U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet has wadded into a controversial labor dispute at Kroger and King Soopers over new policies denying paid sick leave for unvaccinated workers.
It’s a tricky situation for a Democrat who claims to be pro union and is up for reelection next year. Opposing the union’s demands puts Bennet at odds with his political party’s base.
However, supporting union’s demands to give unvaccinated workers paid emergency leave and financial support for COVID-related expenses seemingly pits him against President Biden’s vaccine mandates.
Being the wishy washy politician he is, Bennet is trying to have it both ways with this statement issued the day after Christmas when he hoped no one was paying attention.
Grocery store workers have been on the front lines during this pandemic — risking their health to serve our communities.
As negotiations continue between @UFCW_7 and @kroger, I support a fair contract that ensures a safe and healthy work environment for our essential workers. https://t.co/5a7RREttQX
— Michael Bennet (@SenatorBennet) December 26, 2021
What exactly does Bennet consider to be a safe and healthy work environment?
Is it one in which sick employees still go to work in order to pay their bills?
Kim Cordova, president of the United Food and Commercial Workers local 7 that represents the Colorado and Wyoming region, suggested as much in a letter to King Soopers earlier this month:
“Of course, I am terribly concerned that these policy changes will further contribute to a work while sick culture for King Soopers and City Market associates. If unvaccinated workers are no longer eligible for quarantine pay, there will be a strong disincentive towards these employees reporting symptoms or possible exposures to the company.”
If Bennet truly supports a fair contract that ensures a safe and healthy work environment for employees, then surely he would support the same benefits for unvaccinated workers as vaccinated workers, right?
That seems fair.
What’s unfair is to deny paid sick leave to undeniably sick employees as some sort of punishment for not adhering to Biden’s vaccine mandate.