As COVID-19 continues to spread, Local 655 is working hard to ensure that our partners have the resources and information that they need. We will continue to update this page with more information.
COVID Vaccine Information
If you are a Local 655 partner working in a grocery store, pharmacy, or food processing/handling facility, then you should be eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine before the general public. Thanks to guidelines from the CDC which have been adopted by the state of Missouri, frontline essential workers like you should have access to a vaccine.
Unfortunately, supply of the vaccine remains extremely limited. At this time, we would encourage anyone seeking a vaccine to register with their local county health department.
We have provided links to multiple county health departments in the area below. We will continue to update you as we receive more information, and you can contact your union rep with any further questions. If you do not see your county below, please visit https://covidvaccine.mo.gov/ for information.
Illinois residents: https://www.dph.illinois.gov/covid19/vaccine-distribution
Register for a vaccine:
Franklin County: Does not currently have a registration process in place
Tell Congress: Support Frontline Workers Today!
This month, Congress will vote on the last COVID relief package of the year. They need to hear what will help UFCW members who are on the frontlines of this national health crisis.
From our grocery stores and pharmacies, to meatpacking, food processing and nursing homes, our members have worked tirelessly to help feed, care for, and protect all of our families.
Experiencing economic hardship due to COVID-19? We want to help!
Fill out our Economic Hardship Form
Call your U.S. Senator and demand Hero Pay for frontline workers!
The House of Representatives has already passed a bill to provide Hero Pay to frontline workers during the COVID-19 crisis, including backpay. However, the U.S. Senate refuses to take up the measure. If you live in Missouri and want to tell your senator that you deserve Hero Pay, you can do that here:
Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley:
Click Here to Email Sen. Hawley
Or call him at (202) 224-6154
Missouri Sen. Roy Blunt:
Click Here to Email Sen. Blunt
Or call him at (202) 224-5721
Schnucks Temperature Checks
(Posted June 9, 2020)
Schnucks is no longer using an outside service to take temperatures of employees prior to their shift. Those temperatures will now be taken by UFCW Local 655 partners. However: no Local 655 partner is required to administer these checks.
Schnucks is also moving toward a new program to check temperatures after union breaks as well, in order to continue to ensure the safety of all partners.
New Telehealth Services Available!
(Posted May 1, 2020)
If you’re a Local 655 partner currently enrolled in our Health & Welfare Fund, you now have access to telehealth services via MeMD. Visit our Health & Welfare Fund website to learn more, or check out the flyer below!
Childcare Services for Essential Workers
(Posted April 24, 2020)
UFCW Local 655 has lobbied Gov. Mike Parson for weeks to clarify that grocery workers and pharmacy technicians are “essential” workers during this time. The state of Missouri is helping essential workers find childcare.
Because Gov. Parson has not clarified whether or not the heroes working in grocery stores are essential, we don’t know yet if these important childcare services will be available to hard-working families like yours. Please let us know if you are approved or not for this important benefit. Neither Parson nor the state of Missouri has clarified if grocery workers are eligible, and we need to hear from our partners as to whether or not they are being accepted so we can determine what actions we need to take on your behalf.
If you want to find out if you and your family qualify for this benefit, follow the instructions below:
Parents can email referralcenter@mo.childcareaware.org or call 866-892-3228 to see if they are eligible for chilcare assistance from the state. They can also learn more online: (https://dss.mo.gov/fsd/child-care.htm)
How much does this cost for a parent or guardian?
Cost varies based on household size and income level. The Missouri State Child Care Assistance Program helps eligible parents or guardians pay for child care: (https://dss.mo.gov/cd/child-care/)
Schnucks rolling out new screening process for employees, vendors
(Posted April 15, 2020)
In our continuing efforts and working with our employers to keep workplaces safe, Schnucks will be conducting temperature checks on all employees and vendors effective no later than April 15.
Schnucks has hired an outside company to conduct the temperature checks and a brief screening prior to workers clocking in. A brief series of questions and a temperature check will be mandatory for all workers. The questions will focus on the employee’s current health, whether they are experiencing any symptoms, etc.
Outside vendors are subject to this new screening as well.
We have endorsed this program because we believe it represents another step toward protecting our partners from exposure.
If there are any concerns, please call your union representative.
LIVE Virtual Town Hall for Missouri Grocery Workers!
(Posted, April 14 2020)
State Auditor and candidate for Missouri Governor – Nicole Galloway — wants to hear from grocery workers across the state! Join her next week at one of her two LIVE Virtual Town Hall Meetings. You can dial in on your phone, or use your smartphone, tablet, or computer to join via video. Click here to RSVP now and have your voice heard!
Gov. Mike Parson REFUSES to protect grocery workers. Tell him he must act!
(Posted April 13, 2020)
In the past few weeks, we’ve asked for Missouri Gov. Mike Parson to take action to help us protect ALL grocery workers and pharmacy technicians in the state.
We’ve asked for Gov. Mike Parson to designate grocery workers and pharmacy technicians as “temporary first responders” so they can access certain benefits like state-provided PPE, priority access to testing, and expanded worker’s compensation benefits for those that become sick. He said no.
We’ve asked for Gov. Mike Parson to deem our workers as “essential” workers. This designation would give them access to federal COVID-19 relief funds to help pay for childcare. He’s ignored this request.
