Grocery East Contracts Ratified!

This week we ratified 10 contracts by an overwhelming majority! 

It was a great week of voting in Lewiston, Clarkston, Walla Walla, Moses Lake, and Ephrata and sharing our new contract that won:

• Strongest journey wage increases in any past Grocery Store negotiation! We increased our Journeyperson wages by $4.00/hr or more over the term of the contract. 

• Won an “All Purpose Clerk” scale with historic pay raises for many departments —some will see an over 25% wage increase over the term of the contract. 

• More than quadrupling our wage escalators —that means strong wage increases throughout the pay scale when minimum wage goes up and when workers are moving through the apprentice rates.  

• Healthcare benefit improvements with NO increases to healthcare premiums or deductibles. Healthcare eligibility will now be based on all compensable hours.  

• Benefits Holiday for healthcare premiums – For Safeway/Albertsons the holiday months are: June, July, August, and September. For Kroger the holiday months of: May, June, July, and August. 

• Major improvements to our vacation banks that will ensure that we get vacation based off of hours worked.  

• Automatic pension funding increases that go up every time wages increase.  

• Dedicated money to fund training and workforce development to ensure that we get the training we need to do our jobs and prepare for the future of the industry.  

• Stronger safety language to address top issues we face in our stores.  

This is our first union negotiations for these contracts since we became UFCW 3000 and our combined strength has helped us win record wage increases and major contract improvements. In the midst of a proposed grocery mega-merger, we’ve sent a clear message —We have power in our communities, we have a voice in our workplace, we have a strong new contract that will be the backbone for our future, and we are going to continue to fight for more! 

If you have any questions about our new contract please reach out to your Union Representative. 

Grocery Eastern Oregon Contract Votes Set!

This Tentative Agreement is fully recommended by the Grocery Store Bargaining team!

After nearly six months of bargaining with Albertson/Safeway and Kroger for a new contract that respects our work, increases our wages, and improves our retirement and healthcare, we are holding a contract vote! This notice serves to inform all members that a critical membership meeting will be held on May 20 and 21, 2024. 

The bargaining committee will present the tentative agreement received from the Employer. Members will have the opportunity to discuss the terms and implications of the offer before voting on the fully recommended settlement.

Any member covered under the Baker City, La Grande and Enterprise Grocery contract and the Pendleton Hermiston Grocery contract who are in good standing will be able to vote at these locations:

Monday, May 20, 2024: Hermiston from 10:00am—2:00pm at Holiday Inn Express, 245 N 1st St, Hermiston, OR 97838

Monday, May 20, 2024: Pendleton from 4:00pm—8:00pm at Pendleton Convention Center - Room 7, 1601 Westgate, Pendleton, OR 97801

Tuesday May 21, 2024: LaGrande from 9:00am—1:00pm at Island City Hall – Community Room, 10605 Island Ave, Island City, OR 97850

Tuesday May 21, 2024: Enterprise from10:00am —2:00pm at The Wilderness Inn, 301 W North St, Enterprise, OR 97828

Tuesday May 21, 2024: Baker City from 4:00pm—8:00pm at Baker County Library - Riverside Room, 2400 Resort St, Baker City, OR 97814

For questions, please contact your Union Representative, bargaining committee members, and stewards for updates. If you are unable to connect with your union rep, steward or bargaining committee member you may call the MRC at 1-866-210-3000 for more information. 

All members in the Baker City, La Grande and Enterprise Grocery contract and the Pendleton Hermiston Grocery contract are encouraged to be present for this important vote.

Grocery East Cheney Contract Vote Set!

This Tentative Agreement is fully recommended by the Grocery Store Bargaining team!

After nearly six months of bargaining with Albertson/Safeway and Kroger for a new contract that respects our work, increases our wages, and improves our retirement and healthcare, we are holding a contract vote! This notice serves to inform all members that a critical membership meeting will be held on May 13, 2024, in the Safeway breakroom, 2710 1st St, Cheney, WA 99004.We will be conducting a vote on the fully recommended settlement presented by the Employer Monday, May 13. 

The bargaining committee will present the tentative agreement received from the Employer. Members will have the opportunity to discuss the terms and implications of the offer before voting on the fully recommended settlement.

