Town & Country LOU votes scheduled

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We will be voting on two LOU’s regarding safety committees and a fish monger position. 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!

Thursday, September 14, 2023

9:00 AM–11:00 AM

1:00 PM – 3:00 PM

Vote meeting held @ store location

#208 (Bellevue) 4989 Lakemont Blvd SE Bellevue, WA 98006

Reps: Rhonda Fisher-Ivie, Mohamed Bonah

#211 (Ballard) 1400 NW 56th St. Seattle, WA 98107

Reps: Bruce Le, Aaron Bailey

#212 (Shoreline) 15505 Westminster Way N Seattle, WA 98133

Reps: Chris Crawford, Joshua Johnson

#215 (Bainbridge) 343 E Winslow Way Bainbridge Island, WA 98110

Reps: Tae Abranam, Sharra Oakley

#216 (Poulsbo) 20148 - 10th Ave. NE Poulsbo, WA 98370

Reps: Cynthia Hill, Scott Pattison

#217 (MillCreek) 15605 Main Street Bothell, WA 98012

Reps: Adrian Noel, Dacia Burley

Town & Country Markets - Resolving Safety Issues

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In 2019, we won new safety language for the first time ever in our contract to establish a Master Safety Committee to address issues that are coming up in the workplace safety committees or problems that are not getting resolved.

We recently met with Town & Country Markets and discussed the safety issues that our members had brought up.

  • Outdated policies and procedures

  • Damaged gloves in the Deli

  • No band aids in the first aid kits

  • Request for more in depth trainings

After meeting in our Master Safety Committee, Town and Country Markets were able to resolve some of the top concerns.

The next Master Committee meeting is in January, and we want to hear from you! If you have any safety concerns or would like more training on safety, fill out this quick survey: bit.ly/Safety-Survey21

If you are interested in getting more involved in your union, sign up for leadership training: ufcw21.org/steward-training

Town & Country - COVID-19 LOU Extended

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2021 0412 - Town & Country Update.jpg

We have reached an agreement with Town & Country to extend our COVID-19 letter of understanding with some new improvements. This agreement provides members with special rights such as: 

  • Appreciation pay at the rate of $2.00/hr until at least April 30 with the possibility of further extensions.

  • If the Allied Employers (Safeway, Albertsons, Fred Meyer, and QFC) agree to pay its employees more, Town & Country agrees to pay the higher amount. 

  • Town & Country agrees to notify the Union whenever managament identifies a COVID-19 positive test in a UFCW 21 represented worksite. 

  • Employees who report to work and are subsequently sent home after failing a COVID-19 health screening shall be paid replacement pay for all hours lost during their scheduled shift.

  • Employees who are diagnosed with COVID -19 or are required to quarantine because of an exposure shall be paid up to ten (10) days of replacement pay while they are unable to work.

This agreement shall remain in place for the remainder of the COVID-19 pandemic. Please contact your Union Representative at 1-800-732-1188 if you have any questions. 

Grocery Store COVID-19 Safety Checklist

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Coronavirus is a serious workplace health hazard. All employers have a responsibility to provide a workplace free of safety and health hazards. If your grocery store employer is not complying with any part of this checklist, contact your Union Rep or file a safety report with UFCW 21 at safetyreport@ufcw21.org.

If you are not a UFCW 21 member and have questions about your safety at work, text a UFCW 21 organizer at: 803-820-2121

 

SAFETY CHECKLIST FOR GROCERY STORES IN WASHINGTON STATE

SIGNAGE:

  • Conspicuous signage at entrances and throughout the store with occupancy limits, policy on face coverings, six-foot physical distancing guidelines, and instructing customers to stay home if they are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19

  • 6-foot distance markers in checkout lines and other high-traffic areas to maintain 6 feet of physical distancing

PHYSICAL DISTANCING & BARRIERS:

  • 6-foot physical distance is maintained and enforced between all workers and all customers in all interactions at all times

    • Where strict 6-foot distancing is not feasible for a specific task, physical barriers (e.g., plexiglass shields) and other measures like limiting staff or customers in an area, or staggering break times and work times are used

  • Building occupancy is limited to appropriate level required by state or county regulations – As of 11/16/2020: 25% of building occupancy according to fire code, not including staff

  • Contactless payment systems, automated ordering, and pickup or delivery are used wherever possible

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT:

  • Cloth facial coverings are worn by every employee not working alone on the jobsite unless their exposure level dictates a higher level of protection

    • Reusable cloth face coverings are used when risk for transmission is low

    • Disposable masks are required when risk for transmission is medium, e.g. stocking produce around customers during store hours

  • Face coverings are cleaned or replaced after use or when damaged or soiled, are not shared, and are properly stored and discarded

  • Other personal protective equipment (PPE) is provided such as face masks, gloves, goggles, face shields as appropriate/required for

INFECTION CONTROL:

  • All workers are screened for COVID-19 symptoms at the beginning of each shift

  • Employees who feel or appear sick or have any symptoms of COVID-19 are immediately sent home

