Press Advisory: Puget Sound Grocery Store Workers Speak Out for Hazard Pay, Staffing and Safety

Advisory

For immediate release: Monday November 23, 2020
Contact: Tom Geiger. 206-604-3421

Puget Sound Grocery Store Workers Speak Out for Hazard Pay, Staffing and Safety

Thank you to all who attended, if you missed this online webinar where unionized grocery store workers share their experiences and feelings about improved safety and reinstating hazard pay you can watch it here.

Grocery store workers here in Washington and around the nation continue to go to work every day, risking exposure to the deadliest virus in over one hundred years. Despite these risks and the dramatic increase in sales and profits that grocery stores have recorded since the beginning of the pandemic, the hazard pay that had been put in place in March was cut by early summer. Workers are also feeling a lack of sufficient staffing at a time when the need for sanitizing and breaks are paramount. Unionized workers have continued to press for the hazard pay and improved safety procedures. With the recent new spikes of exposure, positive cases and deaths, workers are re-doubling efforts for safety, staffing and hazard pay.

Background:

Nine months into the pandemic front line workers like grocery store workers are still going to work every day, exposed to the virus and concerned with safety.  Early on during the pandemic, many stores like Safeway, QFC and Fred Meyer began paying workers an additional $2 an hour in hazard pay. In addition, we won increased safety protocols grocery store workers had been demanding, such as frequent disinfecting, wiping down carts and check-out stands, installing plexiglass, limiting the number of people inside the store to be able to allow shoppers to socially distance, asking shoppers to wear masks and allowing workers to take frequent breaks to wash hands and maybe get some fresh air.

At the very beginning of March 2020 our nation had its second recorded death from Covid. By the end of that month, the death toll had surpassed 1,500. By the early summer, in all counts, the pandemic had already taken a massive toll, was still out of control, and there was no end in sight. However, while profits and sales at grocery stores soared, workers’ hazard pay was inexplicably cut.  Workers who continued to do essential and hazardous work were apparently not worth the extra $2 an hour. Unionized workers’ protests delayed the pay cuts in some places for a month, but by mid-summer, it was all taken away.

Fast forward to today: our nation has recorded over a quarter million COVID deaths. The slow-down in daily rates of infection and deaths has now turned around, with spikes and new records set throughout the month of November. Workers continue to be exposed, but safety protocols in many stores seem to have become more lax, and reduced staffing has made it very difficult to take the time to do the extra work required to disinfect the store, check-out stations and carts, as well as making it hard to take more frequent rest breaks to wash hands and get fresh air. And the hazard pay that was cut from workers’ weekly checks has still never been reinstated.

Unionized grocery store workers in Washington and around the nation this week are calling out for improved safety, including safer staffing, and a reinstatement of hazard pay for hazardous work.

Grocery Store Workers speak out:

"As a grocery cashier, at least at my store, the best analogy I can give you is that every day is like that Snowmageddon period, where we had lines as far back as we could see, and we didn’t have enough cashiers. Customers are so used to it that they don’t even think about complaining, and the corporate heads think they can get by with it. It’s not because they can’t hire enough people; they’ve hired plenty of people. They just want to have a minimum crew and maximum profits. So we get worked to death because there’s fewer of us doing the work of many.  - Wil Peterson, 17-year Kroger employee 

"To my customers, I say you don’t need to be accepting these long lines. We have 13 check stands in my store. Today there were only 2 cash registers open. This is ridiculous. We’re speaking up about it. We’re working through our union to get a safer store. The way it is now means more strain on everybody — more work for us, customers in the store longer, backed up in the aisles, even though experts seem to say people should keep their shopping trips to 30 minutes. How can they do that if corporate isn’t listening to them and to us?" - Wil Peterson, 17-year Kroger employee 

“I just also want the company to work to keep me safe, and not run me into the ground. Our work is a lot more stressful than it used to be. In our department, we’ve grown in size but we’ve grown even more in how many orders are coming in. Everyone is tired. Everyone is getting worn down. Sections of the store can get so crowded, it’s impossible to keep social distancing and still meet our timelines for fulfilling orders. And I’m very conscious of the risk I’m exposed to. My partner is a nurse, and we have a lot more potential exposure than the people we know who can work from home. That risk is something that I don’t get to leave behind when I leave work—I carry it home with me. My job takes up so much more space in my life now.

On top of all this, on top of them cutting the hazard pay we were getting at the beginning of the pandemic, we’re getting squeezed to be more productive. We push trolleys with the orders we’re preparing all around the store, and they just increased the capacity of those trolleys by 50%. Now they’re so big we can’t see past them around corners, and they’re 50% heavier to push around all day. Lately, the only things any of us are talking about is how tired and sore we are. People are saying they don’t know how much longer they can stay. We are working on these issues through our union, but if our employers can’t commit to keeping us safe, we’re going to lose people who are experienced, who know how to do this work and care about it.” - Amanda, QFC Clicklist

“Through all of this, wanting to give good service, keep our workplace safe for ourselves and our customers, we’re getting nothing from our employers. We got a small amount of hazard pay in the spring and then it was taken away, just like that. They just put $100 on our Advantage cards recently as a little bonus, and it feels like a slap in the face. “

Click here to file a safety report on your neighborhood store and help keep our Grocery Store Workers and our Communities safe.

“We’re back in the throes of it all. We’re here working on the front lines and we don’t feel appreciated. It’s not fair. I’m pissed off. I’m tired. My family’s health care depends on this job. I’m a cancer survivor and I’ve fought to maintain our great union health care for years, I’m proud to work here. I love my customers, but this is so hard. “

“We need hazard pay. We need fully staffed stores so we can keep ourselves and our customers safe. We need respect from our employers—we’re the ones running these stores every day. “ -Amy, QFC

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When There Is a Positive or Suspected COVID Case at Your Workplace

Note: There may be special circumstances around COVID cases in some health care workplaces. For all other workplaces, these basic recommendations should be followed.

When There Is a Positive or Suspected COVID Case at Your Workplace:

YOUR EMPLOYER SHOULD:

• Notify anyone who had a close contact with the person who tested positive

  • The CDC defines “close contact” as someone who was within 6 feet of an infected person for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period

  • This close contact also means being that close 2 days before the infected person becomes symptomatic, or 2 days before their test is taken, anytime until the infected person is isolated

• Have the person with COVID or COVID symptoms, and all close contacts, immediately go home and stay home from work to safely quarantine

  • Workers who have been exposed to COVID but do not have symptoms should still go home and quarantine for 14 days

  • How you should be paid for your time in quarantine or recovery depends on your contract, whether there is a negotiated COVID agreement in place at your workplace, and the industry you work in, but there are many ways to make sure you are compensated. If your employer does not offer you paid leave immediately, you should work with your Union Rep to identify the best paid leave for your situation. You should not have to choose between a paycheck and your health and safety.

