April, 2020

Our members are working tirelessly to help families in our communities get the essential food and supplies they need. And we’re working to ensure that food workers have the resources and job protections you need.

Our members should be safe and healthy on the job, and additional workplace measures will help to ensure that. If you work in a Kroger store, your temperature will be checked prior to your shift. Temperatures will be taken using a digital, non-contact thermometer, in a private location, out of view of other workers and customers, and where conversations cannot be heard by others. Anyone with a temperature reading over 100.4°F will be sent home immediately. If your temperature is over 100.4°F, you will be paid for the rest of your shift that day. You should seek advice from a healthcare professional, if you believe you might have contracted the COVID-19 virus or are suffering from any other condition that requires medical attention.

You must be fever-free for 72 hours before returning to work. Additional time off work after the first day is unpaid unless you choose to utilize other paid time off.

To prevent the infection and spread of COVID-19, wash your hands frequently, do not touch your face (e.g., eyes, nose or mouth), cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing, maintain a distance from others (at least 6 ft.), and wear a face mask. 

Should you have any questions or need more information, please contact your Union Representative.

Nearly 14,000 members of UFCW Local 700 are hard at work on the front lines of this crisis – in grocery stores and food processing plants across Indiana. Our members are working tirelessly to help families in our communities get the essential food and supplies they need. And we’re working to ensure that food workers have the resources and job protections you need.

Members in Kroger stores have continued to express your desire to be safe and healthy on the job. Now, there will be additional PPE – face masks – required as part of your regular uniform. Beginning Saturday, April 25, Kroger workers will be required to wear face masks. Exceptions may be made if you have a medical condition and provide supporting documentation that you are unable to wear a mask. The company will provide masks for every worker on every shift.

In addition to wearing masks, the best way to prevent the infection and spread of COVID-19 is still frequent hand washing, not touching your face (e.g., eyes, nose or mouth), covering your mouth when coughing or sneezing, and maintaining a distance from others (at least 6 ft.).

You will be asked to sign a form verifying that you read how to properly wear and dispose of your face mask. You may be able to wear your own face mask as long as it is the appropriate kind.

Should you have any questions or need more information, please contact your Union Representative.

Nearly 14,000 members of UFCW Local 700 are hard at work on the front lines of this crisis – in grocery stores and food processing plants across Indiana. Our members are working tirelessly to help families in our communities get the essential food and supplies they need. We must protect our food supply, and they are vital to supporting that mission. We’re working to ensure that food workers have the resources and job protections they need.

The Tyson plant in Logansport is closing temporarily. The company is working with the union and with health officials to ensure that when the plant reopens that it is done in a manner that is safe for workers in the plant and for the people living in our communities. In the case of workers who test positive for COVID-19, the company is continuing to follow the guidelines established by the CDC, and State and local Boards of Health.

“Our members work hard every day to make sure people in our community have the food they need,” said UFCW Local 700 President Joe Chorpenning. “We’re working with the company to keep our members as safe as possible when they are on the job and fighting to ensure they continue to be paid so they can support their families while the plant is closed.”

Together, UFCW Local 700 and Tyson have implemented additional safety measures including social distancing and restricted access; temperature checks; modified time off policies; facial coverings; additional sanitation procedures; and improved worker communication.

Food Workers across the country are on the frontlines of the coronavirus crisis, continuing to ensure that people and families have access to the food and supplies they need. UFCW is continuing to fight for the resources and job protections you need.

If you work at Kroger and another employee test positive for COVID-19, this is what you can expect:

Information will be shared verbally in huddles as soon as possible once a test is confirmed positive. Additional details about the associate cannot be disclosed, in accord with applicable laws and regulations.

The Company will take all necessary steps to identify and notify any workers who worked closely with the employee at issue during the relevant timeframe, as recommended by the local county Board of Health. Any such workers have been asked to self-quarantine for a period of 14 days from last direct contact with the affected associate and to monitor themselves for any symptoms.  Those employees asked to quarantine are covered by our emergency COVID leave of absence.

As a precautionary measure, there will be deep cleaning of known or potentially contacted areas and equipment based on CDC guidelines and using regulatorily approved products for COVID-19.  In many cases, Kroger is using a 3rd party professional cleaning service.  In most instances, the location at issue remains open and as fully functional as before.  There are times a department may temporarily close to allow cleaning to take place.

The company is working hard to maintain a clean environment in its facilities and has rigorous sanitation procedures in place to prevent the spread of illness to the fullest extent possible. It will continue to enforce already-strict preventive sanitation and safety measures in all locations.

Please follow the CDC’s recommendations to help prevent the spread of germs:

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth to minimize spreading germs.
• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.

Anyone who experiences cold or flu-like symptoms should stay home.

Should you have questions or need more information, please contact your Union Representative.

Click here for a .pdf of this information.

Thank you for continuing to ensure folks have the food and supplies they need. We’re fighting for the resources and job protections you need. Indiana Kroger stores will close at 4pm local time on Sunday, April 12 (Easter), to provide additional time off with your families.

Should you have any questions or want more information, please contact your Union Representative.

We’re fighting for the resources and job protections you need.The company agreed to provide a mask and gloves for every worker on each shift; they have notified us this will begin April 11. The Company is working to acquire additional hand sanitizer for all locations.

You are permitted – and encouraged – to wear homemade masks until the others arrive. If you have any issues regarding wearing homemade PPE, please contact your Union Representative.

We’ve been fighting for the resources and job protections you need. Beginning April 7, Kroger will begin limiting the number of customers to 50% of building code capacity to allow for proper physical distancing. The number of customers will be monitored using QueVision.

Should you have questions or need more information, contact your Union Representative.