Our collective actions over the last two weeks have paid off in this bargaining session, and we are encouraged by the results! Management arrived prepared to engage and met with our team early in the day, replying to several outstanding proposals. Throughout the course of the day, we reached sixteen tentative agreements. One of these was a major breakthrough in our economic proposals – agreeing to the definitions of full time and part time employees. Thank you to our Contract Action Team members who pulled a lot of information to support the need for these definitions.
The union met with LabCorp on Wednesday, October 28, and once again received unacceptable, disrespectful proposals. LabCorp offers minimal, below-market wage increases, resists giving reasonable notice of outsourcing, and wants to strip away our rights and gain total power to change your health insurance whenever it chooses. The company blames upcoming Medicare reimbursement cuts for refusing to move closer to our proposals, but we are skeptical: LabCorp is thriving financially, its stock price is rising, and CEO Adam Schechter received $18,399,913 in compensation last year.
Grocery executives are working to grab every penny from their workers and members of our communities. Every contract negotiation is an opportunity to fight for what we deserve and work to steer the grocery industry back on track, to focus on what matters: delivering quality customer service and great products to feed our neighbors.
In our last contract negotiations, our union won the largest wage increases that we’ve seen, secured a transition to the stable our union health plan through the UFCW Spokane healthcare Trust, and ensured funding to keep our pension plan dependable for retirement. Our NE Oregon contracts recently expired, and our union is prioritizing a new contract that builds upon our previous wins.
After four long days of bargaining with the Employer and countless hours of preparation, our Bargaining Team reached a Tentative Agreement (TA) that we are excited to bring back to our members!
While our initial bargaining sessions were largely positive and relatively low stakes, we now have reached the meat and potato economic proposals that our unit cares about most. This is often the most challenging stage of bargaining – especially when bargaining a first contract. An example from today: in response to our extensively researched wage proposal, the company stated "we don't want to change how we do things" without further discussion.
As 2,500 UFCW 3000 members at MultiCare continue preparations for contract bargaining to begin early next year, there are several upcoming opportunities to gather, discuss and contribute. First off, a big thanks to all who completed the bargaining surveys during August and September. That information will be crucial in our assessing priorities before bargaining.
After holding nomination votes for the Labor Management Advisory Committee (LMAC) from September 21–25, 2026, and then holding nominee votes for Ballard, Central District, and Issaquah on October 21, 2026, we are happy to announce your committee members!
This agreement comes after more than six months of bargaining, an informational picket, federal mediation, a strike pledge campaign, and a strike authorization vote that showed CommonSpirit members were ready to fight for a better contract
After more than a month since our last session, our Union Bargaining Team; Alyssa and Oliver were able to reconvene with the employer on October 19 to receive their economic counter proposal.
Join us via Zoom on Tuesday, October 20, at 6:30 PM to learn more about the tentative agreement reached between our Union Bargaining Team and CommonSpirit.
“At a time when workers are struggling to keep up with sky-high prices for groceries, housing, health care, and other basic necessities, we cannot afford to give a tax cut to the wealthiest people in our state,” said Sam Dancy, UFCW 3000 Executive Board Vice President and Grocery Bargaining Team Member
Our member-led Bargaining Team met with representative from Puzzle Break to lay the foundation for the negotiations of our first union contract. We discussed guidelines around how proposals will be passed, Bargaining Team availability and our desire to have consistent and timely bargaining dates moving forward.
After months of difficult negotiations and a powerful show of solidarity, we have reached a tentative agreement on a new contract! Thanks to our collective strength, we secured significant improvements, including:
Please join us in person at the UFCW 3000 Des Moines office for Contract Action Team meetings on the following dates. We will be meeting in person at the union office, but for those who cannot join in person there will be an online option. During these meetings, will be sharing updates as well as creating picket signs for an upcoming info picket.
After months of difficult negotiations, a powerful informational picket, and an overwhelming strike authorization vote, our Union Bargaining Team fought late into the night on October 8 and reached a tentative agreement on a new contract!
The Nominations are in, now it’s time to vote for who will represent you and your coworkers from Ballard, Central District, and Issaquah PCCs on the newly formed PCC Labor Management Advisory Committee (LMAC). Secure online voting will take place Wednesday, October 21 from 8am to 8pm. Every PCC store elects one LMAC representative, you may only vote on a nominee from your own store.