• Follow CDC protocols to clean, sanitize, and disinfect the workplace

  • Before cleaning, close off any areas used for prolonged periods of time by the sick person for 24 hours (or as long as possible) to minimize exposure to respiratory droplets

  • Open outside doors and windows to increase air circulation in these areas

  • Clean dirty surfaces with soap and water before disinfecting

  • Disinfect surfaces using products that meet EPA criteria for use against SARS-Cov-2

  • Clean and disinfect all common areas (e.g., bathrooms, break rooms), shared electronic equipment (e.g., touch screens, keyboards, ATM machines), and frequently touched surfaces (e.g. counters, doorknobs)

  • Provide appropriate PPE and training for anyone using these chemicals

•  Notify UFCW 21 of a COVID case in the workplace

YOU AND YOUR COWORKERS SHOULD:

• Let your Union Rep know about the positive case as soon as you can

• Protect your health and safety by being realistic about your risk and level of exposure and advocating for yourself

  • If you and your employer disagree about whether you had close contact with someone at work who tested positive for COVID, contact your Shop Steward or Union Rep for help advocating for your safety

• Understand that to protect people’s medical privacy your employer may not be able to tell you who has tested positive

• Refrain from spreading rumors or stigmatizing people for getting sick—we need to stand together to support each other and encourage transparency so we can all stay safe

• If your employer is violating the state’s COVID guidelines for businesses, such as not requiring employees or customers to wear face coverings or not ensuring 6 feet of physical distancing throughout the workplace, remember you can report violations that affect your safety directly to the state at: coronavirus.wa.gov/report-safe-start-violation

To file a safety report by email, send your name, workplace, and description of the issue to: safetyreport@ufcw21.org

Help nominate PCC workers to the PCC Board of Trustees!

Two longtime PCC workers, Donna Rasmussen and Laurae McIntyre, are currently running for seats on the PCC Board of Trustees, and need thousands of signatures to earn their nominations. If you are a member of PCC, please sign their petitions to get them on the ballot! You can find community members collecting signatures outside PCC stores this month, and if you work at PCC contact your Shop Steward to sign a petition.

Unfortunately, PCC administration has tried to block union and community advocates from gathering signatures. We believe this violates the democratic process and the values of the co-op. You can help these workers earn a spot on the ballot by calling the PCC office at  206-547-1222 and telling them: “I’m a PCC shopper, and I’m asking the CEO to stop blocking workers from running for the Board of Trustees. Give Laurae and Donna a fair and safe process to get on the ballot and let workers collect signatures electronically.”

You can also file a customer comment with PCC at: pccmarkets.com/contact-us

PCC worker Jared gathers signatures to support his coworkers getting on the pcc board

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Learn more about these worker candidates and what they stand for:

Donna

I’m a working mom, and my whole family is invested in the mission and success of PCC—in fact, my partner and two teenage sons all work for the co-op. In my 40 years of customer service, I think PCC has hands-down the best customers I’ve ever worked with.

As PCC focuses on its growth, many of my coworkers and I feel it’s time to again have a worker voice on the Board of Trustees to ensure that customers, workers, and our community are kept front and center in decision-making. Members helped build this co-op, and as someone who interacts with our members and customers every day, I want them to know we’ve got their backs and that they can trust us. I spend money here because I trust us and I believe our co-op can grow, while holding onto its mission, values, and connection to the community.

I’m passionate about fair trade, gender and racial equity, affordable housing, and community living. For 10 years now, I have lived in a co-op housing community, where I take an active role and hold a position in community leadership. I’ve been a grocery store worker and active member of my union (UFCW), since the 1980s, serving on the union bargaining team during the big 1989 grocery strike. I also worked for QFC for 12 years, before and after it was bought by Fred Meyer and then the national chain Kroger. I experienced firsthand what happens when a well-loved community grocery store strays away from and loses what makes it unique. I have proudly been at PCC for more than 6 years now.

I’m committed to helping PCC continue to thrive while staying focused on our mission. That means connecting authentically with the communities we’re moving into as we open new stores. It means making sure PCC workers can afford to shop at our stores and live in our communities. When PCC takes care of its frontline staff, we can better take care of our customers. It also means continuing to support our small farmers and local vendors, even if they can’t produce enough to get their product in every one of our expanding locations. After all, as a co-op, our stores should be a reflection of our communities.

Right now, 8 months into the pandemic it remains stressful for most people to shop for food. My coworkers, including my boys, and I have committed to provide our customers access to fresh, healthy food in a safe and sanitized environment. We do our best to hold each other up and try to stay healthy ourselves, while working during such difficult times.

If I ring up your groceries or pass you in the aisle, please be sure to say hi!

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Laurae

I’ve been a member of PCC since the 1980s, and I have family whose porches used to be part of the co-op’s original network of drop-off spots in the ’50s! I came to work at PCC about 6 years ago, wanting to work somewhere that aligns with my values and where I get to interact directly with a lot of people in my community. Our role has only become more important now, during the COVID pandemic. For lots of people, coming to the grocery store is one of their only opportunities for community and connection, along with healthy food. I’ve been really humbled by this experience and the appreciation our customers have shared with us.

PCC is a community. People become members because of what we stand for. We support local producers instead of corporate ones, our food is clean and handled properly from its beginning to the store shelves. People work here because of what we stand for, too. As a union shop steward in my store, I get to welcome new people to our staff. We have a young and vibrant workforce that is pushing us to step up on racial equity, LGBTQ inclusion, and justice for workers all along the food supply chain—including the workers in our own stores.

I want to make sure my coworkers are represented on the Board of Trustees.

PCC has been expanding so fast recently, focusing on opening new stores and big remodels. That’s great, I’m happy for us to grow. But given that the people who are usually on the Board of Trustees are business focused, some with no retail experience whatsoever, PCC workers agree we need some representation on the Board. We’re the ones working in these stores day in and day out. We want to protect the core mission of the co-op, the reasons why we work here, and why our members shop here.

With a worker voice on the Board, the decisions that steer the future of our co-op can be informed by the people interacting one-on-one with our customers and working with the beautiful food our farmers provide. We’re ready to have a voice in shaping the values and direction of this community.

Tell PCC Administration: Stop Undermining Our Co-Op Democracy!

