Kroger is introducing a 'hero bonus' for employees - as Amazon, Whole Foods, GE and Instacart workers threaten revolt over unsafe working conditions
- Nation's biggest independent grocer said staff will get an additional $2 a hour
- 'You have been nothing short of extraordinary', Kroger's chief people officer said
- They have already given workers a one off bonus to say thank you for their work
- Amazon, Whole Foods, GE appliances and Instacart workers have all revolted over unsafe working conditions amid the spread of coronavirus this week
- Unemployment in the U.S. hit a record high Thurday, with 10 million now jobless
Kroger Co. has announced it will introduce a 'hero bonus' as a thank you to all of its employees working on the coronavirus frontline.
The nation's biggest independent grocer said staff in their stores, as well as those working as part of the supply chain, in manufacturing, and in pharmacies and call centers will get an additional $2 a hour.
Tim Massa, Kroger's chief people officer, said: 'Over these past few weeks, our associates from across the country have shown us the true meaning of the word hero. You have been nothing short of extraordinary.'
Amazon, Whole Foods, GE and Instacart workers have all threatened to revolt over unsafe working conditions amid the spread of coronavirus.
As millions of people stay at home in the United States and non-essential businesses are shuttered to slow the spread of the virus, grocery stores and pharmacies are staying open.
Now Kroger, which owns more than 2,700 stores, says those frontline workers will earn extra pay for their shifts between March 29 and April 18.
Kroger, which owns more than 2,700 stores, says frontline workers will earn an extra $2 per hours for their shifts between March 29 and April 18
They have already given full-time workers $300 and part-time workers $150 as part of a one off bonus to say thank you for their efforts.
Rodney McMullen, Kroger’s chairman and CEO, said: 'Our associates have displayed the true actions of a hero, working tirelessly on the front lines to ensure everyone has access to affordable, fresh food and essentials during this national emergency.
'The Hero Bonus is just one more way we continue to convey our thanks and gratitude not only to our existing associates but also to the more than 30,000 new hires who have joined in the past two weeks and those who will soon join the Kroger Family of Companies.'
Amazon worker stage walkouts in Michigan and New York
Staff at an Amazon warehouse in Michigan staged a walkout Wednesday days after their colleagues in New York also protested against coronavirus working conditions.
Workers at the plant in Romulus are said to gone on strike at midday, The Verge reports. Employee Tonya Ramsay said: 'I get we’re essential, but our lives are essential as well.'
Those working at the facility say management has been slow in telling them of the three positive cases at the site. They also say better cleaning and more space between workers is needed.
Amazon workers at Amazon's Staten Island warehouse strike in demand that the facility be shut down and cleaned after one staffer tested positive for the coronavirus on March 30
Employee Tonya Ramsay, right, holds a sign outside the Amazon DTW1 fulfillment center in Romulus, Mich., Wednesday. Employees and family members are protesting in response to what they say is the company's failure to protect the health of its employees
An Amazon spokesman told DailyMail.com: 'Of the over 4,000 employees at our Romulus, MI fulfillment center, less than 15 people, participated in today’s demonstration. Our employees are heroes fighting for their communities and helping people get critical items they need in this crisis.'
Workers from at least 19 warehouses across the US have tested positive for the novel coronavirus.
Whole Foods workers vow more strike action
Unemployment in the United States hit a record high Thurday. Ten million Americans are now jobless after a record 6.6million new claims were filed in one week - after 3.3million last week.
One in three Americans report someone living in their household has lost their job or been forced to take a pay cut.
Whole Foods workers staged a 'sickout' Tuesday. Its organizers vowed to continue strike action after staging the 'successful' nationwide protest, warning 'this is only the beginning'.
In a statement Tuesday evening they pledged: 'We will be following this sickout with further action.'
They also slammed Jeff Bezos and his corporate staff for 'dismissing our actions while working from the safety of their homes'.
Whole Foods had on Tuesday called workers who staged a 'sick out' protest at working conditions 'disappointing' while their 'heroic colleagues showed up to provide essential services' during the corona virus outbreak.
'Surely our lives are more important than dishwashers': Workers at GE appliances walk out in Kentucky
At GE appliances in Kentucky workers staged a protest over the company's handling of the coronavirus crisis.
Union President Dean Driskell said Wednesday: 'I will be exploring the possibility of taking a park wide strike vote in light of the company's unwillingness to respond to this crisis.'
