Delegation steps in for Walmart workers
Nearly 100 employees test positive for coronavirus
The Massachusetts congressional delegation is urging Walmart to protect workers after nearly 100 Walmart employees in the Bay State recently tested positive for the coronavirus.
“We are writing to express serious concern about your company’s failure to keep Walmart employees in Massachusetts safe amidst the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic,” the 11 members of the delegation said in a letter to Walmart CEO Doug McMillon.
More than 80 employees at a Worcester Walmart have tested positive for the coronavirus along with at least 11 employees at a Quincy Walmart. At least two Walmart employees in Massachusetts have died from COVID-19.
“We are seeking information about how you are addressing the safety and protection of workers in Walmart stores in Massachusetts, and what changes you are implementing to ensure there are no additional outbreaks in stores across the Commonwealth,” they wrote.
The clusters at the Massachusetts Walmart locations happened in the wake of multiple worker-reported safety concerns at Walmart stores, the delegation wrote.
According to a complaint to OSHA, Walmart workers have shared that Walmart is not regularly informing employees when a co-worker is diagnosed; not closing stores for cleaning and disinfecting after COVID-19 diagnoses and exposures; not enforcing social distancing in stores that can have up to 900 customers at a time; and not providing sufficient paid sick leave.
A Walmart spokesman said the company is working with local health officials and is “taking aggressive steps to help ensure the safety of our associates and customers.”
“We are following the evolving guidance of public health experts and we have quickly taken steps aimed at keeping our customers and associates safe, including mandatory facial coverings and making masks and gloves available to all associates, limiting the hours and number of customers in our stores and clubs, deep cleaning facilities, taking temperature checks and health screenings of associates, installing plexiglass guards and implementing social distancing measures in all of our facilities,” the spokesman said in a statement.
In response to the OSHA complaint, the spokesman said, “While we are not going to comment on the specifics of the complaint, the controls and practices we have in place are consistent with CDC and OSHA COVID-19 preparedness guidance.”