PCC administration is trying to block the union and community advocates from gathering signatures to nominate PCC workers to serve on the co-op’s Board of Trustees, which we believe violates the democratic process and the values of our co-op. Over the last several months PCC administration has:

• Obstructed workers’ access to comprehensive election information.
• Refused to allow workers to collect signatures electronically, even as COVID surges in our community.
• Banned signature-gatherers from being outside PCC.

PCC members deserve a fair process that values the voices of essential workers. Two longtime PCC workers, Donna Rasmussen and Laurae McIntyre, are currently running for Board seats and need thousands of signatures to earn their nominations. Please sign their petitions to get them on the ballot!

HOW YOU CAN HELP:

Call the PCC office at 206-547-1222 and tell them:

“I’m a PCC shopper, and I’m asking the CEO to stop blocking workers from running for the Board of Trustees. Give Laurae and Donna a fair and safe process to get on the ballot and let workers collect signatures electronically.”

You can also file a customer comment online at: pccmarkets.com/contact-us

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Count Every Vote - And Make Sure Your Vote Counts

As a member-led union, one of our core values is that every voice and every vote counts. 

We believe everyone should be able to participate in decision-making about the things that affect us. We believe in that principle in our union, where workers vote to approve their contracts and elect the leadership of the union, and we believe in that principle in our local and national elections. Here in Washington State, our members have long been part of the movement to make sure as many Washingtonians as possible can vote in every election, with statewide vote-by-mail, pre-registration for our youth, and other policies that empower people to participate in the democratic process. 

Members of UFCW 21 have worked tirelessly during the 2020 election to interview local candidates for office and understand where they stand on the issues working people care about, to call and text each other to make voting plans, to coordinate with our international union to help UFCW members in other states and other working people exercise their right to participate in the election, and now to contact each other to make sure any issues causing our ballots to be held up are addressed so we can be counted. 

We encourage everyone in Washington to check on the status of your ballot at VoteWA.gov so you can be sure your vote has been counted and address any issues if it hasn’t. We will be organizing with the labor movement and trusted community partners to ensure that any attacks on the integrity of our national election are addressed. 

We are the largest private-sector union in Washington State, more than 46,000 members strong, and we are a diverse union. But regardless of where we live, who we vote for, what industry we work in, we stand for the bedrock belief that every vote must be counted, and every voice must be heard. 

State Hazard Alert for Preventing Spread of COVID-19 in Healthcare Settings

UFCW 21 members at CHI’s Harrison/St Michael Medical Center faced an outbreak at their hospital in August 2020, and after management did not address health care workers’ safety, members pushed back and stood up for a safer workplace for themselves and their patients. Their advocacy led the state’s Department of Labor & Industries and Department of Health to issue a special document called a Joint Hazard Alert, which addresses a special workplace issue brought to these departments’ attention.

The September 2020 Joint Hazard Alert specifies requirements of health care employers to keep workers and patients safe as we deal with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Employers must meet the requirements outlined in this alert, and can be held accountable to these standards by complaints filed with the state’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH). If your employer is not meeting these standards in any area, you should contact your Union Rep immediately or submit a safety report at safetyreport@ufcw21.org to get help filing a report.

The Hazard Alert covers specific safety requirements such as:

• “Disposable respirators and procedural masks must be replaced daily at the beginning of each shift for every employee and immediately upon employee request when soiled or damaged during the shift. Multiple shift use of disposable respirators/masks is NOT allowed.”

• “Hospitals must develop and implement an effective system to track N95/PAPR/CAPR training and testing that ensures every employee is supplied with appropriate respiratory protection.”

• “Staff must be provided a safe place to don and doff PPE prior to entering spaces where facemasks must be removed for eating and drinking. Staff should don a new facemask prior to returning to the unit.”

• “Provide adequate space and procedures for staff to physically distance at a minimum of six feet in break rooms, nurse stations, cafeteria and other places where staff congregate”

• “Prohibit staff from working or being on the premises if exposed to COVID-19, and all staff who test positive must be excluded from work and isolated according to CDC guidelines”

There are many more specifics in the Hazard Alert. Be sure to read the entire document to understand your rights to a safe workplace during COVID-19.

Again, if your employer is not meeting these standards in any area, you should contact your Union Rep immediately or submit a safety report at safetyreport@ufcw21.org to get help filing a report.

Grocery Store Workers and Community Leaders Condemn Fred Meyer and QFC Ban on Black Lives Matter Insignia

For Immediate release: Tuesday, September 22, 2020 
Contact:  Tom Geiger, UFCW 21, 206-604-3421

Grocery Store Workers and Community Leaders Condemn Fred Meyer and QFC Ban on Black Lives Matter Insignia 

Puget Sound-area retail and grocery store workers, with the full backing of their union (UFCW 21), launched a campaign today calling on Kroger-owned Fred Meyer and QFC to reverse the companies’ ban on employees wearing Black Lives Matter buttons at work. 

Over recent weeks, management has begun ordering workers to remove “Black Lives Matter” buttons distributed by the UFCW 21. 

UFCW 21, the union which represents over 13,000 workers at Puget Sound-area Fred Meyer and QFC stores, says the ban violates workers’ rights under the companies’ union contracts and federal labor law. 

This morning, after weeks of attempts to resolve the problem internally, UFCW 21 filed formal grievances with the companies, as well as an unfair labor practice charge under federal labor law.  

UFCW 21 and community leaders are also calling on supporters to sign an online petition to the companies (see: tinyurl.com/BLMatKroger). 

Everett Fred Meyer worker Shawntia Cunningham, who is Black, explained why she is fighting for her right to wear the button: “I get pulled over by cops for having a nice car to the point that my husband, who is white, has to drive so I can just feel safe. I have been called the ‘N’ word by customers at my store a few times. I need this company to respect us as human beings and to respect our rights as workers. I need Fred Meyer and QFC and all Kroger to see that Black lives really do matter.” 

UFCW 21 President Faye Guenther said: “Systemic racism is real and it negatively impacts thousands of our members on the job and in the community. We are proud of our members who are standing up to say ‘Black Lives Matter’ and we will support their right to do so with every tool available to us.” 

The campaign is drawing support from area labor and civil rights leaders. Gabriel Prawl, Sr., A. Philip Randolph Institute (APRI) Seattle Chapter President, today called on Fred Meyer and QFC to reconsider the ban on Black Lives Matter and meet with Black workers and community leaders to address “ongoing racist issues in the retail environment.” 

April Sims, Secretary Treasurer of the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO offered full support: “Solidarity among working people is the foundation of the labor movement, and these workers are living that commitment by wearing Black Lives Matter buttons. These brave workers are backed by the 550,000-person strong labor movement of Washington state, and we call on these companies to reverse their decision to prioritize the feelings of racists over the humanity of their Black and Brown employees and customers.” 

