Employees’ Response to Foxtrot’s Re-Opening Plan

Chicago continues to be the epicenter of coronavirus cases in Illinois, with cases increasing every day, despite social distancing efforts. The city is opening soon but the risk of contracting COVID-19 remains, and a vaccine will most likely not be on the market before the end of 2020. The threat of coronavirus has not gone away, and will only grow exponentially once shelter in place orders are lifted and more of the population interacts with one another. The decision to open is one of economic pressure, not because the virus has lessened in severity.

The majority of Foxtrot workers are uninsured, which makes it harder for us to receive proper medical care if we get sick. This threatens not only the lives of employees, but any guest who enters the stores. Furthermore, as noted by Demei Campbell of Foxtrot West Loop, “it is no secret that during this pandemic, people of color have been disproportionately affected and with that knowledge we have yet to receive any indication that will ensure our contributions will not go under appreciated. What is evident is that this type of relationship with corporations and front line workers has been normalized. It is evident that things are being handled through a white privileged lens and everyone is comfortable and complacent with the way things have been going.” Re-opening is not acceptable, as it denies the reality of many of the employees on the ground at Foxtrot, risking their lives by leaving their homes to serve the community, make the business run as successfully as possible, and obtain their livelihoods.

During these trying and uncertain times, we urge Foxtrot to look after its staff and community and to treat them with dignity so we can be united. The best thing we can do right now is to look out for one another. The numbers that are reported every day aren’t statistics; they are human lives – fathers, mothers, sons, daughters. Our pride for Foxtrot has turned into helplessness and we feel forgotten by management and corporate. We have first-hand experience seeing young people’s cards declining and have had handfuls of conversations with customers who have lost their jobs. It would be devastating to see a customer or another employee contract COVID-19 knowing we could’ve done more to address this. By fulfilling the desired demands mentioned above, Foxtrot will ensure the health and well-being of its employees and customers impacted by this global crisis. As store team members, vendors, dispatchers and general managers we are exposed to unsafe conditions while everyone above a certain pay grade is protected. We, the front-line workers, will be the ones to lead the way during this public health, economic, and political crisis. Support us and acknowledge the incredible work we are doing - instead of ordering lattes from us, join us. Thank us for the work we are doing. Let us know we aren’t alone in this!

We in no way want to halt store operation or to put the community at risk of losing our service, but storewide we are prepared to engage in further actions that are protected under federal law, specifically, Section 7 of the National Labor Relations Act as well as collective action designed to safeguard our immediate health and wellbeing from imminent danger as defined by OSHA, Standard number 1977.12 (b) (2).