Government shutdown increased demand for $5 Fight Fund assistance

The partial government shutdown from December 22, 2018 until January 25, 2019, left 800,000 federal workers without a paycheck, including 12,000 in Missouri, placing intense pressure on the St. Louis Labor Council’s $5 for the Fight Fund, which helps union families in times of crisis. Although the shutdown is over, the Fight Fund continues to receive requests for help from government employees and other union members facing crisis.

As of last week, there were 25 pending requests for help, including eight from federal workers who, having missed two paychecks, are still trying to catch up while waiting for their back pay.

As of Jan. 1, the Fight Fund had already helped 33 union families, paying $ 6,638 to cover mortgage payments, rent, utilities and other necessities. With only $19,672 left in the Fund and the threat of another shutdown looming – President Donald Trump has threatened a second government shutdown is Congress doesn’t approve the $5.7 billion he is demanding for a southern border wall by Feb. 15 – the Fight Fund may soon be out of the money it needs to help union families in need.

YOUR HELP IS NEEDED

Please, consider giving something to the $5 for the Fight Fund. There are multiple ways to donate:

• Mail a check or money order to “$5 for the Fight,” c/o St. Louis Labor Council, 3301 Hollenberg Drive, Bridgeton, MO 63044. Please include your union affiliation.
• To make an online donation, visit labortribune.com. There is an option to create a Reoccurring Automated Donation.
• The Schnucks eScrip program is “free money” for the Fight Fund; it doesn’t cost you a penny to participate. Just pick up a free eScrip card at your local Schnucks. When you show it at checkout, Schnucks will donate a percentage of your purchase to the Fight Fund. The amount varies with your monthly purchases: one percent for the first $300; two percent from $301-$600; and three percent from $601- $999.

If you already have a Schnucks eScrip Card, you can add the Fight Fund to your existing card by calling 1-800-931-6258 and adding “St. Louis Labor Council-5 for the Fight” to the organizations you want to support. You can designate up to three organizations to get the funding as long as the group is registered with Schnucks to participate.