UFCW 3000 Member Story: Safeway #1550 Workers Organize to Win!

#WorkerWednesday is here and we want to spotlight the incredible organizing being done by grocery store workers & proud UFCW 3000 members at Safeway #1550 in the Roosevelt neighborhood of Seattle, WA.

Like many frontline, #EssentialWorkers at grocery stores across the PNW, the workers at Safeway #1550 have been dealing with many safety issues: cars being broken into, verbal assault, and harassment. One top concern was simply having a coded door to their break room so that workers could feel safe, knowing their personal belongings were not accessible to the public. Despite submitting the most store incident reports in their district to corporate about their concerns, management did not take any steps to address these issues.

One of the workers at Safeway #1550, Joaquin Viralta, came up with the idea of getting his coworkers to sign onto a petition. Leaders like Ian Bangs and many others soon took the drafted petition to their coworkers, getting over 80% of the store to sign on within 3 weeks. Ian and other worker-leaders represented their coworkers by delivering this petition to management. The workers received a commitment from management to: 1) install a coded break room door, 2) supply adequate PPE for each department, and 3) begin a program to help members get to their cars at night safe & sound.

This victory was only possible because of leaders like Joaquin and Ian stepping up, encouraging their coworkers to get involved with the union, and trying tactics like safety reports & the petition to successfully advocate for the change they needed in their workplace.

To all the worker-leaders at Safeway #1550: we are so inspired by your creativity & dedication!

Grocery Store COVID-19 Safety Checklist

Coronavirus is a serious workplace health hazard. All employers have a responsibility to provide a workplace free of safety and health hazards. If your grocery store employer is not complying with any part of this checklist, contact your Union Rep or file a safety report with UFCW 21 at safetyreport@ufcw21.org.

If you are not a UFCW 21 member and have questions about your safety at work, text a UFCW 21 organizer at: 803-820-2121

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SAFETY CHECKLIST FOR GROCERY STORES IN WASHINGTON STATE

SIGNAGE:

• Conspicuous signage at entrances and throughout the store with occupancy limits, policy on face coverings, six-foot physical distancing guidelines, and instructing customers to stay home if they are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19

• 6-foot distance markers in checkout lines and other high-traffic areas to maintain 6 feet of physical distancing

PHYSICAL DISTANCING & BARRIERS:

• 6-foot physical distance is maintained and enforced between all workers and all customers in all interactions at all times

  • Where strict 6-foot distancing is not feasible for a specific task, physical barriers (e.g., plexiglass shields) and other measures like limiting staff or customers in an area, or staggering break times and work times are used

• Building occupancy is limited to appropriate level required by state or county regulations – As of 11/16/2020: 25% of building occupancy according to fire code, not including staff

• Contactless payment systems, automated ordering, and pickup or delivery are used wherever possible

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT:

• Cloth facial coverings are worn by every employee not working alone on the jobsite unless their exposure level dictates a higher level of protection

  • Reusable cloth face coverings are used when risk for transmission is low

  • Disposable masks are required when risk for transmission is medium, e.g. stocking produce around customers during store hours

• Face coverings are cleaned or replaced after use or when damaged or soiled, are not shared, and are properly stored and discarded

• Other personal protective equipment (PPE) is provided such as face masks, gloves, goggles, face shields as appropriate/required for

INFECTION CONTROL:

• All workers are screened for COVID-19 symptoms at the beginning of each shift

• Employees who feel or appear sick or have any symptoms of COVID-19 are immediately sent home

• Employer completes all necessary steps when a positive or suspected positive COVID-19 cases is identified in the workplace

  • This includes notifying all close contacts of the positive or suspected positive worker(s) and allowing positive or suspected positive worker(s) to stay home and recover and all close contacts to stay home and quarantine for 14 days, regardless of whether close contacts are symptomatic

  • This also includes cordoning off areas where someone with probable or confirmed COVID-19 worked, touched surfaces, or spent any prolonged amount of time and following all CDC protocols to clean, sanitize, and disinfect the workplace before reopening them

