Last week, UFCW 1518 sent a letter to Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix asking for a mandatory mask order for anyone entering a grocery or retail store in British Columbia.

On Friday, UFCW 1518 sent letters to health care employers across the province asking for anyone coming into contact with in-home care workers to be required to wear a mask if they are medically able to do so. Dr. Henry and Minister Dix were copied on these letters as well.

UFCW 1518 has yet to receive a response from the health authority or from the government to either of these letters.

With cases of COVID-19 rising at alarming rates and with new restrictions in place around gathering, grocery and retail workers deserve certainty about their safety while they do their jobs.

UFCW 1518 is asking for a reply from Dr. Henry and Minister Dix in a letter sent today. The letter requests a response and clarity on whether grocery and retail workers can expect additional safety measures to be put in place to protect them from COVID-19 transmission.

Union members and members of the public can still add their support to UFCW 1518’s call for a mandatory mask order for grocery and retail stores.