Macy's Retail, Macy's Furniture Galleries, and Budget Clearance House - Bargaining Update #1

On Tuesday, March 3, and Wednesday, March 11, our Union Bargaining Team met with management to begin contract negotiations.

At our first session we were joined by a Union member from the Macy's Budget Clearance House (which is part of the Furniture Galleries contract) as management recently announced that they would be closing at the end of March. Since this will result in the layoff of all of the Budget Clearance House workers, we are working to secure benefits like severance pay and a clear system for transfers to other stores, or for workers who would like to re-apply in the future.

Because of this store closure, our Bargaining Team also spent time focusing on the layoff and transfer language within our Retail and Furniture Galleries contracts. Our layoff proposals included:

• Workers who are going to be laid off will be provided a list of all regional job openings and will have preference for positions over any other external hire

• Severance pay—which would be calculated based on our years of service here at Macy's—as well as language which would aim to extend our health care coverage for a few months following a layoff

Unfortunately, but unsurprisingly, management rejected almost all of these proposals for our Union contract and shared their own set of initial proposals, which included nearly doubling the required hours of work for flex colleagues and placing restrictions on workers transferring within Macy's if you have been employed for less than six months or have discipline within the last six months on file.

We responded to management by rejecting their proposals that flex colleagues' hours should be so drastically increased, and that restricting workers from transferring concerned us because the reason for the transfer might be issues with a manager or coworker—making a bad situation worse by denying the request. Also not all discipline meets the just cause standard in our contracts, so denying a transfer would amount to further unjust consequences.

We also made a proposal regarding members' rights to Union representation during investigatory or fact-finding meetings at work. While the right to representation is a core Union benefit that exists in federal law, we have seen more and more of our coworkers be disciplined without having a fact-finding meeting first, as well as a number of situations involving the asset protection team at Macy's keeping our coworkers past the end of their shifts to question them, without Union Reps present! Our proposal included that management:

• Needs to give advance notice if meetings are investigatory

• Must notify us that we have the right to have a Union Rep or Steward with us

• Schedule meetings so that they won't reasonably extend past the end of our shift

• Allow us the opportunity to have a language interpreter with us, so questions can be understood and responded to thoroughly!

Management did not formally respond to this series of proposals by the end of the day on March 11, but we are looking forward to continuing this discussion at our next scheduled bargaining date, March 25, where our Bargaining Team will be presenting management with a few of our wage and commission proposals!

"We're quite early into this process—but we're all excited and determined to win a strong contract!"

— Samantha Wilson, Macy's Bellingham

Macy’s - Tukwila Minimum Wage Increase Grievance

Macy’s
Tukwila Minimum Wage Increase Grievance

Our union is filing a grievance against Macy’s for their failure to pay workers what they fought for and won earlier this year. Macy’s workers in Tukwila reported that they did not see their wages increase to what they should have above the city’s minimum wage. We gave Macy’s the chance to fix this problem on their own, but they refused. Our union will continue to enforce our contract through the grievance procedure.

If you have any questions, your pay has been fixed, or another economic piece of our new contract isn’t being followed, please reach out to Union Rep Tae Abraham @ 206-436-6631.

Macy's Check your check for the pay increases we won!

After two ULP strikes and months of fighting Macy’s proposed takeaways, we won a historic contract that protected MLK day as a paid day off, set the foundation for wage scales to not be eaten up by minimum wage, won the largest ratification bonus this cycle for Macy's workers, and secured stronger safety language in our contract!

Macy’s should not drag their feet on paying us the money we won! In past contract cycles it has taken Macy’s months to finally pay workers what we won in our contract. Last week Macy’s confirmed that our pay should be reflected on your next check dated March 1, 2024.  Make sure to check your check and confirm that you are getting your back pay, bonus and new pay rate. If you don't see it after Friday’s check, please contact the Member Resource Center at 1-866-210-3000 so they can add your name to the grievance we filed against Macy's last week for not paying us the money we won in a timely manner. 

Macy's contract and resource page >>

Macys Grievance filed to get raises ratification bonus and backpay

After months of fighting, Macy’s worker won a significant ratification bonus and wage increases, which will be applied retroactively. Workers should receive these benefits in a timely manner. Unfortunately, Macy’s has fallen short of providing a timeline for when these contractual increases will be implemented. 

Because of this, our union filed a grievance today against Macy’s to get workers their raises, ratification bonus, and backpay. We will keep Macy's workers updated on the progress of the grievance and aim to resolve this as soon as possible. Make sure you communicate with a union rep immediately if other contractual wins are not met by Macy’s so our union can investigate and seek a timely remedy.

