‘We must act now’: union calling for better protections for food workers
Posted April 24, 2020 12:28 pm.
Last Updated April 24, 2020 5:28 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
CALGARY (660 NEWS) – A union representing tens of thousands of grocery and food workers says it’s time to stand up for them.
The Union of Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) 401 has sent a letter to Alberta Premier Jason Kenney, asking for immediate measures to be put in place to protect workers in Alberta’s food processing facilities and grocery stores.
“Our members have become sick with COVID-19, and some have died,” said union president Thomas Hesse.
“Recent events suggest that food production has been prioritized over the protection of workers’ lives.”
RELATED: Grocery store workers need to be properly compensated says union president
Several grocery stores in Alberta have been closed because of COVID-19, and Alberta Health reports that 604 cases are directly linked to Cargill and JBS Foods, representing 16 per cent of the province’s total confirmed cases.
“The outbreaks in High River and Brooks are demonstrating that Alberta’s food workers will be disproportionately represented in the infected population,” said Hesse.
“We must act decisively now.”
In the letter, Hesse said limiting public gatherings and closing non-essential services while grocery and meat plant employees continue to work is an “outrageous contradiction”.
“Your government has referred to Alberta’s food workers as essential, and the public has called them heroes. But at their workplaces, they are treated as expendable.”
The union is calling for new regulations to protect workers including the immediate closure of a workplace experiencing an outbreak for at least 14 days and only when given the green light by AHS and Occupational Health and Safety (OHS).
WATCH: OHS investigate meat plant outbreaks
Hesse is also asking for a hazard pay of 1.5 times the regular hourly rate during the pandemic and more paid breaks for workers.
When it comes to grocery stores, Hesse is calling for by-law enforcement of social distancing orders. He is also demanding weekend closures every two weeks for cleaning and to ensure employees are getting their needed rest.
The press secretary to Labour and Immigration Minister Jason Copping, Adrienne South released a statement this afternoon on the letter.
“Grocery stores are an essential service that continue to operate following the advice of public health experts. The health and safety of our grocery store workers is a top priority. We appreciate the dedication of these workers and are grateful for all their hard work during these unprecedented times,” said South. “We encourage employers and employees to work together to deliver critical services to Albertans during this public health crisis. It is important Albertans have access to the supplies they need to be able to put food on their tables.”
“Grocery stores, along with all essential workplaces are required to adhere to advice laid out by the Chief Medical Officer of Health -which includes social distancing and proper sanitization. Alberta Health has made resources available to Alberta grocers to make them aware of applicable advice and measures to help provide a safe workplace,” added South.
