Posts Categorized: Retail

The UFCW has been negotiating with employers across the country this year for the pay and benefits our members deserve as essential workers during a national health crisis. On Sept. 25, the UFCW announced a new agreement with Stop & Shop on hazard pay for 56,000 Stop & Shop associates represented by our union as COVID-19 cases continue to climb.

The agreement will provide retroactive hazard pay in the form of lump sum payments equal to 10 percent of all hours worked between July 5 and August 22, 2020. This hazard pay is in recognition for the ongoing efforts of these hard-working men and women to ensure families have access to the food and supplies they need during this pandemic. This agreement is in addition to the initial Stop & Shop hazard pay between March and July, as well as the two additional weeks of paid leave provided earlier this year if any workers become sick.

In addition to hazard pay, Stop & Shop has agreed to observe a moment of silence on Labor Day and Workers Memorial Day, starting in 2021, to recognize both the frontline workers lost to COVID-19 and the collective strength that union membership has provided to its associates.

UFCW International President Marc Perrone and Stop & Shop President Gordon Reid released the following joint statement:

“Since the COVID-19 pandemic began in the U.S. in March, UFCW members and Stop & Shop workers have gone above and beyond to ensure that our stores have remained open to serve our communities’ essential needs. These workers have risen to the challenge and Stop & Shop deeply appreciates everything they have done in difficult circumstances – at work and at home – as they care for their neighbors and their families during a national crisis.

“Working in partnership when the pandemic began to take hold, the UFCW International and UFCW local unions together with Stop & Shop offered union members a temporary premium. When that pay raise expired in July, the UFCW local unions and members asked Stop & Shop to do what is right for grocery workers and UFCW members.

“Today, the UFCW and Stop & Shop are proud to announce a tentative agreement has been reached on a new premium that recognizes Stop & Shop workers for their incredible efforts. The UFCW wants to acknowledge Stop & Shop for not only recognizing its workers, but for remaining committed to work with the UFCW, America’s largest food and retail union, to better the lives of these dedicated workers and their families.

“Today’s agreement is a further testament that by negotiating in good faith, Stop & Shop and the UFCW have been able to achieve a real victory that is shared by the company, its customers, these communities, and the grocery workers who continue to serve.”

On Sept. 1, the UFCW launched a new national campaign to restore hazard pay for millions of America’s frontline workers. The new campaign is calling on the country’s leading grocery companies — including Whole Foods, Walmart, Kroger, Albertsons, Ahold — and many other essential businesses, to reinstate hazard pay in light of the continuing human cost being paid by America’s grocery workers and other essential employees during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

As part of the first phase of national hazard pay campaign, local unions were involved in at least 26 worker actions that were held at grocery stores and other essential businesses across the country during the week leading up to Labor Day. The actions took place in California, Texas, Georgia, Virginia, Colorado, Washington, Tennessee, Maryland, West Virginia, and other states hit hard by COVID-19.

Recently, the UFCW confirmed there have been at least 103 grocery worker deaths and over 14,300 grocery workers infected or exposed to COVID-19. As a new investigation by Bloomberg reported, the actual national number of workers who have died, become sick, or been exposed to the virus is likely much higher given that America’s largest food companies have launched an effort to hide the true human cost of this pandemic.

“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,” said UFCW International President Marc Perrone. “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.”

“While top grocery chains rake in billions in profits during this pandemic, these frontline grocery workers continue to put themselves at risk to ensure our families have the food we need,” Perrone added. “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.”

The new campaign includes targeted paid and digital media to highlight the serious health threats these workers continue to face. The UFCW is also connecting customers and community members with essential workers to call on these businesses to guarantee hazard pay as long as the COVID-19 pandemic continues, and released first person testimonials from workers on the front lines, as well as customers and local community members, about the importance of hazard pay. To view the first person testimonials, click here.