Update on Efforts to Oppose the Proposed Kroger + Albertsons Mega-Merger

Our efforts to stop the proposed mega-merger of Kroger and Albertsons reached a major milestone on Monday February 26 when the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and nine State Attorneys General filed a lawsuit to challenge the merger. UFCW 3000 has been a national leader in opposing the proposed merger since the day it was announced in October of 2022. Since that time, we have been actively working with a core group of other UFCW locals as well as a wide range of over 150 diverse partner organizations across the nation and developed a “No Grocery Merger” coalition.
 
The effort to oppose the merger is not over yet. Kroger and Albertsons have both said they will challenge the lawsuits in court, so we expect it could be many months until an outcome is known. We will keep up the fight. And for right now we will also celebrate this major win in the struggle to protect workers, shoppers, and communities from the greed and over-reach of Kroger and Albertsons.
 
Another example of our effort to protect workers was our recent win on February 22 when we were successful in getting the Washington State Legislature to pass SB 6007 – a new law to provide protections for grocery store workers from the harm that can result when chains merge and the consequences include layoffs and store closures. 
 
For the thousands of members who have acted together – we are making a difference. The actions have included signing petitions, handing out leaflets to customers, raising our voices in local and national news stories, signing in support of our new WA law to protect workers, and so much more. And it shows that when workers and community come together and act as one, we can push back against some of the largest corporations in America.
 
Instead of spending all this time and money on a proposed merger that if allowed to proceed would lead to higher prices, closed stores, lost jobs, a reduced ability for union workers to negotiate strong contracts, and giving away billions to wealthy investors, these companies should be doing the necessary work to provide better wages and working conditions, and making stores safer.

More Detailed  Information:
On Monday February 26, 2024, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) challenged the proposed mega-merger of Kroger and Albertsons siting concerns about how the merger would harm consumers and workers. Nine State Attorneys General (Arizona, California, District of Columbia, Illinois, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon and Wyoming) joined the legal action as well. These are above and beyond the two other Attorneys General lawsuits from Washington and Colorado. Your support of the “No Grocery Merger” coalition is an important part of what led to this success. The 150 organizations across the nation who joined together last year to fight this merger was a show of both the power of solidarity and a diverse array of interests.

We remain committed to continue our diligent efforts to defend workers, customers and communities from the devastating harm that would be caused if such a merger were to proceed. And we also look forward to beginning to fix the broken food systems in this nation.

Additional information and past updates

1. FTC Press release: FTC Challenges Kroger’s Acquisition of Albertsons. Largest supermarket merger in U.S. history will eliminate competition and raise grocery prices for millions of Americans, while harming tens of thousands of workers, FTC alleges

2. FTC Complaint: Kroger's/Albertsons: Administrative Part 3 Complaint (Public) (ftc.gov)

3. Our press release including link to coalition partners and highlights of some of the activities over past 16 months to fight the proposed merger.

FTC Rejects Kroger - Albertsons Proposed Megamerger!

Press Release: UFCW Locals 5, 7, 324, 400, 770, 1564, 3000

For immediate release: February 26, 2024
Contact: Tom Geiger, UFCW 3000, 206-604-3421

UFCW Local Unions Applaud the FTC Decision to Reject Kroger and Albertsons Proposed Megamerger

UFCW local unions representing more than 100,000 grocery store employees working at Albertsons and Kroger-owned stores in over a dozen states and the District of Columbia applaud the FTC Decision to reject this proposed megamerger.

UFCW local unions have loudly and soundly opposed the proposed mega-merger of Kroger and Albertsons since day one because the megamerger would have resulted in lost jobs, closed stores, food deserts, and higher prices with reduced food choices – all of this would have been destructive for workers, consumers, and entire communities. Importantly, the FTC decision recognizes the threat that the merger would have caused goes beyond consumers and calls out that it would also have damaged essential grocery store workers’ wages, benefits and working conditions.

The FTC deliberations over the past 16 months, and the evidence that was gathered directed their well-founded decision. This is a step in the right direction for building a better food system in this country. Now we need to do all we can to help defend this decision and to turn the discussion towards building a better system that is more accountable to workers, shoppers, and the community.

The coalition of UFCW locals 5, 7, 324, 400, 770, 1564 and 3000 have been instrumental in the opposition to the proposed merger from the very beginning. Hundreds of actions, news stories, meetings with grocery store members, community, regulators and others and additional events have been part of that effort. Below is a varied sampling of some highlighted examples of this work.

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Linked here are a more full list of media coverage, and a long list of opposition coalition members:

October 2022

10/13 – Kroger and Albertsons, without any warning, make announcement of proposed merger.

10/13 – Group of local UFCW unions, taking advantage of close relationships forged through supportive and collaborative efforts with each other’s collective bargaining with national grocers, quickly convene and issue joint statement immediately raising concerns about the proposal. Within hours the initial news coverage that had simply contained Kroger’s statement becomes a broader story including very strong opposition and concerns.

10/22  – Joint press release by local UFCWs flags the proposed massive payout of $4 Billion by Albertsons to wealthy shareholders as part of the proposed merger. News coverage includes KIRO 7 TV story.

10/26 -  Joint press release applauding lawsuits filed by Attorneys General in multiple jurisdictions to halt Albertsons special $4 billion payout to wealthy shareholders as part of the proposed merger which Albertsons initially announced would take place in early November.  The Washington State AG case succeeds in halting this rushed payment. While it ends up being allowed to proceed, it is not until early 2023 and only after under-oath testimony from company executives disclosing critical inside information that had been unknown to the public and exposed some of the key motivations behind the proposed merger.

November 2022

11/29 Held in-person Press Conference in Washington DC with Presidents and members from the six local UFCWs of the newly formed coalition from across 12 states and the District of Columbia  (Southern CA - UFCW 324 and 770, Northern CA – UFCW 5; Washington – UFCW 3000; CO & Wyoming – UFCW 7; DC and surrounding states – UFCW 400) and Teamsters local 38 representing over 100,000 Kroger and Albertsons. The press conference was held immediately prior to a planned US Senate Subcommittee hearing on the proposed merger and helped tell the story of the negative impacts of such a merger in local and national TV, print, and radio coverage.

December 2022

12/3 – Article goes into details about concerns. “EVERYONE SHOULD BE VERY SKEPTICAL OF THE SUPPOSED BENEFITS OF THE KROGER-ALBERTSONS MERGER - Kroger can’t help but promote its own interests over customers.”

January 2023

1/23 – Ongoing opposition by states and UFCW locals discussed in Supermarket News article.. 

February 2023

2/1 – More Perfect Union posts video discussing harms and concerns of proposed merger.

2/15 - Colorado Attorney General begins series of statewide listening sessions to hear from workers, community and others about their reactions to the proposed merger. UFCW Local 7 members attend these meetings and provide critical concerns about the proposal.

