Equity and Justice for HoCo Workers

Support equity and justice for workers in Howard County!

Howard County hospitality workers laid off as a result of COVID-19 are not currently guaranteed to return to their jobs. This is affecting many of our neighbors and members of our congregations.

Howard County Council has the opportunity to pass legislation giving workers in our county the same protection, requiring employers to rehire previously laid off workers for open positions before they consider new applicants.

Employers should not be able to use the pandemic as an excuse to not rehire workers who were laid off through no fault of their own. We know that, due to systemic racism, sexism, and ageism, women and people of color are most at risk of not being rehired to their previous jobs.

Both Baltimore and Washington, DC have passed laws to protect hospitality workers right to return to their jobs as business returns. Now, it's time for Howard County to do the same.

CB-10 needs four votes to pass as emergency legislation and make the biggest difference for the greatest number of hotel workers. Councilmember Walsh, who sponsored the bill, Councilmember Rigby and Council Chair Jones are strongly supporting CB-10 as emergency legislation. Councilmembers Jung, and Youngmann have not taken a public position saying they will support the bill. Please send an email to these Councilmembers now asking them to vote in favor of the bill and ensure economic stability for Howard County hospitality workers.

Fill out the information on the right, and then you can edit a letter to send to these councilmembers.