They’ll still wear masks and put themselves at risk to make sure the rest of us can eat, but Fred Meyer grocery workers saw the end of “hero pay” May 22. Despite objections from United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW), Kroger-affiliated stores across the United States ended the $2 an hour bonus they had began paying since March. Instead, the company announced it will pay one-time “Thank You Pay” bonuses of $400 for full-time workers and $200 for part-time, paid out in installments on May 30 and June 18.
“They’re still making people wear masks, so the danger is obviously still ongoing,” said Miles Eshaia, spokesperson for Tigard-based UFCW Local 555.
Meanwhile, Albertsons Companies extended its $2 an hour “Appreciation Pay” through at least June 13 for all 20 of the chains it owns, including Safeway, Albertsons and Haggen.
The grocery industry is booming. Sales are up dramatically with the closure of most restaurants, and grocery prices rose 2.6% on average in April, the largest one-month jump in 46 years, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Kroger has hired more than 100,000 workers since mid-March.
By opening up an hour earlier and wearing the masks and gloves we all are risking our health but all Freddy’s thinks about is the almighty dollars they are making. We should get the 2$ until we are no longer in danger..
Hi,
I’ve talked to the union and they have said unambiguously “we won’t take any direct action”.
It’s clear the UFCW/AFL-CIO won’t put the saftey of the workers or community ahead of being polite. They have chosen to not cut ties to police unions who murder and repress us. Also, clearly have denounced any actions taken by the workers in protest of our unsfae working conditions, lack of hazard pay, etc.
We are tired of having no say in what our union does. It’s clear the UFCW priorities being polite over any sort of justice.
If we are not at risk (working with no hazard pay) why then do we have to still wear masks. Who determines the decision to pay us hazard pay? The employer? Why is isn’t the union pushing for us to get hazard pay until this is over? We are not essential anymore?
Please help us UFCW! We are so scared. The risk is higher than when we had hazard pay. There were just a few cases when the started hazard pay, now our county has over 500 cases! This is morally wrong and has sent the workers families back into poverty that the hazard pay had barely lifted us out of before.