Grocery Store Bargain: Closer Than Ever to a Real Pension Solution

CLOSER TO AN ANSWER ON PENSION
After three long days of negotiations and conversations about our pension, Albertsons/Safeway negotiators have indicated they are open to negotiating a long term solution that is in line with the Kroger tentative agreement already reached. The union bargaining team is fully committed to fighting for a long-term fix so we can truly move forward with a secure pension.

A pension solution takes time. However, retirement security is worth the fight. We believe that everyone has a right to a secure retirement, and that the investments we make in safeguarding our pension now are vital to our rights as working people and our future bargains. The team has spent many hours with some of the foremost union pension experts in the country to make sure we’re protecting our investments, and it’s time for these employers to act. See the Pension Primer for more details on the plan.
 
NEXT BARGAINING DATES: October 17 & 18 and October 24 & 25
 
HOW TO STAY INVOLVED
Every time we step into the room with these employers, we bring the strength of 30,000 grocery store workers with us. There are lots of ways to support this bargain and get the best contract possible. Have an idea or a question? Ask your Union Steward or Union Rep. Right now, you can:

1. Attend Contract Action Team meetings – next meetings will be October 20-23

2. Wear your union button – and keep extras on hand for coworkers

3. Involve your community – ask your family and friends to join thousands of supporters who have signed our petition and pledge of support for grocery store workers

4. Share your experience working in grocery stores with our online sharing form, so we can continue to bring the voices of members right to the bargaining table. Why is the pension important to you? What should employers know about the value and knowledge you bring to the company every day? What’s it like living on the wages you make now, and what would a real raise mean to you? Take five minutes to add your voice to our bargaining power.

THIS COMMUNITY HAS OUR BACK

Our allies across the region continue to step up and support us at every turn. Just one example: When community allies heard that Renton Fred Meyer workers had faced intimidation for participating in union activities supporting the bargain, they demanded an opportunity to visit the store this week and let management know directly that this community has our back—during this bargain and always.

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
Tammi Brady, Recording Secretary, Teamsters 38
Samantha Kantak, Executive Assistant, Teamsters 38
Kate Meckler, Trustee, UFCW 367
Angel Gonzales, Deputy Trustee, UFCW 367
Jim McGuinness, Attorney, UFCW 21, Teamsters 38 and UFCW 367