With COVID-19 risks continuing and working families still trying to get back on their feet, Congress must step up now to support essential workers who have been on the frontlines of this deadly pandemic. We need action more than ever to protect essential workers like me.

As Congress prepares to vote on the Build Back Better budget bill, they must address four priorities: increase funding for personal protective equipment for frontline workers, expand paid leave so more workers can get vaccinated without losing a paycheck, protect the right of workers to unionize for better working conditions, and expand the child tax credit to ensure more working parents have the help they need.

This year marks 23 years of serving my community in Orange County as a lead pharmacy technician at CVS Pharmacy. By far, this past year since the COVID-19 pandemic started has been the most challenging. Throughout my time at CVS Pharmacy, I have always been able to count on support from my union, United Food and Commercial Workers Local 324.

The unusual circumstances since the COVID-19 pandemic began have made me even more grateful for my union and everything we have accomplished together to strengthen jobs like mine. Thanks to my union, I have had access to PPE and priority access to the COVID-19 vaccine and also safety procedures were implemented at my workplace. 

In addition, my union has been a leading voice in the call to provide greater support and financial assistance for working parents and a strong supporter of President Biden’s child tax credit, which has been a game changer for hardworking families like mine across California.

This middle class tax cut has helped my family so much, ensuring we have the support we need to better afford childcare and essentials for my 2-year-old son. It has truly bettered our lives since it gives us peace of mind and guarantees we can cover all our expenses and live a basic life with comfort.

I was recently asked, “What would you say to elected leaders who are trying to end the child tax credit?” The answer is blunt and simple: Would you take food away from a child’s hands? Some may think this is harsh, but the reality is, many working-class families are staying afloat because of this child tax credit. Taking away this investment for working parents across the country would be cruel and heartless. 

The child tax credit has been like a breath of fresh air for essential workers like me and it must be protected. If Congress wants to do all it can to make life more affordable for workers and families our leaders must show their full support by strengthening the rights of workers to unionize for better working conditions in this budget bill and expanding the child tax credit.

The message to Congress couldn’t be more clear: include pro-worker policies in the budget bill. All essential workers like me have been on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic since day one. Essential workers in Orange County and across California have earned the support and assistance we are asking Congress to deliver. 

To make sure essential workers can continue to serve our communities during this devastating pandemic with dignity and respect, Congress must include funding for frontline worker PPE, guarantee paid leave so all workers can get vaccinated without sacrificing a paycheck, strengthen the ability of workers to speak out for safer working conditions, and expand the child tax Credit to support hardworking families still struggling as the economy recovers.

Essential workers like me need action now to support us on the frontlines of this new COVID-19 surge. Without action, none of us – workers, customers, and our community – are safe and truly taken care of. We are asking Congress to put essential workers and America’s working families first when they vote on the Build Back Better budget bill.

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Gladys Gonzalez is a member of United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 324 and works at a CVS Pharmacy in Orange County, California. 

As a single dad whose family has benefited from President Biden’s child tax credit and someone who has been serving my community every day since the COVID-19 pandemic began, I urge Congress to consider passing policies that support America’s working-class families. 

As Congress considers the budget reconciliation bill, our leaders must step up for New York’s essential workers by demanding that the budget bill supports our communities and families.

The budget bill in Congress must address four priorities: increase funding for personal protective equipment for frontline workers, expand paid leave so more workers can get vaccinated without losing a paycheck, strengthen the right of workers to unionize for better working conditions, and expand the Child Tax Credit to ensure more working parents have the help they need.

This year marks 34 years of service as a produce manager at Tops Friendly Markets in Syracuse. These past 18 months since the COVID-19 pandemic started have been the most difficult and most rewarding time to serve my community. Throughout my career at Tops Friendly Markets, I have always counted on support from my union, United Food and Commercial Workers Local One.

The unpredictable and stressful situation I have been in as an essential worker due to the pandemic has made me even more grateful for my union and all our successes to make work better. Thanks to my union, I have had access to PPE, priority access to the COVID-19 vaccine, and safety measures were implemented at my workplace. I know not all workers are as fortunate as me to have a union that looks out for their best interest, and that is a big part of why I am asking Congress to support the right of workers to unionize.

My union has also been a leading voice in the call to provide greater support and financial assistance for working parents and a strong supporter of President Biden’s child tax credit. As someone who has greatly benefitted from this middle class tax cut, I know it would help so many families like mine to expand the child tax credit and make it permanent.

President Biden’s child tax credit has helped me as a single dad in paying for the schooling, school supplies, and other back-to-school essentials for my 14-year-old daughter. It has made our lives better. This child tax credit doesn’t just help our families, it also helps to put money back into our local economy and support so many of the small businesses that have struggled during the pandemic.