March 2023

3/24 – Launch of national coalition “NoGroceryMerger.com” and website as a one-stop for the anti-merger efforts with over 100 organizations. This also becomes a place to chronicle much of the media coverage around the country about the opposition and provides a degree of a check and balance to the Kroger and Albertson’s PR machinery. https://www.nogrocerymerger.com/news

April 2023

4/4-4/13 – Grocery store workers take actions in front of stores across the nation to connect with customers and share concerns about the proposed merger and how it would harm workers and customers with closed stores, lay-offs, higher prices, and in some locations food deserts. 

May 2023

After months of deliberation and ultimately a unanimous vote at the UFCW International Convention opposing the merger, UFCW International Union announces opposition to the proposed Kroger Albertsons merger. National press coverage is widespread including a Wall Street Journal headline: “Biggest Grocery Union Opposes $20 Billion Kroger-Albertsons Deal - UFCW International is concerned about potential divestitures and stores’ future viability.”

June 2023

6/29 – A week of actions held by UFCW grocery store workers across the nation include many in California that generated local press coverage like KTLA 5 TV story: Southern California grocery workers rally against Albertsons-Kroger merger (youtube.com) 

July 2023

7/26 – Coalition of UFCW locals issue statement condemning announced pay-outs of over $146 million to top executives if merger were approved.  Coverage includes Cincinnati Enquirer article.

August 2023

8/23 – State Treasurers raise concerns about proposed merger. News stories include Bloomberg Law article: “Kroger Grocery Deal Will Harm Workers State Treasurers Tell FTC”

September 2023

9/20 – National press conference held by coalition of local UFCWs to expose concerns about the recently announced divestiture to C&S Wholesale. Generates significant local and national press coverage and begins the public discussion of major concerns about C&S as an inadequate proposed remedy to the proposed mergers anti-trust challenges. Results in many stories including Supermarket News story titled “UFCW cites ‘echoes of Haggen’ in proposed C&S deal”

9/27 – UFCW local 7 hold Town Hall with members to update on opposition to proposed merger and take questions. Thousands attend.

October 2023

10/30 – Progressive Grocer published op-ed titled: Opinion: Kroger-Albertsons Proposed Mega-Merger Is a Threat to Workers and Shoppers Alike

November 2023

11/1 - FTC Chair Khan hold listening session in Denver and hears widespread concerns from workers, consumers, suppliers and others. Significant press coverage of event includes stories like the Colorado Public Radio story: “Grocery workers ask FTC chair to stop Kroger Albertsons merger during Denver visit” UFCW members from California, Washington and Colorado attend this important event to share their stories.

11/11 – Marshall Steinbaum, an economic from University of Utah, issues report that was supported by coalition of local UFCWs 5, 7, 324, 400, 770 and 3000, titled: Evaluating the Competitive Effect of the Proposed Kroger-Albertsons Merger in Labor Markets

11/14 – American Economic Liberties Project, hold national briefing and press event with UFCW grocery store members and representatives from five additional organizations including: Ranch Foods, Independent Grocers Association, Open Markets Institute, Farm Action and Alaska Public Interest Research Group

December 2023

12/11 – Teamsters International issues strong statement in opposition to merger divestiture proposal: TEAMSTERS CALL ON FTC TO REJECT KROGER-ALBERTSONS PROPOSED ASSET SALES TO C&S

January 2024

1/15 – UFCW local coalition Issues statement applauding Washington State Attorney General Lawsuit – with our quote in local and national press coverage of the lawsuit. Coverage includes national AP story: “Washington State Sues to Block Proposed Merger of Kroger and Albertsons Grocery Chains”

1/23 - Held two webinars (1/23 AM and PM) to update members on details of the proposed merger and collective efforts to fight the proposal with over 500 members in attendance.

1/25 - Held multiple meetings with Kroger as well as C&S Wholesale. We found out no new information in the meetings that dissuaded us from our position of opposition, in fact we found out additional concerning information as well continued to ask for information that was still not provided.

1/26 - Held national online press conference (1/26) to continue to clarify our position of opposition so media and members of the public understood our reasons and the various threats to workers, consumers and communities by both the proposed merger and the proposed divestiture plan – with over 50 reporters in attendance. Generated local and national press coverage educating the public, workers and others. Example: https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/grocery-worker-union-gives-update-proposed-kroger-albertsons-merger-timeline/

February 2024

2/1 - UFCW 3000 and Teamsters 38 hold live Telephone Town Hall to update and educate members, and answer questions of members with thousands of members in attendance.

2/14 – Colorado Attorney General files lawsuits against the merger. Local and national coverage. One example: CBS News Colorado: https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/colorado-attorney-general-files-lawsuit-block-merger-between-kroger-albertsons/

2/22 – The Washington State Legislature passed SB 6007 – a new law to provide protections for grocery store workers from the harm that can result when chains merge and the consequences include layoffs and store closures. 

Black History Month Member Story: Sam Dancy

Sam Dancy

Sam Dancy has been a union steward and workplace leader for nearly 30 years. Sam has served on the executive board of what was then UFCW Local 21 and, after the merger with Local 1439, he continues to serve on the executive board as a vice president of UFCW 3000. “I try to be a good steward and representative for my coworkers, union, and community,” is how Sam sees his work as a trade union activist.

RIGHT TO WORK, OR RIGHT TO WORK FOR LESS?

Sam’s union activism took him to St. Louis, Missouri, in 2015 to help overturn the state’s recent change from a pro-union state to a so-called “right to work” state. (“Right to work,” of course, has nothing to do with workers’ rights to have a job, but instead simply limits union rights.) Sam’s decision to go all the way to Missouri to help their campaign to overturn that far-right anti-union law was not only informed by his commitment to protecting and building a strong labor movement, but also by the racist rhetoric that the anti-union campaigns used that tried to divide workers by race. Missouri voters agreed and voted to restore the state to being pro-union!

ORGANIZING FOR HIGHER WAGES AT THE BARGAINING TABLE AND BEYOND

It was after that 2015 campaign that Sam joined the UFCW 21 executive board. Having worked at QFC since 1991, Sam saw grocery store jobs go from living-wage jobs to jobs where he and his coworkers struggled to make ends meet. In addition to organizing in his Westwood Village QFC, in 2016 Sam served on the bargaining committee for the Allied Employer grocery and meat contract negotiations. In 2013, Sam and other shop stewards had prepared their stores to go on strike—a strike averted just two hours before the Union’s deadline. In 2016, the bargaining committee came to the table and made clear to the Employers that they were prepared to do it again if management didn’t listen. The Employers did not want another big fight, and the contract was settled in record time.

After that, Sam and other union activists shifted to collecting signatures for a landmark ballot initiative, I-1433, which raised Washington State’s minimum wage and enacted paid sick leave for workers statewide. The initiative passed easily, and both in counties where the Republican presidential candidate carried and where the Democratic candidate did, showing that working-class values are wildly popular across partisan political lines.

