Grocery store workers are on the front lines of the COVID-19 crisis, while these companies make massive profits. As essential workers, we need our workplaces to be kept as safe as possible, and to be compensated for the risk to our health that we are taking on by going to work. No one should have to choose between keeping their income or keeping themselves and their families safe. Across the grocery industry, the safety of workers and customers must be put before profit. We are essential, not expendable. It’s time we organize to protect ourselves and our communities!

We demand:

1. Safe Workplaces:
All workers should be immediately provided with effective personal protective equipment and training on how to safely use it. Ample hand sanitizer, face masks, gloves, and cleaning supplies should always be available. Stores should enforce limits on the number of customers allowed inside to allow proper social distancing, and enable workers to ask customers for space if they do not feel safe.

2. Transparency:
When workers test positive, companies need to be transparent with other workers and the public. All store employees must be notified by management immediately if another worker tests positive or is exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms. Every workplace must outline to all workers clear procedures for when a worker tests positive for COVID-19. Cleaning and sanitation protocols should be provided to all workers and customers and records logged for all to see.

3. Hazard Pay Now:
We need immediate raises to time and half pay for all grocery workers, with no reduction in pay for changed store hours. Even with safety measures in place, working in a grocery store during the COVID-19 pandemic presents a threat to our health. In order to acknowledge these conditions and the sacrifice that workers are making, significant hazard pay is necessary, not symbolic “thank you” pay of $2/hour or unpredictable bonuses.

4. Full Paid Sick, Family, and Medical Leave:
In addition to those workers who are exhibiting symptoms of the coronavirus, workers who are over 60 or are immunocompromised should be able to stay home and receive full pay without penalty. Those workers who care for our children and families should also be compensated if we need to take time off to do so during the crisis.

5. No Retaliation for Organizing:
Workers in grocery stores have a right to organize amongst ourselves and discuss how to improve working conditions and customer safety. We should be able to organize freely and speak our minds without fear of retribution.

We invite all workers and customers who support these demands to sign on. Personal contact information will only be shared with the organizers and used to continue fighting for these demands. This petition was initiated by workers and customers at grocery stores in Philadelphia along with Socialist Alternative. Email phillysocialistalternative@gmail.com to get in touch with us.