This pandemic has already claimed the lives of over one thousand Philadelphians. Sadly, an
unknown number of these victims contracted the virus while at work. More can be done to protect
workers from COVID-19.
As we move toward gradually reopening our economy, it is essential that Philadelphia City Council
empowers workers to protect themselves, their families and the public health by passing this
legislation. Across the country we have already learned that workplaces can easily become sites of
contagion. A single workplace where public health orders are violated could lead to a full blown
resurgence of community spread.
Governor Wolf and Mayor Kenney’s executive orders have created clear standards for employers to
follow such as providing masks to employees and frequently cleaning and disinfecting high touch
areas. But if workers are not protected from retaliation for reporting violations of these public health
orders, they may choose to stay quiet out of fear, threatening to undo the progress that our city has
made in controlling the virus.
Bill No. 200328 does not create any new health orders for businesses to follow. In fact, for all
businesses currently obeying the COVID-19 related public health orders, this legislation will require
no change in their practices. In the case that a business is operating in violation a public health order,
it is likely that employees will be the first to know. This bill would prohibit retaliation of any kind
against all Philadelphia workers who report or disclose violations of a public health order in
their workplace. It also would prohibit retaliation if workers decline to work in conditions that
they reasonably believe to be illegally dangerous and unhealthy as defined by the Pennsylvania
Department of Health or Philadelphia Department of Public Health. These protections are
necessary to protect the public health and prevent the spread of the virus.
Our organizations represent tens of thousands of workers across almost every industry in
Philadelphia. We thank you for your consideration of this important legislation and urge you to do
everything in your power to pass Bill No. 200328 before the end of this legislative session.
Yours,
Rosslyn Wuchinich, President, UNITE HERE Local 274
Patrick Eiding, President, Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO
Richard Hooker Jr., Secretary Treasurer & Principal Officer, Teamsters Local 623

 Erin Kramer, Executive Director, OnePennsylvania
Matthew Yarnell, President, SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania
Gabe Morgan, Vice President SEIU 32BJ PA/DE State Director
Maureen May, President, PASNAP
Joe Coccio, Secretary Treasurer, TWU Local 234
Shane Reilly, Secretary Treasurer and Business Manager, Teamsters Local 115
Jed Dodd, Vice President BMWED-Teamsters
Chris Woods, President, National Union of Hospital & Health Care Employees, District
1199C, AFSCME
Frank Halbherr, President, AFSCME Local 1637
Junior Brainard, Co-President Faculty and Staff Federation of the Community College of
Philadelphia, AFT Local 2026
Sarah Apt, President, Alliance of Charter School Employees, AFT Local 6056
Steve Newman, President, Temple Association of University Professionals, AFT Local 4531
Nadia Hewka, Supervising Attorney, Employment Unit, Community Legal Services
Samuel Jones, Director, Restaurant Opportunities Center of Pennsylvania
Nicole Kligerman, Director, National Domestic Workers Alliance PA
Brenda Dawson, President/CEO, PathWays PA
Marilyn Arwood, Chair, Philadelphia DSA
Maegan Llerena, Executive Director, Make The Road PA
SEIU Pennsylvania State Council
Women’s Law Project
Coalition to Respect Every Worker
Coalition for Restaurant Safety and Health