Then he served on the 2019 grocery and meat bargaining committee and helped secure the Sound Retirement Trust’s future, a fight that had been going on since 2008 when the mortgage crisis sent many pension funds into deep funding problems. The 2019 contract settlement was just four months ahead of the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, which impacted grocery workers across the world and saw them finally get recognition for their important role in feeding our communities. The term Essential Worker became part of our everyday language during the pandemic.

Sam served on the 2022 bargaining committee as well, and laid out the goals of 2022’s grocery and meat negotiations: "All essential workers deserve to not have to live from paycheck to paycheck. One job should be enough! Grocery store workers deserve stability, and it’s time the employer did their part to guarantee us fair wages, workplace safety, and respect on the job." The 2022 negotiations not only saw historic wages but also addressed the income inequality in different store departments, where some clerks found themselves making 2 or more dollars less than their coworkers in other departments.

BLACK LIVES MATTER AT WORK AND IN OUR COMMUNITIES

The pandemic wasn’t the only historic event of 2020. The murder of Minneapolis resident George Floyd at the hands of police touched off protests across the nation, with African Americans and other people of color demanding an end to the often lethal over-policing they were subject to. Sam and other coworkers wanted to show solidarity with the movement and to demand change. Our union distributed Black Lives Matter buttons to all members who wanted to wear them on or off the job. Equality and fair treatment are working-class issues and that means they are union issues!

Unfortunately Kroger, the parent company of Sam’s employer QFC, sought to silence this basic expression of solidarity. That was an unacceptable infringement on our right to act together as union workers, and Sam had something to say about it: “When we as workers speak out through these buttons and collectively say Black Lives Matter and then QFC and Fred Meyer said to take the buttons off, that was insulting and a violation of the law.” Our union filed an Unfair Labor Practice Charge with the federal government, and Sam was one of the key leaders who spoke up about Kroger’s attempt to silence grocery workers.

And in the end, our union won! In 2023 an NLRB administrative judge ruled against Kroger. “We knew all along we had the right to call out social and racial injustice in the workplace and in our neighborhoods, and this judge’s decision reiterates that right,” Sam said.

As you can see, Sam Dancy has repeatedly been an important part of the history of UFCW 3000, the victories that we have won together, and the ongoing struggle for social and workplace justice. The backbone of any union is in the leaders and shop stewards in the workplace, and Sam is a great example of how we get the job done!

Press Release: Opposition to Albertsons/Kroger Mega-Merger Gains Momentum

For Immediate Release: February 20, 2024

Contact: Tom Geiger, UFCW 3000, 206-604-3421

After States Sue to Block Proposed Albertsons + Kroger Mega-Merger, Opposition Led By UFCW Local Unions Gains Momentum

Our coalition of local UFCW unions, collectively representing over 100,000 Kroger and Albertsons workers in over a dozen states, welcomes the actions by the Colorado Attorney General last week, joining others in moves to block the proposed merger of Kroger and Albertsons.

Our coalition has been outspoken in its opposition to the proposed mega merger of Kroger and Albertsons since it was first announced by those companies in October of 2022. Over the last 16 months, our opposition has both deepened and broadened. The revelations contained in the lawsuits filed by the Attorney General of Washington last month and the Attorney General of Colorado last week, have only increased our opposition to the proposed merger and further exposed the damage it would inflict on consumers, workers, and communities if it were allowed to proceed. The addition of the companies’ deeply flawed divestiture plan has likewise increased our opposition as we believe it would result in the closure of grocery stores in hundreds of communities. Again, we oppose this merger in the strongest terms possible and remain hopeful for federal enforcement action to block it and protect consumers, workers, and the public.

Background: In addition to our coalition’s volumes of actions and press statements over the past 16 months and actions by others in the NoGroceryMerger.com coalition, the below are statements from the two International Unions representing most unionized grocery store and grocery warehouse workers:

• Statement from UFCW International after a unanimous vote at the UFCW Convention to oppose the proposed merger: https://www.ufcw.org/press-releases/americas-largest-union-of-essential-grocery-workers-announces-opposition-to-kroger-and-albertsons-merger/)

• Statement from Teamsters International in opposing the proposed divestiture: https://teamster.org/2023/12/teamsters-call-on-ftc-to-reject-kroger-albertsons-proposed-asset-sales-to-cs/

Grocery East Progress on Wages but Still a Long Way to Go— Take Action to Fight for More!

Last week, our member bargaining team told stories of trying to survive on our wages. Fred Meyer and Safeway/Albertsons force us to decide between paying for groceries over utility bills, paying for our kids’ medical needs before our own, and filling our gas tank to get to work over making a needed repair.  

The Employers didn’t respond to our stories with words, but they did respond through their proposal: They came back to the table, proposing the first dollar raise for Journey that we have seen in this round of bargaining. The Employers current proposal on Journey wages stands at $1/$0.50/$0.50. We deserve more! 

We are standing united and fighting to win:   

• Journey wage increases of multiple dollars over the life of the contract that gain ground on the West side.  

• Raises of multiple dollars for Journey Meat Cutters over the life of the contract, a proposed dollar premium for Head Meat Cutter, and new designation of Head Butcher Block. 

• Increase the amount between steps from $0.10 above minimum wage and $0.05 between steps to $0.25 above the minimum wage and between steps so that every step sees an increase as the minimum wage increases with cost of living. 

• Reduce the length of our wage scales and align our scales so our coworkers can reach the Journey rate sooner and at the same time no matter what county we work in.  

We also continued to fight to maintain our healthcare benefits and strengthen our pension: 

• We won a Tentative Agreement to improve the rate to qualify for our healthcare: Now, all Eastern Washington, Eastern Oregon, and Northern Idaho members will accumulate the 80 hours per month to qualify for healthcare which includes all compensable hours, not just hours worked. This means that vacation and sick leave hours will count towards the 80 hours. When we’re ill or injured and need our healthcare the most, we now will not have to fear losing it.  

We continued to push to maintain our healthcare with improvements to vision, podiatry, and hearing care.  
We also won Tentative Agreements over: 

• Additional premium for workers when we are in charge of the store: An extra 50 cents per hour for a worker in charge of the store when the manager/assistant manager is absent for more than three hours per day.  

• Rest periods for Idaho Meat Members: Idaho doesn’t have rest period laws, so we won a Tentative Agreement to ensure Idaho Meat Members have 10 minutes rest for every 4 hours worked, just like the rest of our Idaho Grocery Members. 

Our next bargaining dates are April 15, 16 and 17.  
Wear your union buttons at work!  

It is clear that the only way we will get what we deserve is to show our unity through action! 

Informational Pickets & leaflets I’ll be there! You can rsvp online! >>

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS WILL I LOSE MY JOB IF I GO ON STRIKE? 

You cannot be permanently replaced for participating in a valid ULP strike. You can be permanently replaced only if the strike is caused solely by economic issues and only after the actual hiring of a permanent replacement for your position. If the strike is called in part to protest unfair labor practices by the employer, the employer cannot legally hire a permanent replacement for you. In the unlikely event our unfair labor practice charge is not upheld, we will provide an update about the return-to-work situation.

