Trader Joe's Worker Says COVID Worry Got Him Fired From UWS Store

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY — Calls to boycott Trader Joe's are mounting after former employee Ben Bonnema claims he was fired from an Upper West Side outpost of the grocery chain for sending a letter to the company's CEO asking for better workplace protections against COVID-19.

In the letter — which went viral over the weekend on social media — Bonnema writes to CEO Dan Bane on behalf of himself and other employees at the Trader Joe's on West 93rd Street and Columbus Avenue.

His letter starts with multiple references to studies on the respiratory transmission of the coronavirus and a move last week of "more than a dozen scientists" calling on the Biden administration to set better air standards for workplaces.

Bonnema goes on to ask for multiple changes in the store to improve safety for the employees, including upgrading the store's HVAC system, a customer limit based on the level of CO2 in the store, a stricter face mask requirement, and a three-strike you're out policy for shoppers who refused to follow COVID-19 safety protocols.

"We put our lives on the line every day by showing up to work," Bonnema wrote in the letter. "Please, show up for us by adopting these policies."

The company followed up quickly with Bonnema, but not in the way he expected.

Trader Joe's fired him.

trader joe's just fired me for sending this letter to the ceo, saying i don't share the company values. i guess advocating for a safer workplace isn't a company value? pic.twitter.com/3TKi5B8HSJ
— Ben Bonnema (@BenBonnema) February 26, 2021

Trader Joe's did not immediately respond to Patch's request for comment, but did give Business Insider the following statement.

"We have never, and would never, terminate a Crew Member's employment for raising safety concerns," adding "store leadership terminated this Crew Member's employment because of the disrespect he showed toward our customers."

Calls To Boycott

"It is clear you don't understand our values," Trader Joe's wrote to Bonnema in his termination letter. "As a result, we are no longer comfortable having you work for Trader Joe's."

As a result of Bonnema sharing his letter and Trader Joe's response, calls have quickly grown to boycott the popular grocery store.

"Time to start a boycott of Trader Joe's. Disgusting way to treat their staff," one Twitter user wrote.

A different Twitter user wrote, "Trader Joe's BEST NOT punish employees for requesting better standards for maintaining a safe environment in their stores. OTHERWISE their educated health-conscious shoppers will boycott them."

I'm one of the scientists who wrote the letter calling for better protection for workers exposed to aerosol particles.

Retaliation for raising safety concerns is against the law. @OSHA_DOL should investigate & require #TraderJoes to reinstate @BenBonnema w back pay immediately https://t.co/rg7DFqPTdK
— David Michaels (@drdavidmichaels) February 27, 2021

David Michaels was nominated by President Barack Obama to lead the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and did so from 2009 to 2017.