{"id":1868,"date":"2020-03-20T16:04:30","date_gmt":"2020-03-20T21:04:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ufcw663.org\/blog\/?p=1868"},"modified":"2020-03-21T16:05:09","modified_gmt":"2020-03-21T21:05:09","slug":"update-from-president-utecht","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ufcw663.org\/blog\/2020\/03\/20\/update-from-president-utecht\/","title":{"rendered":"Update from President Utecht"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

March 20, 2020
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Dear Member,
This morning, Governor Walz called me on the phone to discuss his executive order to classify grocery store workers as Tier 2 critical first responders this week. I thanked him for his leadership, and for being the calming voice and level head here for Minnesotans. I also thanked him personally for his leadership and what it means for my family. We then discussed the important work that Minnesota\u2019s food workers do. I told him our concerns about being listed as Tier 2 level first responders. Their office will be providing me with clarification about Tier 1 and Tier 2 to provide accurate information to our members and I will share it with you right away. The Governor said to me that my feedback did not fall upon deaf ears and was greatly appreciated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, Governor Walz restated his commitment to grocery store workers at his 2pm press conference.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Watch at 5:40 where Governor Walz thanks and acknowledges grocery store workers and UFCW<\/a>
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More Members Get Appreciation Pay<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Yesterday I sent you the Star Tribune story<\/a> about how our grocery store employers are stepping up and gave increases in pay to all union hourly employees by $2 an hour. Here are some additional stories from the Pioneer Press<\/a> and Kare 11<\/a> that ran our story. Last night after I sent out the daily email update, Lunds & Byerlys announced full-time employees will receive an additional $500 and part-timers will get $200 on their first check in April. That includes all current workers and those temporarily away to care for themselves or family members.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Oxendale\u2019s and Seward Community Cooperative also joined the list of grocery employers who are also giving appreciation pay to our members.
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Employers who have given the appreciation pay increase include: Miner\u2019s, Quisberg\u2019s Cub Foods, Corporate Cub Foods, Jerry\u2019s Foods, Jerry\u2019s Cub Foods, Kowalski\u2019s Markets, Lunds & Byerlys, Radermacher\u2019s Cub Foods, Linden Hills Coop, Seward Community Coop and Oxendale\u2019s.
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Ongoing Resources for Workers During COVID-19 Outbreak<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In our ongoing efforts to keep communication lines open and information available, here is a list of useful websites during these uncertain times that you and your family may find helpful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n