Philadelphia Sanitation Workers Rallying For Better Working Conditions

The workers say they've been putting their health at risk during the coronavirus pandemic and the city should step up.

RITTENHOUSE SQUARE CITY HALLAND THEN TO PHILADELPHIAPOLICE HEADQUARTERS.[CHANTING]IN LOVE PARK TODAY, UNIONSANITATION WORKERS RALLIED FORHAZARD PAY AND COVID-19TESTING.THE UNION SAYS THEIR MEDIANSALARY IS $36,000.THE STREETS DEPARTMENT SAYSTHEY HAVE DISTRIBUTED PPE ANDHAND SANITIZER TO EMPLOYEES.THEY SAID THAT WORKERS CAN BETESTED AT PHARMACIES ANDURGENT CARE CENTERS.ALTHOUGH THIS WHERE WAS NOT ABLACK LIVES MATTER PROTESTMANY SANITATION WORKERS AREAFRICAN-AMERICAN AND THEY SAYTHEY ARE IN THE SAME FIGHT.WE ARE THE ONLY DEPARTMENTAND I'M NOT TAKING ANYTHINGFROM NO OTHER DEPARTMENT THATTOUCHES EVERY HOUSEHOLD, EVERYDAY.SO, AS THE VIRUS INCREASED INTHE CITY, WE DIDN'T KNOW, WEJUST GO DOWN THE STREET AND WESERVICE THE BLOCK.WE GET IN THE STREETS, WE GOBACK TO WORK AND WE TAKE ITHOME.NOTHING IS DONE FOR US.WE'RE NOT TRYING TO HOLDTHE CITY HOSTAGE.WE'RE NOT TRYING TO ASKANYTHING UNREASONABLE.WE JUST WANT RESPECT.IF WE'RE GOING SAY THATBLACK LIVES MATTER AND WELEAVE BEHIND BLACK ESSENTIALWORKERS PUTTING THEIR BODIESON THE FRONT LINES TO KEEP OURCITY SAFE AND CLEAN THEN WE'RENOT LIVING UP TO THAT VISION.COUNCILWOMAN HELEN GYM IS