'Surely our lives are more important than dishwashers', he added.
Instacart contractors have also confirmed they will strike 'until their demands are met'.
Demands include hazard pay, expanding coronavirus sick pay and changing the default tip to 10 per cent.
New deaths in the US rose by 1,047 to 5,139 by the end of Wednesday and new infections surged by 26,866 to 216,553.
The Pentagon is ordering 100,000 body bags as experts predict the coronavirus will claim the lives of more than 200,000 Americans.
The US death toll has now surpassed the number of deaths reported in China (3,309) where the outbreak first emerged back in December.
A new poll released Wednesday shows that 28 per cent of Americans have already lost wages as a result of the pandemic. A further 16 percent have been laid off or furloughed from work, the Grinnell College poll shows.
Whole Workers, an independent group say there is a lack of adequate compensation and protections from the coronavirus.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said on Tuesday he had ordered the city's human rights commissioner to investigate the dismissal of a worker at a Bezos owned Amazon.com warehouse who had participated in a walkout.
The company said Thursday it would be carrying out temperature checks and handing out face masks for those working in their warehouses and Whole Foods by next week.
Ten million Americans are now jobless amid coronavirus pandemic after record 6.6million new unemployment claims are filed in one week - after 3.3million last week
The number of Americans filing claims for unemployment benefits last week has shot to a record 6.6 million - as layoffs increased amid the coronavirus pandemic and more states enforced stay-at-home orders.
Initial claims for unemployment benefits rose to 6.65 million in the latest week from the 3.3 million the previous week, according to new figures released by the Department of Labor on Thursday.
It means that 10 million Americans have filed for unemployment in the two weeks that the coronavirus started rapidly spreading across the country.
The new figures account for claims made in the week ending March 28.
People wait in line for help with unemployment benefits at the One-Stop Career Center in Las Vegas. More than 6.6 million Americans applied for unemployment benefits last week of March 23, far exceeding a record high set just last week, a sign that layoffs are accelerating in the midst of the coronavirus
The 6.6 million figure is much higher than the previous record of 3.3 million reported for the week ending March 21.
The new figures account for the week in which states like New York shuttered non-essential businesses and enforced stay-at-home orders.
More than 80 percent of Americans are now under some form of lockdown - up from less than 50 percent just a few weeks ago.
Some of last week's jobless claims could be delayed filings from the previous week when state offices that handle unemployment benefits were overwhelmed by a surge of online and telephone claims.
There is anecdotal evidence that people who have tried to file claims online have not been able to with some forced to wait five hours to log onto the website and others calling hundreds of times just to get through.
Numerous state unemployment agencies have struggled to keep up with the flood of applications for jobless benefits.
New York's Labor Department is asking people to file on different days depending on their last names, for example: Monday is reserved for those last names that start with A through F.
The government's weekly report, the most timely data on the economy's health, offered the clearest evidence yet that the longest employment boom in US history likely ended in March.
Before the virus hit, unemployment in the US was at its lowest in 60 years and the economy was stronger than it had ever been.
The surging layoffs have led many economists to envision as many as 20 million lost jobs by the end of April.
Many employers are continuing to slash their payrolls to try to stay afloat during the pandemic because their revenue has collapsed, especially at restaurants, hotels, gyms, movie theaters and other venues that depend on face-to-face interaction.
Stay-at-home orders, imposed by most US states, have intensified pressure on businesses, most of which face rent, loans and other bills that must be paid.
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMigQFodHRwczovL3d3dy5kYWlseW1haWwuY28udWsvbmV3cy9hcnRpY2xlLTgxODA3NTMvS3JvZ2VyLWludHJvZHVjZXMtaGVyby1ib251cy1lbXBsb3llZXMtQW1hem9uLUZvb2RzLXdvcmtlcnMtdGhyZWF0ZW4tcmV2b2x0Lmh0bWzSAYUBaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZGFpbHltYWlsLmNvLnVrL25ld3MvYXJ0aWNsZS04MTgwNzUzL2FtcC9Lcm9nZXItaW50cm9kdWNlcy1oZXJvLWJvbnVzLWVtcGxveWVlcy1BbWF6b24tRm9vZHMtd29ya2Vycy10aHJlYXRlbi1yZXZvbHQuaHRtbA?oc=5
2020-04-02 19:18:04Z
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