One Brooklyn
April 4, 2020
Brooklyn, NY – Today, Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams joined PSK Supermarkets and unions representing first responders and health care workers, including Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU), District Council 37 (DC 37), Correction Officers Benevolent Association (COBA), United Probation Officers Association (UPOA), New York State Public Employees Federation (PEF), and others to call on the City and State to identify dedicated testing locations for these workers. Borough President Adams also called for all grocery stores throughout the city to prioritize first responders, health care workers, and hospital personnel for checkout. PSK, which owns Foodtown and Pathmark supermarkets, has already instituted this policy in their 13 stores throughout New York State.
The call comes as numerous unions representing front-line workers have raised concerns about their members’ safety and well-being amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Several workers have called out sick or tested positive for the disease, highlighting the need for testing sites to ensure those serving our city during this challenging time receive the care and treatment they need. The New York City Police Department (NYPD) reported Thursday that 6,498 officers were out sick, comprising roughly 20 percent of their workforce. In addition, the Fire Department of New York (FDNY) reported Friday that 376 of its members have tested positive for COVID-19, with 17 percent of firefighters and 24 percent of emergency medical services (EMS) workers out sick. Those who are continuing to report to work not only face risks to their health, but also struggle to get basic necessities such as groceries in a timely manner after their shifts are over.
“Our first responders, health care workers, grocery store workers, and all others on the front lines are putting their health and safety at risk every day to protect New Yorkers during this unprecedented crisis while keeping our city running. They don’t have the luxury of telecommuting. It’s time we show our gratitude to these heroes in concrete ways by setting up dedicated testing facilities to help identify cases and get them the proper treatment, as well as giving them priority when they shop after punishingly long shifts. First responders should get first dibs – they deserve no less,” said Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams.
Foodtown – Pathmark also today committed to $100,000 in grocery gift cards for hospital workers and first responders to get through the checkout lines faster.
“We are extremely grateful for all the hard work of everyone on the front lines helping our communities get through these difficult times. That includes health care workers, first responders, and our amazing grocery store workers. We hope that every supermarket in New York and the entire country follows suit in helping to get our healthcare workers and first responders through the checkout lines as quickly as possible. Our company, representing our five stores in Brooklyn, will distribute $100,000 in Foodtown and Pathmark gift cards, in $25 increments, in bulk contributions to local hospitals around our stores in Brooklyn for the healthcare providers. We will begin getting these gift cards out this week,” said Noah Katz, Co-President of PSK Supermarkets.
“The health and safety of all those on the frontline in the fight against COVID-19, and the thousands of other essential workers not dealing directly with response efforts, whether they are healthcare workers, first responders or grocery store employees, must be our number one priority. The City and State must provide essential personal protective equipment to these heroes that are putting themselves in harm’s way each day to provide the services we all depend on,” said Wayne Spence, President of the New York State Public Employees Federation.
“As a labor union that represents essential workers who work in grocery stores, pharmacies, healthcare and human services, we are all too familiar with the importance they’re playing in their communities right now, but also the risks they take as they head out to work every day. We are proud to have been part of this partnership with Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams and Dan Katz of PSK Foodtown (where we represent the workers) to give back in a small way to our City’s first responders. Having one less thing to worry about, by easing shopping for their families, is a simple act of kindness for our front-line heroes,” said John R. Durso, President of Local 338 RWDSU/UFCW.
“Brooklyn Borough President Adams has championed our ongoing fight to ensure Correction Officers get tested for COVID-19. We are proud to join this expanded effort to create more testing centers throughout the city and to call on grocery stores to prioritize all first responders as they get groceries to feed their families who are struggling to get basic necessities during this unprecedented pandemic,” said Elias Husamudeen, President of COBA.
The link to the livestream of the event is available here.
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