Bay Area

Five COVID Cases Confirmed at Berkeley Whole Foods, Workers Address Concerns

Published

6 years ago

July 16, 2020

Workers at Berkeley’s Whole Foods grocery store on Telegraph Avenue have expressed concerns for their safety and are claiming inadequate clean-up and dissemination of information. Five workers have tested positive for COVID-19 in the store since June 2.

All workers quoted in this article requested to speak under pseudonyms, as they said they fear retaliation from Whole Foods that could put their employment at risk. Since a fifth case was reported just before this story went to press, their quotes and comments reflect on just the first four cases.

“Personally I don’t feel safe,” said Kendal Galkins, a worker at the location who claims the store was cleaned after she was informed of the first COVID-19 case, but was not cleaned after the second, third, and fourth cases.

Galkins said that store team leader Kelly Fox told staff that clean-up after the second, third and fourth confirmed cases was unnecessary because, in each case, by the time Whole Foods could confirm the workers tested positive for COVID-19, the infected workers had been absent for long enough that any virus that could have been present in the store would have died off.

When questioned, Fox said she would not comment on this story and referred all inquiries to the Whole Foods media team.

Galkins said although Whole Foods maintenance cleaned up at night after the first case, she views that clean-up as insufficient as it was done by Whole Foods staff.

“It’s different if you have hired somebody like a third [party] who has a job to clean up especially for COVID-19,” said Galkins.

A Whole Foods spokesperson, Rachel Malish, said a third party cleaning service did come in after the first confirmed case, countering Galkins claim, but neglected to mention the name of the cleaner when directly asked and did not comment on clean-up efforts after the other confirmed cases.

“That is unbelievable,” said Galkins. “There have been four cases and only one store clean-up.”

Randy Silks said Fox had told workers they could expect a multi-day cleaning process if a worker tested positive that would involve the store closing, but that Whole Foods “went back on their word,” as the store was never closed for any amount of time after positive cases were announced.

Silks said he thought keeping the store open meant it would not have to lose any money and complained that Whole Foods was sacrificing worker health and well-being to increase their profit.

Although workers had been receiving a $2 per hour increase in pay from their regular salaries, a virus-related hazard pay allotment, workers at Whole Foods lost their hazard pay on June 1.

The decision to cut hazard pay came at the national level and was not a local decision. Still, the timing of how it played out at the Telegraph store specifically has frustrated Silks since June 2, the second day of his non-hazard pay work, when he learned of his first co-worker testing positive, making it clear to him that the virus was still an issue.

Malish confirmed that workers lost their hazard pay starting on June 1 but did not answer direct questions as to why it was canceled as COVID-19 cases continue to rise nationwide. She referred to a one-time bonus for workers in June that Amazon, the company that owns Whole Foods, announced.

Telegraph Whole Foods workers have claimed that they do not feel they have been informed in a timely manner about COVID-19 risks.

They report that co-workers informed Fox they were taking time off because they were showing symptoms and/or live in the same household as people who have tested positive for COVID-19, but Fox did not share that information with other workers.

They said the Whole Foods service that relays texts to workers about COVID-19 has only shared information after a worker has tested positive.

“When they know that a person is out because they might have it, they don’t tell us,” said Chris Cartison, another Whole Foods worker. “They wait till they get a positive result.”

Malish said that after presumed or confirmed diagnosis, “we activate a set plan to protect the privacy of the impacted person while also mitigating any potential risks,” and that the plan, “includes contact tracing and a formal notification process for those working in our stores.”

The formal notification process, according to Malish, is done through in-store team meetings and an auto-call text system.

Galkins said she heard in the store from co-workers on June 10 that there had been a positive case but the texting service did not inform her until the next day, June 11.

She did not understand why she had to learn about it from her co-workers and was not informed immediately by Fox or the Whole Foods texting service.

When asked about contact tracing, Galkins said she did not knowingly participate in it but heard, “talk about doing it through cameras in the store.”

Cartison expressed that if one person likely had COVID while working in the store, everyone was at risk.

“Every single team member works closely together,” said Cartison.

Silks said that during a small meeting of workers lead by an assistant team leader on June 10, he learned of a positive case and that the worker had been out since June 3. He did not understand why the store was not cleaned on June 3 if Whole Foods knew of the risk.

The positive case that was confirmed through text on July 11 was one of three confirmed cases in a short period of time. Another was confirmed on July 7. Vince Chase, another worker, questioned why information related to that worker testing positive for COVID-19 was released directly after the July 4 weekend. On July 15, Whole Foods texted workers to confirm a fifth positive COVID-19 case.

Silk said the store provides workers with masks and a place to eat indoors where workers are spaced to meet social distancing guidelines, but he wishes staff was forced to eat outdoors.

Malish pointed out, and workers confirmed, that in addition to masks, Whole Foods uses plexiglass barriers at checkout counters and requires temperature checks before all workers report to work. She also said Whole Foods has, “enhanced daily cleanliness and disinfection protocols in all of our stores.”

The four workers interviewed for this article said they want the store to be cleaned by a third party after every COVID-19 case and want more transparency about COVID-19 risks.

Jennifer Altman, a mother of two who lives near Telegraph Whole Foods and shops there regularly, also wants more transparency in terms of possible COVID-19 risks at the store for customers. She was only aware of one positive COVID-19 case until being interviewed for this new story.

Claiming that shopping for food is one of the most dangerous activities people engage in under COVID-19, she said, “I think it’s really important that people know what’s happening in a grocery store so they can do their own risk management.”

By Zack Haber

Posts by By Zack Haber

Activism

On the Frontlines of Hate: NAACP Links Victims to Critical Support

The NAACP CA/HI has a long and well-established record of supporting victims of discrimination and hate crimes — providing critical referrals and, when necessary, direct assistance through legal advocacy and other forms of support. Beyond responding to incidents, the organization continues to advocate on broader civil rights issues, including voting rights and legal protections. It has also worked to counter efforts at the state and federal levels that could weaken the voting power of communities of color.

Published

4 days ago

May 1, 2026

Oakland Post

NAACP members at a recent advocacy day in Sacramento urging lawmakers to protect voting rights. Photo courtesy of California Black Media.

By Joe Kocurek
California Black Media

The California/Hawaii State Conference of the NAACP (CA/HI NAACP) has expanded its efforts to respond to rising hate incidents and civil rights complaints across California, supported in part by funding from California’s Stop the Hate Program

Through that grant, NAACP CA/HI has strengthened its ability to connect individuals experiencing hate or discrimination with critical resources. This includes referring those who file complaints to the CA vs Hate hotline, a statewide, non-emergency hate crime and incident reporting hotline and online portal created to help counter a more than 50% increase in reported hate crimes in California between 2020 and 2024. The system helps ensure incidents are documented, and victims are guided toward appropriate support.

LaJuana Bivens says the work of NAACP is as urgent as ever. Photo by Regina Wilson, California Black Media.

LaJuana Bivens, who has served in a number of roles within the NAACP, said California has seen an increase in civil rights violations and hate-related incidents.

“We have 52 branches, and they are constantly receiving complaints,” she said. “So, without the Stop the Hate, we would not be able to refer those cases up to attorneys at the state level. A lot of the people would not have had an opportunity to be heard.”

Carmen-Nicole Cox helps survivors of hate with their legal options. Photo courtesy of Carmen-Nicole Cox.

Carmen-Nicole Cox, an attorney who works with NAACP CA/HI – as a part of California’s Stop the Hate Program – provides legal consultation to victims of hate incidents and discrimination through her legal practice, the Cox Firm for Law and Policy.

She said the complaints she receives span a wide range of issues.

“People are having home builders and landlords refusing to provide repairs, a student was denied promotion in an academic program, and targeted scrutiny at work,” she said. “It’s typically employment; it’s housing; it’s education.

“We’ll meet and they’ll share their experiences,” she said. “And then I make assessments about possible legal claims.”

According to the California Civil Rights Department (CRD), nearly 1,200 reports of hate against minority groups were submitted in 2024 through the CA vs Hate hotline and online portal for non-emergency incidents.

While the California/Hawaii State Conference of the NAACP, which has tens of thousands of members, does not directly investigate hate incidents or crimes, it plays a key role in connecting victims to the state’s reporting systems and support services.

Beyond responding to incidents, the organization continues to advocate on broader civil rights issues, including voting rights and legal protections. It has also worked to counter efforts at the state and federal levels that could weaken the voting power of communities of color.

Bivens recently traveled to Sacramento to speak with state lawmakers about voting rights during an advocacy day event hosted by the organization.

“It’s just so hard for communities of color to be up to date because of all of the confusing information coming from the federal level,” she said. “I love our great state of California because here it is possible to vote by mail and to vote early.

“And I’m seeing that trying to be eroded. So, I’m here to urge continued support for vote by mail and early voting.”

When Texas moved to redraw congressional districts in ways critics said would dilute minority voting strength, NAACP CA/HI supported the passage of Proposition 50 in California. The organization also intervened in United States v. Shirley Weber, where federal officials sought access to unredacted California voter records, including Social Security numbers, raising concerns about misuse and voter intimidation.

Cultivating the advocacy and leaderships of young people is central to NAACP’s mission to fight racism and dismantle inequality. Photo courtesy of California Black Media.

A federal district court dismissed that case in January 2026.

The organization’s current work builds on a long history of civil rights advocacy. Today, Bivens says, the organization’s mission remains as urgent as ever.

“We are the oldest, boldest, most feared Civil Rights organization,” Bivens said. “What we do every day is fight for better housing, education, economic development and political inclusion. We take it on because there are just so many people who need that support.

“You would be amazed that our phones ring every single day.”

Get Support After Hate:

California vs Hate is a non-emergency, multilingual hotline and online portal offering confidential support for hate crimes and incidents. Victims and witnesses can get help anonymously by calling 833-8-NO-HATE (833-866-4283), Monday to Friday, 9 a.m.–6 p.m. PT, or online at any time. Anonymous. Confidential. No Police. No ICE.

