Members take action, Governor responds with mandated customer limits and other protections

Grocery employers’ failure to enforce social distancing requirements in their workplaces has led to member actions across the state. UFCW 21 has been advocating for stricter limits on customer counts backed by members’ dramatic stories, testimonials, and petitions. Fred Meyer workers have been especially concerned about the issue of customer counts because they say the company’s self-imposed limit of 50% was inadequate to begin with and rarely enforced. 

“We have one of the busiest stores and no one is seeing the customer numbers drop. I make homemade masks for free for my co-workers because I want us safer. The top treats us like numbers instead of people.  We have names, we are important, treat us like we are your family and respect us."  -S., Fred Meyer 

“There needs to be a limit on the customers allowed in the store at a time, masks and gloves should be required, and social distancing enforced.”  -Bella, Fred Meyer 

Governor Jay Inslee has responded to frontline grocery workers’ safety concerns by requiring retail stores to limit customer counts to 30% of maximum occupancy during Phase 2 of the State’s Covid-19 response plan. 

Thanks to workers speaking up, the state’s new rules include: 

• Limiting store occupancy to 30% of maximum building occupancy or lower.

• Distance markers to help maintain 6-foot social distancing in lines both inside and outside the store.

• Conspicuous signage at entrances and throughout the store alerting staff and customers to the required occupancy limits, six-foot physical distancing guidance, and policy on face coverings.

• Sneeze guards or other barriers wherever there’s potential interaction between employees that could be less than 6 feet.

• Frequently cleaning and sanitizing, especially high-touch areas.

• Maintaining minimum six-foot separation between all employees and customers in all interactions at all times.

• When that’s not feasible, they must use other prevention measures such as barriers or staggered breaks and shifts.

• Providing personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves, goggles, face shields and face masks as appropriate or required to employees for the activity being performed. 

• Ensuring frequent and adequate hand washing with adequate maintenance of supplies. 

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Read the state’s full guidance here.

If your employer is not following these guidelines, you can report them directly to the State of Washington for violating the governor’s order. 

UFCW 21 Political Director Samantha Grad said the voice of frontline workers was essential in moving the Governor to action: “It only happened because UFCW 21 members were sharing what it’s like in their stores and why it’s dangerous for workers and customers. We are grateful to Governor Inslee for listening to workers and taking action to protect our communities.” 

Health care stories from the front lines

UFCW 21 Members on the Front Lines of the COVID-19 Outbreak in Western Washington 

Members of our union have been providing quality care to COVID-19 patients since the first case arrived in Washington. We are asking our fellow union members to stay strong, asking the public to support public health guidelines like staying home, and asking our employers and the government for safety and support. Here are a few of our stories. 

Health care workers need safety equipment to protect ourselves on the front lines of the COVID19 outbreak. It's time to get this equipment into our hands. Send a message to congress here.

Do you work at or own a construction company, medical or dental office, or other organization with an inventory of potentially life-saving personal protective equipment? Donate these much needed supplies here.

Stories collected by UFCW 21 member Wil Peterson

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“If we remember our training, we’ll get through this.” 

Kimball Conlon, RN, Everett 

Kimball Conlon, a registered nurse in Providence Regional Medical Center-Everett's Emergency Department, was literally a first responder when the country's first coronavirus case was identified in Washington. As part of the Biological Evaluation Safety Team that faced a mysterious, rapidly unfolding crisis in January, she quickly learned the importance of remaining cool under unimaginable pressure. 

Her primary goal is ensuring that she protects her patients and colleagues. "If we remember our training, we’ll get through this," she said. "I will do everything I can to prevent the spread of transmission.” 

Union intervention, she added, has been a valuable resource. "The Union is sort of being the vigilant ones for the membership – making sure that hospitals and grocery stores are doing everything they need to do to protect workers," Kimball said. "They've been good at disseminating information and expressing support for members." 

"I know that people are frustrated by what they see as a lack of support from the hospital," Kimball said of hospital employers. "But they can only do what they can do with the information that's given from our government." Fortunately, she said, the Centers for Disease Control is helping matters by releasing new details about the coronavirus. This information, which repeatedly recommends precautionary measures, provides guidelines that Kimball strongly endorses. 

"I think that if people who feel sick can stay home, stay home. Use good hand sanitation," Kimball said. "Don’t add to confusion by spreading misinformation. I think we need to rely on what we know." 

Despite current fears and concerns generated by the pandemic, Kimball remains cautiously optimistic about lessons that can be learned for dealing with future crises. "We need to allow ourselves grace, and the powers that be grace," she said. "Let's try to get through this, and then say, 'What can we do better?'" 

“All we can do is our best.” 

Jacob Kostecka, RN, Olympia 

Dealing with the coronavirus is a new experience for UFCW 21 member Jacob Kostecka, too, a registered nurse at Providence St. Peter Hospital in Olympia. He said his county – Thurston – reported its first case earlier this week. “There is no treatment for this, other than supportive care. So if people come in, all we can do is our best. In some ways, we just have to accept that it’s here and live our lives.” 

But prior to the first case, social panic was already evident at the hospital. Masks and toilet paper are in short supply, he said, in some cases because of theft. Remaining items are now locked up. “It’s devastating to us because we’re in desperate need of them. It’s a challenge for care providers to get what we need,” Jacob said. “The shortage will only get worse as the pandemic continues.” Further complicating matters, Jacob added, is receiving confusing and conflicting information from the Federal Government about how best to deal with the pandemic. 

Another challenge is trying to provide quality care while dealing with inadequate staffing, said Jacob, who compared the crisis to a slow-moving train wreck. “We’re all gonna get hit. This is not going away.” 

Jacob said he believes the Union’s role is to push for meetings with Gov. Jay Inslee and to ask Providence to cover any healthcare insurance and pay shortages of healthcare workers who lose wages because of the crisis. “The Union and the administration need to work cooperatively together for the best possible outcome for our staff and our patients,” he said. “And I believe we can do that.” 

“One thing we, as professionals, can do is care for patients under any circumstances – that’s just what we do.” 

Matthew Skews, RN, Everett 

As a registered nurse who works in Interventional Radiology Services at Providence Regional Medical Center-Everett, Matthew Skews has limited contact with patients. But he’s well aware of the challenges faced by other nurses in higher-volume areas during the coronavirus pandemic. 

Staffing is an issue, Matthew said, which is increasing as the nurse-patient ratio escalates. “One thing we, as professionals, can do is care for patients under any circumstances – that’s just what we do. But don’t make us do it short-staffed,” said Matthew, who referenced state legislation designed to protect nurses from experiencing fatigue. “That’s where we need the help.” Masks, gloves and other supplies necessary to help protect nurses and patient also are in short supply, he added. "We’re not sure if what’s there is enough." 

The cumulative effect of these shortages creates both frustration and exhaustion for Matthew. “Frequently we’re finding ourselves trying to keep up and catch up with what’s happening,” he said.