WHAT IF THE EMPLOYER LOCKS US OUT?

If the employer chooses to lockout employees they have to lockout all employees. Workers locked out by their employers are generally eligible for unemployment benefits. The Employment Security Department will determine eligibility for unemployment benefits on a case by case basis.

DO I ACCRUE SICK LEAVE OR VACATION TIME WHEN ON STRIKE? 

You will not accrue sick leave or vacation while you are on strike. The employment security department determines eligibility for unemployment benefits on a case by case basis for workers in a labor dispute.

CAN I USE ACCRUED VACATION OR PAID TIME OFF BENEFITS?

Although an employer may not discriminate against strikers with respect to the use of vacation time or paid time off during a strike, an employer is not required to allow strikers to use their accrued vacation time or other benefits during a strike unless they are otherwise entitled to do so. Thus, if a worker had submitted a vacation request before a strike and it was approved in accordance with the employer’s established policies, the employer must pay the vacation benefits even though the approved vacation occurs while the member is on strike. 

WILL I STILL HAVE HEALTHCARE DURING THE STRIKE?

It is possible that members on strike may experience a temporary disruption to their healthcare. You should work with your healthcare provider on details for eligibility. 

WHAT IS MY STRIKE BENEFIT ? 

The Executive Board of UFCW 3000 has approved strike benefits for grocery store workers who take part in strike duty. Strike benefits will not fully replace our wages but will help. They have approved strike benefits of $500 for workers, union members, and non-members who picket a minimum of 20 hours a week, $800 for 32 hours a week and $200 a week respect the line benefit for striking members who cannot join their coworkers on the strike line but respect the strike line and do not cross (for a maximum of 4 weeks). Our Union also has a hardship fund to assist members whose families face particularly difficult financial situations. Additionally, food assistance and other financial aid may be available through community organizations and other unions. Notify your creditors prior to falling behind. Communicate your situation and explore options for reduced payments or refinancing. Prioritize your expenses, placing essentials like mortgage/rent, utilities, insurance, car payments, gas, child support, and alimony at the top.

Is there paperwork I need to fill out for my strike benefit?  

To receive Union Strike Benefits, grocery store workers will need to complete a W9 for provided by the union. 
Become a Strike Picket Captain by telling your union rep that you are ready to help lead a strike by becoming a Strike Picket Captain.

Download and read the Grocery East Strike Manual >>

More information: 
To get updates and join the fight to Stop the Mega-Merger, go to nogrocerymerger.com  
For information about your health care plan with Rehn go to www.ufcwhealth.com or call 800-872-8979  
If you have questions about the Pension contact Zenith at soundretirmenttrust.com or call 800-225-7629  

Previous Grocery East updates:

Grocery East Why do the Bosses think you deserve less than grocery workers in Western Washington?

Why do the Bosses think you deserve less than grocery workers in Western Washington? 

In our last bargaining session, the Employers told us that because cost of living is lower in Eastern Washington, Eastern Oregon, and Northern Idaho, journey union members do not need the same kind of raises as the Westside. Over the last two days of bargaining, we came to correct this.  

We know that Eastern Washington, Northern Idaho, and Eastern Oregon grocery workers desperately need and deserve meaningful raises. We presented data on rising rents and home sale prices in our region. We compared Westside and Eastside counties which have very similar housing costs and very different wages.  

We compared a grocery basket in Spokane and near Seattle to show that the astronomical food prices set by these companies are the same regardless of where you live. Our grocery costs are the same, our rents are the same, and it’s all going up. But they insist on keeping a wage scale that pays us DOLLARS less!  

Bargaining committee members shared our stories: having to choose between paying the power or the water bill that month, putting our children’s healthcare costs before our own, and struggling to afford to pay for the gas to get to work. We also shared over 100 stories submitted from UFCW 3000 grocery members under these Eastside contracts. Kroger and Albertsons can afford to pay us the wages we need so we don’t have to choose between buying groceries or putting gas in the tank.  

If Safeway can afford a 4 billion dividend, they can afford to pay us what is fair. If Fred Meyer can afford to buy Safeway, they can afford to pay us what is fair. 

While we educated the Employers on what it’s like trying to survive on these wages, we stayed strong, pushing the proposals we need: 

• Create Journey wage increases of multiple dollars over the life of the contract that gain ground on the West side.  

• Institute one wage scale for all UFCW 3000 Eastern Washington, Oregon and Northern Idaho and the same journey wage rate across all grocery scales. 

• Create raises of multiple dollars for Journey Meat Cutters over the life of the contract, a proposed dollar premium for Head Meat Cutter, and new designation of Head Butcher Block. 

• Increase the amount between steps from $0.10 above minimum wage and $0.05 between steps to $0.25 above the minimum wage and between steps so that every step sees an increase as the minimum wage increases with cost of living.  

• Reduce the length of our wage scales so our coworkers can reach the Journey rate sooner. 

• Maintain our strong healthcare plan and coverage and improve benefits without increasing employee premiums.   

All the while the employers only came up $0.10 in the third year of their wage proposal. Proposing $0.50/$0.50/$0.60. This is not enough! 

We’ll be back next week for bargaining. Next bargaining dates: February 15 and 16   

Join us and show our unity in fighting for a strong contract! 

• Become a Strike Picket Captain by telling your union rep that you are ready to help lead a strike by becoming a Strike Picket Captain. Review the training here >> 

• Sign a Strike Pledge Card. 

• Remember to fill out the Worker Research Committee survey about the state of safety and operations at your store. >> 

• Wear your union buttons at work! 

More information: 

• To get updates and join the fight to Stop the Mega-Merger, go to nogrocerymerger.com 

• For information about your health care plan with Rehn go to www.ufcwhealth.com or call  800-872-8979 

• If you have questions about the Pension contact Zenith at soundretirmenttrust.com or call 800-225-7629

• General Membership Meetings happening next week 

• ​Presentation on the rising cost of living

PCC Workers Ratify Industry Leading Collective Bargaining Agreement!

Today we ratified a new 2-year Collective Bargaining Agreement! 

Our union Bargaining Team put our interests first and we won on our top priorities.  

The contract was not only ratified, workers at every PCC location overwhelmingly voted YES! Many members who were initially skeptical ended up voting yes when they saw the details of the contract.   

The new contract will make our PCC members the highest paid Grocery and Meat workers in the area, improve the safety of our stores, and maintain our healthcare benefits. We also made significant gains in increasing our voices in the operation of PCC going forward. We secured a groundbreaking agreement and process to have workers on the board and begin discussion with the company around profit sharing. Together, our collective action set a new standard for PCC workers and continues the fight of moving PCC closer to its CO-op roots. We stood together for each other and our community.    

