We’re fighting for the job protections and resources you need. UFCW Presidents in Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, and Kentucky sent a letter to Kroger CEO Rodney McMullen, denouncing the company’s decision to stop Hero Pay and issue Thank You bonuses. Some may say we are returning to normal, but we know that’s simply not true. You’ve been on the frontlines throughout this crisis. You’re the ones making sure that people in our communities have the food and supplies they need:

“Our members did not come to Kroger for a job to become frontline workers facing sickness and death every day. They came for good jobs, so that they can raise their families and serve their communities. These grocery professionals do hard jobs on a “regular” day – now, these jobs have become especially dangerous.

The hardworking men and women who make Kroger successful deserve more pay for facing that danger. Do the right thing and restore Hero Pay until they can toss the masks and ditch the thermometers – and until they do not feel scared to go to work anymore.

We urge you to continue Hero Pay – our members, your workforce, have earned it and they deserve it.”

See the letter to Kroger CEO from UFCW Region 4 Presidents.

Members of UFCW Local 700 are essential to ensuring that every American continues to have access to the food they need to feed their families, and you must be provided with necessary job protections and resources. We’ve been fighting for you – and will keep fighting for you.

We’re proud to announce that we’ve won additional pay for our members at Kroger. This “Thank You” pay is for people who are active on or before May 23. Eligible full-time workers will receive $200 on May 28 and $200 on June 18; eligible part-time workers will receive $100 on May 28 and $100 on June 18.

We fought to extend COVID-19 Emergency Leave guidelines, which will continue, so that workers who are directly affected by the virus or experiencing related symptoms will still have access to additional paid time off.

UFCW Local 700 President Joe Chorpenning issued the following statement responding to Kroger’s decision to end “Hero Pay” and instead give out a bonus:

“We are not back to normal. Kroger is thriving in a pandemic because of the work of our members. It’s our members on the frontlines. It’s our members who continue to serve the public at great risk to themselves and their families. They’ve earned more and they deserve more.”

UFCW International President Marc Perrone issued the following statement:

“We are extremely disappointed, and we know that our members are, by Kroger’s decision to end Hero Pay.

At the beginning of this crisis, Kroger first called these workers heroes and now they have decided that they’ve stopped being heroes.

The simple fact is that the Covid-19 pandemic continues. Social distancing continues. Kroger workers are still required to wear masks. There is no vaccine.

This decision is even more inexplicable given that sales are up and profits are up.

The reality is that Kroger is choosing to ignore this pandemic. This is not how we treat heroes in America.”

We’re fighting for the job protections and resources you need. UFCW Presidents in Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, and Kentucky sent a letter to Kroger CEO Rodney McMullen, fighting to continue the Hero Pay. You’ve been on the frontlines of this crisis, and you’re still there, serving the public, making sure that people in our communities have the food and supplies they need:

“The members of the UFCW that work for [Kroger] are stocking shelves, bagging groceries, cleaning, and running cash registers while wearing masks and gloves to try to save their lives and the lives of their families…

This is no time for the company to turn its back on the very people who’ve gotten Kroger through this pandemic thus far with no end in sight. We ask that you continue the Hero Pay, as your competitors have done, through the month of May.”

See the letter from UFCW700 President Joe Chorpenning to Kroger CEO Rodney McMullen about continuing extra pay for you.

Over 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. These workers are putting their lives on the line every day to keep our country fed during this deadly outbreak and they must be protected. Our members are essential to ensuring that every American continues to have access to the food they need to feed their families, and they must be provided with essential protections.

The COVID-19 pandemic is presenting an unprecedented challenge for our nation’s food supply and every worker across the food processing and meatpacking industries. UFCW represents over 250,000 members who work at meatpacking and poultry plants across the country, including thousands in Indiana. We are America’s largest meatpacking and food processing union.

Federal and state elected leaders must mandate and enforce clear guidelines to ensure that every employer lives up to the high safety standards these workers deserve and the American people expect. We want workers to have the protections they need to be safe on the job and we are asking that the federal and state governments prioritize the safety of these workers, which is how we keep plants open and protect our food supply.

“Worker safety must come first, and there must be strong and enforceable rules to protect them on the job,” said UFCW Local 700 President Joe Chorpenning. “We are committed to working with the company on continuous improvements to ensure that our members are as safe as possible. We’re asking all our leaders – federal, state, corporate, and union – to work together and help keep these plants open by protecting these workers.”

Together, UFCW Local 700 and Tyson have previously 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.

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.