Contract Vote: May 13 from 9am—12pm and 3pm—6pm 

Any member covered under the Cheney Safeway Meat and Cheney Safeway Grocery Contracts who are in good standing will be able to vote in the Safeway breakroom, 2710 1st St, Cheney, WA 99004, from 9am-12pm or from 3pm-6pm on May 13, 2024. 

For questions, please contact your Union Representative, bargaining committee members, and stewards for updates. If you are unable to connect with your union rep, steward or bargaining committee member you may call the MRC at 1-866-210-3000 for more information. 
All members in the Cheney Safeway Meat and Cheney Safeway Grocery Contracts are encouraged to be present for this important vote.

Spokane Grocery store workers overwhelmingly ratify a new three year contract!

This is our first union negotiations since we became UFCW 3000 and our combined strength has helped us win a contract with record wages and major contract improvements. In the midst of a proposed grocery mega-merger, we’ve sent a clear message —We have power in our communities, we have a voice in our workplace, and we have a strong new contract that will be the backbone for our future. 

We did this together, by standing strong and showing up for each other and our communities.  

The many improvements in the ratified contract include: 

• Strongest journey wage increases in any Spokane Grocery Store negotiation! We increased our Journey wages by $4.00 or more.

• Big retro checks for journey going back to contract expirations January 20, 2024.

• Won an “All Purpose Clerk” scale with historic pay raises for many departments —for some over 25% wage increase during the course of this contract.

• More than quadrupling our wage escalators —that means strong wage increases throughout the pay scale when minimum wage goes up and when workers are moving through the apprentice rates. 

• Healthcare with benefit improvements with NO increases to healthcare premiums or deductibles. Healthcare eligibility will now be based on all compensable hours. 

• Major improvements to our vacation banks that will ensure that we get vacation based off of hours worked. 

• Automatic pension funding increases that go up every time wages increase. 

• Dedicated money to fund training and workforce development to ensure that we get the training we need to do our jobs and prepare for the future of the industry. 

• Stronger safety language to address top issues we face in our stores. 

“This is the most money I thought I'd ever see coming out of Kroger. The pressure we applied across all our stores was amazing! I am feeling amazed!” -Katrina Keffer, Fred Meyer 

“I am really excited for my co-workers who worked for years in the Deli, my co-workers will get wage increases that they deserve. This will help make sure we can keep people here in the store.” -Jeff Yergens, Safeway 

Grocery East Tentative Agreement Reached!

Member Bargaining Committee recommends a YES vote! 

After months of strike preparation, store actions, and long negotiation sessions, our member bargaining committee reached a fully recommended tentative agreement with Safeway/Albertsons and Kroger on a new contract. This agreement has dramatic gains for Eastern Washington, Oregon, and historic gains for unionized grocery stores in Idaho.

“This is the most money I thought I'd ever see coming out of Kroger. The pressure we applied across all our stores was amazing! I am feeling amazed!” - Katriana Keffer, Fred Meyer

The agreement includes: 

• Higher wages that will address pay equity across departments 

• Rights that will ensure a safer store 

• Pension improvements

• ​Investments in workforce development and training

• And more!

This tentative agreement is not final until we vote on it. Full details of the agreement will be available at the contract vote Thursday, May 2 where members of the bargaining committee will be available to help answer questions and walk us through the agreement. 

Contract Votes for Spokane Albertsons Meat, Spokane Albertsons Grocery, Spokane Safeway Meat, Spokane Safeway Grocery, Spokane Fred Meyer Meat, Spokane Fred Meyer Grocery, Spokane Fred Meyer CCK: Thursday, May 2, 2024 from 9am-12pm and 3pm-7pm at the Spokane DoubleTree Hotel and Conference Center, 322 N Spokane Falls Ct, Spokane WA 99201 - All other grocery contracts will vote at a later date.

“I feel really, really good about what we are finally getting from these employers! We broke through some big barriers in this agreement. The gains to our retirement plan felt like we were finally being listened to -we can actually retire!” -Frankie Roesser Safeway

“It’s not what everybody wants, it’s not the moon but I am really excited for my coworkers who worked for year in the Deli, my coworkers will get wage increases that they deserve. Hopefully this will help make sure we can keep people here in the store.” -Jeff Yergens, Safeway

Grocery East Contract Votes Set

After nearly six months of bargaining with Albertson/Safeway and Kroger for a new contract that respects our work, increases our wages, and improves our retirement and healthcare, we are holding a contract vote! This notice serves to inform all members that a critical membership meeting will be held on May 2, 2024, at the Spokane Double Tree Hotel, in the conference center. We will be conducting a vote on the last offer presented by the Employer following our scheduled bargaining dates on April 29 and 30, 2024. 

