As New York City enters its “third phase” of reopening under the perpetual threat of COVID-19, essential workers across the city are demanding the city step-up and require the testing and personal protective equipment that will protect them as they do their part in getting the economy back on its feet. Demonstrators are calling for elected officials to generate new legislation that would protect essential workers – including undocumented workers – by creating a standard that requires employers to offer access to COVID-19 tests or make the work environment safe for their employees, reports QNS.com.

“It’s not fair to us. We all have families. My own father is a kidney recipient, so I have to talk to him through a window because I don’t know what I have. I truly believe that we should have a bill passed so that we will all be protected,” said Robert Pena, a sanitation worker who said he felt unsafe and exposed at work. “Right now, we are on our own protecting ourselves.”