Be sure that your contact information is kept up to date. If you’ve moved or changed your phone number or email address recently, take a minute to update your information here: >>

If you have any questions, please call:  Rep. Dominick Ojeda 206-436-6586 

Macy’s Workers Ratify Historic Contract

Our Agreement Contains Hard Fought Wins After Historic 9-Day ULP Strike and Consumer Boycott Campaign that followed a historic 3 day ULP strike over Black Friday Weekend.  

Macy’s worker sent a strong message: We are united and fighting for better jobs for all retail workers 

The Newly ratified agreement with Macy’s ends our second ULP strike and consumer boycott campaign. Together, we won the largest ratification bonus in the nation for Macy’s workers. This agreement sets a new gold standard for retail workers across the country, both in the fight and in the outcome. 

Azia Domingo who has worked at Macy’s Southcenter Mall store for 21 years said:  “We’re on our feet for 8, 10, sometimes 12 hours a day making the store and our products shine and helping our customers. Pay is low, and understaffing has left us at higher risk when confronted with health and safety threats. Our union member workers told Macy’s, enough is enough. We were prepared to strike and support a consumer boycott as long as it took to get Macy’s to address our serious concerns. This tentative agreement shows Macy’s management is ready to recognize that we are essential to making Macy’s a profitable business.” 

The agreement approved today by a vote of Macy’s UFCW 3000 members, will provide workers covered by the contract with: 

• The largest ratification bonus in the country, 20% higher than before the strike. 

• Increased safety protections, including the right for workers to bring up safety issues without fear of retaliation, one of the key unfair labor practices that caused workers to strike.  

• A new and improved wage scale for new hires. Increases in minimum wage escalators to .35 for workers after one year and .50 for workers after two years. 

• Protection of a prized worker benefit, Martin Luther King Jr Day flex paid time off for current employees, that Macy’s had threatened to take away. 

Union Reps and Stewards will have copies of the “red-lined” contract in stores and new contract booklets as soon as possible. 

This strike has reset the balance of power between workers and Macy’s. Let’s keep the pressure on by enforcing our contract, getting involved in our safety committees, joining steward trainings, and getting our coworkers and community ready for the next fight! 

Macy's Contract Votes Scheduled! Bargaining team recommends a YES vote

After not one but two powerful strikes in the middle of winter, our union bargaining team has reached a fully recommended tentative agreement with Macy’s that goes a long way toward respecting our work and protecting our wages and benefits. While we didn’t win everything we wanted, we were able to achieve the best Macy’s contract in the nation, with agreement on items that were at the top of our priorities list, including: 

• The largest ratification bonus in the country, 20% higher than where Macy’s offer was pre-strike 

• Protection of the MLK Day paid holiday for all current employees that Macy’s had threatened to take away with no replacement 

• Increased safety protections, including the right for workers to bring up safety issues or call for help without fear of discipline or retaliation 

• Not just protecting but increasing our wage escalators that guarantee wages stay above minimum wage even as it rises to keep up with inflation 

This was a long fight for all of us, and your bargaining team is excited to review the full offer with all members at our vote meetings. The most important thing you can do now is show up to a vote meeting near you so you can get all your questions answered and cast your vote on the contract!

Contract Votes: Monday, January 29, 8AM—11AM & 3PM—6PM

ALDERWOOD: Residence Inn by Marriott Seattle North/Lynnwood Everett, 18200 Alderwood Mall Pkwy, Lynnwood, WA 98037 (Olympic Room) 
SOUTHCENTER: Doubletree Suites by Hilton Hotel, 16500 Southcenter Pkwy, Seattle, WA 98188 (Summit Ballroom) 
BELLINGHAM: Four Points by Sheraton, Mt. Baker Room 714 Lakeway Drive, Bellingham, WA 98229 
UFCW 3000 members in good standing are encouraged to attend a meeting, ask questions, and vote on the contract. Contact a Bargaining Team member or your Union Representative for any questions! 
OUR BARGAINING TEAM UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A YES VOTE!

Macy's Update: Strike Ends, Fully Recommended Tentative Agreement Reached!

Union Siblings,

Your Union Bargaining Team is happy to announce that our STRIKE AGAINST MACY’S IS OVER!

We have reached a Tentative Agreement with Macy’s management for a BEST IN THE NATION union contract, addressing members’ top issues and protecting our rights. The Bargaining Team unanimously recommends a yes vote to ratify this historic contract.

