Have a Heart - Bargaining Update
/Our Have a Heart bargaining team has been holding out for a tentative agreement that has no takeaways and puts crucial wage increases in everyone's pockets. We successfully pushed back against Have a Heart after the employer proposed to slash everyone's Earned Time Off (ETO), remove daily overtime, and cut security out of the unit, and again when they proposed to reduce ETO for new hires, which would have made recruitment and staffing even harder. After working to find potential solutions to the wage compression caused by the rising cost of living in Seattle and the surrounding areas, our bargaining team has been waiting for over a month for Have a Heart to make a meaningful counteroffer that addresses these pay concerns.
We've reached tentative agreements on expansions to bereavement leave, clarification on inventory disciplines and carve outs for issues caught before sale, and successorship notice in the event the company is sold. We're still fighting for higher ETO accruals for members who have been with Have a Heart for over six years, higher guaranteed annual raise increases for everyone that don't go away after five years of employment, and minimum guarantees for Lead pay. We want Have a Heart to do what's right—keep Have a Heart wages and benefits competitive and fair, so that we can retain our dedicated staff and recruit more who will want to stay.
March on May 1!
We aren't alone in our struggle. In the last few months, the federal government has launched an all-out assault on the working class and our First Amendment rights. On May 1, labor unions, immigrant protection organizations, and workers across America are continuing 139 years of pushing back against the chaos and cruelty. We're showing up in force to May Day marches all around the state. If you've been feeling powerless or like you don't know how to fight back, this is a powerful opportunity to stand together with your community and find the path forward.
Get more info on the marches in Seattle, Spokane, and Yakima & RSVP here >>
Huge Victory for Cannabis Workers!
Our union and cannabis workers around the state have been fighting for years for cannabis grow workers, who had been unjustly left behind by traditional labor protections, to have the same organizing and collectively bargaining rights as other cannabis workers. Thanks to your hard work, our bill ESHB 1141 has passed the House and the Senate! The bill allowing cannabis agricultural workers to organize their workplaces is expected to be signed by the Governor on April 23, 2025. This is a huge victory for cannabis workers, and we look forward to continuing to raise the bar for everyone in our industry.
Bargaining team: Austin Miller (Lead Inventory Coordinator - Belltown), Joe Chaten (Lead Budtender - Skyway), Devin Johansson (Lead Budtender - Greenwood)
Our Union Rep: Aaron Bailey 206-436-6631 (office)
