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UFCW kicks off new national campaign to restore COVID-19 hazard pay

‘Worker actions’ planned at grocery stores in more than two dozen cities

Russell Redman

September 2, 2020

3 Min Read
Albertsons store associate-coronavirus PPE copy.png
Though retailers have implemented a range of safety measures and benefits, UFCW said "appreciation" or "hero" pay should be reinstated because coronavirus remains a threat to frontline grocery workers.Albertsons Cos.

Citing the ongoing threat of COVID-19, the United Food and Commercial Workers International (UFCW) union has launched a new national campaign calling on grocery retailers to reinstitute hazard pay for frontline workers.

UFCW said Wednesday that, as part of the campaign’s initial phase,“worker actions” will be held this week at grocery stores and other essential businesses in at least 26 cities in California, Texas, Georgia, Virginia, Colorado, Washington, Tennessee, Maryland, West Virginia and other states hit hard by coronavirus. The union said the initiative also will include grassroots actions plus targeted paid and digital media illustrating the danger that the virus continues to pose to food workers nationwide.

Additionally, UFCW said it aims to connect customers and communities with essential workers to urge grocery retailers to guarantee hazard pay — also known as “appreciation” or “hero” pay — as long as the coronavirus pandemic continues.

UFCW, too, is posting first-person testimonial videos from frontline workers calling on their employers to reintroduce hazard pay. In videos posted online thus far, workers expressed concerns about spreading the virus to family members and said the added pay would provide more financial assurance as well as signal a “thank you” to employees for their extra efforts. One worker said simply that the need to wear a face mask indicates that a hazard still exists.

Related:Grocery Worker’s Relief Fund started by Kendall-Jackson, United Way

In announcing the campaign, UFCW cited Whole Foods Market (owned by Amazon), Walmart, The Kroger Co., Albertsons Cos. and Ahold Delhaize USA as among “many essential businesses” that should restart hazard pay.

“America’s grocery workers are putting their lives on the line every day that they walk into the store, because this pandemic is far from over and the health threats are just as real now as they were when this crisis began,” UFCW International President Marc Perrone said in a statement. “It is outrageous that the CEOs of these companies refuse to restore hazard pay even as more of these workers are getting sick and dying every week. Hazard pay for grocery workers must be reinstated now.”

Since the coronavirus pandemic was declared a national emergency in mid-March, many grocery retailers implemented emergency pay for frontline workers in stores, distribution centers and/or other facilities.

Most programs entailed a temporary $2-per-hour or percentage wage increase for hourly workers and/or one-time bonuses. Some companies extended the hourly wage increases and bonuses more than once, including Kroger, Albertsons, Amazon/Whole Foods, Walmart and other chains. Retailers also invested millions of dollars in COVID-19 protection, health benefits and emergency sick-leave benefits for workers.

Related:UFCW’s Marc Perrone, Sen. Kamala Harris urge grocery chains to restart hazard pay

A number of chains, however, have ended the extra pay as the time periods for the programs have expired and states and municipalities nationwide have reopened businesses and public spaces shut during the pandemic. While some companies have continued to pay periodic bonuses, UFCW has said cash bonuses don’t reflect the total hours worked by associates and their potential exposure to the virus.

“Frontline grocery workers continue to put themselves at risk to ensure our families have the food we need,” added Perrone. “As long as the hazard of COVID-19 continues, these companies must do what is right and provide the hazard pay these grocery workers have earned and deserve.

In late August, UFCW reported that, among its membership, at least 103 grocery workers have died from the virus and more than 14,300 have been infected or exposed.

Overall, UFCW represents 1.3 million workers in grocery stores, meatpacking, food processing, retailing, health care and other industries. The union said over 250 food workers have died due to coronavirus and more than 36,000 have been infected or exposed among its total membership. That includes at least 115 meatpacking worker deaths (with 17,700-plus infected or exposed) and at least 35 food processing worker deaths (with 4,900-plus infected or exposed).

About the Author

Russell Redman

Senior Editor
Supermarket News

Russell Redman has served as senior editor at Supermarket News since April 2018, his second tour with the publication. In his current role, he handles daily news coverage for the SN website and contributes news and features for the print magazine, as well as participates in special projects, podcasts and webinars and attends industry events. Russ joined SN from Racher Press Inc.’s Chain Drug Review and Mass Market Retailers magazines, where he served as desk/online editor for more than nine years, covering the food/drug/mass retail sector. 

Russell Redman’s more than 30 years of experience in journalism span a range of editorial manager, editor, reporter/writer and digital roles at a variety of publications and websites covering a breadth of industries, including retailing, pharmacy/health care, IT, digital home, financial technology, financial services, real estate/commercial property, pro audio/video and film. He started his career in 1989 as a local news reporter and editor, covering community news and politics in Long Island, N.Y. His background also includes an earlier stint at Supermarket News as center store editor and then financial editor in the mid-1990s. Russ holds a B.A. in journalism (minor in political science) from Hofstra University, where he also earned a certificate in digital/social media marketing in November 2016.

Russell Redman’s experience:

Supermarket News - Informa
Senior Editor 
April 2018 - present

Chain Drug Review/Mass Market Retailers - Racher Press
Desk/Online Editor 
Sept. 2008 - March 2018

CRN magazine - CMP Media
Managing Editor
May 2000 - June 2007

Bank Systems & Technology - Miller Freeman
Executive Editor/Managing Editor
Dec. 1996 - May 2000

Supermarket News - Fairchild Publications
Financial Editor/Associate Editor
April 1995 - Dec. 1996 

Shopping Centers Today Magazine - ICSC 
Desk Editor/Assistant Editor
Dec. 1992 - April 1995

Testa Communications
Assistant Editor/Contributing Editor (Music & Sound Retailer, Post, Producer, Sound & Communications and DJ Times magazines)
Jan. 1991 - Dec. 1992 

American Banker/Bond Buyer
Copy Editor
Oct. 1990 - Jan. 1991 

This Week newspaper - Chanry Communications
Reporter/Editor
May 1989 - July 1990

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