We won a deal like this because UFCW 3000 members took bold action by going on strike! First we struck over the busy Black Friday weekend, forcing Macy’s to slash their holiday shopping hours at the peak of the season and calling attention to the way our work is essential to the company’s success. When that wasn’t enough, union workers at the Alderwood location took further action and went out on strike for the past 9 days in freezing winter weather, vowing to strike for as long as it takes and publicly calling for a Macy’s boycott.

We are ending the strike at Alderwood effective immediately and informing Macy’s of our unconditional offer to return to work beginning Thursday, January 25.

Details will come shortly regarding the ratification votes for the fully recommended agreement. We are working to get the vote documents ready for your review as quickly as possible and members will have the opportunity to review the agreement and get any questions answered before voting.

For Alderwood strikers and those respecting the line: 

• Work with your manager to get back on the schedule. Reach out to your union stewards, Rep, or UFCW 3000 Member Resource Center (1-866-210-3000) if you experience any issues.

• UFCW 3000 staff will still be onsite at Alderwood Macy’s this Friday, January 26, distributing strike benefits to eligible members who have been on strike.

We also want to thank the 20,000+ customers and hundreds if not thousands of union allies and community supporters who stood in solidarity with us, vowing not to cross our picket lines, showing up to march alongside us, and providing a clear message to Macy’s management that our customers and our community value our work. The dignity and respect we get from a fair union contract is hard-won, and we look forward to getting back to what we do best: serving our loyal customers and making Macy’s a great place to shop.

Macy's Strike Update: Workers Continue ULP Strike as Boycott Gains Strength

Macy’s workers, community partners and customers have been joining our picket lines. We plan to maintain our strike and expand our boycott until we win a fair contract. We continue to prepare the Bellingham and Southcenter Mall stores to join the strike, so sign up for your strike shift and keep warm clothes and waterproof shoes in your car.

The Mediator for FMCS has circulated potential bargaining dates for Macy’s and our union to get back to the bargaining table. No date is set at this moment. We remain willing to bargain with Macy’s at any time.

As a reminder, Macy’s most recent “Last Best and Final” offer just isn’t enough: 

• The elimination of our personal day in honor of MLK day, reducing our amount of paid time off and disrespecting an important holiday. (Which they left off their last update, and store managers indicated that MLK was not being taken away. This dishonesty about their own proposal is likely a violation of labor law.)

• Eliminating our hard-won wage scale—and without any guarantee that experienced workers will maintain wages above the applicable minimum wage.

• A rejection of our proposed safety language that would protect workers from discipline if we call mall security or the police in response to a violent situation.

• Just $0.50 per year in General Wage Increases (GWI) to current workers, with lower ratification bonuses than previously offered of $300 for part-time workers and $600 for full-time workers.

• Check out management’s Last Best and Final offer here >>

Macy’s can afford to do better. This offer was made by a company that has recorded more than a billion-dollar annual profit margin, a company made profitable off the work of the people now walking the strike line.

Our rank-and-file worker-led Executive Board approved more comprehensive strike benefits of:

• $500/week for striking members who work 20 hours on the strike line.

• $800/week for striking members who work 32+ hours on the strike line.

• $200/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). 

To receive your strike benefit, sign in and out of your shift on the strike line, or if you are respecting the line, email Strike@UFCW3000.org to notify our union that you will be respecting the line but not walking the line. All members receiving any type of Strike Benefit must have a completed W-9 on file.

• If you haven’t already done so, please sign a W9 here >>

• Check out the Strike FAQ for some basic information >>

• Please share the pledge to boycott with your friends and family >>

See you on the strike line soon, stay warm!

Macy's Workers Continue Strike and Launch Boycott

Despite the cold and rain, Macy’s workers, community partners and customers have been joining our picket lines. More than 20,000 customers have pledged to shop elsewhere while workers are on strike at Macy’s. The strike and boycott will continue to expand until we win a fair contract. 
If you are in the Bellingham or Southcenter Mall locations, sign up for your strike shift and keep warm clothes and water proof shoes in your car as we continue to prepare for your stores to join the strike. 

We have informed Macy’s we are ready and willing to bargain at any time.

As a reminder, Macy’s most recent Last Best and Final offer just isn’t enough: 

• The elimination of our personal day in honor of MLK day, reducing our amount of paid time off and disrespecting an important holiday. (Which they left off their last update and store managers indicated that MLK was not being taken away. We are filing a new Unfair Labor Practice). 

• Eliminating our hard-won wage scale—and eliminating the guarantee that experienced workers will be paid a certain amount above the minimum wage.

• A rejection of our proposed safety language that would protect workers from discipline if we call mall security or the police in response to a violent situation. 

