{"id":32950,"date":"2020-03-19T17:39:53","date_gmt":"2020-03-19T17:39:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ufcw.org\/?p=32950"},"modified":"2020-08-24T19:10:20","modified_gmt":"2020-08-24T19:10:20","slug":"emergencyprotections","status":"publish","type":"press_releases","link":"https:\/\/www.ufcw.org\/press-releases\/emergencyprotections\/","title":{"rendered":"UFCW Applauds States for Offering Emergency Protections to Grocery Workers on Front Lines of Coronavirus"},"content":{"rendered":"

America\u2019s Largest Private Sector Union Praises Leadership in Michigan, Minnesota, and Vermont to Provide Childcare for At-Risk Workers<\/em>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

WASHINGTON, D.C.<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Today, the\u00a0United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW)<\/strong><\/a>, the largest U.S. private sector union which represents grocery workers across the country, praised leaders in Minnesota<\/a>, Michigan<\/a>, and Vermont<\/a> for recognizing the critical work being done by grocery workers in their states. All have indicated that grocery workers, similar to health care workers and other essential personnel, will be provided with childcare.<\/p>\n

UFCW International President Marc Perrone<\/strong>\u00a0released the following statement:<\/p>\n

\u201cUFCW members in grocery and retail stores across the country are working around the clock to make sure that families have the food and supplies they need. We applaud Minnesota, Michigan, and Vermont for recognizing that these workers are on the front lines, providing an essential service to their communities.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs our country confronts this outbreak and its devastating impact on our economy, there has never been a more important time for strong leadership. Congress must follow the lead of these states and provide paid leave and other essential protections needed to support the brave grocery and retail workers keeping our communities strong.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Background:<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

Minnesota <\/strong>Governor Tim Walz issued a directive as part of an order for \u201cCare for Children of Families of Emergency Workers,\u201d which instructs closed schools to continue to provide care for children of emergency personnel who are \u201ccritical to the response of COVID-19.\u201d Under the order, grocery workers are considered \u201cessential tier 2 workers” and would be covered. Minnesota officials stated that “districts should make every effort to provide care for school-age children\u201d of these workers.<\/p>\n

Michigan<\/strong> Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed an executive order to expand the capacity for childcare services for health care workers, first responders, and other members of the essential workforce providing critical infrastructure to Michiganders during the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis. This expands the essential workforce to include grocery workers who are helping to provide essential supplies and goods during the outbreak.<\/p>\n

Vermont<\/strong> is developing a plan to reimburse private childcare centers for providing care to essential workers. Public safety commissioner Michael Schirling announced that his office would add grocery store workers to the list of essential employees who would receive services like childcare.<\/p>\n

Last week, as part of UFCW’s advocacy for grocery workers on the front lines, the union\u00a0sent a letter to President Trump and Congressional leaders<\/a> outlining the union\u2019s top policy priorities for economic relief legislation.<\/p>\n

In the letter, UFCW called for action by Congress and the White House to provide the aid needed for the nearly 80 million hourly workers \u2013 representing about 60 percent of the U.S. workforce \u2013 who are most at risk. Top UFCW priorities for worker relief in the letter include:<\/p>\n