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Grocery store workers strike today

Should wealthy Jeff Bezos & Whole Foods pay better during this crisis?

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    30
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grip

grip

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This is a little scary. If grocery store workers start striking, we're screwed.



Whole Foods Employees Are Staging a Nationwide 'Sick-Out' - VICE



-Whole Foods employees are planning to strike on Tuesday to protest the lack of protections offered to workers during the coronavirus pandemic-the first national collective action led by workers at the company since it was founded in 1980.

On March 31, Whole Foods employees will call in sick to demand paid leave for all workers who stay home or self-quarantine during the crisis, free coronavirus testing for all employees, and hazard pay of double the current hourly wage for employees who show up to work during the pandemic.

"COVID-19 is a very real threat to the safety of our workforce and customers," Whole Worker, the national worker group that is organizing the 'œsick out' wrote in a statement. "We cannot wait for politicians, institutions, or our own management to step in to protect us."

"Since we first announced the intent to do a sick out, Whole Foods announced a temporary raise of $2 an hour, which isn't enough. A bunch of us have already gotten sick. It's very plausible that some of us will die for this job."-
 
I'm going with double. If you are asking an employee to come in and risk their lives, what's an extra sixteen dollars a day? Is that worth your life?

For that amount of money I would tell my boss to go screw themselves, there are now plenty of places hiring. People asking to be protected if they have to work is not an unreasonable request in this time of super high risk.
 
grip said:
This is a little scary. If grocery store workers start striking, we're screwed.



Whole Foods Employees Are Staging a Nationwide 'Sick-Out' - VICE



-Whole Foods employees are planning to strike on Tuesday to protest the lack of protections offered to workers during the coronavirus pandemic-the first national collective action led by workers at the company since it was founded in 1980.

On March 31, Whole Foods employees will call in sick to demand paid leave for all workers who stay home or self-quarantine during the crisis, free coronavirus testing for all employees, and hazard pay of double the current hourly wage for employees who show up to work during the pandemic.

"COVID-19 is a very real threat to the safety of our workforce and customers," Whole Worker, the national worker group that is organizing the 'œsick out' wrote in a statement. "We cannot wait for politicians, institutions, or our own management to step in to protect us."

"Since we first announced the intent to do a sick out, Whole Foods announced a temporary raise of $2 an hour, which isn't enough. A bunch of us have already gotten sick. It's very plausible that some of us will die for this job."-
Click to expand...

I am all for it. Let them strike. Bezos can open his checkbook or lose his company. What a prick. He earned this strike. I was hoping the logistics end would strike too. Cheap ass bastard. He hasn't raised his rates much and he has his proxies begging for additional capacity. **** him. I will do Walmart and government freight.
 
The grocery stores here don't even let employees wear gloves.
 
bongsaway said:
I'm going with double. If you are asking an employee to come in and risk their lives, what's an extra sixteen dollars a day? Is that worth your life?

For that amount of money I would tell my boss to go screw themselves, there are now plenty of places hiring. People asking to be protected if they have to work is not an unreasonable request in this time of super high risk.
Click to expand...

At least double. They are asking too little IMO. They got the turkey by the short hairs, they should yank a little.
 
Considering these are low wage workers, we do likely owe them improvements during this time.

If Bezos has to pay more, that cost will roll to us. I’ll pay more. But with an economic slowdown that may be hard for everyone.
 
bongsaway said:
I'm going with double. If you are asking an employee to come in and risk their lives, what's an extra sixteen dollars a day? Is that worth your life?

For that amount of money I would tell my boss to go screw themselves, there are now plenty of places hiring. People asking to be protected if they have to work is not an unreasonable request in this time of super high risk.
Click to expand...

Imagine you're low on groceries and you can't buy food because some greedy multi-billionaires wouldn't pay their employees a little extra for awhile?
 
grip said:
This is a little scary. If grocery store workers start striking, we're screwed.



Whole Foods Employees Are Staging a Nationwide 'Sick-Out' - VICE



-Whole Foods employees are planning to strike on Tuesday to protest the lack of protections offered to workers during the coronavirus pandemic-the first national collective action led by workers at the company since it was founded in 1980.