Updates on August COVID-19 Outbreak for CHI Harrison / St Michael Members

UFCW 21 has been tracking the COVID-19 outbreak at CHI Harrison/St Michael very closely. The hospital says they learned of the first case and notified Kitsap County Health Department on August 4. The outbreak was not made public until August 21.

This week we had an emergency online meeting with hospital workers to discuss the outbreak, our demands from CHI, and our next steps. We talked in the meeting about a way for workers to report our experiences before and during this outbreak, and there was a lot of interest in a meeting with state officials to report issues directly to relevant agencies.

LISTENING SESSION WITH STATE HEALTH & LABOR OFFICIALS & GOVERNORS OFFICE

MONDAY AUGUST 31

7:30 PM

ONLINE MEETING

We immediately scheduled a listening session meeting with top officials at all relevant state agencies. This is an online meeting over Zoom and all Harrison/St Michael workers are invited. We will be joined by officials from:

• WA State Dept. of Health

• Kitsap County Public Health

• Labor & Industries

• Office of the Governor

You will have a chance in this meeting to ask questions, report safety concerns, and let them know what is really happening on the ground. These agencies want to hear from you about your experiences and what you need. Please register as soon as possible, and share this important opportunity with your coworkers.

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We also created a COVID outbreak safety survey and reporting tool. Members said they would appreciate a place to share experience with testing, exposure, notification, safety protocols, PPE, and other issues surrounding this outbreak. That survey is here:

We encourage all Harrison/St Michael workers to spend 5 - 10 minutes this week to go through these questions and help us track as much information as possible about this outbreak and your safety. There is an option to upload pictures or documents in that survey as well, and a place you can request support if you are in quarantine and would like to be connected to any union or community support. Other members and our community across Kitsap is reaching out to ask how they can help support you at this time.

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NOTES FROM OUR EMERGENCY MEETING

Our current demands for CHI:

• Rapid testing for all workers

• Complying with our existing agreement for 8-hour notification of any exposure

• Paid administrative leave during the full length of any quarantine and while waiting for test results

• Adequate PPE for all workers

• Maintaining safe staffing levels even during this outbreak

• Hazard pay

Existing right to paid leave: The first piece of our existing agreement with CHI says:

“A nurse or healthcare worker who the Employer does not permit to work due to exposure to Covid-19 disease while at work shall be placed in paid leave status during any required quarantine period. Paid leave status may be a combination of L&I Workers Compensation and employer paid administrative leave. The combination of which will ensure the employee will experience no loss of pay or accrued time off until such time as the Employer permits the employee to return to work. An employer representative will be available to assist employee with coordination of federal, state and employer benefits as may be applicable.”

The state has ruled that there is an automatic presumption that if a health care worker acquires COVID, it was acquired at work and you are eligible for workers comp. If you have any questions or issues with paid leave during this time, please contact your Union Rep as soon as possible.

Community support: Fellow UFCW 21 members and the larger Kitsap community are springing into action and asking what they can do to help, especially for workers who are in quarantine. We will be organizing whatever support workers need, be it meals, wellness checks, financial support, or anything else, and encourage all Harrison/St Michael workers to contact your Union Rep for whatever you or coworkers need so we can connect you with your community support.

​Union actions: We are planning for public actions that are safe but can put pressure on Harrison/St Michael management to meet our demands, keep workers and patients safe, and prevent the next outbreak crisis. We will be updating everyone as these plans solidify, but if you are interested in participating or have ideas for safe actions that make a point, please connect with your Shop Steward or Union Rep.

Ongoing safety issues: We received many helpful and specific reports of safety issues and workplace concerns during the emergency meeting. We will be addressing these individually and collectively in the coming days. Examples of issues discussed include: the safety of floating right now; worries about the upcoming flu season; inadequate PPE supplies, training, and fit-testing; short staffing in many departments including EVS; nurses being asked to clean COVID rooms; special issues facing procedural care staff, cath lab, and high-risk workers; problems with testing and notification; concern around new CDC guidelines; and much more.

As always, we encourage you to report safety concerns to your Union Rep, or to use our COVID safety report email:

safetyreport@ufcw21.org

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PRESS COVERAGE OF HARRISON/ST MICHAEL WORKERS SPEAKING OUT

On Tuesday August 25, we held a press conference responding to CHI’s public statements that they are handling this outbreak as well as possible, that they notified everyone involved in a timely way, and that their PPE supplies now and throughout the COVID pandemic have been totally adequate.

You can watch the full press conference at this link

And find some of the press coverage below:

• KING 5: Hospital staff at St. Michael in Bremerton release list of demands after COVID-19 outbreak

• Kitsap Sun: ‘I’m surprised it took this long’: Hospital workers fault St. Michael leaders over handling of COVID-19 outbreak

• KUOW radio: Workers at Bremerton hospital say they are not being protected

• Seattle Times: Bremerton hospital’s union asking for more to be done to control COVID-19 outbreak

• KOMO News: Bremerton hospital workers speak out after COVID-19 outbreak

• Spokesman-Review: COVID outbreak at Bremerton hospital worries workers

National Week of Action for Hazard Pay for Essential Workers

When the COVID-19 outbreak hit, our members across industries felt it immediately—especially in frontline industries like health care and grocery stores.

We continue to believe that all essential workers deserve hazard pay during this pandemic.

UFCW has been advocating for employer-paid hazard pay as well as federal support for essential workers throughout this pandemic. Hazard pay is intended to compensate people for hazardous work duties, and all essential workers have had elevated risk added to their work lives during this crisis. We also believe many workers have new job duties related to sanitizing, infection control, protective equipment, chemical use, and handling ever-evolving public health recommendations and government mandates that change nearly everything we do. These new duties and the reminder of the centrality of our work deserves recognition that goes well beyond thank-you commercials.

After workers spoke up about what we were facing on the job and started organizing for hazard pay, many grocery employers started paying it in various forms, most commonly $2/hour in extra wages. “We recognize that this crisis is far from over,” Kroger CEO Rodney McMullen wrote to workers in mid-April. “After reflecting on feedback from you, we want to further acknowledge you for your hard work to date as well as the work yet to come.” But by mid-May, Kroger had cut hazard pay, and in mid-June Safeway/Albertsons followed suit. Other smaller local chains have ended hazard pay or never started it in the first place. And health care workers facing daily exposure to COVID patients have been demanding hazard pay from early on in this once-in-a-century pandemic, with very little action from health care employers.

We know this crisis is still far from over. This summer we’ve started giving employers more of the kind of “feedback” that really moves corporate offices—union grievances, public pressure, and essential workers and our community coming together to say enough is enough.

