BLOOMINGTON, UNITED STATES - MARCH 16, 2020: An employee refills an onion and potato shelf, which is getting emptied every day, Shoppers fill a Kroger store to buy food at panic buyers have been clearing shelves on a daily basis due to the Coronaviru …
A major grocery chain is joining the push to get its workers classified as “emergency personnel” or “extended first responders" amid the coronavirus outbreak.
Kroger, considered to be America’s largest grocery store chain, issued a joint statement with the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) International Union to address the issue. The goal of the movement is to urge state and federal government officials to reclassify the workers as they face daily challenges due to the coronavirus pandemic.
In the statement, Kroger Chairman and CEO Rodney McMullen and UFCW International President Marc Perrone describe how grocery store workers have been “working tirelessly to make sure that millions of American families have the fresh food and products they need.” In the statement, the two men say that the workers play a critical role in their communities and “they must be protected.”
The statement continues: “Given the significant daily risk these workers face, we are calling on all of our federal and state leaders to take immediate action. Specifically, we are requesting our nation’s leaders to assign a temporary designation of first responder or emergency personnel status for all grocery workers. Make no mistake, this designation is absolutely critical as it will ensure these frontline workers have priority access to personal protection equipment like masks and gloves.”
Kroger isn’t the only grocery chain working with the UFCW on this issue.
Fox News recently reported that Albertson’s, another major chain in the United States, had also teamed up with the union to get workers reclassified.
The UFCW also recently revealed that 30 of its members have died from COVID-19. This prompted the union to launch a campaign asking shoppers to take steps to protect workers from becoming infected.
Get updated on this story at FOXNews.com
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In order to protect yourself from a possible infection, the CDC recommends:
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
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