Food worker union locals petition Herbert to ensure safety of members

Leaders of locals 99 and 711 of the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) union that represent 29,000 workers across Arizona, Nevada and Utah, have sent a letter to Gov. Gary Herbert urging direct and immediate action to implement stronger safety measures and help keep Utah shoppers, families and front-line food workers safe during the coronavirus outbreak.

In the letter, the local unions are asking Herbert to take the following actions: 1.  Ensure workers have personal protection equipment, including masks and gloves, 2. Ensure proper social distancing in food processing plants by slowing down line speeds at food processing plants, 3. Mandate the wearing of non-medical-grade masks or facial coverings by the public, and 4. Issue clear guidance on safety measures to stop the spread of COVID-19 that is endangering food and grocery workers and shoppers.

“Workers in grocery stores, pharmacies and food processing plants are risking everything to ensure our communities can endure this public health crisis. If we don’t act immediately to keep these essential workers and their customers safe, many lives and our food supply will be in grave danger,” said UFCW Local 99 President Jim McLaughlin and Local 711 President Michael Gittings in a joint release. “The front-line heroes who work in Utah stores and plants are already facing an outsized risk of exposure because their jobs force them into frequent contact with others. We must do everything possible to protect our state’s food supply, workers and the public. Above all, we must do everything possible to reduce the chance of exposure and any outbreak that would represent a direct threat to our state and community.”