We’ve asked Gov. Mike Parson to mandate that all shoppers in Missouri cover their nose and mouth while in grocery stores and pharmacies. He said no.
We’ve asked him to urge Missourians to cover their nose and mouth when they shop in grocery stores and pharmacies. He’s ignored the request.
Read our requests to Gov. Mike Parson and what they mean below:
Benefits of First Responder Status for Food Workers
Read our letter to Gov. Parson about masks here
Updated Mask Policy
(Updated April 13, 2020)
Our two largest employers, Schnucks and Dierbergs, are handing out masks to all partners. Wearing a mask will be mandatory for partners going forward unless you have a medical exemption. If you would like to wear a mask other than the one you are provided please contact your manager and your union rep about whether or not your mask meets company requirements.
We have also asked Gov. Mike Parson to mandate mask usage in all grocery stores in the state. Read our letter to Gov. Parson about masks here
(Posted April 8, 2020)
WATCH: A COVID-19 video update from President David Cook.
(Posted April 5, 2020)
Some Local 655 partners are testing positive for COVID-19. Read a message from President David Cook on our ongoing work to keep you safe on the job.
(Posted on March 26, 2020)
LISTEN BELOW: On March 22 we held a LIVE telephone town hall conference call with all our partners currently working in grocery stores. You can listen to the full audio of that call below:
As COVID-19 continues to spread, Local 655 is working hard to ensure that our partners have the resources and information that they need. We will continue to update this page with more information.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
(Updated June 9, 2020)
I am in the “high risk” age group, am I required to work?
No. While we recommend that you ask your doctor for a note indicating that your age puts you at risk and you should be allowed off, we are working directly with your company to allow anyone who might be unsafe to minimize the danger at work. If your age puts you at greater risk, please contact your union rep and your store manager about making special accommodations.
Why isn’t my employer providing me with masks or gloves?
All of our major employers are now supplying masks to our partners. If you or a coworker is not supplied with a mask by your employer, please contact us immediately.
I have symptoms of COVID-19, what do I do?
Immediately contact your doctor and ask where you can receive screening and/or testing. Contact your employer as well and inform them so that they may take the necessary steps to quarantine or otherwise protect anyone you may have come in contact with.
What happens if I get sick?
Your UFCW Local 655 Health & Welfare Fund has made some changes in order to expand our benefits in the wake of this outbreak. You can read about those benefits below. If you have any questions about your healthcare benefits, please contact the Health & Welfare office at (314) 835-2700. We are continuing to monitor the situation and adjust benefits accordingly, and we are currently engaged in an effort to secure state-level protections for all grocery workers impacted by COVID-19. We will continue to update you as the situation evolves.
Some customers aren’t practicing social distancing and it’s making me uncomfortable at work, what do I do?
If you feel uncomfortable with a customer who may not be practicing good social distancing, please immediately inform your manager. Your employers are distributing signs to ask customers to respect social distancing, and they are currently beginning to install plexiglass barriers at cashiers and customer-service counters to help provide additional protections to you.
I work in a grocery store, and the customers are not always practicing social distancing. What can I do?
Most of our employers are working on putting signage in the store to urge customers to distance themselves from each other and from you. Some of those employers are making regular announcements in the PA system at their stores to offer reminders to customers to distance. Schnucks and Dierbergs have begun installing plexiglass barriers to provide some additional protection to some of our partners. If you feel uncomfortable with a customer’s behavior at work, please let your store manager know and contact your union rep.
Can we close every other checking station to add more distance?
Some locations have taken this step, but less check lanes open can cause a customer to be in your store longer, which is also not ideal. We’re working with our employers to make those accommodations when possible.
Why aren’t we limiting the number of customers in the stores?
We’ve been in discussions with our major employers about potentially limiting the number of customers in stores. Unfortunately, there are some significant challenges to enforcing customer-limit rules, such as enforcement, and keeping company policies in line with state and local laws. We’ve been working with our International Union to find a workable model for customer limits around the country, and thus far no company has successfully executed the policy at a large scale. We will continue to work on this problem and search for a solution.
Have a question not covered here?
Unsure about what is going on? Please CONTACT US. You may reach out directly to your union representative or contact us during our regular business hours at 636-394-6500.
We are also posting regular updates on social media. Follow us…
…on Facebook.com/UFCW655
…on Twitter and Instagram @UFCW655
LISTEN:
(Posted March 20, 2020)
President David Cook demands that Missouri Gov. Mike Parson step up and protect vital grocery store workers and pharmacy technicians during this crisis
Health & Welfare Changes
For more information about Health & Welfare benefits, please contact the Health & Welfare Fund at (314) 835-2700, or visit their website HERE
For more information about Health & Welfare benefits, please
COVID-Related Leaves of Absence
(Updated March 27, 2020)
We will update this section as we work with our employers to develop these policies. If you work for an employer listed below and you want to know what happens if you cannot work due to COVID-19, please click the links!
#Essential4Kids
(Posted April 9, 2020)
Missouri KidsFirst has an important request of all essential workers right now. Child abuse is on the rise during these times, but reporting is down. Click the graphic below to learn how grocery workers can keep an eye out for signs of abuse, and how they can report the abuse to the proper authorities.
