Stop & Shop Not Enforcing Coronavirus Guidelines: Union

QUINCY, MA—A union representing 8,000 Stop & Shop employees accused the supermarket chain of failing to enforce rules requiring facemasks and social distancing in its Massachusetts stores and withholding hazard pay from hourly workers.

Fernando Lemus, president of UFCW Local 1445, said the company does not enforce one-way aisles and proper social distancing protocols in check-out lines. The supermarket chain also allows customers who refuse to wear a mask to shop in the store, even if they do not claim to have a medical condition that exempts them from the state guidelines.

In a statement, Stop & Shop said it had instituted several in-store safety protocols, including providing employees with personal protective equipment and placing signs reminding customers to social distance. Managers also offer masks to customers who enter stores without a face covering.

But the company said it does allow customers who refuse to wear a mask to finish their shopping.

"If a customer refuses to wear a face covering, or is unable to wear one due to a medical condition, they are asked by a member of management to please expedite their shopping trip, leave the store as quickly as possible, and are given a reminder that a face covering will be required on their next trip to the store," Stop & Shop said. "Store management will also urge them to use Stop & Shop Home Delivery & Pickup services instead of shopping in-store."

About 30 Massachusetts Stop & Shop employees have tested positive for COVID-19 in each of the past four weeks, the union said.

"When I got in a conversation with my manager, I said 'Why can't we ask them to leave?' and he said we would be denying them food and the company does not want to do that," a Stop & Shop employee from Strubridge, who asked that her name not be used for publication, said. "They are going to come into the store because they know they can get away with it. They will never be asked to leave, that I know for sure."

Lemus also said the company has not paid 10 percent hazard pay to hourly employees since Aug. 22. The union filed a grievance on Nov. 12 and the company issued lump sum payments for hazard pay earned between July 5 and Aug. 22. Before July 5, hazard pay had been included in paychecks.

Stop & Shop confirmed the union's hazard pay claims, but declined further comment.

"To me, it is supposed to be about the safety of their employees who are exposed on a daily basis and also the safety of the customers," said Lemus.