Find all steps and expectations for when there is a confirmed or suspected COVID-19 case identified in the workplace here > >

• A site-specific COVID-19 Supervisor is designated by the employer for the individual store

  • Worksite COVID-19 Supervisor monitors health of employees

  • Worksite COVID-19 Supervisor enforces COVID-19 job site safety plan

HANDWASHING & HAND SANITATION:

• Handwashing required when arriving at work, taking breaks, using the bathroom, before and after eating/drinking/using tobacco products, and after touching contaminated surfaces

• Frequent and adequate handwashing maintained throughout the day

  • Workers get breaks to wash hands regularly

• Handwashing facilities have clean and hot or tepid water, soap, and paper towels and these are kept stocked

• Hand sanitizer (with at least 60% alcohol) provided for workers and customers

SANITATION OF WORKPLACE, SURFACES, & EQUIPMENT:

• Housekeeping schedule with frequent cleaning and sanitizing and an emphasis on surfaces that are regularly touched (“high touch” surfaces)

  • Sanitize and disinfect high touch surfaces frequently (e.g., restrooms, checkout counters, shopping cart handles, door handles)

• Operating hours allow enough time to thoroughly clean, sanitize, and disinfect facilities between shifts

• Increase frequency of washing utensils

• Disposable gloves available and used for shared tools

• Employee equipment including handhelds/wearables, scanners, radios, other tools are properly cleaned and disinfected before and after use

• Fitting rooms (if available) are disinfected by an employee with appropriate supplies and PPE after each new customer use

• Any items used by customers in fitting room and not purchased are removed from inventory and stored for no less than 24 hours

• IN KING COUNTY: A designated sanitation worker is designated at all times to continuously clean and sanitize commonly touched surfaces according to CDC guidelines

• IN KING COUNTY: There is a way to sanitize shopping carts and basket handles (can be with available wipes for customers or workers who sanitize between each use)

CUSTOMER COMPLIANCE & ENFORCEMENT:

• Business does not serve customers or visitors who aren’t wearing face coverings

  • Individuals with medical conditions or disabilities are exempt from this requirement and are not required to carry proof of the condition or disability

  • Employer should offer to provide accommodation such as curbside pickup, delivery, or non-peak hour shopping for these customers

• Customers must wear a face covering anytime they are not seated, and if seated anytime they are not eating

  • If seated dining is permitted by the state/county at the time, customers may remove face coverings to eat and drink, but must wear face coverings when sitting and not eating

  • As of 11/16/2020: All common/congregate seat areas and indoor dining facilities must be closed

PUBLIC HEALTH & COVID PLANNING COMPLIANCE:

• Employer has a written plan addressing physical distancing, protective equipment, hygiene, cleaning, communication, screening, and disinfection of contaminated areas onsite and available to regulators

• Employer notifies local health department within 24 hours if 2 or more employees develop confirmed or suspected COVID-19 within a 14-day period, or if employer suspects COVID-19 is spreading in the workplace

• Employer cooperates with public health authorities in investigation of suspected and confirmed cases and outbreaks

• Employer cooperates with infection control measures including isolation, quarantine, and environmental cleaning

• Employer complies with all public health authority orders and directives

• Employer fully complies with Washington’s High-Risk Workers Protection proclamation

TRAINING:

• All workers are trained in the language they understand best about:

  • Signs & symptoms of COVID-19

  • How to prevent COVID-19 transmission

  • The employer’s COVID-19 policies (these must inform workers about the steps being taken in the workplace to establish social distancing, increased handwashing, and to prevent the spread of the virus

  • Handwashing length, duration, and frequency

  • Appropriate PPE use

  • Safe use of chemicals used to clean, sanitize, and disinfect

RIGHT TO REFUSE UNSAFE WORK

• Workers who refuse to perform unsafe work do not suffer adverse action as long as their work refusal meets certain requirements (Refer to our UFCW 21 Q&A on unsafe work assignments here)

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MORE INFO FROM STATE AND COUNTY DEPARTMENTS

Note: Where there is a contradiction between these documents and one requirement is stricter than another, the stricter requirement should be enforced.