“For the first time ever, we won wage escalators to ensure our lowest wage workers stay above the minimum wage.  We fought hard for helper clerks and won wage increases for our lowest paid deli workers. We did this by standing together and fighting together.” -Atsuko Koseki, Deli, PCC Edmonds 

“Healthcare was a top priority and we fought back PCC takeaways. We also reduced our wage scales and won a path for permanent worker representation on the PCC Board of directors. Our co-workers and customers stood with us. And we won.” -Keith Allery, Deli, PCC Green Lake Village 

“Perserverance to prosperity, I am grateful for the largest pay raise in PCC history.” -Allison Smith, Meat Cutter, PCC Issaquah 

“My coworkers and fellow union members are happy with our union contract and we won a groundbreaking contract. There were outside agitators who tried to divide us, but we stood together. Can’t wait two years from now to bargain again. We must build off every contract.” -Yasab Pfister, PIC, PCC Burien 

PCC Tentative Agreement Reached! Bargaining Committee is recommending a YES vote!

After a Powerful Strike Vote, UFCW 3000 PCC Bargaining Team Reaches a Tentative Agreement on a New Contract and Recommends a YES vote!

Contract Vote: Tuesday, February 6.

After months of bargaining and a powerful strike authorization vote, we reached an overall tentative agreement with PCC that will once again make our workplace an industry leader in workplace standards, wages, and benefits. 

We strengthened our voice as workers over the future of the co-op for the first time ever securing permanent seats for PCC workers on the Board of Trustees, improving our Worker Caucus Language, and setting up a Labor Management Committee that is tasked with exploring profit sharing, improving the workplace and more. PCC workers know better than anyone what works in our stores. Workers' voices will make PCC successful. 

We won wage increases that will put us ahead of every other grocery store in the region, recognizing our hard work and expertise. We won wage scales that will help foster retention by allowing workers to reach top of the scale within three years of employment. We protected our high road healthcare and pension.

Key Tentative Agreements include:

• Wages: Largest wage increases ever at PCC, making PCC workers some of the highest paid Grocery Store workers in the Puget Sound

• Healthcare: Maintaining our high road healthcare plan and controlling cost for workers

• Pension: Securing our pension for all workers

• WeTrain Funding: Funding for future training programs and keeping our Meat Apprenticeship Program strong

• Improvements to Work Schedules: Allowing workers to pick up more hours when they are available

• Improvements to Leave of Absence, Bereavement

• Improvements to the Workers Caucus Committee

• Establishment of a committee to discuss gainshare and profit share for PCC workers to benefit from PCC profits and gain greater insight into PCC financials

• Increases to the night premium, time and one half for all work after 8th day (Grocery), increasing rest between shifts from 10 hours to 12 hours

• Orca Pass: provided for no more than $20, stronger promotion language

• Improved Safety language

• And more

Contract Vote: Tuesday, February 6.

You may attend any vote location during the polling times to vote on the tentative agreement. The full tentative agreement will be available to review at the voting locations. All members in good standing are eligible and encouraged to vote on the tentative agreement.

Morning Votes 8:00AM — 12:00PM

West Seattle PCC: 2749 California Ave SW. Seattle, WA 98116

Burien PCC: 15840 1st Ave. South, Burien, WA 98148

Green Lake Village PCC: 450 NE 71st St. Seattle, WA 98115

Bothell PCC: 22621 Bothell Everett Highway, Bothell, WA 98021

Fremont PCC: 600 North 34th St. Seattle, WA 98103

Bellevue PCC: 11615 NE 4th St. Bellevue, WA 98004

Ballard PCC: 1451 NW 46th St. Seattle, WA 98107

View Ridge PCC: 6514 40th Ave NE. Seattle, WA 98115

Afternoon Votes 2:00PM — 6:00PM

Columbia City PCC: 3610 South Edmunds St. Seattle, WA 98118

Central District PCC: 2230 E Union St. Seattle, WA 98122

Redmond PCC: 11435 Avondale Rd NE. Redmond, WA 98052

Edmonds PCC: 9803 Edmonds Wy. Edmonds, WA 98020

Issaquah PCC: 1810 12th Ave NW. Issaquah, WA 98027

Kirkland PCC: 430 Kirkland Wy. Kirkland, WA 98033

Greenlake PCC: 7504 Aurora Avenue N. Seattle, WA 98103   

Our Union Bargaining Committee: 
Atsuko Koseki – PCC Edmonds – Deli
Scott Shiflett – PCC Redmond – Meat
Greg Brooks – PCC Burien – Meat
Allison Smith – PCC Issaquah – Meat
Cina Ebrahimi – PCC View Ridge – Grocery
Yasab Pfister – PCC Burien – Front End
Keith Allery – GLV – Night Crew Deli
Emily Weisenburger – Issaquah – HBC
Arlo Bender-Simon – Bothell – Grocery  
Marlin Hathaway –  GLV – Grocery
Jordan Young – View Ridge – Grocery

UFCW 3000 Member Stories: Kamila Aburkis

Kamila Aburkis

Kamila Aburkis works in the deli at the Kirkland Metropolitan Market and enjoys her work, both preparing delicious food and serving her customers, “Maintaining strong customer relationships is important to me. My goal is to be a friendly face to our customers, so they keep coming back.”

Kamila previous worked at Fred Meyer as a cake decorator, having taken a class in the trade when she previously lived in Utah. Her food experience however, goes far beyond cake decorating:

“I have extensive experience in the kitchen and have had a catering business in the past. I solely cooked for up to 500 people at times for my local mosque. I would make my family recipe of fataha, which is a fried tuna sandwich, using my family recipe. I also would make a stuffed cauliflower (with a ground beef mixture). I was also known for making another family recipe of Malahowta, which is a beef stewed with a lot of parsley. Libyan couscous, Libyan soup, and baklawa.”

“I wrote a cookbook years ago on North African cooking, which has all my family recipes. I copywrited it, but have not published it.”

Wow! Not only are we amazed, but are also hungry and are hoping that someday her cookbook will be published.

Away from work, Kamila enjoys exercising and spending time with her kids and grandkids (who of course she loves cooking for). She raised her children as a single mother after her husband passed away suddenly in 1996 and is very proud of them, “One child has a law degree and one has a medical degree.”

Recently Kamila stepped up to offer aid and solidarity to UFCW 3000 members working at area Macy’s stores who were on strike, by agreeing to appear in a commercial for the contract campaign. Unfortunately, it won’t air, because fortunately Macy’s finally settled the contract with their workers, ending the strike last week, and members just ratified the contract on Monday, January 29th. But her efforts do not go unrecognized! Because it is members like Kamila who truly are the backbone of the labor movement and an inspiration to all workers!

Kamila Burkis, her union rep Rhonda FIsher-Ive and two photographers at the Macy’s commercial shoot

Stop the Merger Telephone Town Hall Call Thursday!

Attention all UFCW 3000 Grocery Store Members. You are invited to join our live Telephone Town Hall on Thursday, February 1 at 4pm to hear updates on our efforts to oppose the Kroger and Albertsons’ proposed merger, and a live Question and Answer session with members on this important topic. We will be joined by our union’s top officers, experts, and also our partners from Teamsters 38.

