Mars Warehouse Workers In Joliet, Illinois Delivery COVID Safety Demands To Management
Press Release FOR: Wednesday, July 16th, 2020
PRESS CONTACTS: Roberto Clack, Warehouse Workers for Justice 312.450.1972, roberto@warehouseworker.org
July 16, 2020 — Joliet, IL — Yesterday, the Mars Workers for Justice committee went public by delivering a petition signed by over 100 workers to the candy giant and its 3rd Party Logistics companies, XPO and DHL Logistics, demanding hazard & quarantine pay as well as greater safety measures for the duration of the COVID-19 crisis. Workers at the Elwood warehouse have been reporting ongoing positive cases since at least March and continuing on through the present day. Workers are also saying that they are being put into quarantine by the warehouse as a precaution without receiving pay.
“The Mars family is one of the richest in the world and the workers at one of their most important distribution centers in the country deserve to work in safe conditions with hazard and quarantine pay during the COVID-19 crisis” said Sandy Moreno, Lead Organizer of the Warehouse Workers for Justice.
Along with demands for hazard pay, workers are also demanding that the management there work with the committee in addressing safety and other concerns. “If they care about us, listen to our demands,” said Mars worker Ryan Johnson, “We have to listen to you, this is what we are doing (the petition).”
Located inside Centerpoint, North America’s largest inland port, the 1.4 million square feet warehouse was welcomed by city officials and given a five year 50% tax abatement when it first opened in 2015. While the massive distribution center moves product for the candy giant, it is not owned by the company, but instead run by two 3rd Party Logistics companies, DHL and XPO Logistics, along with at least four staffing agencies operating in the warehouse, which are notorious for poor labor standards.
WHO: Warehouse Workers for Justice and the Mars Workers for Justice
WHAT: Mars Workers for Justice delivers safety and Hazard Pay petition to warehouse
Facebook Live Recording of Action Here
Worker leaders are available during different parts of the day, contact Roberto to set up a time for an interview.
Below are the demands sent to management from the workers:
We call on Mars to do the right thing:
- Temporarily close and disinfect the warehouse, while providing pandemic pay.
- Paid sick leave: if we have to quarantine, we should continue to receive full pay for as long as we have to stay at home.
- Hazard pay: Essential workers deserve hazard pay for the increased health risks we take every day.
- Personal protective equipment (PPE): Masks, gloves, and hand sanitizer are baseline requirements for a safe and healthy workplace.
- Eliminate the point system during this crisis.
- Meet and discuss with us other steps that can be taken to ensure our safety.
Based in Joliet Illinois, Warehouse Workers for Justice is a worker center fighting for stable, living-wage jobs in warehouses and distribution centers. We educate workers about labor rights, teach folks how to enforce their rights, organize in the workplace and community and fight for public and private policies that promote full-time work at decent wages in the warehouse industry.
