Black Workers and COVID-19 (WSN Spotlight)

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The IFPTE Women’s Solidarity Network is continuing to spotlight resources and publication on Women & COVID-19. This week, the Economic Policy Institute (EPI) released a study entitled “Black workers face two of the most lethal preexisting conditions for coronavirus—racism and economic inequality”. EPI is an affiliate of the Nonprofit Professional Employees Union (NPEU/IFPTE Local 70) and we are very pleased to circulate this important study across our union. 

Highlights from the study:

  • Persistent racial disparities in health status, access to health care, wealth, employment, wages, housing, income, and poverty all contribute to greater susceptibility to COVID-19 —both economically and physically.

  • Data collected from March 2020 - May 2020 shows Black workers have suffered record numbers of job losses, along with the ensuing related economic devastation.

  • Between February 2020 - April 2020, 18.8% of Black women workers lost their jobs. 

  • Black women are more than 30% more likely to be out of work during the pandemic than white men.

  • Black workers are more likely to be in front-line jobs that are categorized as ‘essential’—forcing them to risk their own and their families’ health to earn a living.

  • Black Americans make up 12.5% of the U.S. population but account for 22.4% of COVID-19 deaths

Read the full report here. Also, check out IFPTE’s Open Letter on Black Lives Matter.

IFPTEBLM, Black Lives Matter, EPI, IFPTE Local 70, Women's Solidarity Network, WSN, COVID-19