Coronavirus: Grocery store employees want to be designated first responders

MIAMI VALLEY — United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW) wants its members to be designated as “first responders.”

News Center 7′s Mike Campbell spoke with UFCW leaders about their fight to protect store clerks and food processing workers.

The union has about 30,000 store workers in our area and are working to keep them safe each day.

UFCW has provided their members hand sanitizing spray bottles to keep them safe, and are preparing to send 500 gallons of refills to Dayton-area workers.

“People have stepped up, our union members have stepped up and really done a good job," said Bryon O’Neal, UFCW Local 75 Secretary-Treasurer.

O’Neal emphasized that food supply workers have been on the front lines since the beginning of the pandemic, long before masks or gloves were in place to protect them.

Union president Kevin Garvey says Governor DeWine labeled grocery story employees as essential workers right away, but Garvey wants them labeled as first responders. This would allow them to receive benefits like free COVID-19 testing, greater access to PPE, and even paid time off if they or a family member contracts the virus.

Grocery store workers could get the designation through either a bill currently at the statehouse or an executive order from the governor.

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