Burien passes a $5 hazard pay ordinance for grocery store workers

For media inquiries contact Joe Mizrahi, Secretary Treasurer UFCW 21 

Victories like this can only happen when workers’ voices are heard. We believe every worker should have a voice on the job. Do you need a Union? >> 

Are you ready to fight for hazard pay in your city! >> 

During the COVID pandemic, grocery store operators have reaped billions of dollars in windfall profits as a direct result of the shift to at-home meal preparation, but they have failed to compensate workers for the added risks and burdens of working on the frontline during the pandemic. The pandemic has intensified in recent months and new variants will increase the risk, but most grocery workers have not received hazard pay in over 6 months. 

Last night, thanks to the hard work, testimony, and actions of UFCW 21 members, we won $5/hour Hazard Pay for grocery store workers in Burien at large grocery stores. 

Thanks to all the members and allies who contacted Burien City Council in support of this ordinance, as well as those who testified in favor of Hazard Pay by sharing their heartfelt stories and fears. Thank you to those on the Burien City Council who took a stand to champion essential workers, Mayor Jimmy Matta, Deputy Mayor Krystal Marx, Councilmember Pedro Olguin, Councilmember Cydney Moore, and Councilmember Kevin Schilling. 

“The big-name grocery stores are making record profits during one of the worst pandemics in history, and they are doing it on the broken backs of their employees.” Sean Murphy, Safeway

“I am fearful every day for myself and my loves ones, our health and safety are put in danger every time I step into work.” Maria Dirdala, Safeway

The effective date of the law is still being determined due to a special council session on Monday, February 8, but the progressive majority on the council has indicated they want it to go into effect as soon as possible.  

Our union’s success in passing this ordinance builds on the hard work we have done to pass Initiative 1433 Statewide Sick Leave in 2016, to pass Washington State Paid Family and Medical Leave in 2017, to pass Uninterrupted Meal/Rest Breaks and close the mandatory overtime loophole for health care workers in 2019, and to raise the minimum wage! 

UFCW 21 PRESS ADVISORY: Changes Needed to Make Grocery Stores Safer

UFCW 21 PRESS ADVISORY
For Immediate Release: December 9, 2020  -- 6 PM
Contact: Tom Geiger, 206-604-3421

Outbreak at Burien Fred Meyer and other Stores Raise Levels of Concerns for Essential Workers and Shoppers

WHO:   Top officers of UFCW 21 and members from the store tell our story. We will be joined by Teamsters 38.

WHAT: Online ZOOM press conference to raise concerns, present the facts, and propose solutions to make shoppers and workers safer. We are calling on grocery stores to immediately put these better protocols in place and enforce them, and we are calling on government agencies to better ensure this takes place. We will take questions from the press.

WHEN:  Thursday, December 10 at 9:30 AM Pacific

IF YOU MISSED THE CALL: You can watch a complete recording of the press conference here. There is also a recording available for download here.

Background: Early in the pandemic there appeared to be a willingness by grocery store chains to better prioritize safety with the looming pandemic and change the way of doing business. Workers’ wages were raised by $2/hour which at least helped a little to make people working in the store feel a bit more appreciated. Increased staff was scheduled to handle the additional work of sanitization, cleaning carts, wiping down check-out stands as well as to allow for workers to rest, take more frequent breaks and wash hands more often. Even with those changes, serious problems persisted with dire consequences as members got worn out and some contracted COVID 19.

Unfortunately, by early summer, even as social restrictions were eased and more people were shopping, it had become clear that as grocery store sales were increasing, as revenues and profits went up, and as stock holder dividend pay outs were made, the grocery store chains’ practices to protect workers and shoppers slipped backward:

       -    workers’ pay was cut by $2/hour

       -    workers reported fewer staff to cover shifts

       -    mask requirement orders were not strictly enforced by management

       -    lax enforcement of standards to limit the number of shoppers in the store is resulting in crowded stores and insufficient social distancing

       -    reduced cleaning and other practices that would help clean and disinfect stores

       -    recently, the problems have only gotten worse.

UFCW 21 represents over 46,000 workers in grocery store, retail, health care and other industry jobs across the state of Washington.