The Agenda, Times and Location for the meeting will be: 

1. CONTRACT RATIFICATION VOTE: The bargaining committee will present the last offer received from the Employer. Members will have the opportunity to discuss the terms and implications of the offer before proceeding to a vote on whether to ratify or reject the proposed contract. 
2. STRIKE AUTHORIZATION VOTE (if applicable): Should the final offer not be recommended by the bargaining committee, we will also conduct a strike authorization vote. This vote will determine whether to engage in a strike or other action in response to the Employer’s final offer. 
3. VOTE TIMES & LOCATION: Any member in good standing will be able to vote at the Spokane DoubleTree Hotel and Conference Center, 322 N Spokane Falls Ct, Spokane WA 99201 from 9am-12pm or from 3pm-7pm on May 2, 2024. Carpool if you can, as parking is limited. Available parking will be at no cost, details available at registration.

For questions, please contact your Union Representative, bargaining committee members, and stewards for critical updates as things can change quickly and are time sensitive. If you are unable to connect with your union rep, steward or bargaining committee member you may call the MRC at 1-866-210-3000 for more information. 

All members in the Spokane Albertsons Meat, Spokane Albertsons Grocery, Spokane Safeway Meat, Spokane Safeway Grocery, Spokane Fred Meyer Meat, Spokane Fred Meyer Grocery, Spokane Fred Meyer CCK, are encouraged to be present for this important vote. Your voice and vote are essential in guiding the direction of our bargaining strategy.  

The Cheney Meat and Grocery Votes will be held at a separate time and location to be announced. The Oregon Grocery Vote will be held at a separate time and location to be announced.  

Grocery East Close -but not close enough!

After three days of bargaining with the Employers, Albertsons/Safeway and Kroger, we made good progress towards an agreement. Our union member Bargaining Committee made major progress on key issues like wage escalators that help ensure we keep our wages above minimum wage and workers get raises when the minimum wage goes up. We will continue to fight to get the Employers to propose more money for Journeypersons so that we get the big raises we deserve, especially in the first year of the contract.

New bargaining dates are set with the Employers for April 29 and 30, which we hope will be productive. After these sessions we will take the Employers’ last offer to a vote of the membership on May 2 at the Spokane Doubletree hotel. This will either be a strike authorization vote if the Employers’ offer falls short, or it will be a ratification vote if the employer meets our demands and our Bargaining Committee recommends a yes vote.

Continue to get strike ready! Become a picket captain, sign strike pledge cards, attend Contract Action Team meetings and become a steward!

This vote is for the Spokane & Cheney stores only due to expired contracts. NE Oregon to be announced. Please reach out to your Rep with any questions about the vote.

Grocery East Contract Action Meetings

Grocery East Progress on Wages but Still a Long Way to Go— Take Action to Fight for More!

Last week, our member bargaining team told stories of trying to survive on our wages. Fred Meyer and Safeway/Albertsons force us to decide between paying for groceries over utility bills, paying for our kids’ medical needs before our own, and filling our gas tank to get to work over making a needed repair.  

The Employers didn’t respond to our stories with words, but they did respond through their proposal: They came back to the table, proposing the first dollar raise for Journey that we have seen in this round of bargaining. The Employers current proposal on Journey wages stands at $1/$0.50/$0.50. We deserve more! 

We are standing united and fighting to win:   

• Journey wage increases of multiple dollars over the life of the contract that gain ground on the West side.  

• Raises of multiple dollars for Journey Meat Cutters over the life of the contract, a proposed dollar premium for Head Meat Cutter, and new designation of Head Butcher Block. 

• Increase the amount between steps from $0.10 above minimum wage and $0.05 between steps to $0.25 above the minimum wage and between steps so that every step sees an increase as the minimum wage increases with cost of living. 

• Reduce the length of our wage scales and align our scales so our coworkers can reach the Journey rate sooner and at the same time no matter what county we work in.  

