LONG BEACH, Calif. — Every week, Al Galuppo fills his SUV to the brim with meals, donating them to front-line workers including doctors, nurses, and firefighters. The longtime Port of Long Beach foreman along with fellow members in the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 94 have donated more than $15,000 in meals since the pandemic started.

What You Need To Know

  • ILWU Local 94 is asking state officials for dock workers to be deemed essential and prioritized for the COVID-19 vaccine

  • The union and other organizations have raised their concerns in a letter to West Coast governors, including Gavin Newsom

  • L.A. City Councilmember Joe Buscaino passed a resolution raising awareness about the need for dock workers to receive priority for the vaccine 

  • Port workers have avoided mass outbreaks thus far, thanks in part to strict protocols and safety precautions

“These people are running to Covid,” Galuppo said. “The normal person, we are running from Covid so we’re just really trying to say thank you to these people.”

While he’s supporting front-line workers, Galuppo also tends to the front-lines of the supply chain, supervising workers as they move cargo at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. He helps ensure residents get the items they need, including personal protective equipment and essential items, while trying to protect himself from the coronavirus.

“I have a family and I don’t want to take it home to them, so it’s always on my mind, but you know, through our procedures and safety protocols, I’ve been fortunate not to get it,” he said.

That means donning PPE, working outside, and socially distancing, but as the flow of cargo continues to surge at the ports, Galuppo says they need every available worker. In fact, ILWU Local 94 is asking state officials for dock workers to be deemed essential and prioritized for the COVID-19 vaccine, especially given recent spikes in coronavirus cases and hospitalizations.

ILWU Local 94 along with Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach officials and other organizations involved in trade operations have raised their concerns in a letter sent to several state governors on the West Coast, including California Gov. Gavin Newsom. On Tuesday, the L.A. City Council passed a resolution introduced by Councilmember Joe Buscaino, requesting the state to consider giving dock workers priority for the vaccine along with other “essential workers”.

Dr. Paul Simon, Chief Science Officer for the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, says the vaccine will go first to health care workers and staff and residents in long-term care facilities, which is part of the Phase 1a Tier 1 rollout. In a few weeks, the county will enter Phase 1A Tier 2 and vaccinate a broader group.

“We’re also going to be rolling out vaccination efforts amongst providers in federally qualified health centers, those communities that serve many folks, home health care workers, community health workers, our emergency responders, paramedics and others involved in emergency response will be a high priority,” Dr. Simon said.

Related Stories

L.A. County will coordinate with the state and follow guidance from the Centers for Disease Control to determine which other “essential workers” receive the vaccine in the coming weeks.

“We will look at their risks so both risk of exposure and risks of having severe disease,” said Dr. Simon and that likely includes workers in food manufacturing facilities which have seen COVID-19 outbreaks this year.

Galuppo says the ports have avoided mass outbreaks due to strict safety protocols but hopes that workers will still be considered essential given their role in moving essential goods.

“We are showing up every day, trying to keep the supply chain going,” he said. “That’s what we love doing, keeping the ships coming and going.”