I am thankful to our leaders who stand with workers by supporting policies that provide support and financial assistance for working parents. Working parents like me need pro-worker policies like the child tax credit that helps so many of us provide for our families. As COVID risks continue for workers like me, we need Congress to do even more by passing legislation that will provide assistance to support America’s working families.

As one of millions of Americans working hard to support a family, I’m asking Congress to include pro-worker policies in the budget reconciliation bill. All essential workers like me have been on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic since day one. Essential workers in Syracuse and across New York have earned the support and assistance we are asking Congress to deliver. 

To make sure essential workers can continue to serve our communities during this devastating pandemic with dignity and respect, Congress and President Biden must include funding for frontline worker PPE, guarantee paid leave so all workers can get vaccinated without sacrificing a paycheck, strengthen the ability of workers to speak out for safer working conditions, and make permanent the child tax credit to support hardworking families.

Those of us who are on the frontlines, like me, need Congress to step up and do what’s best for America’s workers. That starts with making the child tax credit permanent, which will help thousands of working parents across the country. Congress must do the right thing and make the well-being and health of working families a priority in the upcoming budget and infrastructure bills.

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William (Bill) Steinbeck is a member of United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local One and workers at Tops Friendly Markets in Syracuse, New York. 

Congress called us essential workers when the pandemic began, but as California’s pandemic death toll reaches 70,000 after the recent COVID-19 Delta surge, it feels like the brave men and women on the frontlines are being forgotten. The continued danger of this latest wave of virus cases is putting our communities at risk and we need action to protect essential workers. 

With Congress preparing to finalize the budget and infrastructure bills this month, it is critical that the final legislation supports essential workers and their families. 

The budget bill in Congress must address four priorities: increase funding for personal protective equipment so frontline workers are not forced to spend their own money on masks and gloves as the pandemic continues, expand paid leave so more workers can get vaccinated without losing a paycheck, strengthen protections for workers to speak out for safer working conditions, and make the child tax credit permanent to so that working parents continue to have the help they need.

As a grocery worker at Albertsons in Fountain Valley proudly serving our community for more than 30 years, nothing could have prepared me for this pandemic and becoming a frontline worker overnight. Helping families across Orange County put food on the table during this crisis is an honor. 

When the pandemic began, our grocery store provided workers with PPE, like blue surgical masks. But this didn’t last and now essential workers like me have to pay for vital protective equipment like masks with money from our own pockets that should be helping provide for our family.

Helping essential workers like me get the vaccine is so important to stopping this dangerous COVID Delta surge and keeping our grocery stores safe. Many friends and co-workers want to get the vaccine but are worried about losing a paycheck if they have to miss work to get the vaccine. This is why it is so important that we guarantee paid leave for all workers to get the vaccine.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, the best way for workers to increase workplace safety, wages, and benefits is to form a union. But the right to organize has been eroded. I know not every worker is able to enjoy the benefits of being a union member or is guaranteed the right to try to form a union without fear of retaliation or losing the job they count on to support themselves and their family. 

This is one of the main reasons why Congress must strengthen the rights of workers to speak out for safer and better working conditions, hold companies accountable for violating workers’ rights, and put power in the hands of all workers — not just those in a union — to stand up for the better wages, benefits, and working conditions they have earned.

The message to Congress couldn’t be more clear — include pro-worker policies in the budget reconciliation bill. Essential workers like me have been on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic since day one. Essential workers in Orange County and across California have earned the support and assistance we are asking Congress and President Biden to deliver. 

The simple truth is that frontline workers feel that some of our elected leaders have not done enough to protect us and pass the pro-worker policies we need. This budget bill in Congress is a chance to change that and put essential workers first.

While the past year has been stressful and incredibly challenging, I have been able to count on support from my union, United Food and Commercial Workers Local 324, which has always spoken out to ensure essential workers like me have the support we need on the frontlines. Every frontline worker should be able to count on the same protections that come from being in a union and having the support they need to provide for their family and stay safe on the job.

To make sure essential workers are able to continue to serve our communities during this devastating pandemic with dignity and respect, Congress and President Biden must include funding for frontline worker PPE, guarantee paid leave so all workers can get vaccinated without sacrificing a paycheck, strengthen the ability of workers to speak out for safer working conditions, and expand the Child Tax Credit to support hardworking families still struggling as the economy recovers.

For all essential workers, our families, and the communities we serve, we need action now as COVID cases continue to spiral. We are asking Congress to do the right thing by passing the budget and infrastructure bills and ensuring that this vital legislation puts essential workers first as this pandemic continues.

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Judy Wood is a member of United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 324 and works at Albertsons in Orange County, California.