Edited by Wil Peterson, member of UFCW 21

UFCW 21 member takes self-protective action at self checkout

Standing up to management is nothing new for UFCW 21 member and Bainbridge Island Safeway cashier Sue Wilmot. But the stakes—and potential health risks—are higher than ever during the novel coronavirus pandemic. So when a manager ordered her to open all eight of the store's self-checkout (SCO) stations, despite overcrowded conditions, she respectfully declined because of concerns about maintaining social distancing.

“I feel that I can refuse to do something that I feel is unsafe, and it’s not safe for the customers, either,” Sue said. “It seems like a constant fricking battle to make it safe there. It’s just constantly running in circles... a constant battle. They know what’s right, but they’re more worried about getting the customers through.”

The temporary standoff happened in late March, just after the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) had issued recommendations that include maintaining a distance of at least six feet between workers and customers. Since compliance would have been impossible that day, Sue’s survival instinct kicked in. After a bit of initial pushback from the manager, he allowed her to keep four SCO stations closed but said she would have to open the others if necessary.

Sue stood her ground for the remainder of the shift. The next day, she opened the four outside stations but left the others closed. The store manager ordered her to open each station. Once again, Sue politely refused to comply, citing safety concerns. She was removed from SCO to cashier elsewhere.

A precedent was set, however. During her subsequent SCO shifts, Sue was allowed to open only four stations. But other cashiers were still required to operate at least six of the stations. “They say they don’t feel they can stand up to them,” she said.

That's never been a problem for Sue. During her 39 years at the store, she has circulated petitions and initiated actions, which included organizing an employee walkout during a historic strike in 1989. She recalls being the first employee to wear a protective face mask before management granted permission. As a UFCW 21 Executive Board member, she helped bargain last year’s retail and grocery store worker's contract.

Fortunately, enforcing customer compliance with state face-masking mandates isn't one of Sue's recent responsibilities. “It’s Bainbridge Island,” she said, referring to the residents’ generally cooperative behavior. “Plus, we just give them to the few who don’t have one. Or when they’re told they need one, they go out and get it.”

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Workers Stand Up to Say Black Lives Matter

As union members, we fight for fairness and against discrimination in all forms. Standing together against racism at work and in the community is one of the most UNION things we can do. Plus, when we stand up for each other, we are building the solidarity that makes our union strong.

Workers across the country are taking action to stand up for racial justice in our workplaces and in our communities. Many UFCW 21 members and other union and nonunion workers have begun wearing buttons, stickers, clothing, or face masks saying Black Lives Matter, and the union is producing Black Lives Matter buttons for distribution in workplaces. “I’m choosing to wear this button because we need to bring attention to social injustice,” says shop steward Samuel Dancy, Westwood Village QFC. “We need to head in a different direction.” Unfortunately, some workers are also facing intimidation and retaliation from management for wearing BLM-themed masks or buttons, and some have been directed to remove them.

We must enforce our rights. The law gives us the right to speak up and take collective action on issues that affect us at work, including racism and discrimination. Regardless of the issue, we can’t let management pick and choose when we get to exercise our basic legal and contractual rights.

If management asks you or a coworker to remove a button, apparel, or PPE related to Black Lives Matter: You should comply in the moment and immediately contact your union representative. This action by management may be a violation of your rights under your contract and or the law. It is important that you document any such interaction with management, clearly tell management that you will comply with their request but that you disagree and will be contacting your union representative. This will allow you and your union representative or steward to investigate and take appropriate action – which could include grievances, charges or other actions filed against the employer.

If you would like to get Black Lives Matter buttons to wear and distribute in your workplace, just text (803) 820-2121.

UFCW 21 Member 3-D Prints Protective Equipment for Fellow Members 

UFCW 21 member Ben Hartman believes desperate times call for creative measures. So he used his 3-D printing knowledge to help combat the personal protective equipment (PPE) shortage faced by scores of first responders during the first phase of the COVID-19 crisis. 

“I’m doing this because we need to make sure we eliminate this disease as much as possible,” Ben said. “We need to find ways to protect our Union members.” 

Ben, a dairy manager at QFC in Bellevue, has been 3-D printing since a friend introduced him to the technology in 2016. He built a printer and eventually learned the ins and outs of the process, including creating the electronic maps the printer follows as it melts and transforms plastic filament into finished products and dealing with jams and complications along the way. This spring, he focused on printing components for protective face shields, designed to be worn with face masks as a stop-gap PPE option. Ben used personal 3-D printers to produce top pieces for the face shields, and connected through UFCW 21 with local companies like Fremont Laser and Seattle Makers that were producing other face shield components which could be put together and distributed to members. 

Putting his knowledge to work on behalf of fellow members was gratifying for Ben, who also helped collect donations of N95 masks, gloves, goggles, lab coats, boot covers and respirators from multiple sources including painters, carpenter unions, veterinarians, Microsoft and the Seattle Children's Theater. “It’s a little bit coming from everywhere that’s making the difference,” he said.

And because the term “first responders” is open to interpretation, Ben believes PPE should be available to as many members as possible. 

“All of our members are our first responders—from our members working in the hospitals coming in contact with the virus head on, to our grocery workers who come in contact with the virus on a daily basis from customers who don’t even know if they have the virus, since there are so many people who are still not wearing gloves or face masks,” he said. “We have to protect our members, and that’s what we are hoping to accomplish with this project.”