AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT JOHN T. NICCOLLAI - 7-10-2020

COVID-19 UPDATE

HAZARD PAY

QUESTION:

Do our Company Owners and Company Executives truly recognize the importance of Supermarket Workers during this deadly Pandemic?

The top three groups of essential workers during this Covid-19 nightmare have been classified as follows:

1.      Health Care and Public Health Workers

2.      Law Enforcement and Public Safety Workers such as Police, Fire & EMTs

3.      Grocery Store Workers

Health Care and Public Health Workers are needed primarily when we are ill.  Law Enforcement and Public Safety Workers are primarily needed when there are criminal, civil or personal problems or when there is a fire.  Grocery Store Workers are needed every single day to keep us fed, alive and well.

For those of us familiar with the movie, “It’s a Wonderful Life”, we know that George Bailey gets to see what life in his community would have been like if he was never born.  Query:  What would life be like in our communities if we were not extremely responsible and totally committed to be at work every day, notwithstanding the real threat of serious illness and even death to us and even our loved ones?  If Supermarkets could not stay open because workers did not show up, what would happen to our society?  How would people get food?  Would there be civil unrest?  It’s scary to even attempt to go down that path, so we won’t go any further.

One of the things that has made me extremely proud to serve as your President during this Pandemic is the fact that our Brothers and Sisters have stepped up to the plate every day.  They have put aside all the dangers and have made sure that our customers can get food for themselves and their families. I know we will continue to be at work every day because we understand our obligations and the concept of fair play.  Too bad our Employers don’t have a clue!

As you know, your Union is working tirelessly to see that “hazard pay” is continued.  We are using all means available, including the filing of grievances for arbitration, newspaper advertisements, postings on social media, leaflets and the signing of petitions.  Just recently, some politicians have become aware of our loss of “hazard pay” and they are eager to join our fight for justice.

We are closely examining the most recent financial statements of our Employers since the spread of COVID-19, and we cannot believe the monumental increases in sales and profits.

Many of the same Companies that refuse to negotiate the issue of “hazard pay” with us today will be sitting at the bargaining table with us in September and October.  That will give us a powerful format to discuss workplace safety, the elimination of “hazard pay” and, most importantly, the true value of our labor during this escalating, dangerous Pandemic.

 WORK SMARTLY – WORK SAFELY!