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NATIONAL WEEK OF ACTION FOR HAZARD PAY

UFCW essential workers across the country are taking action next week to stand up for hazard pay. You can participate in this week of action!

Below, click the button to record a video message explaining why hazard pay is important to you, and what it’s like working through a pandemic. Whether it’s cracked skin and repetitive stress injuries from constant sanitizing and disinfecting, working in health care without adequate PPE, or representing an industry that hasn’t been in the news as much but is still essential—laundries, food processing, cannabis, retail, etc! Why do we need hazard pay? Let’s tell the public:

If you’d like to participate further in the national week of action for hazard pay, contact your Union Rep.

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HAZARD PAY GRIEVANCES FILED

In July, UFCW 21 filed grievances over Fred Meyer, QFC, Albertsons, Safeway, Haggen, and PCC’s cutting of our hazard pay. Here’s an excerpt of what we said in our grievance:

As you know, the Employer paid Hazard or Appreciation pay to bargaining unit employees for at least two reasons. First, it recognized Local 21 members have been working in the stores under constant threat of exposure to the deadly COVID-19 virus. Second, the Employer relies on Local 21 members to perform additional and/or different job functions to allow customers to continue shopping uninterrupted during pandemic conditions.

Both conditions mentioned above continue to persist today. Nevertheless, the Employer unilaterally decided to eliminate or modify the Hazard/Appreciation pay. In doing so, Local 21 believes the Employer has violated numerous terms of the parties' labor agreements, including, but not limited to the Recognition, Wage classification provisions and Appendices, and Just Cause.

In the coming weeks there will be plenty of opportunities to support this grievance and take action to show employers that we are all paying close attention to their next steps and we are not taking no for an answer.

Press Advisory: St Michael's Medical Center Workers and Their Union to Speak Out

Press Advisory

Contact: Tom Geiger, 206-604-3421
For Immediate Release: Monday, August 24

Press Conference Tuesday at Noon Regarding St Michael’s Outbreak

After announced outbreak of COVID cases among staff and patients, St Michael’s Medical Center workers and their union (UFCW 21) are outraged, but no longer surprised by ongoing problems at the Hospital. St Michael’s Medical Center is formerly known as Harrison Hospital and is located in Bremerton, WA.

WHAT: Staff and members of UFCW 21 plan to hold a Zoom Press Conference to communicate the magnitude of the problems at St Michael’s – both how widespread the concerns are and how long the workers have been raising the alarm. Workers and their union will present a list of demands to the WA Department of Health and Kitsap County Public Health.

ZOOM MEETING:

Direct join link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86353217505
Webinar ID: 863 5321 7505
Dial-in #: (253) 215 8782

WHEN: Tuesday, August 25, 2020 at 12 PM, NOON

WHO:   UFCW 21 President and staff will be joined by hospital workers who will share their experiences regarding the problems that have been going on at the hospital for months. These individuals will make brief prepared statements including information about their efforts over each and every month since March to raise concerns and the hospital’s failed response. We will be available to answer questions live during the ZOOM call.

Four-Part Education Series: Help Build the Movement for a Better Future

Want to be better informed on how we got into this current crisis, the ongoing attack on working people, and what we as a union can do about it? Sign up today.

UFCW 21 is holding a free series of four 90-minute classes online to educate members on the history and future of our active, worker-led union movement. The series will include the following four classes:

• 8/18: Stealing the 2020 National Elections: Coronavirus Style

• 9/1: How Did This Happen? This Pandemic Did Not Need to Be This Bad

• 9/15: Divide and Conquer: Promoting Hatred and Bigotry to Divide Working People

• 9/29: The War on Workers: Coronavirus Style

All classes are from 6:30 – 8:30PM.

Each class is free to members, will be taught over Zoom and include significant opportunities for Question and Answer with the instructors. You will also have an opportunity to learn about ways that you can help make a difference this fall. Members attending all four in the series there will be a awarded a certificate of completion and it will be mailed to you.

The courses will be taught by Mark McDermott, who has led seminars with tens of thousands of union members across the nation and received wide praise from diverse audiences. He will be joined by co-hosts from our UFCW 21 staff: Faviola Lopez and Ariana Davis, Union Representatives, and Pia Rivera and Indira Trejo, Union Organizers. You don’t have to have a Zoom account to participate, just register.

“The ultimate test of a person, a union, a movement and a people is not whether we get knocked down. It is what do we do when we get up. Are we smarter, stronger, more determined and more united?  This is always our choice.”

-Mark M. McDermott

Telephone Town Hall Calls Monday August 17

UFCW 21 Telephone Town Hall: Monday, August 17 at 6:30 PM 

We’ll call you between 6:30 and 6:40 PM on Monday, but if you miss the call or don’t receive one, call in directly at 888-652-0386 and enter meeting ID 5066. 

It’s time for another union town hall call! We’re still fighting for safety on the job, hazard pay for all essential workers, and better enforcement of new laws and policies during this public health crisis. Let’s get together to discuss what we can do now and what we’re planning for the future. This week we’ll also be talking about our health insurance and ways to save money for anyone on the Sound Health and Wellness Trust insurance. 

Health Care Members UFCW 21 Telephone Town Hall: Monday, August 17 at 7:30 PM 

We’ll call you between 7:30 and 7:40 PM on Monday, but if you miss the call or don’t receive one, call in directly at 844-227-7561 and enter meeting ID 5067. 

It’s time for another union town hall call! We’re still fighting for safety on the job, hazard pay for all essential workers, and better enforcement of new laws and policies during this public health crisis. Let’s get together to discuss what we can do now and what we’re planning for the future. This week we’ll be focusing on the different ways to address the issues we’re facing through bargaining, grievances, and reporting violations of the law. 

OTHER IMPORTANT NEWS: 

State Protections for High-Risk Workers Have Been Extended  

If you are over 65 or have health conditions that put you at risk for COVID-19 complications, our state’s protections for you have been extended again. Find more information and an FAQ here >> 

Help Build the Movement for a Better Future 

Want to be better informed on how we got into this current crisis, the ongoing attack on working people, and what we as a union can do about it? Sign up for a free series of online classes to educate members on the history and future of our active, worker-led union movement. Click for more info and to register >> 

Report Workplace Violations of COVID-19 “Safe Start” Rules 

Is your workplace not following state regulations meant to keep you and your community safe? Don’t just ignore it—talk to your Shop Steward or Union Rep, and report any and all violations so the state can hold our employers accountable. The state has already stepped in at multiple workplaces to force management to follow the rules and maintain better safety, due to UFCW 21 members reporting violations. Click here for the state’s reporting form >> 

Mental Health Resources for Members 

This continues to be a difficult time for many people, but there are lots of resources available to help deal with stress and cope with the many challenges we’re facing. Please remember: you are a member of a union, and we have each other’s back. Click here for more information on crisis phone and chat lines, tele-mental health options, and the state’s COVID-19 stress phone line, and more >> 

UNITED for Fair Pay and Safety Online Rally

Join fellow union grocery store workers and our union Presidents from UFCW 7, 21, 324 and 770 from California to Washington to Colorado for an exciting and informative online rally on August 4th at 6:30 PM (Pacific).

