Albertsons and UFCW are working together, no really, they are

Albertsons and the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union believe store employees deserve a special designation for their COVID-19 efforts and they have joined forces to spread the word.

Albertsons and the UFCW announced a joint national effort to seek a temporary designation of “extended first responders” or “emergency personnel” for supermarket associates to ensure that they are prioritized for testing and provided personal protection equipment during the coronavirus outbreak. The UFCW also announced the joint effort in an open letter to policymakers and influencers in a full page ad in the print edition of the New York Times.

 “Since the onset of this pandemic, associates in Albertsons Companies stores, who are also proud members of UFCW union, have been working tirelessly to make sure that America’s families have the food and groceries they need,” according to a statement from Albertsons president and CEO Vivek Sankaran and UFCW International president Marc Perrone. “These men and women are sacrificing every day to protect our nation’s food supply, and now is the time for our leaders in state and federal governments to do the same for them.”

The temporary designation of first responder or emergency personnel status would help ensure grocery workers access to priority testing, have access to personal protection equipment, like masks and gloves, as well other workplace protections necessary to keep themselves and the customers they serve safe and healthy.

“This joint action is an example of how all Americans must work together to protect everyone working on the frontlines. This includes not only our brave first responders and healthcare workers but also associates at our nation’s grocery stores who are providing communities with the essential food and supplies needed to weather this public health crisis,” according to the statement from Sankaran and Perrone.