Union for Colorado Grocery Workers on Shift During Shooting Condemns the Senseless Violence, Calls for Investigation and Action to Prevent Future Tragedies Endangering Essential Workers Already on Frontlines of COVID
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW), which represents 1.3 million frontline workers in food and retail – including the 32 King Soopers grocery workers who work at the Boulder store where the shooting took place, condemned the senseless violence. UFCW represents over 22,000 Colorado workers statewide and is calling on state and federal leaders for a full investigation and action to prevent future tragedies that could endanger essential workers already facing COVID risks.
UFCW International President Marc Perrone released the following statement:
“As the union for the brave Colorado grocery workers caught in the crossfire of this tragic shooting, UFCW is heartbroken and our prayers are with our members, their families, and the loved ones of all the victims. We are deeply thankful to the grocery workers, customers, and first responders whose courageous actions helped to prevent even more lives from being lost.
“Every day of this pandemic, grocery workers have been bravely putting their health at risk on the frontlines of COVID-19 to keep our families fed. This shooting is a tragic reminder that the pandemic is not the only threat our communities face.
“Protecting essential workers and the families they serve must be the first priority of corporate and elected leaders. UFCW is calling for an immediate investigation into this shooting, urging Governor Polis and Colorado leaders to work with law enforcement at the federal, state, and local level to determine how this happened. The victims and their families deserve answers and need to know that our leaders are doing all they can to prevent future tragedies like this from endangering even more of our country’s brave essential workers.”
BACKGROUND:
UFCW has been a leading national voice for essential food workers and recently highlighted the dangerous vaccine delays in more than 30 states where grocery, meatpacking and food processing workers still do not have access.
UFCW represents over 22,000 Colorado workers and has confirmed at least 1,060 Colorado frontline food worker infections from COVID-19 during the pandemic, with at least four Colorado worker deaths from the virus, among the union’s members.
NEW COVID NUMBERS: UFCW numbers confirmed today that nationwide there have already been at least 420 frontline worker deaths and at least 82,800 frontline workers infected or exposed. In this group of workers impacted, UFCW reports:
- 155 grocery worker deaths and at least 34,700 grocery workers infected or exposed
- 132 meatpacking worker deaths and 22,000 meatpacking workers infected or exposed
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UFCW is the largest private sector union in the United States, representing 1.3 million professionals and their families in healthcare, grocery stores, meatpacking, food processing, retail shops and other industries. Our members serve our communities in all 50 states, Canada and Puerto Rico. Learn more about the UFCW at ufcw.org.