There will be information on workplace safety, hazard pay and other important and timely topics. Save the date and plan to join us then.

Join us right here on this page for the live streaming event or join the conversation live at that time on UFCW 21’s Facebook Page.

Essential Workers Bill of Rights: Grocery Store Workers

Article 1

RIGHT TO BETTER WAGES: We have a right to fair pay so we can afford food, clothing, a place to live, and the other necessities we need to live our lives and support our families. Better wages mean that current workers can be given the opportunity to move into higher paying jobs and have their time with the company recognized.

Article 2

RIGHT TO LIFE OUTSIDE WORK: We have a right to a life outside of work including two dependable days a week for ourselves, our families, our places of worship, and our communities.

Article 3

RIGHT TO HEALTH CARE: We have a right to an affordable health care plan that helps us stay well and takes care of us when we are ill.

Article 4

RIGHT TO RETIREMENT: We have a right to a dependable pension so we can retire with dignity.

Article 5

RIGHT TO PAID SICK DAYS: We have a right to paid sick days when we are sick so we can stay at home, get well and contribute to a healthy food supply. Nobody should have to choose between staying home and caring for themselves or a sick family member and paying the rent.

Article 6

RIGHT TO JOB SECURITY: We have a right to protection against unjust firing or demotion, and unfair discipline.

Article 7

RIGHT TO SAFE WORKPLACES: We have a right to decent and safe working conditions. This includes basic humane treatment including rest breaks and worker safety protections.

Article 8

RIGHT TO A VOICE ON THE JOB: We have a right to a voice in the workplace when we choose to have a union, without any interference by our employers.

Article 9

RIGHT TO HEALTHY FOOD: Grocery workers and our customers have a right to safe and healthy food in the stores where we work and shop.

Article 10

RIGHT TO MORE HOURS: We have a right to a dependable number of hours of work each week so that we can predict our paycheck, manage our household budgets, and be able to pay our bills.

Kroger Mandates Masks — UFCW 21 Members Demand Reinstatement of Hazard Pay

UFCW 21 members at Kroger stores, including the Auburn Fred Meyer workers pictured above, have been protesting the company’s pay cuts with sign actions at their stores.

The United Food and Commercial Workers Union called Kroger’s decision to require that customers wear masks “long overdue.”  UFCW has been demanding a mask mandate since early in the pandemic, and here in Washington UFCW 21 members were central to the governor’s decision to require that customers wear masks in stores and public places to help make our workplaces safer and prevent spread of COVID-19.

UFCW International President Marc Perrone has called on all grocers and retailers to implement mask requirements and said they should be enforced by “trained professionals, not retail workers already stretched thin during this crisis.”

Meanwhile, UFCW 21 members at Kroger-owned Fred Meyer and QFC stores in Western Washington are demanding that Kroger reinstate the $2/hour hazard pay that it terminated in May.

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Eli Campbell, who works in grocery at the Bakerview Fred Meyer in Bellingham spoke out against Kroger’s termination of hazard pay, saying: “The pandemic is still here. Our added responsibilities for cleaning and sanitation remain, and so does the risk.”

“Our sales are amazing. We have been selling so much,” said Andrenna Caballero, an Assistant Deli Manager at the Port Hadlock QFC. “That's why when we were told our hero pay was going away and our hours were going to be cut we were all so angry.”

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UFCW 21 members at Kroger stores, including the Auburn Fred Meyer workers pictured above, have been protesting the company’s pay cuts with sign actions at their stores.

UFCW says 278 members have died from COVID-19 in the first 100 days of the pandemic, and 44,419 have been exposed or infected.

If you need signs for your store, contact your rep.

Harrison Community Caravan Takes the Streets of Kitsap!

The UFCW 21 Harrison ProTech Bargaining Team was joined by UFCW 21 Kitsap Movement Builders, UFCW 21 Doctor’s Clinic & grocery members, as well as the Kitsap Central Labor Council and political and community leaders for an inspiring, powerful, creative and ultimately very noisy action from Bremerton to Silverdale on Tuesday, July 14.

UFCW 21 members shared what is happening in our workplaces, the risks to our safety and how we are doing everything we can (including making our own personal protective equipment) to keep ourselves and our colleagues safe. We asked community to join our campaign asking CHI to do better in terms of health care, wages, PPE, and other important safety protections. Then about 40 cars decorated with streamers, paint, and signs saying things like “Protect Health Care Workers, Protect Our Community” and “Honk for Healthcare Workers” circled Harrison Medical Center in Bremerton, getting waves from health care workers on break and passers by. We then beeped our way, in formation, over to Silverdale, where we did the same thing at Harrison Medical Center there.

We wrapped up the action with a reminder for everyone to sign on to the petition which health care members will be delivering at the end of July. Please sign and share, so that CHI has no doubt that the Kitsap Community is horrified about what is happening to our health care workers and expects CHI to do the right thing!

Read about our event in the Kitsap Sun newspaper

Watch the program on Facebook Live

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Hear what UFCW 21 members had to say that day:

“My kids were born at Harrison. Health care means a lot. As a CNA, I’m one of the lowest-paid people in the hospital, and I do most of the patient care. I’ve been on the bargaining team ever since I started, 21 years ago. I fight for the little guy. We have over 200 people that are CNAs in the hospital, we’re the biggest group out of the Pro-Tech group, and I fight for them tooth and nail every single day because that’s how I care about the CNAs, that’s how I care about the workers, that’s how I care about Pro-Tech.”

— Rob Shauger, CNA, surgical floor, Harrison Medical Center, member of the UFCW 21 bargaining team

“We as health care workers are the ones that really have the knowledge, not the administration. The biggest thing in this pandemic that’s been really scary, as a health care worker, is that we’re now carrying around our PPE, which most of us have had to go out and purchase ourselves. We’re in the ER and we’re wearing these masks for more than 3 weeks, masks that were originally meant to be to be one-time use per patient. Six months ago, we were changing out our gowns, goggles, masks, between every patient and now we’re using it for weeks on end. I’m just asking for the community to support us on this. In order for us to take care of you, we need your support to take care of ourselves, too.”