On March 31, Whole Foods employees will call in sick to demand paid leave for all workers who stay home or self-quarantine during the crisis, free coronavirus testing for all employees, and hazard pay of double the current hourly wage for employees who show up to work during the pandemic.

"COVID-19 is a very real threat to the safety of our workforce and customers," Whole Worker, the national worker group that is organizing the 'œsick out' wrote in a statement. "We cannot wait for politicians, institutions, or our own management to step in to protect us."

"Since we first announced the intent to do a sick out, Whole Foods announced a temporary raise of $2 an hour, which isn't enough. A bunch of us have already gotten sick. It's very plausible that some of us will die for this job."-
Click to expand...

Disgusting! How can people finger-wag Americans for daring to leave their homes but applaud this pusillanimous price-gouging by a labor cartel?
 
question: How does increase pay improve the safety of the employee while at work?

Would it not be better to request protective equipment, improve sanitation procedure, and COVID-19 training.
 
grip said:
Imagine you're low on groceries and you can't buy food because some greedy multi-billionaires wouldn't pay their employees a little extra for awhile?
Click to expand...

You mean because cowardly little snowflakes are afraid to do their jobs because the risk profile is slightly higher for their demographic than it was yesterday. They have a job to do. People need goods and supplies during a crisis. Get our there and do your jobs your friggin' cowards!!
 
grip said:
This is a little scary. If grocery store workers start striking, we're screwed.



Whole Foods Employees Are Staging a Nationwide 'Sick-Out' - VICE



-Whole Foods employees are planning to strike on Tuesday to protest the lack of protections offered to workers during the coronavirus pandemic-the first national collective action led by workers at the company since it was founded in 1980.

On March 31, Whole Foods employees will call in sick to demand paid leave for all workers who stay home or self-quarantine during the crisis, free coronavirus testing for all employees, and hazard pay of double the current hourly wage for employees who show up to work during the pandemic.

"COVID-19 is a very real threat to the safety of our workforce and customers," Whole Worker, the national worker group that is organizing the 'œsick out' wrote in a statement. "We cannot wait for politicians, institutions, or our own management to step in to protect us."

"Since we first announced the intent to do a sick out, Whole Foods announced a temporary raise of $2 an hour, which isn't enough. A bunch of us have already gotten sick. It's very plausible that some of us will die for this job."-
Click to expand...

How, exactly, does demanding double their current hourly pay rate "protect the workers"? There are, no doubt, many now out of work who would love to have the opportunity to work for their current hourly pay rate.
 
PirateMk1 said:
At least double. They are asking too little IMO. They got the turkey by the short hairs, they should yank a little.
Click to expand...

So lets say all grocery store workers go on strike. Where are they going to buy food? If the store is closed no one gets food.

It is interesting that some here think hazard pay should be double or more. Wildland firefighters hazard pay is quarter time. How much is a person home worth to them.:mrgreen:
 
Taylor said:
The grocery stores here don't even let employees wear gloves.
Click to expand...

That's just wrong, imo. Gloves are a reasonable precaution and help put the customers at ease, too. Is it due to shortage or some other cause?
 
GhostlyJoe said:
You mean because cowardly little snowflakes are afraid to do their jobs because the risk profile is slightly higher for their demographic than it was yesterday. They have a job to do. People need goods and supplies during a crisis. Get our there and do your jobs your friggin' cowards!!
Click to expand...

I would argue with you but then you'd drag me down to your level and beat me with experience.
 
bongsaway said:
I'm going with double. If you are asking an employee to come in and risk their lives, what's an extra sixteen dollars a day? Is that worth your life?

For that amount of money I would tell my boss to go screw themselves, there are now plenty of places hiring. People asking to be protected if they have to work is not an unreasonable request in this time of super high risk.
Click to expand...

Who is hiring now?
 
ttwtt78640 said:
How, exactly, does demanding double their current hourly pay rate "protect the workers"? There are, no doubt, many now out of work who would love to have the opportunity to work for their current hourly pay rate.
Click to expand...

It's the same reason they pay divers on oil platforms high wages because it's dangerous.
 
I’m absolutely appalled at the lack of protections for supermarket workers. What they’re doing is literally the one thing keeping the country from spilling over into outright panic.