  • Employer completes all necessary steps when a positive or suspected positive COVID-19 cases is identified in the workplace

    • This includes notifying all close contacts of the positive or suspected positive worker(s) and allowing positive or suspected positive worker(s) to stay home and recover and all close contacts to stay home and quarantine for 14 days, regardless of whether close contacts are symptomatic

    • This also includes cordoning off areas where someone with probable or confirmed COVID-19 worked, touched surfaces, or spent any prolonged amount of time and following all CDC protocols to clean, sanitize, and disinfect the workplace before reopening them

Find all steps and expectations for when there is a confirmed or suspected COVID-19 case identified in the workplace here > >

  • A site-specific COVID-19 Supervisor is designated by the employer for the individual store

    • Worksite COVID-19 Supervisor monitors health of employees

    • Worksite COVID-19 Supervisor enforces COVID-19 job site safety plan

HANDWASHING & HAND SANITATION:

  • Handwashing required when arriving at work, taking breaks, using the bathroom, before and after eating/drinking/using tobacco products, and after touching contaminated surfaces

  • Frequent and adequate handwashing maintained throughout the day

    • Workers get breaks to wash hands regularly

  • Handwashing facilities have clean and hot or tepid water, soap, and paper towels and these are kept stocked

  • Hand sanitizer (with at least 60% alcohol) provided for workers and customers

SANITATION OF WORKPLACE, SURFACES, & EQUIPMENT:

  • Housekeeping schedule with frequent cleaning and sanitizing and an emphasis on surfaces that are regularly touched (“high touch” surfaces)

    • Sanitize and disinfect high touch surfaces frequently (e.g., restrooms, checkout counters, shopping cart handles, door handles)

  • Operating hours allow enough time to thoroughly clean, sanitize, and disinfect facilities between shifts

  • Increase frequency of washing utensils

  • Disposable gloves available and used for shared tools

  • Employee equipment including handhelds/wearables, scanners, radios, other tools are properly cleaned and disinfected before and after use

  • Fitting rooms (if available) are disinfected by an employee with appropriate supplies and PPE after each new customer use

  • Any items used by customers in fitting room and not purchased are removed from inventory and stored for no less than 24 hours

  • IN KING COUNTY: A designated sanitation worker is designated at all times to continuously clean and sanitize commonly touched surfaces according to CDC guidelines

  • IN KING COUNTY: There is a way to sanitize shopping carts and basket handles (can be with available wipes for customers or workers who sanitize between each use)

CUSTOMER COMPLIANCE & ENFORCEMENT:

  • Business does not serve customers or visitors who aren’t wearing face coverings

    • Individuals with medical conditions or disabilities are exempt from this requirement and are not required to carry proof of the condition or disability

    • Employer should offer to provide accommodation such as curbside pickup, delivery, or non-peak hour shopping for these customers

  • Customers must wear a face covering anytime they are not seated, and if seated anytime they are not eating

    • If seated dining is permitted by the state/county at the time, customers may remove face coverings to eat and drink, but must wear face coverings when sitting and not eating

    • As of 11/16/2020: All common/congregate seat areas and indoor dining facilities must be closed

PUBLIC HEALTH & COVID PLANNING COMPLIANCE:

  • Employer has a written plan addressing physical distancing, protective equipment, hygiene, cleaning, communication, screening, and disinfection of contaminated areas onsite and available to regulators

  • Employer notifies local health department within 24 hours if 2 or more employees develop confirmed or suspected COVID-19 within a 14-day period, or if employer suspects COVID-19 is spreading in the workplace

  • Employer cooperates with public health authorities in investigation of suspected and confirmed cases and outbreaks

  • Employer cooperates with infection control measures including isolation, quarantine, and environmental cleaning

  • Employer complies with all public health authority orders and directives

  • Employer fully complies with Washington’s High-Risk Workers Protection proclamation

TRAINING:

  • All workers are trained in the language they understand best about:

    • Signs & symptoms of COVID-19

    • How to prevent COVID-19 transmission

    • The employer’s COVID-19 policies (these must inform workers about the steps being taken in the workplace to establish social distancing, increased handwashing, and to prevent the spread of the virus

    • Handwashing length, duration, and frequency

    • Appropriate PPE use

    • Safe use of chemicals used to clean, sanitize, and disinfect

RIGHT TO REFUSE UNSAFE WORK

MORE INFO FROM STATE AND COUNTY DEPARTMENTS

Note: Where there is a contradiction between these documents and one requirement is stricter than another, the stricter requirement should be enforced.

Shopping in a grocery store or have friends and family who might help hold grocery store employers accountable for a safe workplace and shopping experience? Fill out a Grocery Store Report at GroceryStoreReport.com

Grocery Store Stories from the Front Lines

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As UFCW 21 retail grocery members are increasingly deemed essential workers during the coronavirus pandemic, some of their stores have provided supportive environments that can help ensure safety and efficiency – both for them and their customers. Here are a few examples: 

As collected by UFCW 21 Member Wil Peterson

Pam Harmon, a cashier and Person In Charge (PIC) at Food Pavilion in Lynden, is committed to doing all she can to protect the people she serves. Thanks to the efforts of store management, she also feels protected as the coronavirus threat affects everyone. During the past week and a half, safety measures have become a top priority at the store.  