— Ona Burkett, ER Tech, Harrison Medical Center, member of the UFCW 21 bargaining team

“We are also bargaining for a fair contract right now. The Doctor’s Clinic is owned by CHI, so we’re all in this together, and they’re doing the same things to us. They said we don’t deserve hazard pay because this is the job we signed up for. Let me tell you—this is not the job we signed up for! I’ve been here for Ebola, I was there for H1N1, this is a whole new world for everyone. This beautiful garbage bag I’m wearing today? I’ve been making these myself, for our own protective equipment. We didn’t get the kind of protective gowns we were supposed to have, so I took some garbage bags and figure out how to iron them together. I’m very proud of this, but I’m also extremely angry. I did it to protect myself and my coworkers, but I should not have had to do this. I bought the garbage bags myself. If we go down, we can’t protect the community, so we need to be protected.”

— Monique Pyles, Medical Asst., The Doctors Clinic, member of the UFCW 21 bargaining team

Monique Pyles

“We really have each other’s back here in Kitsap!”

-Naomi Oligario, Port Orchard Safeway, UFCW 21 member & event emcee

“I’ve been in the grocery industry for a long time; this is a tough time for essential workers. We’re keeping our communities fed, supplied, healthy, and cared for in the middle of a global emergency, and we’re proud to do it. But we also need to be kept safe at our jobs. As a patient of this Kitsap health care system, I know the safety of these health care workers affects my safety. If me and my coworkers get sick, our community food supply chain gets messed up. I know if health care workers get sick and can’t work, our access to good quality health care is affected. Essential workers in this stand together, stand for each other, and stand for the community.”

— Eric Otis, Bremerton Fred Meyer

Our community car caravan passes Harrison Medical Center to let them know Kitsap stands with health care workers!

Albertsons, Safeway, Haggen Announce End to Hazard Pay – Let’s Take Action

Albertsons, Safeway, and Haggen just announced they plan to eliminate our hazard pay tomorrow (Sat 6/13/20). While we appreciate that corporate plans to acknowledge our hard work with one last additional bonus, cutting hourly pay during a pandemic is an unacceptable way to treat workers on the front lines and at risk every day. We have been helping our communities and our company through this crisis for months, and we continue to do so.

TAKE ACTION: If you work at Safeway, Albertsons, or Haggen, take a moment to speak up about what you’ve been through, how your job has changed, and what you think management should do to compensate you and keep you safe.

Friends, family, customers, and community can contact Albertsons/Safeway’s corporate office and let corporate know how they feel by calling 877-276-9637 or 877-723-3929.

State of Race: Outrage, pain and tentative hope

UFCW 21 member Wil Peterson

Driving while Black. Walking while Black... 

In the wake of Minneapolis resident George Floyd’s tragic murder, a Rainbow Coalition of people are full of anguish, rage, despair, frustration and myriad other soul-wrenching emotions. Seemingly countless other African-Americans have perished at the hands of police officers and self-appointed community “enforcers” — Ahmaud Arbrey, Trayvon Martin, Eric Gardner, Breonna Taylor, Michael Brown, Charleena Lyles, Freddie Gray... and on... and on... — but something about Floyd’s death resonates on an arguably unprecedented level and has created an escalating outcry and numerous protests across the nation.  

Shopping while Black. Working while Black... 

Perhaps it was the widely circulated footage of his final moments on earth: handcuffed from behind and helplessly pinned down by Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin’s unrelenting knee that forcefully applied pressure on his neck until he died while repeatedly whispering the heartbreaking words, “I can’t breathe” and, finally, “Mama.” Or was it the collective anger over the fact that Chauvin was quickly fired but initially wasn’t charged with anything? Or the forceful and tyrannical police and military actions that the current White House occupant ordered against protesters who stood in the way of his Bible-gripping photo-op this week? 

Regardless of the reason(s) for this widespread rebellion, a firestorm is raging, literally and figuratively. And while I’ve never experienced anything remotely close to the terrifying circumstances mentioned here, I’m all too familiar with daily concerns about what might happen during a routine traffic stop, a neighborhood walk or a work-related interaction. 

Existing while Black...   

As a North Carolina transplant who relocated here in 2003, I naively expected to leave all traces of racial conflict behind in the South. Back there, it wasn’t uncommon to casually be called the N-word, to be excluded from social gatherings or to be held to different standards at work. I grew up accustomed to that culture, even if it confused, saddened and angered me. As an adult, I rebelled against it by learning to speak up for myself and rising above uncomfortable, racially offensive situations. I was stronger, but I was also weary of having to constantly remain on guard and high alert.  

Moving to Washington offered me a fresh start and clean slate. I figured the prevailing mindset here would be infinitely better and different on the race-relations front. And, for the most part, it was. But there’ve been disturbing reminders that people are people, regardless of their geographical location. Not long after starting my job as a Fred Meyer clerk, I was: 

• Called the N-word twice by a white woman who was suspected of shoplifting. Instead of being ordered to leave the store, she was allowed to make a purchase and leisurely stroll out the door. 

• Told by a white customer I was assisting that he didn’t want to buy the wrong product and “N-word it up.” He actually looked confused when I immediately excused myself and angrily walked away. 

• Forcefully ordered by another white woman to sell her an item at the price she wanted to pay, not what it actually cost. When I called my manager for a price check, she mistakenly and inexplicably assumed I was contacting the police. “If they come here, of course they will believe me over you,” she said.  

• Blocked by a driver who was talking to a policeman in the store parking lot after my late-night shift ended. I thought about getting out of my car and politely asking him to move, but I didn’t want to risk possibly angering the officer, who — after all — had a gun. So I waited until their conversation ended and then drove off... frustrated and angry, but still alive. 

Even everyday activities that are taken for granted by most folks can suddenly become intimidating. Once, during an evening walk to the grocery store in my predominately white neighborhood, I saw two white police officers with a police dog far in the distance. As I slowly and cautiously approached them, I silently prayed that nothing would go sideways. When one of them ordered me to stop moving because the dog was searching for someone, I immediately complied. After what felt like an eternity, he allowed me to proceed. I did so, grateful that this trip would otherwise be uneventful. Still, I couldn’t help but wonder, what about the next one? 

Coping while Black... 

Incidents such as what I’ve described — while certainly nothing compared to the literal life-and-death situations that have claimed scores of precious and irreplaceable lives — are examples of what happens here on the West Coast, back on the East Coast and at all points in between. This undoubtedly is an uncomfortable topic for many of those who have never experienced, and hopefully never will experience, similar concerns and treatment. But for far too many of us, it’s a daily reality. 

Hoping while Black... 