When your phone rings Thursday at 4pm, just answer and you will join the call. If for some reason you do not get a call or you get disconnected, you can also join us by dialing 1-888-652-0383 and entering meeting ID 7803 during the time of the call.

UFCW 3000 Podcast Episode 11: Our Union and Politics

How and why does a union engage with politics? What's the "people power" we talk about in "people-powered politics"? Michaela talks with UFCW 3000 political organizer Derrick about the power of union members taking an active role in local and state elections and in politics beyond elections. Washington State legislature is now in session, and while this was recorded before the recent elections, it's also about all the work that UFCW 3000 members will now be doing to hold those elected lawmakers accountable! They discuss the potential corporate grocery mega-merger that our local is fighting against, and at the end of the episode you'll hear from longtime grocery worker and UFCW 3000 member Naomi speaking out at a press conference about that merger. Learn more about our political advocacy work, our 2024 legislative agenda, how to register to vote, and more at our website: https://ufcw3000.org/people-powered-politics Our Winter General Membership Meetings, also discussed here, are also coming up! Find your local quarterly meeting at: https://ufcw3000.org/gmmcall

UFCW 3000 union shop steward Michaela is always ready to answer fellow members’ questions about their union. She’s also a devoted murder podcast listener. Put those interests together, and she decided to start a union podcast to get all her coworkers’ questions and her own questions answered, and to meet as many people as possible who could share what it means to be a part of UFCW 3000. (No murder on this podcast, only solidarity!)

*The information shared on this podcast is offered by rank and file union member leaders of UFCW 3000. There may be inaccuracies or misstatements shared, as members will be speaking from the lenses of their perspectives and life experiences. While members are doing their best to share good information, we can make no claims to 100% accuracy and this podcast should not be construed as legal advice.

PCC Strike Vote Results: Strike Authorization APPROVED, Contract Offer REJECTED

Today, PCC workers overwhelmingly voted to reject PCC’s most recent contract offer and voted to authorize a strike!

PCC has historically led the grocery store industry, but now they are making proposals that are far behind other stores—Town and Country, Saar’s, Safeway, and every other union grocery store in this region pays more than PCC.

We are sending a clear message: We will no longer allow our wages to lag behind and we are ready to strike.

PCC is the largest food co-op in the United States. When they were doing well, PCC was all too happy to spend money on fancy executive offices, or on big payouts to recruit Kroger and Starbucks management, or to install, then uninstall, then install again banks of USCAN machines, or to expand beyond their ability to operate. They spent their money in ways that did not benefit workers or improve the customer experience, over the objections of workers and our union. And now, after years of poor executive decision-making, PCC wants to balance their books on the backs of the workers.

We will not tolerate a grocery store that claims to care about the community and its members while undercutting community standards.

PCC has lost its way. And the only way for PCC to find its way again is to have workers involved in the decisions. Workers know better than anyone what works in our stores. Workers know the customers. Workers’ voices will make PCC successful.

Our message is clear: If we must strike, we will.

We are back at the bargaining table Tuesday, January 30. We must stand against the corporatization of PCC, we must stand together to keep up with industry standard wages, and we must stand up for ourselves.

Our Union Bargaining Committee: 
Atsuko Koseki – PCC Edmonds – Deli
Scott Shiflett – PCC Redmond – Meat
Greg Brooks – PCC Burien – Meat
Allison Smith – PCC Kirkland – Meat
Ebrahimi – PCC View Ridge – Grocery
Yasab Pfister – PCC Burien – Front End
Keith Allery – GLV – Night Crew Deli
Emily Weisenburger – HBC – Issaquah
Arlo Bender-Simon – Bothell – Grocery  
Marlin Hathaway – GLV – Grocery
Jordan Young – View Ridge – Grocery

Swain's General Store Negotiations Continue!

Our Union Negotiations Team (left to right): Mike Nichols, Floor Clerk (Shoes); Robert Sommers, Receiving Clerk; Richard Drake, Receiving Clerk/Warehouse Contact; Shawn Price, Cashier/Person In Charge (not pictured)

On Tuesday January 23 and Wednesday January 24 our Union Bargaining Team met with Management to continue contract negotiations. By the end of two long days, we were able to come to tentative agreements on almost all our proposals. We exchanged multiple wage scale proposals, however, and at the end of Wednesday evening Management asked us to consider their last proposal of the day for consideration as part of a fully recommended offer. We made the decision to talk to our coworkers about it first to see how we all feel.

Contract Action Team Meeting!

We will be holding a Contract Action Team meeting at the Teamsters 589 office on Sunday, February 4 at 6:30PM to get your input! Please arrive promptly so that we can discuss this as a group. The address is 1293 S C St, Port Angeles, WA 98363.

PCC Friday Contract Vote and Strike Authorization Vote

Friday Strike Vote: Our UFCW 3000 PCC Bargaining Team Unanimously Recommends a NO Vote on the Contract Offer and a YES Vote to Authorize a STRIKE! 

Yesterday, after having six weeks to prepare a fair proposal, PCC came to our bargaining session only willing to propose a move of 10 cents for the Grocery contract and 20 cents for the Meat contract at the top of our scales. PCC then left the session without even responding to our counter proposals. PCC has clearly decided that our wages should be lower than our region’s grocery store standards. They think we deserve less than the grocery store worker across the street.

Our Member Bargaining Team thinks our work is worth more than that. We are ready to stand up for a fair contract.

PCC has historically led the grocery store industry and now they have fallen far behind. PCC is behind Town and Country, Saar's, Safeway, and every other union grocery store in this region.

We are sending a clear message: We will no longer allow our wages to lag behind and we are ready to strike.

PCC is the largest food co-op in the United States. When they were doing well, PCC was to happy to spend money on fancy executive offices, or big payouts to recruit Kroger and Starbucks management, or to expand beyond PCC's ability to operate, or to install, then uninstall, then install again U-SCAN machines. PCC has spent money in ways that did not benefit workers or improve the customer experience, over the objections of workers and our union. Now, after years of poor executive decision-making, PCC wants to balance their books on the backs of workers.

We will not tolerate a grocery store that claims to care about the community and its members while undercutting community standards.

PCC Management has lost its way. And the only way for them to find their way again is to have workers involved in their decisions. Workers know better than anyone what works in our stores. Workers know our customers. Workers' voices will make PCC successful.

If we must strike, it will be a strike to protect PCC from itself.

Contract Votes and Strike Authorization Meetings: Friday, January 26

Tomorrow, Friday, January 26, we will be holding Strike Authorization votes at all 15 PCC store locations. All members in good standing are eligible to vote. Copies of the PCC contract offer highlight sheet will be available for review at each vote location. Our Union Bargaining Team is recommending a NO vote to reject PCC's latest contract proposal and YES vote to authorize a strike.

