Posts Categorized: Retail

On Dec. 10, the UFCW sent a letter to CEOs of top U.S. retail and grocery companies, calling for immediate action to protect workers and customers amid the spread of the COVID-19 Omicron variant.

The letter was sent directly to 63 retail and grocery CEOs, including Andy Jassy (Amazon), Doug McMillon (Walmart), Rodney McMullen (Kroger), John Mackey (Whole Foods), Karen Lynch (CVS), Brian Cornell (Target), Corie Barry (Best Buy), Jeffrey Gennette (Macy’s), and many others.  In the letter, UFCW International President Marc Perrone urged CEOs to address the growing challenges essential workers face by implementing five key measures as follows:

•           Promote Mask Wearing: To reduce transmissibility, promote mask wearing for all customers at all locations.

•           Provide Free Personal Protective Equipment to All Retail Workers: To help protect workers, free access to personal protective equipment like masks and hand sanitizer must be provided while on the job.

•           Re-establish Social Distancing: Social distancing rules have been relaxed despite ongoing COVID risks. To protect workers, social distancing must be encouraged in all stores.

•           Support Vaccination/Boosters for Workers: Government mandates alone are not enough and more must be done to support vaccination of retail and grocery workers. Onsite vaccine clinics and paid sick leave should be provided to all workers to reduce barriers.

•           Implement Inflation Wage Protection: Exploding spikes in food prices is an added burden to many essential workers – especially those with families. CEOs must use record profit margins to increase worker pay as inflation worsens amid this new COVID surge.

UFCW International President Marc Perrone’s letter to CEOs is excerpted below:

“America’s essential workers have had to contend with an ongoing deadly pandemic that has upended their daily lives as they have put their health and safety at risk every single day. For nearly two years, the threat of COVID-19 has persisted and evolved, even as many of America’ largest food and retail companies have relaxed their safety measures. With the new COVID-19 winter surge and emergence of the Omicron variant, it is critical for our nation’s largest retail and food employers – including Amazon, Walmart, Kroger, and Whole Foods – to take immediate steps to protect essential workers and members of the public during this holiday season.”

“We are urging each of your respective companies to implement stronger in-store measures immediately and maintain these protections throughout the holidays and winter. These measures must include promoting mask wearing, free PPE access for workers, reinstating social distancing, support for worker vaccination and booster shots, and inflation wage protection. Waiting for this pandemic to once more spiral out of control is not an option. These actions must be taken now to help reduce the risk of more essential worker infections and deaths.”

“Given the enormous risk of COVID-19 that essential workers still face, we implore each of you and your respective companies to do what is right and responsible and take immediate action to protect and support essential workers. Working together, we can save lives and ensure that this holiday season is one that is not just prosperous for your companies, but is safe for essential workers, the customers they serve, and all Americans.”

You can read entire letter to the 63 retail and grocery CEOs here.

The UFCW has launched a new holiday shopping #ThankAWorker campaign to show support for the men and women keeping stores open and our economy strong as the pandemic continues.

As part of the holiday campaign, the UFCW is sharing five holiday shopping tips to make every trip to the store better for both customers and essential workers as follows:

1.         Plan Your Trip – Be prepared with a list of what you want to buy to help keep each shopping trip quick and easy and avoid overcrowding in stores.

2.         Wear a Mask – As COVID risks continue, it’s important for everyone to do their part to stay safe and protect both themselves, their families, and workers.

3.         Share the Space – Holiday shopping means stores can get busy and crowding can make it harder to safely social distance. Do your part by allowing plenty of space between yourself and other customers or workers.

4.         Ask for Help – Retail workers can assist you if you are having trouble finding something on your shopping list. Look for the nearest worker and let them know how they can help.

5.         Thank a Worker – Holiday shopping can be stressful for everyone, but remember that every worker is doing their best and stepping up to help keep stores open for us. Remember the spirit of holidays and be sure to let workers know you’re grateful for all they’re doing.

The UFCW is encouraging shoppers to take a selfie of themselves following the five holiday shopping tips and post with the hashtag #ThankAWorker to help show their gratitude to all of our country’s essential workers.

“As holiday shopping begins this Thanksgiving, essential workers are continuing to step up on the front lines of the pandemic to keep stores open and help customers get the food and presents they need for their families,” said UFCW International President Marc Perrone. “America’s essential workers are facing the first holiday season with the COVID-19 Delta variant and cases continue to increase across the country. With COVID risks continuing, inflation driving prices up, and supply chain issues making it harder for retail stores to keep shelves stocked, we know shopping will be stressful this year. As America’s largest retail union, the UFCW is launching a new #ThankAWorker campaign to encourage customers to their part this holiday season to stay safe and make the shopping experience better for everyone.”

The Communications Department has created a full range of shareable digital #ThankAWorker campaign graphics for locals here to help spread the word abut this campaign on social media.