Fortunately, the vast majority of my encounters with others — especially my treasured Fred Meyer coworkers and customers, as well as fellow UFCW 21 members, colleagues and friends — are positive, uplifting and rewarding. It’s this much-needed virtual safety net that offers a support network from which to draw strength. And this Union’s passionate commitment to achieving racial equity and empowerment to people of color, and fair treatment for everyone, provides a sense of hope that didn’t exist during my decades in North Carolina. 

But, despite all of that, I still can’t help but worry — if only a bit — just about each time I leave my home. Will this trip be uneventful? Will I make it back here alive? 

By UFCW 21 member Wil Peterson 

Read UFCW 21’s statement on the killing of George Floyd, our nation’s history of racism, and our union’s commitment to solidarity over white supremacy 

Speak up about how racism has affected you and how you want our union to work on racial equity going forward using the form below. You can also sign on to the statement at the link above and sign up to be part of our work on this issue going forward. 

A message from UFCW 21 President Faye Guenther and other UFCW 21 leaders on the killing of George Floyd, our nation’s history of racism, and our union’s commitment to solidarity over white supremacy

A message from UFCW 21 President Faye Guenther and other UFCW 21 leaders on the killing of George Floyd, our nation’s history of racism, and our union’s commitment to solidarity over white supremacy  

“Please, I can’t breathe.” George Floyd, seconds before his murder  

“As the tears run down my face, as I watched this man die, I ask myself, when will this end?” Eleanor Knight, UFCW 21 Executive Vice President and Shop Steward  

 “Such a shame. Hundreds of years of dehumanizing black people. I have not been this upset in about 20 years. Every time I see this on TV raw emotions overcome me, and nothing but tears continually roll down my face.” Sam Dancy, UFCW 21 Executive Vice President and Shop Steward 

“As a mother of biracial children, I sobbed. I could not even stop crying when I saw what the police did to this man. I fear for the safety of my own biracial children.”  Carrie Ann Perry, UFCW 21 Member 

We are filled with grief as we cope with two epidemics and a failed state response to both. One is a global pandemic that has killed over 100,000 of our brothers, sisters, and siblings here in the US. COVID-19, a disease that could have been minimized, but instead was allowed to devastate our nation, is highlighting the cracks in our foundation and illustrating the gross racial and economic inequalities that plague us. The second epidemic is the deep stain of racism rooted in the founding of our country and built into the fabric of our institutions.  

The widespread and institutional racism and violence against Black people in this nation goes back over 400 years. It is present and on the rise now, in 2020. This is outrageous. The list is long: police brutality, voter disenfranchisement, racism in hiring, health care, education. We stand for justice for Black people who have been murdered as a result of racist policies, practices, and actors. We lift up our collective voice and say their names: Emmett Till. Philando Castile. Sandra Bland. Michael Brown. Tamir Rice. Breonna Taylor. Ahmaud Arbery. George Floyd. The list could fill a book. We stand for justice for all Black people in this country. 

When communities of color are being repeatedly traumatized, when we see racist acts of hate and violence on full display played out online and splashed across televisions and newspapers, we remember that labor’s power comes from our ability to act collectively. Fear undermines our collective power. Racism undermines our collective power. Racism is the enemy of the working class. Racism is the enemy of organized labor. In acts of solidarity, we can gain hope, even where we may disagree. Martin Luther King said, “There comes a time when silence is betrayal.” For working people, there is no more time to remain silent. 

Please join with us in a movement for justice that we of United Food & Commercial Workers Local 21 are committed to help to build. We need your voices, your stories about the injustices that you have experienced and resisted, and we need your engagement in the continuing struggle. 

“I see you, I hear you, I mourn with you. Black Lives Matter.” Jeannette Randall, UFCW 21 Executive Vice President   

Share your voice:

Faye Guenther, UFCW 21 President 

Joe Mizrahi, UFCW 21 Secretary-Treasurer 

Fredel Albritton, UFCW 21 Executive Vice President

Kyong Barry, UFCW 21 Executive Vice President

Gregg Barney, UFCW 21 Executive Vice President

Maggie Breshears, UFCW 21 Executive Vice President

Greg Brooks, UFCW 21 Executive Vice President

Patricia Brown, UFCW 21 Executive Vice President

Christy Cyr, UFCW 21 Member

Sam Dancy, UFCW 21 Executive Vice President

Amy Dayley Angell, UFCW 21 Executive Vice President

Robin Grier, UFCW 21 Member

Tashia Hicks-Templeton, UFCW 21 Member

Eleanor Knight, UFCW 21 Executive Vice President

Atsuko Koseki, UFCW 21 Executive Vice President 

Mohamed N Muhidin, UFCW 21 Executive Vice President

Carrie Anne Perry, UFCW 21 Member

Jennifer Parker, UFCW 21 Member

Wil Peterson, UFCW 21 Executive Vice President

Cliff Powers, UFCW 21 Executive Vice President

Jeannette Randall, UFCW 21 Executive Vice President

Rob Shauger, UFCW 21 Executive Vice President

Scott Shiflett, UFCW 21 Executive Vice President

Chuck Svac, UFCW 21 Member

Richard Waits, UFCW 21 Executive Vice President

Sue Wilmot, UFCW 21 Executive Vice President

Zion, UFCW 21 Member

Tell Kroger CEO Don't Cut Worker Pay

New company filing today: Kroger (parent of QFC and Fred Meyer) paid CEO Rodney McMullen $21.1 million last year – 789 times more than the median employee and a 75% increase over the year before.*

Now McMullen says the company will cut workers’ pay on May 17th -- eliminating the $2/hour “Hero Pay” bonus it coughed up beginning in April. 

Tell Kroger CEO Rodney McMullen: Don’t cut grocery worker pay during a pandemic! 

*Source: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/56873/000114036120011379/nc10008523x1_def14a.htm

Median worker pay in 2019: $26,790 

We wanted to let our customers and community know: As grocery store workers, we are proud of the work we do every day to get people the food and supplies they need. But our jobs have become more demanding, dangerous, and stressful during the COVID-19 pandemic.

SEND A MESSAGE TO KROGER THAT YOU STAND WITH FRED MEYER AND QFC WORKERS FOR SAFE STORES AND AGAINST PAY CUTS!

We're exposed to hundreds or thousands of people each week, which means an elevated risk of bringing COVID-19 home to our loved ones. We need the executives at Fred Meyer and QFC to keep workers and customers safe. We need meaningful limits on the number of shoppers entering stores. And now their parent company Kroger says it will take away our $2/hour “Hero Pay” on May 17th – even though the added burdens and risks of working through COVID-19 remain.