{"id":1877,"date":"2020-03-23T07:35:06","date_gmt":"2020-03-23T12:35:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ufcw663.org\/blog\/?p=1877"},"modified":"2020-03-24T09:51:30","modified_gmt":"2020-03-24T14:51:30","slug":"daily-update-from-pres-utecht","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ufcw663.org\/blog\/2020\/03\/23\/daily-update-from-pres-utecht\/","title":{"rendered":"Daily Update from President Utecht"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

March 23, 2020<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dear Member,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today I sent a letter to all of our union retail grocery employers strongly encouraging them to allow all of our union members to have the option to wear protective gloves during your shift at work if you so choose. Here is the content of the letter I sent:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dear Grocery Retail Employer:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you know, grocery store workers are critical first responders. Our members are on the frontlines helping customers in our communities every day in retail grocery stores throughout the state. Every one of our union members deserves every possible protection and benefit that critical first responders have available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the grocery industry, our cashiers do not have the luxury of social distancing with customers. In fact, they are engaged in hand to hand combat with this invisible virus that we are fighting to stop. Cashiers have to interact with customers at the point of sale and come into contact with products and currency from customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m writing to strongly encourage you to allow all of our union members who are your employees to have the option to wear protective gloves during their shift at work if they so choose. This would give union members another option in addition to following CDC guidelines to do their best to avoid contamination of COVID-19.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have questions or would like to discuss, please contact me directly. Thank you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sincerely,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Matt<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ancillary Benefits Expanded for Members in Part-Time Positions<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

On Saturday, I announced in the daily update that the Health & Welfare Board of Trustees approved an expanded Ancillary Benefit Package for members in part-time positions to include Doctor on Demand<\/a>, which is video\/virtual doctor health visits, to the Board of Trustees. This afternoon we sent a text out to all eligible union members to urge them to take advantage of this benefit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your employer will offer a renewed open enrollment period for those current members who are already employed, as well as the regular open enrollment period for new hires. Check www.663benefits.com<\/a> for information as it is updated by Wilson-McShane, our Health & Welfare Administrator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The current Ancillary Benefits Package includes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n