• Summary of General Workplace Requirements from L&I

• Phase 2 in-store retail guidance from the Governor’s office

• Grocery guidance & requirements from the WA Department of Health

• King County Public Health guidance for grocery stores
  

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Shopping in a grocery store or have friends and family who might help hold grocery store employers accountable for a safe workplace and shopping experience? Fill out a Grocery Store Report at GroceryStoreReport.com

Kroger Agrees to Limit Customers After Members Demand Action

Members have been calling for a limit to the number of customers in stores at one time so we can do our jobs safely and protect our customers and community. Crowding and congestion in stores and lines puts everyone at higher risk for contracting COVID-19. After almost 5,000 people signed our Grocery Store Workers Demand Action petition calling for safety measures including limiting customers, Kroger has started to move. 

This week Fred Meyer and QFC stores will: 

• Limit the number of customers to 50% of building code capacity 

• Test one-way aisles in some stores 

• Supply masks and gloves in all locations by the end of the week 

• Close early on Sunday, April 12 

These customer limits do not go as far as Safeway/Albertsons, which is limiting customers to approximately 30% of store capacity. But it’s important that Kroger is listening and starting to make real changes. 

When we stand together, we get things done. Let’s work together to hold management accountable to these promises. If your store is not implementing these procedures by the end of the week, call your Shop Steward or Union Rep, or email us at safetyreport@ufcw21.org.  

If at any point your store is not following social distancing guidelines, you can report them (anonymously or with your name) to the state with this reporting tool. 

There is more work to be done. If you would like to take further action at your store for better safety practices, contact your Union Rep at 1-800-732-1188. 

Washington State’s Department of Labor and Industries on Protecting Grocery Store Workers

Our state’s Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) has produced a document with their recommendations for grocery stores to ensure that stores comply with the state’s social distancing requirements. Find a printable PDF of this document on the L&I website here. 

If you think your store is not following social distancing protocols, there are lots of ways to report that, including via safety and health complaints or through the state’s COVID-19 social distancing report form, or by emailing UFCW 21 at safetyreport@ufcw21.org. 

Coronavirus (COVID-19): Protecting Grocery Store Workers 

The Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) requires employers to implement the Governor’s proclamation. Employers must ensure social distancing for employees and customers; frequent and adequate handwashing; and that sick employees stay home. Employers must also provide basic workplace hazard education about coronavirus and how to prevent transmission in languages best understood by employees. 

Workplace Discrimination 

It is against the law for any employer to take any adverse action such as firing or threats against a worker for exercising safety and health rights such as raising safety and health concerns to their employer, participating in union activities concerning safety and health, filing a safety and health complaint or participating in a Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) investigation. Workers have 30 days to file their complaint with L&I DOSH and/or with Federal OSHA. 

Ideas for an Effective Social Distancing Plan: 

• Limit the number of customers entering the store to facilitate social distancing at store entrances, throughout store and at check-out lines.  

• Require all workers to stay at least six feet away from customers and coworkers.  

• Temporarily mark six-foot increments (using adhesive colored tape, chalk, etc.) on the ground or floor to ensure social distancing.  

• Post large print attention-grabbing signs readable from a far distance (or use portable, electronic reader boards) that inform customers of social distancing practices.  

• Designate workers to monitor and facilitate distancing at check-out lines.  

• Discontinue self-serve foods, free sample stands and product demonstrations. 

Ideas for an Effective Handwashing Plan: 

• Install hand-sanitizing dispensers at store entrances and at key locations inside for customers.  

• Ensure all workers know why and how to effectively wash hands for at least twenty seconds.  

• Require workers to wash hands frequently with soap and water for at least twenty seconds, such as when they arrive at work, leave their workstations for breaks, eat, use tobacco, and after handling money.  

• Ensure gloves are used for cart retrievers, handling money, common use of the same cash register or keypad by different cashiers, food safety and cleaning.  

