Recovery Cafe Bargaining Update
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We want to give a quick update as not everyone has been attending the weekly/semi-weekly Zoom meetings on Thursdays. In the future, we will invite everyone via gmail calendar when the next meeting is scheduled.
First, a huge thank you to Anthony as he transitions away from being our primary contact and our shepherd through the voting process! We could not have won the vote without his help!
Our "new" union contact, or Union Representative, with UFCW 3000 is:
Allison Hanley, whose number 360.409.0242.
Our bargaining negotiator will be Daniel Cobb.
Second, short form of our next steps:
Make lists of potential bargaining proposals (both economic and non-economic).
Nominate potential bargaining team members.
Nominate potential shop stewards, who will act as the eyes and ears of our Union at work.
Attend a “Weingarten rights” Zoom training/meeting.
Bargaining Proposals
We should all be thinking about the changes we want to make at Recovery Cafe, and start making a list. Everyone's list will eventually be sent to our negotiator, Daniel, and he will start organizing them into one BIG list. This list will then be discussed with everyone to identify priorities before bargaining begins so that we all know and agree on what we will be asking for. I have a list that I'm willing to show you if you're not quite sure what that list can look like. Come see me and I will be happy to show it to you. If you are happy in your job and don't have a list to make, that's fine too, it's not compulsory. Our collective list will be used as the basis for initial bargaining proposals.
Bargaining Team
What is bargaining? Collective bargaining is the process in which we, through our Union, negotiate contracts with our employer to determine our terms of employment, including pay, benefits, hours, leave, job health and safety policies, ways to balance work and family, work culture, and more.
To do this, we must decide on a leadership team. At the moment, this looks like us nominating who will represent us at the bargaining table for our consideration. These people will be your coworkers, who you trust will (using the list above) help negotiate a contract for you. Since not everyone can sit at the table, this will be between 3-5 people from SLU and SODO. Don't worry, our negotiator will handle all the legal stuff, no one will have to go toe-to-toe with leadership arguing with legalese. This group should be a mix of floor and admin staff from both properties. More on that to come.
Shop Stewards
Next, we'll have to select shop stewards. A shop steward, also known as a union steward, is an employee elected by their fellow union members to advocate for their coworkers within the workplace, acting as the primary point of contact for union-related issues and concerns.
Weingarten rights
We would also really love EVERYONE to attend a zoom training on “Weingarten rights”. What is this? Among the rights of union-protected employees is the right of employees, upon request, to have their representative present during an interview that the employee reasonably believes could lead to discipline. This right was first articulated by the Supreme Court in the case, NLRB v. J. Weingarten, Inc. In that case, the Court found that Section 7 of the NLRA protects employees who refuse to submit to certain interviews without a requested representative present. An employee’s requested representative, which may be a union steward, Union Representative, Union officer, or fellow employee, is often referred to as a “Weingarten representative.” Weingarten representatives are entitled to provide advice and active assistance to employees during investigatory interviews. Employees’ right to request their representatives are frequently referred to as “Weingarten rights.”
These may not happen in this particular order, but these are the next few big steps.
So - stay tuned and tune in! WE are the union, and it will become what WE make it.
In Solidarity, Jeff King, Office and Facilities Manager
