The Russellville Training Center re-opens on Monday, July 20. The following COVID-19 guidelines must be followed for entry into the facility:

Due to a staff member's exposure to COVID-19, the AFL-AGC Health & Welfare office in Mobile, Alabama, is adjusting its office operations. On a rotating basis, one staff member will operate the office on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. The office will be closed on Wednesdays. When they are not manning the office, staff members will work remotely Monday-Friday.

Unit 4 at Plant Scherer, the largest coal-fired power plant in the United States in terms of generation capacity, will be retired by 2022 under an agreement reached between co-owners Florida Power & Light and Jacksonville Electric Authority. Members of the SSMRC have worked at Plant Scherer, near Macon, Georgia. Read more.

Back disorders are one of the leading causes of disability for people in their working years, according to OSHA. Back injuries account for one of every five injuries and illnesses in the workplace, and 80% of these injuries are associated with manual material-handling tasks, Bureau of Labor Statistics data show. Here are some tips for protecting your back:

Use mechanical aids whenever possible.  Instead of trying to lift or carry a heavy object, use a wheelbarrow, conveyor belt, crane or forklift.

Use proper lifting techniques.  If you do need to pick up and carry a heavy object, keep the load close to your body, your back straight, and lift with your thigh muscles.

Avoid stooping or twisting.  Use ergonomically designed tools and equipment, and arrange your work area so that everything you need is within easy reach.

Read more tips for protecting your back here .

Whatever your financial goals, paying off credit-card debt is a step in the right direction. If you or your spouse are out of work or are working fewer hours because of the pandemic, just keeping up with payments and avoiding adding to your credit-card debt could be a victory.

Click here to read tips and strategies for paying off credit-card debt. Read about coronavirus-related credit-card debt relief options here, and click here for tips on avoiding additional credit-card debt.

Due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, 17 states so far are extending unemployment benefits. See details by state here.

The Carpenters International Training Fund has developed a qualification to educate members on methods to better protect themselves while on jobsites. The new COVID-19 Preparedness Qualification online course covers rules and procedures outlined in a March 20, 2020, OSHA guideline document, and most training centers in the Southern District require members to complete the course before entering the centers. Click here to learn how to access the course.

As of July 15, three states in SSMRC's district -- Alabama, Texas, and North Carolina -- are requiring face coverings in public places. See details about each state's order below and learn which states nationwide are requiring masks here. Keep in mind city and county orders are affecting many areas as well. See the map below for additional information about your state's status and restrictions.

Alabama:

On July 15, Gov. Kay Ivey issued her 14th supplemental emergency proclamation containing an amended Safer at Home Order that includes a statewide mask requirement. Individuals will be required to wear a mask or other facial covering when in public and in close contact with other people, as described in the order. The amended order goes into effect July 16 at 5 p.m. and expires July 31 at 5 p.m. Learn more here.

Texas:

The Texas mask order went into effect July 3. It immediately applied to all Texas counties, but counties with 20 or fewer active cases can be exempted if they opt out. The executive order is set to remain in effect until modified, amended, rescinded, or superseded by the governor. Read the order here.

North Carolina:

On July 14, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper announced the state will remain in the “Safer at Home” Phase 2 of reopening, which includes a mask order, for at least another three weeks. The announcement extends the order through at least Aug. 7. Residents are required to wear face masks in public places, indoors or outdoors, where physical distancing of 6 feet from those outside their households isn’t possible. Read more here.

See guidance on wearing and caring for cloth face coverings here.

Click the map for additional information about your state's status and restrictions.

On July 13, the Louisiana Department of Revenue announced it will offer one-time hazard pay rebates of $250 to front-line workers. While millwrights are not likely to qualify under covered job categories, you can pass along this information bulletin to friends or family members who might qualify.

If you are planning to travel for work or vacation, it's important to be aware of COVID-19-related travel restrictions. Eleven states currently have restrictions on interstate travel. Check them out here.

The Harvard Global Health Institute has released a tool that allows you to see a COVID-19 risk rating of green, yellow, orange, or red for the county where you live. Click the map above, then hover over a county for detailed information.

COVID-19 cases are increasing sharply in many states the Southern States Millwright Regional Council covers. Click here to learn more about case numbers, deaths, and the rate of increase in your state.

The SSMRC will soon begin sending communications related to pro-union legislative action. The SSMRC forms partnerships to help pass labor-friendly laws and give council representatives access to the table to discuss how our members could be assets to major projects. Our council also supports pro-union candidates (from both political parties) running for state, county, and local offices.

Some labor issues we discuss with candidates and legislators include right-to-work laws, health and welfare benefits, unemployment-insurance programs, prevailing wages, workers’ compensation, workplace safety, tax fraud in relation to construction projects, and apprenticeship standards.

To stay informed regarding legislation and elections that could affect workers' rights and union job opportunities, please text CIVICS to 877-62-SSMRC (877-627-7672).