In
early April, 2020, Albertsons Companies, which at the time owned Safeway, ACME
Markets, Jewel-Osco, Vons, Pavilions and Albertsons grocery stores, joined with
United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) to get American
governments to designate the workers as first responders. The joint statement
reads in part, “The temporary designation of first responder or emergency
personnel status would help ensure these incredible grocery workers access to
priority testing, have access to personal protection equipment, like masks and
gloves, as well as other workplace protections necessary to keep themselves and
the customers they serve safe and healthy.”[1] Although keeping grocery workers healthy was
important, the focus on testing and equipment can be viewed as problematic in
that the company’s management was falling short on more crucial safety
measures to protect the employees (and customers) from becoming infected.
1. Aine Cain and Hayley Peterson, “A
Major Grocer Is Pushing to Classify Its Employees as First Responders, Giving
Them Priority for Testing and Protective Gear,” Business Insider, April 7,
2020 (accessed April 8, 2020).