With legislation in the works to temporarily pay Michigan unemployment recipients to get back to work, those who have faithfully worked throughout the pandemic are saying, “What about us?”
The “Hero Pay” proposal is part of a resolution that would provide one-time payments to essential employees who worked through the pandemic. The resolution is supported by Governor Whitmer and would be paid with federal money.
Resolutions were introduced by Democratic Senator Marshall Bullock of Detroit and Democratic Representative Cynthia Neeley of Flint.
Whitmer said, “The hundreds of thousands of folks who worked through the pandemic to keep the rest of us going embody what being a Michigander is all about: you care for your neighbors, you work hard, you get it done no matter the odds. We must ensure they have the support they need to thrive as we emerge from the pandemic together.”
The specifics as to who would get the money, how much they would get, and when they would get it have yet to be figured out by the legislature and the Governor’s Office. A one-time $1000 stipend and a $2 per hour raise were given out to some front-line workers earlier in the pandemic.
Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland
