After months of preparation and workers taking action, marathon bargaining sessions led to a tentative agreement with Albertsons/Safeway, at 3 AM on April 14. This followed four long days of negotiations last week. Our Team will return to the bargaining table with Kroger on Tuesday, April 19. Members at our Kroger stores should continue to prepare for our Informational Pickets on 4/26 to take action on Kroger so we all gain the respect, protection, and pay we deserve. We will all stand united until we all win.
This historic agreement with Albertsons/Safeway is a direct result of our actions and commitment to fighting for essential frontline grocery store workers and serving the communities in which we live since long before COVID. Essential grocery store workers from UFCW in Colorado, California and now here in our State of Washington are gaining some of the respect, pay and protections we deserve.
This is a Tentative Agreement and is not final until you vote to accept it. We will be scheduling votes for Albertsons/Safeway members the week of April 24 through April 30. Exact dates, times and locations will follow soon.
Full details of the agreement will be provided as soon as possible. Some top line information below:
HIGHER WAGES: Exceeds the best wage increases in our union’s history, including hard money at the top of the scale and new money throughout the pay scales.
ADDRESSING PAY EQUITY ACROSS DEPARTMENTS: For years we have been working toward fundamentally changing pay scales so that underpaid departments are paid more equitably. This Tentative Agreement has significant wage increases for all perimeter departments such as Deli, Coffee, Bakery, E-Commerce, Floral, GMHBC, and Fuel, with integration onto a higher paid All Purpose Clerk scale.
“This new scale moves us one step closer to having a single pay scale for everyone in the store. An hour of work is an hour of work, regardless of what department you are in, and we deserve to be compensated equally.”
- Kyong Barry, Albertsons
“This is the biggest wage increase we have ever seen. This pay increase will help thousands of workers who are struggling to put food on the table and pay rent. I am glad Safeway acknowledged the needs of our workers and stepped up with the largest pay increase we have ever seen.”
— Naomi Oligario, Safeway
PROTECTING OUR HEALTH PLAN: For another three years there will be no increased costs for members for our quality, affordable health care. At the same time we were able to negotiate improvements to health, vision, and dental insurance.
KEEPING OUR PENSION SECURE: Our pension continues to be well-funded and secure into the future, including increases in employer contributions to our pension as our wages go up.
IMPROVING SAFETY: We won mandates for our Master Safety Committee Meetings so we have pre-scheduled meeting dates where our employer will discuss our safety concerns directly with worker representatives.
IMPROVING TRAINING: We raised the employer contribution to our joint union-employer training fund to create better pathways to training and better paying jobs. This will invest millions of dollars into our workforce development.
IMPROVING RECRUITMENT & RETENTION: With dramatic pay raises throughout the store, helping address workplace safety, keeping our quality health and pension plans, and an increased investment in training and education, this will help recruit and retain workers in our stores so we can be safely staffed.
TAKING ACTION: ENSURE KROGER WORKERS WIN A FAIR CONTRACT
PREPARE TO ATTEND THE UPCOMING INFORMATIONAL PICKETS ON APRIL 26: SIGN UP TODAY
We know our customers and communities are willing to stand with us in the fight for a fair contract, and informational pickets are an important opportunity to raise our voices, join with our communities, and show Kroger we’re not backing down. There will be morning and afternoon pickets across the region on Tuesday, April 26:
8a-12p:
Fred Meyer #122, 100 NW 85th St, Seattle, WA 98117
Fred Meyer #215, 25250 Pacific Hwy S, Kent, WA 98032
Fred Meyer #681, 2801 Bickford Ave, Snohomish, WA 98290
QFC #863, 1009 Monroe Ave, Enumclaw, WA 98022
QFC #871, 4800 NE 4th St, Renton, WA 98059
QFC #872, 9999 Holman Rd NW, Seattle, WA 98117
2p-6p:
Fred Meyer #111, 33702 21st Ave SW, Federal Way, WA 98023
Fred Meyer #28, 14300 1st Ave S, Burien, WA 98168
QFC #808, 10116 NE 8th St, Bellevue, WA 98004
