PCC Community Markets Paying All Puget Sound Hourly Store Staff Additional $4 Per Hour Hazard Pay

PCC Community Markets (PCC), one of Seattle’s original grocers and the largest community-owned food market in the U.S., today announced all hourly store staff will receive a temporary $4 per hour wage increase in hazard pay. The co-op is providing this additional pay to all of its nearly 1,500 union represented staff members at the co-op’s 15 locations. Hazard pay will be paid retroactively from Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2021.

PCC is taking an equitable approach to hazard pay for all hourly store staff across the co-op and not just paying at its eight Seattle locations where it’s mandated by municipal ordinance. For those staff members outside the City of Seattle — approximately 700 staff — the increase will run until the lifting of the state emergency order or June 5, 2021, whichever happens first.

In addition to the payment of hazard pay, PCC has reached an understanding with UFCW Local 21 on the future implementation of curbside pickup, a service members and shoppers have asked for throughout the pandemic. The co-op believes that the addition of this contact-free service will further enhance safety for shoppers and staff while creating added job opportunities within the co-op.

“We prioritize our staff, and this week was no exception. We appreciate the UFCW Local 21’s partnership and are pleased we could come to terms on our offer to provide hazard pay across the co-op,” said PCC CEO and President, Suzy Monford. “The addition of curbside will help the co-op grow and sustain jobs, while also providing a safe, contact-less, modernized option for members and shoppers.”

PCC has also worked to coalesce local and national support to expand access to vaccines. Through collaboration with trade associations and with other grocers, the co-op was able to offer priority vaccination appointments starting next week for co-op store staff who meet the state’s current vaccination criteria. The co-op will continue to work with retail partners and government agencies for the prioritization of available vaccines for all grocery workers. For example, the co-op just signed on to a letter to Washington’s Governor, Jay Inslee, in support of prioritization of access to vaccinations in Phase 1b for all food and agricultural essential workers, regardless of their age. To incentivize staff, those who get vaccinated will receive a $25 PCC gift card.

PCC spent more than $4 million on Covid-related employee and operating costs in 2020. This included staff member appreciation pay, bonuses to all staff in appreciation of their tireless efforts, and in-store safety protocols from installation of plexiglass barriers at check stands to the upgrading of store HVAC systems. PCC is also providing KN95 masks to all staff and the co-op’s “no mask, no entry” policy remains in place to provide a safe environment for staff and the larger PCC community of members and shoppers.

In support of the well-being of staff, PCC offers a generous medical, dental and mental health benefits that include:

• Low monthly premiums, low annual deductibles, disability and life insurance;
• 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.

PCC operates 15 stores in the Puget Sound area, including the cities of Bellevue, Bothell, Burien, Edmonds, Issaquah, Kirkland, Redmond and Seattle. Seattle stores are in the Ballard, Central District, Columbia City, Fremont, Green Lake, View Ridge and West Seattle neighborhoods.