We also continued to fight to maintain our healthcare benefits and strengthen our pension: 

• We won a Tentative Agreement to improve the rate to qualify for our healthcare: Now, all Eastern Washington, Eastern Oregon, and Northern Idaho members will accumulate the 80 hours per month to qualify for healthcare which includes all compensable hours, not just hours worked. This means that vacation and sick leave hours will count towards the 80 hours. When we’re ill or injured and need our healthcare the most, we now will not have to fear losing it.  

We continued to push to maintain our healthcare with improvements to vision, podiatry, and hearing care.  
We also won Tentative Agreements over: 

• Additional premium for workers when we are in charge of the store: An extra 50 cents per hour for a worker in charge of the store when the manager/assistant manager is absent for more than three hours per day.  

• Rest periods for Idaho Meat Members: Idaho doesn’t have rest period laws, so we won a Tentative Agreement to ensure Idaho Meat Members have 10 minutes rest for every 4 hours worked, just like the rest of our Idaho Grocery Members. 

Our next bargaining dates are April 15, 16 and 17.  
Wear your union buttons at work!  

It is clear that the only way we will get what we deserve is to show our unity through action! 

Informational Pickets & leaflets I’ll be there! You can rsvp online! >>

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS WILL I LOSE MY JOB IF I GO ON STRIKE? 

You cannot be permanently replaced for participating in a valid ULP strike. You can be permanently replaced only if the strike is caused solely by economic issues and only after the actual hiring of a permanent replacement for your position. If the strike is called in part to protest unfair labor practices by the employer, the employer cannot legally hire a permanent replacement for you. In the unlikely event our unfair labor practice charge is not upheld, we will provide an update about the return-to-work situation.

WHAT IF THE EMPLOYER LOCKS US OUT?

If the employer chooses to lockout employees they have to lockout all employees. Workers locked out by their employers are generally eligible for unemployment benefits. The Employment Security Department will determine eligibility for unemployment benefits on a case by case basis.

DO I ACCRUE SICK LEAVE OR VACATION TIME WHEN ON STRIKE? 

You will not accrue sick leave or vacation while you are on strike. The employment security department determines eligibility for unemployment benefits on a case by case basis for workers in a labor dispute.

CAN I USE ACCRUED VACATION OR PAID TIME OFF BENEFITS?

Although an employer may not discriminate against strikers with respect to the use of vacation time or paid time off during a strike, an employer is not required to allow strikers to use their accrued vacation time or other benefits during a strike unless they are otherwise entitled to do so. Thus, if a worker had submitted a vacation request before a strike and it was approved in accordance with the employer’s established policies, the employer must pay the vacation benefits even though the approved vacation occurs while the member is on strike. 

WILL I STILL HAVE HEALTHCARE DURING THE STRIKE?

It is possible that members on strike may experience a temporary disruption to their healthcare. You should work with your healthcare provider on details for eligibility. 

WHAT IS MY STRIKE BENEFIT ? 

The Executive Board of UFCW 3000 has approved strike benefits for grocery store workers who take part in strike duty. Strike benefits will not fully replace our wages but will help. They have approved strike benefits of $500 for workers, union members, and non-members who picket a minimum of 20 hours a week, $800 for 32 hours a week and $200 a week respect the line benefit for striking members who cannot join their coworkers on the strike line but respect the strike line and do not cross (for a maximum of 4 weeks). Our Union also has a hardship fund to assist members whose families face particularly difficult financial situations. Additionally, food assistance and other financial aid may be available through community organizations and other unions. Notify your creditors prior to falling behind. Communicate your situation and explore options for reduced payments or refinancing. Prioritize your expenses, placing essentials like mortgage/rent, utilities, insurance, car payments, gas, child support, and alimony at the top.

Is there paperwork I need to fill out for my strike benefit?  

To receive Union Strike Benefits, grocery store workers will need to complete a W9 for provided by the union. 
Become a Strike Picket Captain by telling your union rep that you are ready to help lead a strike by becoming a Strike Picket Captain.

Download and read the Grocery East Strike Manual >>

More information: 
To get updates and join the fight to Stop the Mega-Merger, go to nogrocerymerger.com  
For information about your health care plan with Rehn go to www.ufcwhealth.com or call 800-872-8979  
If you have questions about the Pension contact Zenith at soundretirmenttrust.com or call 800-225-7629  

Previous Grocery East updates:

Grocery East Join the next Contract Action Meeting

Join us for a Contract Action Team (CAT) meeting to review our action plan to win a fair contract! At these meetings, we will have an in depth discussions about our next steps to win better wages and the contract we all deserve.

