Michigan grocery workers are “first responders” - and should be treated as such according to the head of one state union representing grocery and retail workers.
Last week, Michigan Governor Gretchen defined grocery workers as an essential workforce.
That designation will give those workers access to childcare alongside other essential workers.
John Cakmaki is head of the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 951, which represents over 31-thousand workers including at Meijer stores. He said so far he’s happy with how grocers - and the state - have responded to the coronavirus.
“I am proud of the people working in the industry because they are on the front line,” he said. “They are first responders putting themselves in danger.”
Cakmaki said in some specific instances Meijer has allowed its workers to wear masks and will permit older workers to work in positions that don’t come into contact with customers.
He said the union will continue to negotiate higher pay, given the risk workers are taking.
“Given what they are risking they should get more. We are in talks to see if we can get them a premium, see if we can get them something. To answer your question, absolutely they deserve to get more. We’re in talks with all of their employers to see if we can do something for them.”
According to Cakmaki, Meijer is giving all workers a $2 bonus on top of hourly base pay during the crisis.
Kroger announced over the weekend it would offer one-time bonuses to full and part time associates working through the crisis of $150 to $300.
Cakmaki said he’s glad the Governor defined grocery workers as essential.
“So it was a big, big step in the right direction that I believe Gretchen Whitmer took for us on behalf of these workers.”
Cakmaki described the work of advocating for grocery workers as “far from done” and also acknowledged that the situation was fluid.
But, he said, he’s happy so far with what he has seen.