ShopRite, union reach deal

Workers will get $1 per hour extra in hazard pay from July-Aug.

The union representing about 13,000 ShopRite employees in Connecticut has reached an agreement with the company to provide retroactive hazard pay for some of the hours the grocery stores’ workers were on the job during the COVID-19 pandemic this summer.

The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union announced the deal late Wednesday. The agreement with ShopRite also covers more than 74,000 workers in New York and more than 52,000 in New Jersey.

The retroactive premium pay will be provided to each employee in the form of lump-sum payments equal to

$1 per hour for all hours worked between July 26 and Aug. 22.

ShopRite also has agreed to meet with UFCW officials to discuss additional hazard pay in certain cases.

UFCW International President Marc Perrone said the agreement is a continuation of hazard pay that ShopRite paid union members at the start of the pandemic in March.

“When that pay raise expired, these courageous Northeast grocery workers came together again to reach a new agreement with ShopRite on hazard pay as this crisis continues,” Perrone said. “UFCW grocery workers are sending a clear message to supermarket chains across the country that this pandemic is far from over, and every CEO must do the right thing by providing the hazard pay that these brave workers have earned and deserve as

the threat from COVID-19 continues.”

UFCW officials said at least 109 grocery workers

have died since the pandemic began and more than 48,000 supermarket employees have been infected with or exposed to the virus during that same period.

Shirley Carey, who has worked at the Milford ShopRite for the past 7 years, said the timing of the agreement benefits workers at the supermarket chain.

“Hazard pay will not only help us cover our holiday expenses, but they go a long way towards helping us feel valued for the service we provide,” the 59-year-old Carey said.

ShopRite officials were not immediately available for comment Friday regarding the deal.

Arnold Gold / Hearst Connecticut Media file People line up outside of the new ShopRite in Milford for the opening of the store in 2016.

Hearst Connecticut Media file photo A scene from ShopRite in Stamford on April 21.