I’ve heard of some supermarkets installing sneeze guards and the such for cashiers. They should be getting gloves and face shields or n95 masks at the very least. If I’m lucky I’ll see cashiers with gloves.
 
bongsaway said:
I'm going with double. If you are asking an employee to come in and risk their lives, what's an extra sixteen dollars a day? Is that worth your life?

For that amount of money I would tell my boss to go screw themselves, there are now plenty of places hiring. People asking to be protected if they have to work is not an unreasonable request in this time of super high risk.
Click to expand...

Are you really that mathematically challenged? If double their current pay would cost $16/day then they are now assumed to be working for $16/day (or $2/hour - assuming an 8 hour shift).
 
grip said:
I would argue with you but then you'd drag me down to your level and beat me with experience.
Click to expand...

Don't we have a duty to contribute to our society during this time of extreme stress? We need able-bodied people moving goods and services. People die otherwise. Most younger workers are not at high-risk of fatal disease. I certainly view it, as a relatively young and healthy man, as my responsibility to my family and my community to do my job. People depend on me showing up to work. This is not the time to threaten strike to negotiate wages. These workers are greedy cowards. Period. Not only are you wrong, but you can't even muster a real argument.
 
They should sell their labor for what the market will bear. They're very valuable employees now putting themselves at high risk. If management still wants to pay them peanuts, they can man the registers themselves.
 
GhostlyJoe said:
Don't we have a duty to contribute to our society during this time of extreme stress? We need able-bodied people moving goods and services. People die otherwise. Most younger workers are not at high-risk of fatal disease. I certainly view it, as a relatively young and healthy man, as my responsibility to my family and my community to do my job. People depend on me showing up to work. This is not the time to threaten strike to negotiate wages. This workers are greedy cowards. Period.
Click to expand...

While I do agree with the sentiment of this and hope that they don't strike, some compensation concessions should be made, and they shouldn't have to strike to get them.
 
mike2810 said:
question: How does increase pay improve the safety of the employee while at work?

Would it not be better to request protective equipment, improve sanitation procedure, and COVID-19 training.
Click to expand...

Interesting thought.
 
grip said:
Imagine you're low on groceries and you can't buy food because some greedy multi-billionaires wouldn't pay their employees a little extra for awhile?
Click to expand...

How does extra pay improve employee safety?
 
GhostlyJoe said:
Don't we have a duty to contribute to our society during this time of extreme stress? We need able-bodied people moving goods and services. People die otherwise. Most younger workers are not at high-risk of fatal disease. I certainly view it, as a relatively young and healthy man, as my responsibility to my family and my community to do my job. People depend on me showing up to work. This is not the time to threaten strike to negotiate wages. These workers are greedy cowards. Period. Not only are you wrong, but you can't even muster a real argument.
Click to expand...

Doesn't wealthy Amazon and Jeff Bezos have a duty during a time of crisis to contribute also or do the uber-rich just get a free pass to keep raking in the dough?
 
grip said:
This is a little scary. If grocery store workers start striking, we're screwed.



Whole Foods Employees Are Staging a Nationwide 'Sick-Out' - VICE



-Whole Foods employees are planning to strike on Tuesday to protest the lack of protections offered to workers during the coronavirus pandemic-the first national collective action led by workers at the company since it was founded in 1980.

On March 31, Whole Foods employees will call in sick to demand paid leave for all workers who stay home or self-quarantine during the crisis, free coronavirus testing for all employees, and hazard pay of double the current hourly wage for employees who show up to work during the pandemic.

"COVID-19 is a very real threat to the safety of our workforce and customers," Whole Worker, the national worker group that is organizing the 'œsick out' wrote in a statement. "We cannot wait for politicians, institutions, or our own management to step in to protect us."

"Since we first announced the intent to do a sick out, Whole Foods announced a temporary raise of $2 an hour, which isn't enough. A bunch of us have already gotten sick. It's very plausible that some of us will die for this job."-
Click to expand...

Don’t conflate Whole Foods with grocery workers who are union and are too weak to strike and make it stick. Whole Foods is Bezos’s vanity project and he is a notorious cheapskate. I hope they strike. Maybe WaPo will too.
 
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