Posts Categorized: Grocery

On Jan. 14, the UFCW condemned the move by Kroger to pour money into a high-tech shopping cart instead of using these funds to strengthen protections for its frontline workers. The move comes as Kroger reports $2.6 billion in pandemic profits and refuses to reverse its cut to hazard pay for its 450,000 grocery workers, despite a new wave of COVID-19 grocery outbreaks.

The UFCW represents hundreds of thousands of Kroger grocery workers and has called on the company to reverse its move to cut hazard pay nearly 250 days ago and to immediately strengthen safeguards in stores to protect its employees who are increasingly at risk as the pandemic worsens. Our union recently reported that among our members, there have been at least 124 grocery worker COVID-19 deaths with over 23,100 grocery workers infected or exposed to the virus. Kroger grocery stores have reported multiple COVID-19 outbreaks in the past month, including outbreaks at a Food 4 Less in Southern California and a Fred Meyer in the Seattle area.

“A new wave of COVID-19 grocery outbreaks is endangering shoppers and workers across the country, and instead of strengthening safeguards, Kroger is using its billions in profit on a high-tech shopping cart,” said UFCW International President Marc Perrone in a statement. “With 4,000 Americans dying from COVID-19 every day, essential businesses like Kroger should be laser focused on safety, not a shiny new object to impress wealthy shareholders.”

“With multiple COVID-19 outbreaks at Kroger stores in the past month, the company must wake up to this threat and take immediate action to strengthen safeguards, fully enforce mask mandates, restore hazard pay for their brave frontline workers, and ensure that all of their employees have paid time off to receive the COVID-19 vaccine at no cost,” Perrone added. “Americans need to know their grocery stores are safe for shoppers and workers, and that is what Kroger needs to be focused on.”

On Jan. 8, members of UFCW Local 5 who are Safeway.com drivers in the San Francisco Bay area stood together for a better life and ratified their first union contract. This victory took place as Albertsons, the parent company of Safeway, announced plans to fire thousands of non-union grocery drivers in California who are a critical lifeline to customers as COVID-19 cases skyrocket statewide.

The 250 workers joined UFCW Local 5 because they wanted the same conditions and benefits that Safeway retail workers receive. The three-year contract, which was ratified by an overwhelming margin, includes guaranteed minimum hours for full-time workers (32 hours) and limits on the use of third-party applications like DoorDash. The contract also includes an increase in employer contributions for health care benefits, the creation of a driver-led health and safety committee, and raises the salary cap from $19 per hour to $22 per hour.

“With the ratification of this contract, we were able to increase our benefits and hours and protect our jobs in this uncertain time,” said Chris Chavez, a driver for Safeway.com.

“Today is a powerful victory for these Safeway grocery drivers who are bravely serving on the frontlines of this pandemic, putting their own health at risk to ensure Bay area families have the food they need during this crisis,” said UFCW Local 5 President John Nunes.

“With this week’s news that Safeway and Albertsons are exploiting the passage of Prop. 22 to fire thousands of their non-union grocery drivers, there has never been a more important time for these essential workers to have the power of a union behind them,” Nunes added. “As the union for thousands of Bay area grocery workers, UFCW Local 5 is standing with these brave essential workers and ensure they have the protections they need as they continue to keep our food supply secure amid this new COVID-19 surge.”