• Just $0.50 per year in General Wage Increases (GWI) to current workers, with low ratification bonuses of $300 for part-time workers and $600 for full-time workers. 

• Check out management’s Last Best and Final offer here >>

This insulting offer was made by a company that has recorded more than a billion-dollar annual profit margin. 

We must continue to prepare to go on strike at the other Macy’s locations, Bellis Fair Mall, Southcenter Mall and the Alderwood and Tukwila Furniture Galleries. Workers could strike any day at any of these locations, joining workers at Alderwood ON STRIKE!
 
In anticipation of a longer strike, our rank-and-file worker-led Executive Board approved more comprehensive strike benefits of:

• $500/week for striking members who work 20 hours on the strike line.

• $800/week for striking members who work 32+ hours on the strike.

• $200/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). 

To receive your strike benefit, sign in and out of your shift on the strike line, or if you are respecting the line, please email Strike@UFCW3000.org to notify our union that you will be respecting the line but not walking the line. All members receiving any type of Strike Benefit must have a completed W9 on file. If you haven’t already done so, please sign a W9 here >>

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BALLOONS AND BBQ!

Join your coworkers on the Strike Line this Saturday, January 20, 2024 to pass out balloons to customers. There will be BBQ sliders and sides for lunch around 1:30pm.

Check out the Strike FAQ for some basic information >>
 
Please share the pledge to boycott with your friends and family >>

 See you on the strike line soon, stay warm!

Macy's Workers Launch ULP Strike on Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Early yesterday morning, Macy’s workers at the Alderwood Mall location began an Unfair Labor Practice strike. Despite frigid temperatures, we took to the picket lines this MLK Day to stand up for ourselves, our colleagues, our families and our customers in the face of management’s blatant disrespect.
 
As you know, we have been in negotiations with Macy’s for close to a year now. Instead of coming to the bargaining table with thoughtful proposals that honor our contribution to this company’s success, Macy’s continues to undermine the process by repeatedly committing unfair labor practices, including bargaining in bad faith, changing working conditions unilaterally, and engaging in direct dealing while misleading workers about the most recent contract offer.
 
As of right now we plan to stay off the job indefinitely, picketing every day during Macy’snormalbusiness hours. We hope Macy’s will come back to the bargaining table to begin working on an agreement that isn’t riddled with takeaways and concessions. Macy’s workers deserve an agreement that protects us when we are at work, respects our time with the company and is something we can be proud of.

Macy’s most recent Last Best and Final offer just isn’t enough, offering:

• The elimination of our personal day in honor of MLK day, reducing our amount of paid time off and disrespecting an important holiday.

• Eliminating our hard-won wage scale—and without any guarantee that experienced workers will be paid above what new hires receive.

• A rejection of our proposed safety language that would protect workers from discipline if we call mall security or the police in response to a violent situation.

• Just $0.50 per year in General Wage Increases (GWI) to current workers, with low ratification bonuses of $300 for part-time workers and $600 for full-time workers.

• Check out management’s Last Best and Final offer here >>

This insulting offer was made by a company that has recorded more than a billion-dollar annual profit margin. A company made profitable off the work of the people now walking the strike line.

We must continue to be prepared to go on strike at the other Macy’s locations, Bellis Fair Mall, Southcenter Mall and the Alderwood and Tukwila Furniture Galleries. Workers could strike any day at any of these locations, joining workers at Alderwood ON STRIKE!
 
In anticipation of a longer strike, our rank-and-file worker-led Executive Board approved more comprehensive strike benefits of:

• $500/week for striking members who work 20 hours on the strike line.

• $800/week for striking members who work 32+ hours on the strike.

• $200/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).

To receive your strike benefit, sign in and out of your shift on the strike line, or if you are respecting the line, please email strike@UFCW3000.org to notify our union that you will be respecting the line but not walking the line.  All members receiving any type of Strike Benefit must have a completed W9 on file. If you haven’t already done so, please sign a W9 here >>

Join our next All Macy’s Member Call this Wednesday, January 17 at 5pm

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88212637000 to discuss the strike and next steps.

Check out the Strike FAQ for some basic information >>

See you on the strike line soon, stay warm!

Macys: Important Update Meeting Tonight!

Our member led Bargaining Committee had another tough session with the Employer. We want to update all members about this status and discuss next steps. We will be holding a zoom meeting Tonight: Sunday, January 14 at 7pm!

Tonight at 7pm join us by using this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87833799645

Important action: How do YOU feel about Macy’s management trying to take away MLK Day as a holiday?

Record a short video telling us how you feel! It's fast and easy and will help us send a message to Macy's Management >>