UFCW: Kroger Closing California Stores is Ruthless Attempt to Deny Grocery Workers the Hazard Pay

[turbinetree]

They Have Earned as COVID Risks Increase for Frontline Workers

February 2, 2021



WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW), which represents 1.3 million workers in grocery, meatpacking, and other frontline industries, condemned Kroger’s action to close grocery stores in Long Beach, California to avoid following the law recently passed by the City mandating hazard pay for all essential workers in supermarkets there.

UFCW International President Marc Perrone released the following statement:

“Since the pandemic began, Kroger has made billions in profits because of the sacrifices of grocery workers who have been putting their own health and safety on the line every day. Rather than provide the hazard pay these grocery workers have earned and deserve, Kroger decided to threaten these workers and the community’s access to food in the middle of a public health crisis.

https://www.ufcw.org/press-releases/ufcw-kroger-closing-california-stores-is-ruthless-attempt-to-deny-grocery-workers-the-hazard-pay-they-have-earned-as-covid-risks-increase-for-frontline-workers/

[Hermit-The-Prog]

1. These acts need more visibility. k&r

[Midnight Writer]

2. Reminds me of when Walmart closed all their meat departments when one store's went union.

Now they get all their meat from large processors. They fired meat cutters and butchers across the country.

Hurt their business and the quality of their products, but hey, at least those damn workers didn't get a fair shake and that is what they are most afraid of.

[blueinredohio]

5. I never buy meat at Wal-Mart. Gross.

[wcmagumba]

3. Kroger owns the Dillons grocery chain here in red KS...no more shopping there for me....nt

[fescuerescue]

4. Kroger is going to feel silly

When they learn that the closed stores don't earn any money at all.

[MLAA]

6. Kroger owns Frys Foods in my neighborhood.

I prefer Sprouts and Trader Joe’s but sometimes need items from Frys. Not anymore, I’ll go to Safeway. Hopefully they won’t pull something like this.

[drmeow]

7. Unfortunately the only stores near me

are Krogers except for 1 really nasty Food Lion. Sigh.

[XanaDUer2]

15. I hate Food Lion

nt

[Generic Brad]

8. Where the hell are we supposed to buy groceries?

Walmart is out. Yesterday it was Publix. Today it’s Kroger.

I’m running out of places to buy food from.

[Blue_true]

11. I think the Publix thing was overblown.

The chain can’t control a non-employee heiress. I personally will continue to shop there, the chain sells the best quality regular grocery products.

What was the deal with Walmart?

If Kroger is closing stores to avoid paying employees Covid hazard pay, that is a different deal, that is simply wrong in these times.

[Generic Brad]

13. Walmart has been hated here since the Bush administration

I can’t keep up with everyone I’m supposed to boycott. Plus no one ever gives the all clear signal.

[Blue_true]

14. You have a conscience, let that be your guide.

Boycotts can be powerful tools to force positive change, but not if they are used unwisely.

[crickets]

9. Disgusting. K&R for visibility.

[occupant]

10. giveth and taketh

In Michigan , Kroger gave the employees a $2.00 per hour Hazard Pay for like 8 weeks, then promptly took it away after they put in the Plexiglass. Kroger has raked in millions since.Grrrr... They give no shits about their employees, even the hardworking loyal few who have stayed. They are tooling up to bring onboard a grocery cart that scans the groceries as you put them in the cart and then you proceed to the bagging area and bag em. they are already charged to your on file charge card. I suggest boycotting that system when it comes to your area and maybe they will see a decline in sales. I know the store by me used to net a million a week, and somehow I just happened to find a printout of the sales figures on the reduced rack and total weekly sales were 750, 000. People are getting wise to their shit....love it! (I worked at a competitor for 34 years, hip to the biz) Wouldn't be surprised to see them take huge write offs as end of sales year approaches.

[BlueIdaho]

12. Keep that in mind as you plan your next shopping trip.

Let’s remember our essential workers shall we?