Posts Categorized: Survey

The UFCW has partnered with the University of Nebraska Medical Center and FORWARD, the national databank for rheumatic diseases, to launch a long-term, national Essential Worker Study to help our union understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our members. The new study will focus on rates of infection, which types of workplaces have had the most infections, and vaccination rates. All UFCW members are encouraged to participate in this research effort, which will also facilitate our union’s ability to improve workplace safety protections for our members.

Participating in the Essential Worker Study is easy and involves the following:

•           Weekly Text Message: UFCW Members will receive a single text message each week inviting them to fill out a short survey if they have either contracted COVID-19 or received a vaccination. Survey responses will be kept anonymous and members’ privacy will be protected.

 •          Critical Safety Information: UFCW members will have priority access to COVID-19 informational newsletters and participate in Q&As with the top infectious disease doctors in the country.

 •          Sharing Your Views: By answering just a few questions a week, UFCW members will help strengthen workplace protections and protect essential workers for years to come.

All locals are encouraged to reach out to their members so that we can have maximum participation in this research effort. To help locals spread the word about the study, the Communications Department has created promotional materials, which are available here.

You can get more information about the Essential Worker Study here.

The Civil Rights and Community Action Department is asking locals to participate in a survey so that we can provide better assistance to our members.

The UFCW is committed to raising standards for all our members and their families. A key part of this is stopping exploitation of immigrant workers, including the threat of retaliation for speaking up about issues on the job.

Some of our members can benefit from programs like the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), and others need updated information about Temporary Protected Status (TPS). DACA is a program that allows some individuals who were brought to the country as children (Dreamers) to receive a renewable period of deferred action from deportation and U.S. work authorization. Temporary Protected Status is a policy that provides work authorization to individuals from certain countries hurt by war, natural disasters, or other extraordinary conditions that prevent people from returning safely. These countries include El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, Nepal, Nicaragua, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Somalia and Yemen.

In order to adequately assess the scope of our immigrant members’ needs for information or support and assistance, we are asking that you complete a survey by December 15, 2020. The answers should be based on your familiarity with your bargaining units. Please note that directly asking a member about their immigration status is prohibited.

The survey was mailed to each Local Union President yesterday. You can access the survey here.

If you have any questions about the survey, contact Civil Rights and Community Action Department Director LaQuita Honeysucker at lhoneysucker@ufcw.org or Assistant General Counsel Sarai King at sking@ufcw.org.