The Kroger Company has joined with the two unions representing the majority of its workers to request the Federal Government to assign first responder status to grocery workers.  This is based on the incidence rate of COVID-19 among this sector of the economy. The United Food and Commercial Workers Union reported 200 cases among 20,000 workers in California.  Both the United Food and Commercial Workers Union and the Teamsters Union have appealed to Kroger to continue the $2 per hour bonus that was scheduled to end on May 17th.  The two unions represent 55,000 workers at Kroger stores under a variety of banners.  Kroger noted that with special bonuses, their average hourly rate has attained $20, including health care benefits.

Kroger has applied suggested preventive measures including limiting the number of customers per store, maintaining social distancing, installing plexiglass shields for checkout workers, expanding home delivery and click-and-collect services.  Workers are provided with face masks and are encouraged to stay at home with sick-pay if they believe they are infected with COVID-19.