UFCW 3000 Member Story: Alycia Barrow

Alycia Barrow

Alycia Barrow has worked in the grocery industry since she was 19 years old, and says, “The best part of my job is interacting with the customers and my coworkers, especially when I’m able to make a positive impact on that person’s day.”

Alycia has stepped-up on and off the job to make her community a better place, “Outside of company training, I have a diverse set of skills, from being trained on de-escalation tactics, to knowing how to deal with someone in a mental health/addiction crisis, and who to call. I am also trained on how to use Narcan and know general community resources, having to navigate those systems for my own family.”

Outside of her work at her grocery store, she has been active a prolific community activist and has organized around anti-racism and housing justice. “Recently I was a volunteer for a 90 day sanctioned camp in Burien called Sunnydale Village, and have been active around the lack of resources for unsheltered people in that community and overall in our greater region.”

She has three published opinion pieces published in the South Seattle Emerald, one on policing in the aftermath of the murder of George Floyd, two others on education and segregation in schools.

Alycia is planning to return to school in the near future to continue her pursuit of community justice with a Social and Human Services degree. Super smart, with a strong moral compass that points to “treating those around me with kindness and empathy,” and the courage to stand-up for what is right; Alycia has what it takes to take on the struggles people face today.

Tell PCC Administration: Stop Undermining Our Co-Op Democracy!

PCC administration is trying to block the union and community advocates from gathering signatures to nominate PCC workers to serve on the co-op’s Board of Trustees, which we believe violates the democratic process and the values of our co-op. Over the last several months PCC administration has:

• Obstructed workers’ access to comprehensive election information.
• Refused to allow workers to collect signatures electronically, even as COVID surges in our community.
• Banned signature-gatherers from being outside PCC.

PCC members deserve a fair process that values the voices of essential workers. Two longtime PCC workers, Donna Rasmussen and Laurae McIntyre, are currently running for Board seats and need thousands of signatures to earn their nominations. Please sign their petitions to get them on the ballot!

HOW YOU CAN HELP:

Call the PCC office at 206-547-1222 and tell them:

“I’m a PCC shopper, and I’m asking the CEO to stop blocking workers from running for the Board of Trustees. Give Laurae and Donna a fair and safe process to get on the ballot and let workers collect signatures electronically.”

You can also file a customer comment online at: pccmarkets.com/contact-us

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STANDING WITH OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS

Many of UFCW 21’s community partner organizations are facing unprecedented financial stress as they seek to support some of the most vulnerable people in our communities: those who are in detention centers, people who don’t have homes, those experiencing domestic violence, and others.

Spring is the typical fundraising season for these organizations, some receive a sizable part of their yearly budget during these events, however, to keep us all as safe and healthy as possible they have been forced to cancel them, jeopardizing their ability to sustain their work.

But you can still help. 

In addition to the annual support UFCW 21 members collectively offer these organizations, we are encouraging you if possible, to consider supporting their vital efforts.  

All of these community organizations are non-profits and receive funding from government agencies, foundations, and donations from individual supporters.  While funding from the government and private foundations is drying up, individuals can still help.

We know it will take all of us to overcome this.

Each month we will share information on all the organizations that are holding fundraisers and/or who have reached out for support.

Please consider donating to at least one of these organizations this month. Click on the organization name and you’ll be redirected to their donation page.

GIVE to Y-WE

Y-WE cultivates the power of diverse young women to be creative leaders and courageous changemakers through transformative programs within a collaborative community of belonging. We envision a society rooted in social justice, where all young women live their truth, achieve their dreams, and change our world.

GIVE to API Chaya

API Chaya empowers survivors of gender-based violence and human trafficking to gain safety, connection, and wellness.  We build power by educating and mobilizing South Asian, Asian, Pacific Islander, and all immigrant communities to end exploitation, creating a world where all people can heal and thrive.

GIVE to One America

OneAmerica advances the fundamental principles of democracy and justice at the local, state, and national levels by building power within immigrant communities in collaboration with key allies.

GIVE to Real Change

Real Change exists to provide opportunity and a voice for low-income and homeless people while taking action for economic, social and racial justice.

Any amount, big or small, makes a difference! 

Thank you for supporting local communities!

Grocery Store Workers Contract Negotiations Update

Community: “We’re United in Support of Grocery Store Workers”

We spent all day today in negotiations between our member bargaining team and the employer representatives, exchanging proposals on workplace issues like scheduling, safety and bereavement leave. We made progress on bereavement reform that we have been attempting to fix for many contracts. And we were also able to have conversations with Kroger about long-term fixes to our pension.

On the eve of our March 29th negotiations dozens of community organizations, elected officials and other labor organizations came out to show their support for a strong grocery store workers contract. Evening events were held simultaneously in Seattle, Mount Vernon and Silverdale with our bargaining team members briefing these partners on the top issues we will be working to address in negotiations.

More Pressure Needed to Make Necessary Progress

At this stage of negotiations, it is critically important that we increase the level of activism around our region from all of our stores. More and more members have been attending our Contract Action Team Meetings and if you have not been able to attend one near you, please consider coming out to a meeting in April.

These meetings are where we plan our large-scale, store level actions like the breaks actions that will be taking place in the coming month. Keep a look out for materials promoting the actions in the near future. Widespread, collective action by thousands of members in the stores is what drives progress in our negotiations to solve problems around scheduling, staffing, workplace safety and our many other issues.

Next Bargaining Dates: April, 18 and 19

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Also - FUTURE OF WORK SUMMIT – APRIL 22
RSVP to reserve your spot.