Pendleton/Hermiston: February 1, 2024 5pm – 6Pm

Pendleton Convention Center 1601 Westgate, Pendleton Ore 97801

Spokane: February 7, 2024 10am – 11am or 5:30PM – 6:30PM

UFCW 3000 office, 2805 N. Market St. Spokane, WA 99207

Yakima: February 7, 2024 5:30pm – 6:30pm

UFCW 3000 office, 507 S 3rd St Yakima, WA 98901

Wenatchee: February 8, 2024 5:30pm – 6:30pm

UFCW 3000 office, 330 King St, Suite 4. Wenatchee, WA 98801

Tri cities: February 8, 2024 5:30pm – 6pm & February 28, 2024 5:30pm – 6:30pm

UFCW 3000 office, 2505 Duportail St, Suite D. Richland, WA 99352

Grocery East Employer wage proposal way off the mark!

Our Union Member Bargaining Committee met again this week. We continue to fight for wages that respect our work, maintaining and improving our healthcare, and improvements to our pension. While we know that cost of living is skyrocketing in Spokane and across the region, the Employer representative continued to argue that wages should remain lower than other grocery store wages in the State. We have a long way to go to get the wages and benefits we deserve.

However, we did reach several important Tentative Agreements:  

• Safeway contributions of $0.03/hour to secure our retirement funding. 

• Improved vacation accruals. We won vacation accruals based off the average of hours worked in the previous 12 months. This will help ensure that no worker gets less vacation per week than they normally work per week.  

• Aligned notice of technological changes in the store with other UFCW 3000 grocery store contracts.  

• Greater scheduling notice so people can plan their lives, changing initial notice from Thursday to Tuesday 6 pm in Safeway/Albertsons.  

While we made progress on many issues like vacation, retirement funding, and scheduling, we are still far apart on the most important issue- wages. 

The employer proposal included: 

• A 5-year contract—Longer than usual until we can bargain a new agreement. 

• $0.50 per year for the Journey Rates of pay—Lower than what workers got in California, Colorado, Oregon, and Western Washington. 

• Paying less in healthcare contributions and reducing our plan reserves. 

The Union Member Bargaining Committee told the employer that their opening proposal was way off the mark from what we deserve. 

Our Union Member Bargaining Comittee continued to propose common sense proposals:   

• Create Journey wage increases of multiple dollars over the life of the contract. 

• Institute one wage scale for all UFCW 3000 Eastern Washington, Oregon and Northern Idaho and the same journey wage rate across all grocery scales. 

• Gain ground on Puget Sound clerk wage rates, because cost of living is high everywhere! 

• Create raises of multiple dollars for Journey Meat Cutters over the life of the contract, a proposed dollar premium for Head Meat Cutter, and new designation of Head Butcher Block.  

• Increase the amount to $0.25 between steps so that every step sees an increase as the minimum wage increases with cost of living. 

• Reduce the length of our wage scales so our coworkers can reach the Journey rate sooner.  

• Maintain our strong healthcare plan and coverage and improve benefits without increasing employee premiums.  

• Fund our pension and increase contributions and benefits for future earned benefits.  

• Institute resort store pay premiums for Chelan, Leavenworth, Sandpoint and CDA. 

• Create premiums for Person-In-Charge pay.

• Make a quicker path to Journey for Meat Cutters that complete the Meat Apprenticeship program.  

• Ensure full back pay to date of expiration. 

 We continued to fight for non-economic proposals including: 

• Funding for workforce training so we can get the training we need and expand the meat cutters apprenticeship around the state of Washington, Oregon and Idaho.   

• Worker Severance and Retention language to ensure that, in the event of any merger or sale of the companies, the company must retain workers for a set period and compensate workers fairly if they are laid off or terminated.   

 Next bargaining dates: February 8, 9, 15 and 16.  

Join us and show our unity in fighting for a strong contract!

• SIGN A STRIKE PLEDGE CARD

• REMEMBER TO FILL OUT THE WORKER RESEARCH COMMITTEE SURVEY ABOUT THE STATE OF SAFETY AND OPERATIONS AT YOUR STORE >>

• WEAR YOUR UNION BUTTONS AT WORK!

