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Report: Nearly 19 percent of Uline’s Illinois workers have tested positive

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Illinois

An internal document seen by the Guardian shows that at least 14% of Uline’s corporate workforce has tested positive for Covid-19 since last April, compared to 8.7% of the population in Kenosha county, where the company’s corporate office is located.

Nearly 19% of the company’s Illinois workplace has tested positive, 23% of its California-based workforce, and nearly 27% of its workforce in Texas.

One complaint filed to federal worker safety regulators, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which was received in July 2020, described workplace hazards including: social distancing guidance not being enforced; lax mask-wearing inside the office; symptomatic employees being allowed to continue to work without face coverings; and employees being forced to return to work in close contact with others even when they could feasibly work from home. […]

Workers at Uline’s corporate offices are also made to follow strict rules on attire, including, for women, making sure their suit jacket is closed when walking through the building, and wearing pantyhose with skirts from November to April.

Priorities.

* And I see Mr. Uihlein is continuing his fabulous winning ways…

Richard Uihlein has nearly single-handedly financed an Illinois-based political action committee with a $24.5m donation in the 2020 election cycle. The group, called Restoration Pac, spent nearly $19m attacking Democratic candidates in the last election cycle – in eight races. Seven of the eight Democrats the group attacked, including Joe Biden, Jon Ossoff, and Raphael Warnock, won their races.

The committee’s 2020 won-loss record is here.

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Mar 1, 21 @ 1:48 am

Comments

What many people don’t realize is that U~Line is a distributor &/or manufacturer of various industrial supplies. Many of these industrial supplies are supplied to units of local government in Illinois because U~Line ends up being the lowest responsible bidder to the RFP.

Surprised no elected official has ever had the guts to call on a boycott of buying products from U~Line. Then again, I’m not surprised.

Comment by Helm Monday, Mar 1, 21 @ 9:05 am
==$24.5m donation in the 2020 election cycle==

Lemme guess, in addition to opposing the fair tax (aka ‘employee handout’), they’re against the $15 minimum wage.

Comment by Jocko Monday, Mar 1, 21 @ 9:19 am
Where are the betting lines on the Uihlein-financed candidate elections? I see a trend I’d like to jump on.

Comment by Chambanalyst Monday, Mar 1, 21 @ 9:26 am
= Seven of the eight Democrats the group attacked, including Joe Biden, Jon Ossoff, and Raphael Warnock, won their races. =

To flip the old saying, with enemies like Uilein, who needs friends?

Comment by JoanP Monday, Mar 1, 21 @ 9:47 am
==Lemme guess, in addition to opposing the fair tax (aka ‘employee handout’), they’re against the $15 minimum wage.==

News story last week has them looking to hire 250 warehouse workers in Kenosha starting at $23.

https://cbs58.com/news/23-hour-starting-wage-uline-wants-to-hire-250-warehouse-positions-for-kenosha-pleasant-prairie

Comment by Jaguar Monday, Mar 1, 21 @ 10:24 am
@Jaguar: With infection rates like theirs, it’s not surprising they have to pay that much.

Comment by Socially DIstant Watcher Monday, Mar 1, 21 @ 10:27 am
=== starting at $23===

The covid is free of charge.

Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Mar 1, 21 @ 10:34 am
They considered themselves essential - during this pandemic, they have provided important supplies - think bags for takeout and curbside, shipping boxes, and janitorial supplies to clean offices. The 19% is unfortunate - but better than grocery clerks

About 20% of grocery store workers had Covid-19, and most didn’t have symptoms, study found

Comment by Donnie Elgin Monday, Mar 1, 21 @ 10:47 am
“ they’re against the $15 minimum wage.”
“ News story last week has them looking to hire 250 warehouse workers in Kenosha starting at $23”

Not mutually exclusive.

A $15 minimum wage would probably result in a wage bump for most laborers.
Just as a low minimum wage suppresses other labor wages.

Comment by Morty Monday, Mar 1, 21 @ 11:13 am
18.33% of the employees of my school district have tested positive. It’s easy to understand when you listen to them talk about their trips, drinking and dining out. And oh? Mask wearing in the building. Busted.

Comment by Stix Hix Monday, Mar 1, 21 @ 2:39 pm
I wonder how many caught the virus from the Uihleins.

Comment by Pot calling kettle Monday, Mar 1, 21 @ 2:42 pm
Imagine if he used 1/100th of what he spent spreading lies on covid-proofing his facilities. Guessing that number would be cut in half.

Comment by Commisar Gritty Monday, Mar 1, 21 @ 2:44 pm
Notice how they are perfectly comfortable policing women’s bodies — really — pantyhose with skirts in this day and age? to what purpose? but not in protecting people’s health and safety. Gross.

Comment by pawn Monday, Mar 1, 21 @ 3:12 pm
= Surprised no elected official has ever had the guts to call on a boycott of buying products from U~Line. =

Post-insurrection, I wonder if Walgreens and other large publicly traded companies will drop Uline on their own, without pressure from politicians.

Comment by cover Monday, Mar 1, 21 @ 5:57 pm
The Guardian article indicated OSHA was somehow convinced to write the nothing-to-see-here letter while COViD positivity rates are through the roof at ULine facilities across the country. What?!?! So the question is who in the Federal government had this clout and interest to do this? Please. His name rhymes with rump. Next question: Whose pockets are deep enough to pay for it? Her name rhymes with schmooline.

Comment by Guardian Monday, Mar 1, 21 @ 6:02 pm