City Council proposes free tests, flexible hours for supermarket and pharmacy employees
Day by day businesses are closed, classes are canceled, plans are postponed. But certain businesses and essential services for the community, such as supermarkets, hospitals, pharmacies or the media, continue to serve the community, with modifications and precautions.
Supermarket and service workers are among the people who are exposed daily to contagion, as they must continue their work, at the risk of getting COVID-19.
"I try to take care of myself as much as possible to not bring the virus to my home and infect my two children”Karla Barrera, a single mother of two children ages 4 and 6, who works at the Ralphs supermarket in Roscoe and Laurel Canyon, in the San Fernando Valley, said in an interview with The opinion.
"We hardly have any gloves or sanitizers anymore and I would like to be able to wear a mask," explained the worker. Barrera stressed that supermarket workers are in direct contact with customers.
“We keep their food in the bags, we are face to face with them. It is the same as hospital workers. They give them their masks, but not us. " Barrera said he was looking for masks to buy, but that "there was nowhere."
"We are not in a normal situation right now," said John Grant, president of UFCW Local 770. "That means the workers need more protections and flexibility in order to continue to keep the supermarket stores open and safe for everyone. Personnel, hygiene and replenishment have changed overnight and supermarket and drug store staff have responded. We need measures to ensure that they remain protected on the job, ”added Grant.
UFCW Local 770 represents more than 20,000 supermarket workers in Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties, as well as more than 30,000 union members in the food, drug, meat packing, and food processing industries, laboratories, and marijuana dispensaries.
"I understand how important it is that people have access to food in a clean and safe environment, but I never imagined that as a cashier in a supermarket we would be on the battlefront exposed to a dangerous virusSaid Danielle Parks, cashier at a Food 4 Less store in Torrance. “It is urgent that we have the equipment and flexibility that we need to stay safe and ensure that customers are also safe. Nothing is normal now except that people need to eat, "he said.
UFCW Local 770 members who work in supermarkets and pharmacies have been disproportionately impacted due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
"I hope that since the owners of the supermarket stores are doing record earnings as a result of this health crisis, may spend some of those resources to protect those of us who are working hard in crowded stores full of stressed people, putting ourselves at risk, keeping stores running and serving the needs of our customers, "Parks added.
City Ordinance
This week, the Los Angeles City Council unanimously passed an ordinance to protect the health and safety of supermarket, pharmacy and home delivery food workers. The ordinance will now go to the LA City Attorney for drafting. Once drafted, the councilors must approve it.
Said measure seeks that supermarket, pharmacy and grocery delivery workers have access to free COVID-19 tests, flexible hours, as well as masks, antiseptic towels, hand sanitizerss and other basic precautions
"The company is flexible with the hours, so that we can wash our hands and clean everything more thoroughly, but it is very difficult," reflected Barrera. "I was happy that the schools have closed, so that the children do not catch it, but when I get to work in the market, I have to work as a teacher for my children. I don't want them to be late, "he added.
Food delivery
Some of the market workers have been working long hours, so they can stock up, clean thoroughly, and prepare the store for customers. Those who distribute food do not have union membership and have no benefits.
UFCW Local 770 has ordered solidarity and union among all workers and that the same benefits are applied to all, whether or not they are union members. The motion of the Council includes said workers, and asks to be considered as employees as required by California law.
"As more people remain in their places, food delivery services will become more essential and will be an important part of ensuring that the virus does not spread. But right now, home delivery workers are not treated as employees by the companies they work for and are not provided with basic food handling training or are not given necessary sick days.. All workers need the same protections and the public needs guarantees that they have them. Members of UFCW Local 770 thank the Los Angeles City Council for acting to address their needs at this critical time, ”added Grant.
Barrera asked clients not to bother and stress with them, to be patient. "If someone is not feeling well, it is Better that they stay in their houses, that they don't expose others. Stores will always be open. But please think of us, of our families. We are all in the same boat, and we are doing the best we can: taking care of our children, our clients and ourselves ”, he reflected.
