Workers at Fred Meyer in Burien speaking out after 10 employees test positive for COVID-19

BURIEN, Wash. — Workers at a Fred Meyer in Burien are speaking out after 10 employees tested positive for COVID-19.

One employee says management is not taking enough action to protect her.

Sharelle Claiborne has worked at the store since 2018 along with her mother.

“Within the last two weeks, both me and my mom tested positive for COVID,” she said.

UFCW 21, which represents retail and grocery workers, says 10 employees tested positive at the store, which Fred Meyer confirmed in a statement.

Claiborne says a huge issue is keeping the store sanitized.

“I would like to see cleaning crews coming in, not just workers who were taught to spray sanitizer bottles and not wipe it down and walk away,” she said.

Fred Meyer says it had multiple professional deep cleaning sanitation sessions, and have also taken other measures to ensure employees and customers stay safe.

This includes providing face masks, installing plexiglass shields and limiting store capacity.

UCFW 21 says Fred Meyer has been responsive to their requests at the corporate level, but wants to see changes at the local level.

Cox Media Group