The Fred Meyer Distribution Center in Puyallup is seen here May 8, 2020. The center has seen a second outbreak of COVID-19 among workers.
A Puyallup grocery distribution center is once again facing a COVID-19 outbreak.
On Wednesday, a representative for Fred Meyer told The News Tribune that 20 workers at the Fred Meyer Distribution Center, 349 Valley Ave. NW, had tested positive.
“20 associates out of the distribution center’s total 700 associates recently tested positive for COVID-19, all who have been self-quarantining in alignment with the company’s Emergency Leave Guidelines,” company spokeswoman Tiffany Sanders said in a statement. “We completed a professional third-party sanitation deep cleaning on Sept. 20.
“We are in communication with our associates that have tested positive to assist in their needs.”
The news follows an earlier outbreak at the same site earlier this year.
A representative with Teamsters Local 117 told The News Tribune via email Tuesday evening in response to questions that nine of its workers were among those who tested positive.
John Scearcy, Teamsters 117 secretary-treasurer, said working conditions have changed at the site from offering an initial screening process for workers to using a thermal camera to detect workers with fevers.
Additionally, enforcement of work production goals, at one time scaled down to deal with COVID-19 safety concerns of working in close confines, were re-instituted before the current outbreak, Scearcy said in an emailed response to The News Tribune.
“During the outbreak in April, we met with the company and persuaded them to suspend enforcement of the production standard,” he said. “This helped reduce overcrowding in the warehouse aisles and allowed our members to focus on safety and maintaining social distancing guidelines.
“In July, Fred Meyer unilaterally reversed its decision to suspend the production standard and began issuing discipline to our members for production. Our members protested this change.”
He said workers delivered a petition with 339 signatures to management “stating that the threat of discipline for production jeopardizes their health and safety and makes it more difficult for them to comply with CDC guidelines.”
Scearcy added the union has sought action “through our contract’s grievance and arbitration process.”
While Sanders did not address the union’s statements, she listed general safety practices at Fred Meyer sites, including face masks provided and required for every worker; protocols for social distancing; frequent cleaning of high-touch areas; and mandatory temperature and symptom checks for associates before shifts.
No more details were made available by the company.
This the second union battle made public against the grocery chain this week. On Tuesday, UFCW 21 said it had pursued grievances and filed charges with the National Labor Relations Board over both Fred Meyer and QFC not allowing workers to wear Black Lives Matter pins, which had been distributed by the union.
Kroger is the parent company of both Fred Meyer and QFC.
On Tuesday, in response to questions regarding the Black Lives Matter button dispute, Sanders made note of the retailers’ extensive measures taken in the coronavirus pandemic.
“Since March, we have invested more than $1 billion to both reward our associates and to safeguard them and our customers through the implementation of dozens of safety measures,” said Sanders in an emailed response.
“The company’s total COVID-19 incident rate continues to track meaningfully below the rate in the surrounding communities where we operate. We have learned and continue to learn while keeping our stores and supply chain open and serving Washington during the pandemic.”
Workers at both the distribution center and at some stores in the area have disputed Fred Meyer’s commitment to COVID-19 safety measures and have complained about a lack of communication with workers when cases are discovered.
At least two distribution facility workers have told The News Tribune of instances of lax mask enforcement among their co-workers but also contend that wearing masks can be difficult given the type of laborious warehouse work involved.
A store employee shared an internal document that discouraged confrontations with those refusing to wear masks at the stores, prioritizing worker safety.
The Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department keeps a running tally of outbreaks by business type. It has shown that retail/grocery and transportation/shipping/delivery have experienced the largest number of outbreaks in the county since June.
Retail/grocery has seen 19 outbreaks and has been tied to a total of 67 cases and 21 percent of all outbreak-related cases from each business setting; while transportation/shipping/deliver has seen 16 outbreaks, accounting for 83 cases and 26 percent of all outbreak-related cases from the various settings.
Grocery workers have sought reinstating an additional $2 an hour “hazard pay,” distributed in the early days of the pandemic to workers. It was replaced by a one-time bonus payment mid-year.
Scearcy, in his emailed statement, said: “Our members at Fred Meyer are essential workers who are keeping grocery shelves stocked at a time of crisis. … It is incumbent on their employer to do everything in their power to ensure the health and safety of their workforce.
“These outbreaks provide strong evidence that Fred Meyer needs to do more to keep its vital workers healthy and safe.”
Debbie Cockrell has been with The News Tribune since 2009. She reports on business and development, local and regional issues.