This story was produced in partnership with CA vs Hate. Join them for the first-ever CA Civil Rights Summit on May 11. More information at www.cavshate.org/summit.

https://youtu.be/_k7UVhI-sN8

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Activism

Up to the Job: How San Francisco’s PRC Is Providing Work Opportunities That Turn Into Lasting Stability

Each year, PRC serves more than 5,000 clients through a wide range of programs. These include housing navigation, legal advocacy to ensure access to health and public benefits, supportive housing, job and life-skills training, and residential treatment programs.

Published

1 week ago

April 26, 2026

Oakland Post

Black Leadership Council (BLC) Advocacy Day in Sacramento. BLC works to advance meaningful change through policy engagement to unlock the full potential of Black and low-income communities. Photo courtesy of PRC.

By Joe Kocurek, California Black Media

Seville Christian arrived in San Francisco in the 1990s from Kansas City, Mo., a transgender woman coming from a time and place still hostile to who she was.

San Francisco offered a deeper LGBTQ+ history and a more visible community of people like her, but even in a city known for acceptance, building a stable life from scratch was no small task.

After arriving in the city, she turned to Positive Resource Center (PRC) looking for work — and for a foothold — in a new place.

“PRC gave me my first job,” Christian said. “A simple gig — passing out magazines at the San Francisco Pride Parade.”

That first opportunity marked the beginning of a decades-long relationship with PRC, one that has seen Christian grow from client to valued employee, and eventually to policy fellow.

“Today, I’ve been with PRC for 27 years, going on 28,” she said.

Seville Christian’s decades-long relationship with PRC includes as a client, fellow and beloved employee. Photo courtesy of PRC.

Helping people access employment and build sustainable careers has been a cornerstone of PRC’s mission since its inception nearly four decades ago. In its most recent annual impact report, PRC served 443 clients through workforce development services, including career counseling, educational programs, hands-on training, and job search assistance. The average wage earned by PRC clients is $26.48 per hour — approximately 38% above San Francisco’s minimum wage.

To advance this work, organizations like PRC have benefited from funding through California’s Stop the Hate Program, which provides direct support to community-based organizations leading anti-hate initiatives.

Christian’s path was not without challenges. During some rocky years, she experienced periods of housing instability and struggled with addiction. Through PRC, she enrolled in a life-skills program that emphasized using her own lived experience as a means of helping others. The program helped set her on a path toward completing an associate’s degree and ultimately launching a career in case management.

“Today, whether someone is new to the city or has lived here their whole life, I know how to help them navigate to where they need to be,” Christian said.

Members of PRC’s Black Leadership Council meet with a lawmaker in Sacramento. Photo courtesy of PRC.

While PRC was founded to serve people living with HIV, its mission has expanded over the decades to meet the needs of people with disabilities, individuals experiencing homelessness, and those facing mental health and substance use challenges.

According to PRC’s Chief of Public Policy and Public Affairs, Tasha Henneman, some of the organization’s earliest programs remain as vital today as they were at the start.

“Our emergency financial assistance program helped more than 1,200 people this year pay rent, cover medical bills, and keep the lights on,” Henneman said. “And over 1,400 people reached out for legal advocacy, resulting in more than $2.5 million in retroactive benefits unlocked.”

Beyond direct services, PRC is deeply committed to community empowerment and policy change. Programs such as the Black Leadership Council support community leaders in advocating for systemic reform, while the Black Trans Initiative focuses on addressing the unique challenges faced by Black transgender individuals.

A recent study from the Williams Institute highlighted findings that 71% of transgender homicide victims in the U.S. between 2010 and 2021 were Black and that nearly a third of the transgender homicides during that period were confirmed or suspected hate crimes.

PRC’s direct and indirect services can be a lifeline for people experiencing hate and are an example of the resources people can get connected with through the state’s CA vs Hate hotline.

PRC is now also producing a film project that centers the lived experiences of Black trans clients, including individuals like Christian.

PRC welcomed guests to their annual Open House in April, an evening dedicated to connection, reflection, and learning more about the programs and people working every day to support San Franciscans experiencing housing instability, unemployment, and behavioral health challenges. Photo courtesy of PRC.

“Our film highlights the health journeys and lived experiences of some of PRC’s Black trans clients,” Henneman said. “Our goal is to give voice, visibility, and agency to the participants — and to bring their stories, both harrowing and inspirational, to policymakers and the broader public.”

The film, expected to be released later this year, is directed by Yule Caise, with assistant director Zarina Codes, a Black transgender San Francisco resident.

Today, Christian continues her relationship with PRC as an ambassador, reflecting on a journey that began with a single job opportunity and grew into a lifelong commitment to service.

“Sometimes I’ll be riding the bus or standing in a grocery store, and someone will come up to me from a women’s shelter,” she said. “They’ll say, ‘Oh, Miss Seville, I just want to thank you. You really helped me with what I was dealing with.’”

She paused, smiling.

“And in those moments,” Christian said, “I think to myself, “Well!.”

A single word that sums up pride in a journey to find the best in herself.

Get Support After Hate:

This story was produced in partnership with CA vs Hate. Join them for the first-ever CA Civil Rights Summit on May 11, 2026. More information at www.cavshate.org/summit.