Following a series of highly attended vote meetings on Monday, October 5, union technical workers at St. Joseph Medical Center voted nearly unanimously to:
Reject CommonSpirit’s subpar contract offer
Authorize a STRIKE
“We set the stage and gave our comprehensive proposal letting the employer know that our priorities are to win wages that we deserve, improve our transportation benefits, win immigration protection language as well as ensuring the safety of our co-workers. We are eager to see what BDA’s response is on the 21. ” -Kota Owens, Bargaining Team Member
For the first time in history, on Tuesday, Sept 29, grocery store workers from across Washington State and North Idaho met at the same table to plan for our upcoming bargaining session with Kroger and Albertsons.
Our Bargaining Team is thrilled to announce that on September 22, 2026, an overwhelming majority of our members voted YES and approved the contract! We now have a ratified contract!
Read More
After two additional full days of bargaining with the Employer, our Bargaining Team has reached a Tentative Agreement that we are proud to bring back to our members.
We went into these negotiations with a clear message: our members deserve meaningful improvements, and we were prepared to fight for them.
We listened to what you told us. We stood together at the bargaining table. And we pushed to deliver an agreement that addresses the priorities our members asked us to fight for.
Wage Increases
Improved Longevity Increment Language
PILB Improvements
Discipline Process Changes
Strengthening protections and improving the process for our members.
Call-Back Improvements
Expanded our recognition, adding 6 job classifications.
We didn't get here by standing alone. We got here because our members stood together.
Every conversation, every concern, and every voice helped shape what our Bargaining Team took to the table. This agreement represents that collective effort.
Now it's our turn to stand together again.
“The art of negotiation lies in finding mutually beneficial solutions that satisfy the interests of both parties.”
September 22
11:30am–1:30pm
5–7pm
Hub Conference Room
Our Bargaining Team is asking you to vote YES on the Tentative Agreement.
We fought for it.
We negotiated for it.
Now let's ratify it together.
UNITY AT THE TABLE. UNITY AT THE VOTE.
VOTE YES!
If you have questions or concerns about the contract or bargaining process, please reach out to a member of the Bargaining Team or Becky Latzel, Union Rep, at (866) 210-3000.
Bargaining Team: Rebecca Thompson, UC and CNA; Michael Hughes, Cook; Chris Torres, Lab Tech Non-Certified.
"Unity in the workplace is not just about fairness; it's about building a foundation where everyone can thrive."
Our Bargaining Team met with the Employer and continued making progress at the bargaining table. We have worked through more of our non-economic proposals, and we have reached several tentative agreements.
These agreements reflect the hard work of our Bargaining Team, our voices, and the strength we bring when we stand together.
Some of the progress we've secured:
Changes to our EIB
Strengthened our Union Access
Secured both Medical Air Insurances
Expanded Bereavement language
This is important progress—but we are not done yet. The Employer provided an economic counterproposal, leaving our Bargaining Team a lot of work ahead as we prepare for our next bargaining session on September 10 and 11.
We want to show our members Uniting together! Wear your Union button on September 9 and send a photo to one of our Bargaining Team members, so we show the Employer just how united we are. Every button, every photo, and every member standing together sends a message.
Bargaining continues September 10 and 11.
Stay engaged, stay informed, and most importantly, stay united. Together we have the power to win a strong contract!
Keep Your Information Up to Date: Update Your Information >>
If you have questions or concerns about the contract or bargaining process, please reach out to a member of the Bargaining Team or Becky Latzel, Union Rep, at (866) 210-3000.
Bargaining Team: Rebecca Thompson, UC and CNA; Michael Hughes, Cook; Chris Torres, Lab Tech Non-Certified.
On August 21, our Bargaining Team met with the Employer to kick off our bargaining process. We are encouraged by the progress we made at the bargaining table and feel that the Employer is hearing and sharing our concerns.
We reached several tentative agreements and left the Employer with both our non-economic and economic proposals. We are hopeful that the Employer will provide a full response by our next bargaining session on September 2.
“Negotiations foster collaboration and cooperation between employers and workers, leading to a more harmonious and productive working environment.”
— Bargaining Team
Please join our Bargaining Team for a Sticker Up event! Reach out to a Bargaining Team member to get your sticker or to assist with handing them out.
Our Bargaining Team will meet with the Employer for our next bargaining session. We will keep members informed as negotiations continue.
