#MemberMonday: Belinda Arms, Chief Steward, Tyson in Corydon, IN makes masks for her community
Every night after work, Tyson Corydon Chief Steward Belinda Arms makes masks for the members at her plant and her community. Reader’s Digest recently interviewed Belinda and you can read their conversation below.
Mandy from Readers Digest: * How has your job changed pre- and post-pandemic? Any specifics greatly appreciated. This could include workload, new safety measures and anything else.
* How worried have you been about Covid-19 in the workplacle?
* Has anyone in your workpace contracted the virus?
Belinda: The company has put a lot plexiglass barriers up around the plant. In addition to having them between work stations on the line, they have them in the supply room where you pick up your PPE daily, the locker room area and the break room. They also removed every other seat from the tables in our break room.
Our plant has 9 cases so far. All of our members want to see that stay low. We’re social distancing as best we can and wearing masks to do our part even though they are uncomfortable.
We have a lot of people at our plant with underlying health conditions. Even though we’re trying our best people are still concerned. They ask for the numbers every day and as their Chief Union Steward they talk to me about their concerns and feelings. I try to keep them from panicking, I tell them we all have to keep doing the best we can.
Mandy from Readers Digest: * Tell me about your masks - do you make some every evening? Do you hand make them, or machine sew? Have you manged to find elastic (if so, how?) or are you doing ties? Who are the masks going to? What kind of material do you use? Do you have any photos?
Belinda: When I get off of work I sew for about 2 – 3 hours, just trying to keep up a supply. I have a Brothers sewing machine. I originally started out with a machine I had since I was 21-22 years old, but it bit the dust after about a month. So I ordered a new machine, I got another Brother because if it lasted that long surely a new one would last just as long.
I use cotton for the mask material. I just found elastic 2 days ago. I have been using the looms that come in kits you use to make pot holders for a while. But other people figured out that they could use them and it got hard to find them. So, I bought ladies white tights and cut those into ringlets and used them as the elastic.
I sew my masks mainly for my team members, but I give out some in our community as well. I did a project for Seniors in our graduating class here in Meade county. I made senior masks, Mom/Dad of graduate masks and Grandparent of graduate masks. I was hoping to make it a little fun and give them a sense of celebration, since they couldn’t have a normal graduation.
Mandy from Readers Digest: * Do you know anyone personally who has had Covid-19?
Belinda: Yes, several. We had someone pass away here in Meade County, I went to school with her children and my daughter went to school with their children. She was a really sweet lady.
Mandy from Readers Digest: * Are you active in your union and, if so, in what way?
Belinda: I’m very active in my union. I am the Chief Steward at my plant – taking care of my members is my main union activity. I was also recently elected to serve a 3rd term on our union’s Executive Board. I also volunteer to help raise money for members facing hardships and we collect “wish list” items year-round and deliver boxes of supplies to the Coalition for the Homeless during the holidays. And pretty much any other special project I can help with, I try to be involved.
Mandy from Readers Digest: * Have your union activities changed since the pandemic? In what way?
Belinda: They have because we haven’t been able to gather in groups, at work it’s been a lot of one on one conversations, then any type of group activities we’d normally be able to do.