Source: The Leader
Kroger shoppers in the area might have seen a group of protesters outside the West 43rd Street location within the last couple weeks. Another demonstration is scheduled for Saturday evening at the grocery store on 1035 N. Shepherd Dr.
Kroger employees and labor union representatives have engaged in a series of protests at Houston-area locations this month in response to the company’s May decision to remove employees’ hazard pay that had been in effect since March, when the COVID-19 pandemic reached the region. The hazard pay provided employees an extra $2 per hour.
“Hazard pay seems completely reasonable to ask for by essential workers,” said Katy Fenton, who shops at the Oak Forest Kroger at 1352 W. 43rd St. “They put their health and the health of their families on the line every day.”
Hazard pay has remained part of the compensation package at one of Kroger’s rivals, Texas-based grocer H-E-B, while becoming a contentious issue among Kroger employees. There are four Kroger locations in the area, with the other two at 239 W. 20th St. and 1440 Studemont St.
Clara Campbell, a spokesperson for Kroger’s Houston division, said in an email the company has invested more than $830 million across the company to keep its employees safe since the start of the pandemic. That includes several rounds of bonuses and premium pay, according to Campbell, along with implementing emergency paid leave in March for workers most directly affected by COVID-19.
“Our most urgent priority throughout this pandemic has been to provide a safe environment for our associates and customers while meeting our societal obligation to provide open stores, e-commerce solutions and an efficiently operating supply chain,” she said.
But a Kroger employee at a recent protest outside a Westheimer Road location said taking away hazard pay flies in the face of that philosophy. After receiving notice of the hazard pay severance in May, workers subsequently reached out to the United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 455.
The labor union represents grocery, retail and other workers in Texas and Louisiana.
“Apparently (this virus) is not going away. The employees are working hard; they’re risking their lives and their families’ lives to come in and make sure the community is getting the products that they need,” UFCW Local 455 Treasurer Shirley Rome said. “They’ve been here for the community, and we feel like the company should support them in that.”
The Kroger employee said the company is attempting to force workers over to a company-wide health plan, which Rome claims would cost more out-of-pocket annually than employees make in a year. A report from Eater Houston said Kroger also is reducing full-time positions at stores and capping vacation time for part-time employees.