More information:

• TO GET UPDATES AND JOIN THE FIGHT TO STOP THE MEGA-MERGER, GO TO NOGROCERYMERGER.COM

• FOR INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR HEALTH CARE PLAN WITH REHN GO TO WWW.UFCWHEALTH.COM OR CALL  800-872-8979

• IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PENSION AND THE SOUND HEALTH AND WELLNESS TRUST CONTACT ZENITH AT SOUNDRETIRMENTTRUST.COM OR CALL 800-225-7629

Grocery East Bargaining Update

Our union member Bargaining Committee had our second bargaining session with the Employers to fight for a safer workplace, maintain and strengthen our benefits, and improve wages.

Over the two days of bargaining, we came to several Tentative Agreements:

• Greater Workplace Safety. We secured an agreement for a Master Safety Committee, which will allow us to raise safety issues that are not being addressed at the store level, up to the corporate Management level. We also established yearly walk-through trainings for emergency situations, including natural disasters and active shooter situations.

• Increases to Leaves of Absences for personal illness/pregnancy from 6 months to 9 months.

• The ability to keep our information updated so that we can get critical information about our wages, benefits and working conditions.

We continued to trade proposals over important contract language items, including:

• Funding for Workforce Training, so we can get the training we need and expand the Meat Cutters Apprenticeship Program around the state of Washington.

• Worker Severance and Retention language to ensure that, in the event of any merger or sale of the companies, the Employer must retain workers for a set period and compensate workers fairly if there are lay offs or terminations.

• Allowing workers to accept tips from customers.

We also proposed the following IMPROVEMENTS to our contract:

• Improve vacation accruals and lower qualifying threshold for vacation. We proposed vacation accruals be based off the average of hours worked in the previous 12 months. This will help ensure that no worker gets less vacation per week than they normally work per week. Additionally, we proposed to lower the threshold to qualify for vacation from 1000 hours to 800 hours worked in a year.

• Increased scheduling notice so we can better plan our lives.

• Add Presidents Day as an additional holiday.

• Align past experience credit among all contracts so workers can claim more hours upon hire.

We proposed the following UPDATES to our contract:

• Align notice of technological changes in the store with other UFCW 3000 grocery store contracts.

Finally, we made a comprehensive economic proposal that would:

• Create Journey wage increases of multiple dollars over the life of the contract.

• Institute one wage scale for all UFCW 3000 Eastern Washington, Oregon and Northern Idaho and the same journey wage rate across all grocery scales.

• Gain ground on Puget Sound clerk wage rates, because the cost of living is high everywhere!

• Create raises of multiple dollars for Journey Meat Cutters over the life of the contract, a proposed dollar premium for Head Meat Cutter, and new designation of Head Butcher Block.

• Increase the amount between steps from $0.10 above minimum wage and $0.05 between steps to $0.25 and above the minimum wage and between steps so that every step sees an increase as the minimum wage increases with cost of living.

• Reduce the length of our wage scales so our coworkers can reach the Journey rate sooner.

• Maintain our strong healthcare plan and coverage and improve benefits without increasing employee premiums.

• Fund our pension and increase contributions and benefits for future earned benefits.

• Institute resort store pay premiums for Chelan, Leavenworth, Sandpoint and CDA.

• Award $800 longevity bonuses for workers with more than 10 years of service.

• Create premiums for short staffing & Person-In-Charge pay.

• Make a quicker path to Journey for Meat Cutters that complete the Meat Apprenticeship program.

• Ensure full back pay to date of expiration.

Next bargaining dates: January 10, 11 and 12

Join us and show our unity in fighting for a strong contract!

• Sign a Strike Pledge Card.

• Remember to fill out the Worker Research Committee survey about the state of safety and operations at your store. >>

• Wear your union buttons at work!

