Employers ending employee pandemic premiums: Union believes premiums should be permanent

Employers ending employee pandemic premiums: Union believes premiums should be permanent

Your Union is extremely disappointed that employers are discontinuing employee premiums that began at the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“These decisions by employers are disheartening,” said UFCW Local 175 President Shawn Haggerty. “The concept of the premium was to recognize the efforts of the workers while dealing with the threat presented by COVID-19. The pandemic didn’t just magically disappear: workers still face that threat every day. And, in many cases, the nature of their jobs has changed, too.”

Locals 175 & 633 have launched a campaign calling on all employers to make pandemic pay increases permanent. While Ontario has begun a gradual re-opening of the economy, COVID-19 and the risk of contracting it continues to be a factor for working people and the public.

The campaign can be found at ufcw175.com/thenewnormal.

“This pandemic has illuminated the vital role so many of our Members serve in our economy that had often been overlooked by their employers,” said President Haggerty. “The Union believes that those efforts deserve recognition: all workers should be treated fairly and appropriately. We will continue to have discussions with all employers to keep our Members properly compensated and safe in the workplace, and to ensure they receive the recognition they deserve for the important work they do.”

Members should contact their Union Reps with any questions regarding their particular workplace.

UFCW Locals 175 & 633 represent over 70,000 workers in all workplace sectors including workers in Retail Grocery, Industrial Food, Health Care, Manufacturing, Pharmacy, Hospitality, and more.

Catch up on all Union News here. You can also find us on social media! Check out our Facebook & Instagram pages and our Tweets.

Plus, join our email list to receive monthly updates from your Union, notices of contests, and more.