Keep Your Information Up to Date: Update Your Information >>
Join Your Union: UFCW Join Application >>
Want to Become a Union Leader? Consider attending an upcoming online training:
Sept 10 at 10am or 6pm: Intro Shop Steward Training >>
Sept 17 at 10am or 6pm: Steward Training: How to Represent Co-Workers in Investigatory Meetings >>
If you have questions or concerns about the contract or bargaining process, please reach out to a member of the Bargaining Team or Becky Latzel, Union Rep, at (866) 210-3000.
Bargaining Team: Rebecca Thompson, UC and CNA; Michael Hughes, Cook; Chris Torres, Lab Tech Non-Certified.
Ferry County Public Hospital Service & Maintenance / LPN
Tentative Agreement reached! Contract Vote Scheduled!
Our Union Bargaining Team members met with Management on August 10, 2023 and were prepared to meet again the next day but were able to reach a tentative agreement late into the day.
“Today was a great day for all of the hardworking employees of Ferry County Health. We established our foundation with a new contract that will give us a voice and return power to those of us that work tirelessly to keep this hospital district running. We will continue to improve our position and strengthen our resolve through sticking with one another and growing our membership. We all deserve this and more.” —Chris Torres, Lab.
“I am so proud for all the results of our hard work and commitment to each other for the benefit of our co-workers. We look forward to working and talking with each of you.” —Nykole Silrus, LPN.
“It was a privilege to work on a contract that benefits all Service & Maintenance and LPN employees. We now know where we stand for the next Three Years.” —Rebecca Thompson, Unit Coordinator.
Please reach out to our Bargaining Team or Union Representative Amy Radcliff at 509-340-7370 with any questions or concerns.
Bargaining Team members met with management on June 22 and were scheduled for June 23, but management cancelled so they could prepare a response to our comprehensive proposal, which we introduced on the 22nd.
We are looking forward to a counter from the employer on June 29 that hopefully will address all of the very vital parts of our contract.
We have had some very good conversations but still have a lot of work to do.
Our next bargaining session is scheduled for June 29. Please reach out to your bargaining team or Union Representative Amy Radcliff at 509-340-7370 with any questions or concerns.
Our Bargaining Team: Amy Radcliff Union Representative; Chris Torres Lab; Nykole Silrus, LPN; Rebecca Thompson, Unit Coordinator.
Our Union Bargaining Team members met with Management on June 1 and June 2 to begin negotiating our first contract.
“Negotiations are progressing well. Our team is keeping the best interests of all employees in the district in mind and are working hard to establish a fair and beneficial contract.” —Chris Torres, Lab
“It is an honor to sit with my fellow co-workers and Management to go through this process for the betterment of the staff and hospital. We have been working diligently on various issues and have made progress on many of those issues with the thought of our fellow co-workers at heart.” — Nykole Silrus, LPN
“We are off to a good start but have a long way to go in this process. The doors of communication are wide open and the conversations have been very productive.” —Rebecca Thompson, Unit Coordinator
Our next bargaining sessions are scheduled for June 22 and June 23. Please reach out to our Bargaining Team or our Union Representative Amy Radcliff at 509-340-7370 with any questions or concerns.
We are the Union. The members of UFCW 3000 are over 50,000 members working in grocery, retail, health care, meat packing, cannabis, & other industries across Washington state, north-east Oregon, and northern Idaho. UFCW 3000 is a chartered member of UFCW International with over 1.4 million workers in North America.
To build a powerful Union that fights for economic, political and social justice in our workplaces and in our communities.
Correcting the Record: Decades after Organizing Her Own Unit, Leslie Ball Is Still Fighting for Her Coworkers
Leslie Ball, a certified surgical technologist at St. Joseph Medical Center in Tacoma and a longtime UFCW 3000 Union Steward, has spent decades standing up for herself and her coworkers.
Her fight for better working conditions began in the late 1990s, when she received a 30-cent wage increase, which ended up only being a five-cent raise after her employer reduced her shift differential by a quarter. With years of experience and a deep understanding of the value surgical techs bring to the table, she knew a nickel wasn’t going to cut it. So she and a coworker, Gail Miller, started organizing their colleagues at St. Joe's despite warnings that previous organizing efforts had failed.
Within a year, they helped Radiology, Respiratory Therapy, Pharmacy, Physical Therapy, and other departments form the hospital’s first Technical Unit, which ratified its first contract in 1999.
Jenny C., a transporter at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane, knows what it looks like when management hopes a problem will just go away.
Jenny has watched the facility's transport elevators malfunction for more than a year, filing report after report after each incident she witnessed. Supervisors did not appear to take these complaints seriously.
