Protect Yourself and Your Coworkers in Dangerous Weather: Use Your Union Rights
As dangerous winter weather conditions sweep across the United States, you might be wondering whether or not you still have to show up for work. Know and enforce your rights to protect your health and safety.
Some parts of the United States are left covered in snow and ice after a record-breaking snowstorm on January 25, 2026.
Kroger’s letter for workers to drive during Level 3 snow emergencies, putting their lives at risk.
Kroger has put out a shameful letter pushing its 460,000 essential workers across the country to continue to report to work, no matter the conditions. The letter is designed for workers to give to law enforcement when driving in a Level 3 snow emergency to get to work.
A Level 3 snow emergency, which has been called in many parts of the Midwest and Northeast, are conditions in which “No one should be driving during these conditions unless it is absolutely necessary to travel or a personal emergency exists. All employees should contact their employer to see whether they should report to work. Those traveling on the roads may subject themselves to arrest.”
Kroger’s letter recognizes the work of grocery workers as “critical infrastructure, the continued operation of which is vital for security, national economic security, national public health, and safety.”
Big grocers like Kroger call their workers “essential” when it suits them and their profits. But when it comes time to pay and treat their workers fairly, the bosses dismiss their workers as cost items.
However, union members absolutely have rights to refuse to work under dangerous conditions. Know them and use them. Here’s how:
Check your union contract. Every union contract is different, but many contracts may have clauses on safety protections. That might be protections from working in unsafe conditions, or the right to a Health & Safety Committee that can bring forward safety issues to management. If you have a Health & Safety Committee, consult with the committee at your store to make a plan to protect workers. If you don’t have a Safety Committee, now’s a great time to start one.
Know your OSHA rights. Every worker, whether you have a union or not, is protected by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA, from being forced into truly dangerous working conditions. You can refuse work if it puts your life at risk. Read more about your OSHA rights here.
Remember: the boss won’t look out for your safety, only you and your coworkers can. Companies who expect their employees to show up to work in dangerous conditions should be shamed. Don’t be a “hero” — especially for a company that regularly denies workers a fair and living wage.
Do NOT no call-no show. Protect yourself from attendance discipline. Be sure to inform your store management that you won’t be coming in.
Contact your union representative and shop steward if you have questions.
Essential workers like grocery workers kept stores open through the COVID-19 pandemic and are now being called in during an unprecedented winter storm. Your work is essential, but it’s not worth risking your life. And don’t forget just how important your labor is the next time you and your coworkers negotiate a new union contract!