“I like it,” Pam said. “I think it’s important, and it’s better than what a lot of other businesses are doing.” 

Food Pavilion employees are required to have their temperatures checked prior to clocking in for shifts. If a fever is detected, they are sent home. Once cleared for duty, they must wear gloves while performing duties. 

Designated sanitation areas are set up for employees and customers. Sanitizing wipes are stocked at all checkstands, and belts are regularly wiped down. “We used to do it every hour,” Pam said, adding that the process now takes place every 15 minutes or so. “Everybody's conforming to the guidelines that our employers have sent out, which is really good.” 

Meanwhile, employees are being offered as many hours as they want to help meet the enormous traffic flow. “Business has escalated. It's at an all-time high,” Pam said. “But customers are patient.” 

“Safety first” could be a motto at the bustling Town & Country in Ballard. As employees deal with an explosion in business – “It's like Thanksgiving shopping everyday,” said Wine, Beer and Spirits Manager J'Nee DeLancey – they do so under conditions designed to help prevent any exposure to the coronavirus. 

Resuable bags are no longer allowed in the store. Shopping carts and baskets that were previously cleaned out back, J'Nee said, are now regularly sanitized in the front area for higher visibility. The hot-food and salad bar station is sanitized between uses, and customers are required to wear gloves when selecting items. Cashiers clean checkstand belts and self-checkout touch screens between transactions. In J'Nee's department, liquor-cabinet handles and other fixtures are cleaned at least once every hour. 

J'Nee, who just lost a friend to the COVID-19 virus, appreciates her store's commitment to employee and customer safety. That prevailing attitude has created an atmosphere of teamwork and camaraderie that crosses department lines. “Sometimes when I come in, I just take my coat off and start bagging,” she said.  

Holly Dodd, front-end supervisor at The Market in Anacortes, has nothing but praise for the protective measures implemented at her store since the coronavirus crisis emerged. “I think I am extremely fortunate where I work. We have tremendous support from management,” she said. “It’s not just lip service. From the beginning when this happened, the primary focus has been to keep us safe.” 

That support includes routine body temperature checks when employees report for shifts, ample supplies of protective gloves and hand sanitizer, and wipes for shopping carts. “And just constant education of what we can do to stay safe – what the virus is, what the symptoms are,” Holly said. “Every day it seems like we're getting more information.” 

Additional protective steps range from banners reminding customers to remain six feet apart, to laminated signs at each checkstand that urge customers to wash their hands and cover coughs. Prominently displayed restrooms signs emphasize the importance of thorough hand-washing activity. Purell dispensers are available throughout the store. 

Meanwhile, customer complaints about shortages have been minimal, Holly said. And fortunately, she added, positive comments about employees' service during this turbulent period is overwhelmingly positive. “That’s one of the things that keeps us going—them thanking us for being on the front lines.”  

Grocery Bargain CONTRACT VOTES SET

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CONTRACT VOTES SET 

Tentative Agreement Reached Fully Recommended by Union Member Bargaining Team

As you may know, a fully recommended tentative agreement was reached in negotiations on Wednesday, April 13, 2016. See the information below for times, dates, and locations for union members to review the tentative agreement, get questions answered, and vote. You may vote at whatever location is most convenient, at any time when polling is open at that location.

These votes are open to UFCW 21 grocery store workers in King, Snohomish, Kitsap, Mason and Thurston Counties at the big chains as well as the independent stores. This includes all workers at Safeway, Albertsons, QFC, and Fred Meyer (including CCK and General Merchandise), as well as workers at stores with an interim (or “me too”) agreement, such as Metropolitan Market, Town & Country and other independent stores. 

You can come by at any point during the scheduled times and take as long as you like to review the contract offer and ask questions before casting your vote. You must be present at a vote and a current union member in order to cast a ballot.

Come by at any point between 8:00AM - 12 NOON and 4:00PM - 8:00PM at the following locations to review the offer, get questions answered, and cast your vote.

 

Sunday, April 24

Bellevue        
Meydenbauer Center
Rooms: 404-406, 11100 NE 6th Street, Bellevue, WA  98004

 

Monday, April 25

Everett/Lynnwood
Lynnwood Convention Center, Rooms 1DEF
3711 196th St SW, Lynnwood 98036

 

Tuesday, April 26

Sea Tac
Seatac Hilton
Emerald Ballroom, 17620 International Blvd., Seattle 98188

 

Wednesday, April 27

Bremerton   
Kitsap Convention Center
Ballroom D, 100 Washington Ave, Bremerton 98337

 

Thursday, April 28

Seattle        
Best Western Executive Inn
Seafair Ballroom, 200 Taylor Ave N, Seattle 98109

 

Olympia        
Southsound Manor
Logan Room, 455 North Street SE, Tumwater 98501