Update on Grocery Store Contract Negotiations Here and Around the Nation

Recent negotiations have focused on finding a pension solution with Albertsons/Safeway, similar to the Tentative Agreement we reached with Kroger. If we can reach an agreement with Albertsons/Safeway to solve our pension problems, we can move our pension from the “red zone” to the “green zone,” and it will have a lasting effect on bargains to come.

See the Pension Primer for more detailed background on why solving our pension problems are so important to this and future negotiations.

Beyond our pension, there are critical issues still on the table, including:

• Raising wages.

• Protecting and fully funding our health plan.

• Blocking employer takeaways - the employers have proposed eliminating our across-the-board guarantee of raises, eliminating our wage escalators, and the guarantee of 10 cents above minimum wage.

The employers’ current proposals on wages and holiday pay are unacceptable to our bargaining team, and our membership. We are not interested in any of the employers’ cuts. We’ve been sharing with the employers real stories from members about what it’s like to work in grocery stores these days and the challenges we’re facing—members who are working multiple jobs and still struggling to get by, members worried about keeping a roof over their heads as the cost of housing in our region skyrockets.

We’re the ones who make these companies successful, and we need real wage increases, high quality and affordable health care, and a secure pension we can count on at the end of our working lives.

Actions Continue:

Members have been taking action together for months now, including wearing buttons and stickers at work, leafleting our stores, holding informational pickets, and most recently taking our message directly the public by holding banners on highway overpasses across Pierce, King, and Snohomish Counties.

This week, members will be handing out leaflets in front of stores across Puget Sound to update our customers and our community about the bargain. We know our communities have our back, and if we want to see movement at the bargaining table, we need to keep everyone involved and keep up the pressure. Check with your Steward or Union Rep to get involved in an action at or near your store.
 

Other UFCW Agreements Across the Country

UFCW members across the country have been UNITED for fair contracts over the past year. We supported our fellow members in New England during their strike, and stood with members in Colorado, Southern California, and Oregon and Southwest Washington during their many months of tough negotiations. Local 555 (Oregon and SW Washington) just reached a Tentative Agreement on Saturday 9/28, and details will soon be available.

These locals won wage increases in the range of 45-60 cents per hour at the top of the scale for each year of the contract and also won additional improvements to their contracts on top of wage increases.

Next round of Negotiations

We have negotiations October 1 through most of the week and will send an update after this round.

Most importantly, your involvement during these negotiations is critical to our success—your support is our power at the table. Button up, come out to an action, and stay in touch with your Steward and Union Rep.

In Solidarity, 

YOUR GROCERY STORE BARGAINING TEAM

Amy Dayley Angell, QFC #891 (Ballard), Front End Checker, UFCW 21
Christina Harris, Fred Meyer - Lake City #179 (Grocery), Bakery Clerk, UFCW 21
Cliff Powers, Safeway #402 (Oak Harbor), Produce Clerk, UFCW 21
Denise Anderson, Safeway #1546 (Aberdeen), Meat Wrapper, UFCW 367
Eleanor Knight, Albertsons #4483 (Auburn), 4th PIC, UFCW 21
Irene Garcia, Fred Meyer - Auburn #19 (Retail), Home Clerk, UFCW 21
Jeannette Randall, Safeway #1923 (Roxbury), Front End Checker, UFCW 21
Jeff Smith, Fred Meyer - Snohomish #681 (Retail), Non-food receiving Clerk, UFCW 21
J'Nee DeLancey, Town & Country #211 (Ballard), Beer/Wine/Spirt Manager, UFCW 21
Joann Gardner, Albertsons #3106 (Puyallup), Personnel Coordinator/Bookkeeper, UFCW 367
Kyong Barry, Albertsons #4483 (S Auburn), Front End Manager, UFCW 21
Lisa Gasser, Fred Meyer #424 (South Hill), Bakery Clerk, UFCW 367
Maggie Breshears, Fred Meyer - Greenwood #122 (Grocery), Personal Shopper, UFCW 21
Maroot Nanakul, Safeway #464 (Bear Creek), Front End Manager, UFCW 21
Michaela Strain, QFC #819 (Bothell), Meat Wrapper, UFCW 21
Mike Sherman, Fred Meyer # 265 – Puyallup, Grocery Clerk, UFCW 367
Mike Solberg, Safeway # 547 (Graham), Grocery Clerk, UFCW 367
Paul Ames Reinhold, Metropolitan Market #157 (Uptown), Cheese Kiosk Clerk, UFCW 21
Richard Waits, Haggen #15 (Burlington), Deli Clerk, UFCW 21
Robin Hillistad, QFC #858 (N Seattle), HR Specialist/Bookkeeper, UFCW 21
Sam Dancy, QFC #825 (Westwood Village), Front End Supervisor, UFCW 21
Sue Wilmot, Safeway #1252 (Bainbridge Island), Front End Checker, UFCW 21
Wendy Garrett-Drake, Albertsons #469 (Mukilteo), Personnel Coordinator/Bookkeeper, Teamsters 38
Wil Peterson, Fred Meyer - Everett #95 (Grocery), CCK Checker, UFCW 21
Faye Guenther, President, UFCW 21
Steve Chandler, Principal Officer Teamsters 38
Joe Mizrahi, Secretary Treasurer, UFCW 21
Mia Contreras, Executive Vice President, UFCW 21
Tammi Brady, Recording Secretary, Teamsters 38
Samantha Kantak, Executive Assistant, Teamsters 38
Kate Meckler, Trustee, UFCW 367
Jim McGuinness, Attorney, UFCW 21, Teamsters 38 and UFCW 367