Monthly Archives: June 2019

The UFCW’s Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Office serves as resource to help locals keep our members safe and healthy in the workplace. As summer approaches, one of those resources includes material to help protect our members from the risk factors associated with exposure to heat and high humidity. This information has proven to be popular with our members, and all locals are encouraged to distribute this material and post it in breakrooms so that our members know their workplace rights when they’re exposed to extreme heat.

The material, which is available in English and Spanish, includes an outline of measures employers should take to protect workers from heat stress and heat-related illnesses, workplace safety strategies pertaining to hot weather, and sample heat emergency procedures.

All workers should have access to:
• Adequate amounts of drinking water.
• Regular rest breaks or rest periods in a cool area.
• Adequate air circulation through the use of air conditioning, fans and general ventilation.
• Education on the early signs of heat-related illness.
• Time to acclimatize to the heat. It takes about one week for the body to adjust to
working in the heat.

Hot weather safety strategies should include:
• Training all management and hourly employees with an emphasis on how to
recognize a medical emergency (heat stroke).
• Having a clearly written protocol on how to respond to a medical emergency.
• Training all management and hourly employees on workers’ right to access
drinking water as needed and the right to access bathrooms as needed.
• Monitoring particularly hot work areas and a plan in place for when the heat index approaches the extreme caution zone.

You can download the following material here:
• Hot Weather Advisory: Preventing Heat Stress at Work
• Workplace Strategies for Hot Weather Safety
• Sample Heat Emergency Procedures

If you have any questions or need more information, contact Robyn Robbins at rrobbins@ufcw.org or Fernando Tapia at ftapia@ufcw.org.

Metro Market workers in Milwaukee recently joined UFCW Local 1473 to strengthen wages, scheduling and staffing, and address other issues they face on the job.

UFCW Local 1473 President John Eiden and Kroger, the parent company of Metro Market, agreed to a neutrality agreement that would allow UFCW Local 1473 staff to sign members up at the Metro Market on N. Van Buren Street.

UFCW Local 1473 Political Director Melanie Bartholf, Service Director Jake Bailey and Union Representatives Scott Spearo, Justin Benzschawel and Ian Marten first connected with workers on May 31. Staff members from other locals also assisted and within less than a week, a majority status was reached. Eiden contacted Kroger to conduct a card check and the recognition agreement was signed by both parties.

“Melanie and the team did a great job not only with signing employees, but also identifying leaders and potential stewards to be on the bargaining committee,” said Eiden. “This is the best example we could have if the company doesn’t interfere or intimidate workers who are willing to join a union.”

Workers at the store are excited to be joining our union family.

“I am looking forward to the positive change a union contract will bring to our store,” said Josephine D’Amato, a bakery clerk who has worked at the Metro Market Van Buren store for 13 years.

“The biggest thing a union does is give us unity in numbers,” said Terrence Honey, a produce clerk who has worked at the Metro Market Van Buren store for 16 years. “Strength in numbers helps level the playing field.”