• Set up a schedule to keep these supplies well stocked and trash emptied. 

Ensure Sick Workers Are Not at Work:  

• Monitor employees for signs of illness and require sick workers to stay home.  

• Ensure employees know the signs and symptoms of COVID-19 caused by coronavirus exposure. 

Ideas for Providing Basic Workplace Hazard Education About Preventing Coronavirus Transmission: 

• Instruct all workers on social distancing, handwashing, and other store-wide safety procedures related to coronavirus.  

• Teach workers the importance of hand washing before eating, drinking, or using tobacco.  

• Advise on respiratory etiquette, including covering coughs and sneezes and not touching eyes, noses, and mouths with unwashed hands or gloves.  

• Prohibit sharing utensils, phones, work tools, and other workplace items that are not sanitized.  

• Communicate important safety messages/ updates daily with methods such as posters, reader boards, etc. 

Checkout Stands and Counters Considerations  

• Consider closing self-check stands if not all surfaces can be sanitized between customers and if it is not possible to ensure at least six feet between users.  

• Consider installing “sneeze shields” at check stands, and ask customers to stand behind them, or relocate pay station key pads further away from worker.  

• When supplies are available, provide disposable wipes/hand sanitizer at check-out stands for employees and customers (e.g. at key pads, registers, bagging area).  

• Prohibit reusable shopping bags and provide single use bags for groceries. 

Stocking and Surface Cleaning 

• Schedule as much stocking and deep cleaning as possible during closing hours. If a 24-hour store, stock during the slowest period of the night.  

• Appoint a designated sanitation worker(s) at all times to continuously clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces on a significantly increased schedule. Use the environmental cleaning guidelines set by the CDC.  

• When disinfecting for coronavirus, the EPA recommends using the longest recommended contact time and/or most concentrated solution per the label.  

• Be sure to follow the label directions for FOOD CONTACT SURFACES when using the chemical near or on utensils and food contact surfaces.  

• Use protective gloves and eye/face protection (e.g. face shields and/or goggles) when mixing, spraying, and wiping with liquid cleaning products, like diluted bleach. 

Other Protective Measures 

• Provide ways for workers to express any concerns and ideas to improve safety.  

• Alert store managers or shift supervisors of strategies on handling customers or workers who are not following social distancing practices or demonstrate signs of illness during the visit. For example, it might be helpful to move a coughing customer out of line to a separate checkout station distant from others.  

• Update store Accident Prevention Program (APP) to include awareness and prevention measures for diseases and viruses.  

Resources 

L&I’s COVID-19 webpage 

County Public Health Grocery store guidance with downloadable posters here  

WA Food Industry Association: www.wa-food-ind.org/Covid-19 

Get help  

For a free safety and health consultation go to http://www.Lni.wa.gov/SafetyConsultants or call 1-800-423-7233 or visit a local L&I office. 

Members Demand Action, Safeway and Albertsons Listen and Begin Limiting Customers This Week

Members have been calling for a limit to the number of customers in stores to allow us to do our jobs safely and protect our customers and community. When there is crowding and congestion in stores and lines, everyone is put at higher risk of contracting COVID-19. Almost 5,000 people have signed our Grocery Store Workers Demand Action petition that calls for limiting customers along with other safety measures, and Safeway and Albertsons have listened.

Starting this week and completing rollout by the end of the week, Safeway and Albertsons stores are implementing new safety protocols in Washington State, including:

• Limiting the number of customers in the store at one time to roughly 30% of the store’s capacity

• Implementing one-way aisles

• Providing masks to workers

Work with your coworkers and your Shop Steward to hold your store accountable to these promises. If your store is not implementing these procedures by the end of the week, call your Union Rep or email us at safetyreport@ufcw21.org.

If at any point your store is not following social distancing guidelines, you can report them (anonymously or with your name) to the state with this reporting tool.

If you would like to take further action in your department or your store for better safety practices, contact your Union Rep at 1-800-732-1188.