• More information:

• To get updates and join the fight to Stop the Mega-Merger, go to nogrocerymerger.com

• For information about your health care plan with Rehn go to www.ufcwhealth.com or call  800-872-8979

• If you have questions about the Pension and the Sound Health and Wellness Trust contact Zenith at soundretirmenttrust.com or call 800-225-7629

Our Union Member Bargaining Team Make Proposals to Improve Lives at Work, Kroger and Albertsons Propose Takeaways

Our Union Member Bargaining Team Made Proposals to Improve Our Lives at Work, Kroger and Albertsons Propose Takeaways

After preparing for months, our union member bargaining committee had our first bargaining sessions with the employer to negotiate a new contract. Kim Bristlin (Safeway 1159), one of the many grocery store workers on our bargaining committee, started our first session by sharing how the costs of living is up everywhere and that we need a new contract that respects the work we do to support our customers, our communities, and our stores.

Here’s a quick round up of the two days of negotiations. As a reminder, the way the bargaining process works is that our committee makes proposals, the employer makes proposals, and we work back and forth to try to come to an agreement. Typically we work on non-economic proposals first, and economics (like wages) next. Every member staying informed and involved during bargaining will help win the best improvements. In the end, you as union members will be the one to vote – that is part of being in our democratic union.

We made some big proposals to make our workplaces better including:

• Funding for workforce training for career pathways and development
• Greater workplace safety including a Master Safety Committee and in-store training for emergency situations.
• Union-led New Hire Orientations so our co-workers understand their union rights and benefits.
• Successorship language which would require a new employer to keep the union contract and the staff if the company is sold or merged.
• Worker severance and retention so if our company is sold or merged we keep our jobs for a period of time, and are compensated fairly in the event of lay-offs or store closure.
• Allow workers to accept tips.
• Improve vacation accruals and lower qualifying threshold for vacation.
• A 2-week scheduling notice so we can better plan our lives.
• Add Presidents Day as an additional holiday.
• Increase Leave of Absence time.
• Expand past experience credit for prior service.
• And other updates to our contract including moving Eastern Oregon workers onto the Spokane Healthcare Trust.

We also already won some early victories with tentative agreements on:

• Prior notification and bargaining over temporary J-1/Guest Workers.
• Allow for more union leave for union stewards.
• Greater Bereavement benefit so we can get time off work to grieve a family member even if there is no formal funeral service.

Unfortunately, Kroger and Albertsons proposed major takeaways on our first days of negotiations.

They proposed:

• Elimination of overtime after 8 hours.
• After a global pandemic, elimination of contractual sick leave banks.
• Adding more management to do our work.
• Elimination of weekly hour guarantees that protect our ability to get healthcare.
• Refusal to recognize past experience at hiring.

Kroger and Albertsons need to stop proposing takeaways and respect our work by investing in us.
 

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Here are three things you can do to take action and show your support for the bargaining team:

1. Come to a Contract Action Team Meeting!

Spokane, UFCW 3000 office
December 5 from 5:30 – 6:30 PM
2805 N. Market St.
 

Tri-Cities, UFCW 3000 Office
December 6 from 5:30-6:30 PM
2505 Duportail St, Suite D
Richland, WA 99352-4079
 

Wenatchee, UFCW 3000 Office
December 6 from 5:30-6:30 PM
330 King St, Suite 4

Yakima, UFCW 3000 office
December 7 from 5:30- 6:30 PM
507 S. 3rd St

2. Sign a Strike Pledge Card – please contact your store steward or Union Rep to add your name!

>> Filling out a survey from our Worker Research Committee about the state of safety and operations at your store!

3. Wear a union button!
 

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More information:

1. To help Stop the Merger, go to nogrocerymerger.com
2. For information about your healthcare (Rehn):
   1. >> ufcwhealth.com
   2. Phone: 800-872-8979
3. For Pension Questions  (Zenith):
   1. 800-225-7629
   2. >> soundretirementtrust.com

 

Invitation to Join our Live Telephone Town Hall - 11/15/23

Good day to our grocery store members from east of the Cascades! We would like to invite you to join our live Telephone Town Hall on Wednesday November 15 at 4:30 PM to discuss our upcoming contract negotiations. We have been building our collective strength for several months – taking surveys, filling out updated contact information, and making commitments to do what is necessary to win better staffing and training, higher wages, protected health and pension benefits, and more.

When we call you at 4:30 on Wednesday, simply answer your phone to join the call.

If for some reason by 4:35 on Wednesday you do not receive a call, or your call gets disconnected, you can join us by dialing 888-652-0384 and entering Meeting ID: 7644.

We look forward to speaking with you on Wednesday and taking your questions live on the call.