News

Incredibly sad: The 8th JBS worker to die from coronavirus was Tin Aye. She had just become a grandmother after her daughter gave emergency birth while COVID19 positive, according to
@UFCW_7. Aye went on a ventilator right after her grandchild’s birth. From the union

Aye‘s daughter, San Twin, told CNN that a JBS company doctor told her mother she likely had the flu or common cold and could return to work at the plant. cnn.com/2020/05/18/us/jbs-employee-dies/index.html

Dianne Gallagher – CNN

Tin Aye wanted a better life for her children, away from the refugee camp in Thailand where they were born. She came to USA in 2007 & worked at the JBS plant in Greeley, CO. Tin Aye died Sunday from #covid19 She never got to meet her new grandson
As @jerharlanCNN points out in this article, Tin Aye is now the EIGHTH employee from the JBS beef plant in Greeley Colorado to die. She had been in the hospital and on a ventilator since March 29th, one day after her first grandson, Felix, was born.

Magdalene Visaggio @MagsVisaggs

As Kroger cuts “hero pay” because essential workers just aren’t worth the money, as Bezos does the same, as delivery drivers and restaurant workers trudge into work at risk of their own lives and dont even get a decent wage

Updated 5/15/20

Kim Cordova Mentions:

Greeley Tribune: JBS, Pilgrim’s Pride earmark $200M for COVID relief

Westword: COVID-19 and Colorado Grocery Workers: 64 Cases, Seven Deaths

NBC Decatur (WAND 7): Union fighting end to Kroger’s ‘Hero Pay’

Counter Punch: One Pound Capitalism, a Pinch of Democracy and Keep On Keepin’ On

[Reposted: LA Progressive]

Kroger Mentions:

Vice: Because I Work at Kroger, So Why Do I Feel Disposable?

The Wall Street Journal: Coronavirus to Slow U.S. Meat Production for Months, CEO Says

Click On Detroit: ‘Slap in the face’: Michigan lawmakers want Kroger to extend workers’ $2 raise beyond this weekend

WSBT 22: Kroger gives ‘Thank You Pay’ bonus to hourly associates for working during pandemic

Memphis Commercial Appeal: Stripped of hazard pay, Kroger workers challenge company’s ‘return to normal

UFCW Mentions:

TeenVouge: Coronavirus Spreading in Meat Plants Puts Workers’ Lives at Risk

Supermarket News: UFCW calls for grocers to extend COVID-19 emergency pay plans

Wall Street Journal: Coronavirus to Slow U.S. Meat Production for Months, CEO Says Head of the biggest U.S. beef producer says JBS is revamping operations

Supermarket News: UFCW calls for grocers to extend COVID-19 emergency pay plans

Broadcast:

NPR (WBUR): Here & Now: Coronavirus Plagues America’s Meatpacking Industry

Jeremy Hobson

May 14, 2020

Thousands of workers at meatpacking plants have tested positive for the coronavirus, as states and companies have been slow to test and release data.

Host Jeremy Hobson talks to Kim Cordova, who heads up the United Food and Commercial Workers union branch in Colorado and Wyoming which represents thousands of food processing employees.

NBC Colorado Springs (KOAA): NBC Colorado Springs News 5 at 6PM

May 14, 2020

Interview with anonymous UFCW Member

One News Page: Kroger To End Coronavirus ‘Hero Pay’ (Video)

May 15, 2020

Kroger announced it hired 100,000 workers since March, as grocery store demands surge amid the coronavirus pandemic.

They’ve reportedly spent $700 million in associate pay, including its ‘Hero’ bonus of $2 per hour.

However, Kroger said the bonus will end in May and that has sparked outrage among the staff.

NPR: Grocery Store Chain Kroger Is Planning To End ‘Hero Pay’

Social Media:

Ezra Kaplan – NBC

Buried in this announcement is the confirmation that Kroger is ending hero pay for hourly employees. It will instead give one-time “Thank You Pay” to qualified workers.

NPR Business

Grocery Store Chain Kroger Is Planning To End ‘Hero Pay’

Judd Legum – Popular Mechanics

UPDATE:

@Kroger, which planned to eliminate its $2/hour “hero bonus” on Sunday, has announced that it will pay full-time workers a $400 bonus This is the equivalent of extending the “hero bonus” for 5 weeks.

https://popular.info/p/update-krogers-21-million-man

—

This isn’t everything @kroger workers DESERVE.

