(BUFFALO, NEW YORK) – The Western New York Council on Occupational Safety and Health (WNYCOSH) has released a COVID-19 Worker Benefits Guidebook.

The booklet outlines some of the Worker-focused programs implemented on the state and federal level to ensure Workers have the resources they need to provide for themselves and their families. It also outlines the benefits and temporary qualifications of unemployment and Pandemic Unemployment Insurance, Paid Sick Leave, Paid Family Leave and the soon-to-be-sent-out Federal Stimulus Checks. And, it includes step-by-step instructions on how to apply or qualify for each of the programs.

WNYCOSH’s COVID-19 Worker Benefits Guidebook can be directly accessed at: https://wnycosh.org/app/uploads/2020/03/WNYCOSH-COVID-19-Worker-Benefit-Guidebook-FINAL.pdf

On another front, WNYCOSH is working with the United Steelworkers (USW) Union on a Spanish translation, and a community partner on a Burmese version as well.

WNYCOSH is also looking for assistance to ensure it is available in up to eight languages reflecting the diversity of Western New York. 

WNYCOSH was founded in 1979 by Labor, Environmental and Public Health Activists.

The founding conference of over 300 people was organized to raise public awareness about toxic exposures and illnesses at Love Canal and at the Goodyear plant in Niagara Falls, New York.

Over the past 41 years, WNYCOSH has built a membership base of Labor Union Locals, Health and Safety Activists, as well as many public health and legal professionals and individuals interested in Occupational Safety and Health Issues. 

Over the course of time, WNYCOSH has empowered hundreds of thousands of Workers -including young Workers, Refugee and Immigrant Workers, Low-Wage Workers and Workers employed in high hazard industries through direct training to identify, evaluate and control hazards in the workplace.