Morning Votes 8:00AM — 12:00PM

West Seattle PCC: 2749 California Ave SW. Seattle, WA 98116  

Burien PCC: 15840 1st Ave. South, Burien, WA 98148  

Green Lake Village PCC: 450 NE 71st St. Seattle, WA 98115  

Bothell PCC: 22621 Bothell Everett Highway, Bothell, WA 98021  

Fremont PCC: 600 North 34th St. Seattle, WA 98103  

Bellevue PCC: 11615 NE 4th St. Bellevue, WA 98004  

Ballard PCC: 1451 NW 46th St. Seattle, WA 98107  

View Ridge PCC: 6514 40th Ave NE. Seattle, WA 98115  

Afternoon Votes 2:00PM — 6:00PM  

Columbia City PCC: 3610 South Edmunds St. Seattle, WA 98118  

Central District PCC: 2230 E Union St. Seattle, WA 98122  

Redmond PCC: 11435 Avondale Rd NE. Redmond, WA 98052  

Edmonds PCC: 9803 Edmonds Wy. Edmonds, WA 98020  

Issaquah PCC: 1810 12th Ave NW. Issaquah, WA 98027  

Kirkland PCC: 430 Kirkland Wy. Kirkland, WA 98033  

Greenlake PCC: 7504 Aurora Avenue N. Seattle, WA 98103  

Resources

Strike Frequently Asked Questions document >>
Make sure you have filled-out and submitted a W9 form for union strike benefits during a strike >>

Our Union Bargaining Comittee: 
Atsuko Koseki – PCC Edmonds – Deli
Scott Shiflett – PCC Redmond – Meat
Greg Brooks – PCC Burien – Meat
Allison Smith – PCC Kirkland – Meat
Ebrahimi – PCC View Ridge – Grocery
Yasab Pfister – PCC Burien – Front End
Keith Allery – GLV – Night Crew Deli
Emily Weisenburger – HBC – Issaquah
Arlo Bender-Simon – Bothell – Grocery  
Marlin Hathaway –  GLV – Grocery
Jordan Young – View Ridge – Grocery

National Press Conference on Opposition to Kroger and Albertsons’ Proposed Mega-Merger

For Immediate Release – Wednesday January 24th, 2024

PRESS ADVISORY for Friday, January 26th, 2024 (9AM PST, 12 noon EST)

Virtual Press Conference. Register HERE in advance

Grocery Store Workers and their UFCW Local Unions Hold National Press Conference on Ongoing Efforts to Oppose Kroger and Albertsons’ Proposed Mega-Merger

What: A national press conference to update media and expose many of the troubling details underlying the proposed merger as well as debunking the claims being made by the companies about themselves, the reasons for the proposed merger in the 1st place, the troubling picture of C&S as the proposed divestiture company, and more. Short informational session will be followed by a Q and A session for the media.

Who: 

• Faye Guenther, President, UFCW 3000 (WA)

• Tom Olson, Grocery store worker and UFCW 7 member (CO)

• John Marshall, CFA, Capital Strategies Director, UFCW 324 (CA) and UFCW 3000 (WA)

Upon request, post event interviews can be arranged for media with local grocery store workers in Washington State. And interviews with grocery store members at UFCW locals in CA, WA, CO and the Washington DC/surrounding states areas can also be arranged.

When: Friday January 26, 2024: 9 AM PST, 12 Noon EST

Where: Pre-register here in advance of the press conference HERE >>

Contact: Tom Geiger, UFCW 3000, 206-604-3421

Grocery East Join the next Contract Action Meeting

Join us for a Contract Action Team (CAT) meeting to review our action plan to win a fair contract! At these meetings, we will have an in depth discussions about our next steps to win better wages and the contract we all deserve.

Pendleton/Hermiston: February 1, 2024 5pm – 6Pm

Pendleton Convention Center 1601 Westgate, Pendleton Ore 97801

Spokane: February 7, 2024 10am – 11am or 5:30PM – 6:30PM

UFCW 3000 office, 2805 N. Market St. Spokane, WA 99207

Yakima: February 7, 2024 5:30pm – 6:30pm

UFCW 3000 office, 507 S 3rd St Yakima, WA 98901

Wenatchee: February 8, 2024 5:30pm – 6:30pm

UFCW 3000 office, 330 King St, Suite 4. Wenatchee, WA 98801

Tri cities: February 8, 2024 5:30pm – 6pm & February 28, 2024 5:30pm – 6:30pm

UFCW 3000 office, 2505 Duportail St, Suite D. Richland, WA 99352

Update on Our Efforts to Protect Workers and Customers from the Proposed Kroger-Albertsons Merger/C&S Divestiture

We wanted to provide you with an update on our efforts to oppose the proposed merger between The Kroger Company (parent company of Fred Meyer and QFC) and Albertsons Companies, Inc. (parent company of Safeway, Albertsons and Haggen stores) and their proposed divestiture of stores to C&S Wholesale Grocers.

1. On Monday, January 15, Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson filed a lawsuit in King County, Washington court to block the proposed merger. Our UFCW 3000 endorsement of this legal action and a quote from UFCW 3000 grocery store member Yasmin Ashur who works at the Port Orchard Albertsons was part of the news coverage in the Seattle Times news article linked above and other news stories nationwide.

2. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is continuing its review of the proposed merger, and we continue to work closely with them. Many analysts feel it is more than likely that the FTC will challenge the merger. Our local union, in coalition with other local unions from across the United States, has provided extensive information about the proposed merger to the FTC. We remain hopeful that the FTC will also challenge the proposed merger. Both the courts and the FTC have the power to potentially block the merger from being completed.

3. Recently, Kroger and Albertsons have announced a delay to the merger timeline, until potentially as late as August. No doubt this delay is in response to both news of the lawsuit and the pressure campaign mounted by a broad swath of consumer groups, unions, farmers, ranchers, and others committed to preventing the harmful effects of this merger.

JOIN US!

All our grocery store members are invited to join us for a webinar on Tuesday, January 23. Please go to the link below to register for your preferred webinar:

MORNING MEETING:

Tuesday 1/23/24

8 AM

EVENING MEETING:

Tuesday 1/23/24

5 PM

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Additional information:

• This is far from a done deal: Kroger and Albertsons cannot sell stores to C&S Wholesale Grocers unless and until a merger were approved by regulators, and now, because of the Washington State lawsuit, the courts.

• Contrary to comments made by these companies, this proposed merger is not at all necessary. Nor does their announced divestiture plan remedy our concerns. Both Kroger and Albertsons are doing well financially and making strong profits.

• The proposed merger is really about greed. These two companies have already profited so much from the labor of grocery store workers all while often under-staffing stores and over-charging customers. Instead of investing in improved working conditions and reduced prices, they have prioritized high CEO pay, large dividends, including an Albertsons $4 Billion give away in early 2023, and massive stock buy backs.