But ACCOUNTABILITY JOURNALISM and PUBLIC SCRUTINY made a difference.

And there is still so much work to do.

You can be a part of this effort by signing up for my newsletterRightwards arrow

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Kroger will pay part-time workers $200.

Importantly, it will also continue its expanded paid sick leave policy that it put in place after public pressure in March.

https://t.co/wBCH7pt6XC?amp=1

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For those looking for confirmation, here is a link to Kroger’s press release.

https://t.co/40gu4CvRaK?amp=1

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@slpng_giants organized a letter writing campaign targeting Kroger execs which had a big role in prompting this change

Updated 5/14/2020

Kim Cordova Mentions:

Harvard Law School: Rethinking Essential: Business, Work, and Human Rights in the Covid-19 Pandemic

ABC Denver (ABC 7): King Soopers worker pleads for grocery store to mandate masks for customers

Market Watch: Kroger has hired 100,000 workers since March, will end bonus pay mid-May

Kroger Mentions:

WTHR: Kroger to stop offering ‘hero bonus’ for employees, unions ask it be continued

Fox Business: Kroger ending coronavirus ‘hero pay’ for workers Sunday

Salon: Kroger still plans to slash employees’ “hero pay” after another grocery worker dies of coronavirus

Bloomberg: Essential Workers Are Losing Their ‘Hazard Pay’ Even As the Pandemic Rages On

[Reposted: Time]

Chicago Tribune: Extra pay for many essential workers is expiring, even as COVID-19 deaths mount. Labor groups fight to keep ‘hero pay.’

[Reposted: MSN]

NBC Portland (KGW 8): Front-line workers to lose coronavirus ‘Hero Bonus’ pay from Fred Meyer

CBS Columbus (WBNS TV 10): Kroger ending $2 an hour “hero pay” bonus for workers

Retail Wire: Should grocers keep paying their associates like heroes?

Yahoo Finance: Kroger ending coronavirus ‘hero pay’ for workers Sunday

CBS Milwaukee (WDJT 58): Kroger’s end to Hero Pay will affect thousands of grocery workers in Milwaukee area

Cincinnati Biz Journal: Kroger employees at Cincinnati store test positive for coronavirus – Cincinnati Business Courier

UFCW Mentions:

Salon: “What are you hiding?”: Nebraska stops releasing coronavirus data from meat plants after cases spike

Meat & Poultry: Plaintiffs in price-fixing case ask for judicial notice of Trump executive order

Bloomberg: Fourth USDA Inspector Dies From Virus Amid Meat Plant Outbreaks

Broadcast:

WBUR (Radio): Coronavirus Plagues America’s Meatpacking Industry

Social Media:

Human Rights Institute

Thank you @ARamasastry @UWSchoolofLaw, Alison Kiehl Friedman @theICAR, Kim Cordova @UFCW, Janhavi Dave @hnsa_2016, Aminta Ossom @Harvard_Law for a dynamic discussion on protecting workers’ rights during the crisis. Another #covid19justice event coming up:

Human Rights Program

Thank you to #RethinkingEssential #COVID19Justice panelists @ARamasastry @UWSchoolofLaw, Alison Kiehl Friedman @theICAR, Kim Cordova @UFCW_7, Janhavi Dave @hnsa_2016, Aminta Ossom @Harvard_Law for important interventions on behalf of workers’ rights

ICAR

HAPPENING NOW: “Rethinking Essential: Business, Work, and Human Rights” & COVID-19 #covid19justice:

— @ARamasastry @UWSchoolofLaw

— Alison Friedman @theICAR

— Kim Cordova @UFCW_7

— Janhavi Dave @hnsa_2016

— Aminta Ossom @HarvardLawHRP

https://columbiauniversity.zoom.us/j/155632333 p-w 200022

Gender&SexualityLaw

Kim Cordova: In our meat processing plant, all of the workers but one were Latino and one was Burmese. They were all over 60yo as well. This pandemic has had a detrimental impact on people in those groups. I think that has something to do with the response from these employers.
Kim Cordova: “The most important and critical part of the food supply chain is the workforce. You are seeing people dying in these industries, and it’s because the response by most of these employers was late or inadequate.” #covid19justice