PCC COMMUNITY MARKETS SUPPORTS WORKERS ON THE FRONTLINES: PROVIDES TEMPORARY WAGE INCREASE TO STORE TEAM AMID COVID-19 PANDEMIC
2020 News
SEATTLE, March 22, 2020
As the first region in the nation impacted by novel coronavirus (COVID-19), Seattle saw its grocery store employees immediately thrust onto the frontlines in support of their communities. Recognizing this, and in acknowledgement of the tireless work accomplished by its staff, PCC Community Markets (PCC), the nation’s largest community-owned food market, today announced that all hourly store staff will receive a temporary pay increase of $2.00 per hour.
The increase is for all hours worked between March 15, 2020 and April 11, 2020 and will be used for all wage-related purposes, including overtime and pension. This decision is independent of the co-op’s current contract with UFCW Local 21 and was not made in consultation with union representatives, who the co-op is currently in negotiations with for its 2020-2022 contract.
“As we are all adjusting to a new reality, it’s critical that PCC continues to be a trusted partner in our community, whether for our members and shoppers feeding their families or our staff seeking to support theirs,” said Cate Hardy, PCC Community Markets CEO. “We will continue to find the right balance to ensure we make the best decisions to support our staff and our community today, tomorrow and for years to come.”
Additionally, for any staff member who tests positive for COVID-19 or who must self-quarantine due to CDC-defined “close contact” exposure at work, PCC is following the guidelines of the CDC and federal and local governments to protect them and to ensure employees do not lose wages.
While compensation is important, so too is having access to medical care. PCC has always provided its 1,500 staff members with generous medical, dental and mental health benefits that include:
- Low monthly premiums, low annual deductibles, disability and life insurances;
- Alternative health coverage, including naturopathic physician coverage, acupuncture, chiropractic and massage;
- A free employee assistance program to help with a range of challenges from emotional well-being to legal and financial issues.
Get more information about employment at PCC and learn what the co-op is doing in response to COVID-19.
About PCC Community Markets
Founded in Seattle in 1953, PCC Community Markets (PCC) is the nation’s largest community-owned food market with an unmatched enthusiasm for making food from scratch. PCC is a haven for those who share a dedication to fresh, organic, seasonal food that is sustainably sourced from local producers, farmers, ranchers and fishers. With an active membership of nearly 75,000 households, PCC operates 13 stores in the Puget Sound area, including the cities of Bothell, Burien, Edmonds, Issaquah, Kirkland, Redmond and Seattle. Seattle stores are in the neighborhoods of Ballard, Columbia City, Fremont, Green Lake, View Ridge and West Seattle. The co-op also plans to open new stores in Bellevue, Madison Valley, Seattle’s Central District and Downtown Seattle.
In 2018, PCC gave nearly 50 percent of after-tax earnings to members and the communities it serves, including schools and nonprofits around the Puget Sound area such as PCC Farmland Trust, FareStart and Ventures.