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Keeping up the Effort to Protect Workers and Customers

Our efforts over the past year and a half, from actions at the store level, to meeting with regulators, to helping to educate the public and generate hundreds of TV, radio and newspaper stories across the nation, have and continue to have an impact. We can’t let up now. The proposed Kroger-Albertsons merger would no doubt be disastrous for consumers in the form of higher prices, for workers in the form of lost jobs, lower wages, and crippling losses to pension and health benefit plans, for farmers and ranchers who will lose a major buyer of their products,  and for thousands of Americans who would find themselves living in food and drug-store deserts without adequate access to everyday necessities. If you haven’t done so already, please tell the FTC and you can also write to Washington’s Attorney General to thank him for his recent lawsuit and let him know why you oppose the proposed merger.

PCC Contract Votes are Coming!

We will be bargaining with the Employer on January 23 and 24...

If we do not reach a Tentative Agreement:

For a successor contract we will hold strike vote meetings on Friday, January 26 for all PCC workers in good standing. Members will be able to review the most recent offer from Management, ask the union member Bargaining Committee questions, and vote on whether to accept or reject the offer and vote to authorize a strike at PCC.

Tentative Votes for Friday, January 26:

8:00am — 12:00pm

West Seattle PCC: 2749 California Ave SW. Seattle, WA 98116

Burien PCC: 15840 1st Ave. South, Burien, WA 98148

Green Lake Village PCC: 450 NE 71st St. Seattle, WA 98115

Bothell PCC: 22621 Bothell Everett Highway, Bothell, WA 98021

Fremont PCC: 600 North 34th St. Seattle, WA 98103

Bellevue PCC: 11615 NE 4th St. Bellevue, WA 98004

Ballard PCC: 1451 NW 46th St. Seattle, WA 98107

View Ridge PCC: 6514 40th Ave NE. Seattle, WA 98115

2:00pm — 6:00pm

Columbia City PCC: 3610 South Edmunds St. Seattle, WA 98118

Central District PCC: 2230 E Union St. Seattle, WA 98122

Redmond PCC: 11435 Avondale Rd NE. Redmond, WA 98052

Edmonds PCC: 9803 Edmonds Wy. Edmonds, WA 98020

Issaquah PCC: 1810 12th Ave NW. Issaquah, WA 98027

Kirkland PCC: 430 Kirkland Wy. Kirkland, WA 98033

Greenlake PCC: 7504 Aurora Avenue N. Seattle, WA 98103

If we reach a Tentative Agreement:

If we reach a tentative agreement with PCC during bargaining on Tuesday 23 & 24 we will cancel the Strike Authorization Vote meetings on January 26 and reschedule the vote for a later date to give members time to review the contract offer and union Bargaining Committee recommendation.

Reach out to a Union Rep, Shop Steward, or Bargaining Team member with any questions.

WA Attorney General files lawsuit to block Kroger-Albertsons mega merger

We have been clear and strong in our opposition to the proposed Kroger and Albertsons merger from day one. Attorney General Ferguson has been a leader in the effort to protect workers and consumers and he led the effort last year to try to stop Albertsons' $4 billion payout to wealthy shareholders. That was important. The announcement today of his lawsuit to stop the merger itself is welcome news.

 “As a grocery store worker and leader in our union, I feel very supported to have Attorney General Ferguson taking action to protect us from this bad merger proposal. Workers, shoppers and our communities need to prevent this proposed mega-merger from taking place,” - Yasmin Ashur, UFCW 3000 grocery store worker from the Albertsons in Port Orchard, WA.

Grocery East Employer wage proposal way off the mark!

Our Union Member Bargaining Committee met again this week. We continue to fight for wages that respect our work, maintaining and improving our healthcare, and improvements to our pension. While we know that cost of living is skyrocketing in Spokane and across the region, the Employer representative continued to argue that wages should remain lower than other grocery store wages in the State. We have a long way to go to get the wages and benefits we deserve.

However, we did reach several important Tentative Agreements:  

• Safeway contributions of $0.03/hour to secure our retirement funding. 

• Improved vacation accruals. We won vacation accruals based off the average of hours worked in the previous 12 months. This will help ensure that no worker gets less vacation per week than they normally work per week.  

• Aligned notice of technological changes in the store with other UFCW 3000 grocery store contracts.  

• Greater scheduling notice so people can plan their lives, changing initial notice from Thursday to Tuesday 6 pm in Safeway/Albertsons.  

While we made progress on many issues like vacation, retirement funding, and scheduling, we are still far apart on the most important issue- wages. 

The employer proposal included: 

• A 5-year contract—Longer than usual until we can bargain a new agreement. 

• $0.50 per year for the Journey Rates of pay—Lower than what workers got in California, Colorado, Oregon, and Western Washington. 

• Paying less in healthcare contributions and reducing our plan reserves. 

The Union Member Bargaining Committee told the employer that their opening proposal was way off the mark from what we deserve. 

Our Union Member Bargaining Comittee continued to propose common sense proposals:   

• Create Journey wage increases of multiple dollars over the life of the contract. 

• Institute one wage scale for all UFCW 3000 Eastern Washington, Oregon and Northern Idaho and the same journey wage rate across all grocery scales. 

• Gain ground on Puget Sound clerk wage rates, because cost of living is high everywhere! 

• Create raises of multiple dollars for Journey Meat Cutters over the life of the contract, a proposed dollar premium for Head Meat Cutter, and new designation of Head Butcher Block.  

• Increase the amount to $0.25 between steps so that every step sees an increase as the minimum wage increases with cost of living. 

• Reduce the length of our wage scales so our coworkers can reach the Journey rate sooner.  

• Maintain our strong healthcare plan and coverage and improve benefits without increasing employee premiums.  

• Fund our pension and increase contributions and benefits for future earned benefits.  

• Institute resort store pay premiums for Chelan, Leavenworth, Sandpoint and CDA. 

• Create premiums for Person-In-Charge pay.

• Make a quicker path to Journey for Meat Cutters that complete the Meat Apprenticeship program.  

• Ensure full back pay to date of expiration. 

 We continued to fight for non-economic proposals including: 

• Funding for workforce training so we can get the training we need and expand the meat cutters apprenticeship around the state of Washington, Oregon and Idaho.   

• Worker Severance and Retention language to ensure that, in the event of any merger or sale of the companies, the company must retain workers for a set period and compensate workers fairly if they are laid off or terminated.   

 Next bargaining dates: February 8, 9, 15 and 16.  

Join us and show our unity in fighting for a strong contract!

• SIGN A STRIKE PLEDGE CARD

• REMEMBER TO FILL OUT THE WORKER RESEARCH COMMITTEE SURVEY ABOUT THE STATE OF SAFETY AND OPERATIONS AT YOUR STORE >>

• WEAR YOUR UNION BUTTONS AT WORK!

More information:

• TO GET UPDATES AND JOIN THE FIGHT TO STOP THE MEGA-MERGER, GO TO NOGROCERYMERGER.COM

• FOR INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR HEALTH CARE PLAN WITH REHN GO TO WWW.UFCWHEALTH.COM OR CALL  800-872-8979

• IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PENSION AND THE SOUND HEALTH AND WELLNESS TRUST CONTACT ZENITH AT SOUNDRETIRMENTTRUST.COM OR CALL 800-225-7629