Members on the front lines of COVID-19 speak out

Vaughan, Ont. – April 22, 2020 – As a cashier at No Frills, UFCW 1006A member Natasha Grey is now working on the front lines of the battle against COVID-19, helping to put food on the tables of Canadians and their families.

“I never thought in a million years that we would be playing such a vital role in these difficult times,” says Grey. “It has been hectic, frustrating, and difficult. Just as the customers are worried, so are we, but we are out there providing and supporting our communities.”

Grey is among the thousands of UFCW members across Canada who are working throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, whether they work in the food retail or processing, health care, beverage, or security industries, or other sectors of the economy.

Together, these workers are the unseen and often underappreciated backbone of Canada’s economy. And while COVID-19 has made it clear that their work is critical, being declared “essential workers” during the pandemic comes with its own challenges. 

UFCW Local 1006A recently spoke to four grocery workers and stewards who provided insights and advice about life on the front lines throughout the COVID-19 crisis. To read the full interviews with members Gord Knowles, Josie Barberi, Valrie Francis, and Natasha Grey, click here. 

UFCW 1006A represents 36,000 members in a wide range of sectors across Ontario, including the grocery retail, food processing, hospitality, laundry, warehousing, transportation, and eye care industries. To learn more about UFCW 1006A and its outstanding work, visit the Local Union’s website.