Yakima—The Markets, LLC Grocery & Meat
Contract Ratified!
Our contract offer was ratified Tuesday, August 1.
Questions? Please contact a member of our Bargaining Team or Union Rep Raul Zaragoza @ 509-850-2975
Yakima The Markets Grocery/Meat Contract Vote Scheduled!
Highlights include:
Affordable Healthcare
Retirement Security
If you have questions please reach out to our Union Rep: Raul Zaragoza at 509-340-7391
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
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
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
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
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
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 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
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)
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
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
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
Workers who refuse to perform unsafe work do not suffer adverse action as long as their work refusal meets certain requirements (Refer to our UFCW 21 Q&A on unsafe work assignments here)
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
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.”
Liquor/Wine Manager Nora Bush from the Sequim Safeway noticed that her Sunday pay was incorrect on her paycheck. It was half the amount it should be on Sundays. She works every Sunday and realized this error dated back 14 months. With the help of her Rep, Nora took all her pay stubs to her store manager. The issue was sent to corporate and Nora received $1,200 in back pay.
If you waive your meal and rest breaks, employers will continue to under-staff and many times you are working without pay during that time. Hundreds of Providence Regional Medical Center Everett RNs filled out missed meals/break period forms and turned them into Labor and Industries. Working together collectively the Nurses at PRMCE tracked their missed breaks and are on their way to winning their case, getting reimbursed for the missed breaks and changing their workplace. Contact your union Rep if missed breaks is a problem in your workplace.
Terri Gorman is currently working in the Deli department at the Bremerton Safeway. She has worked at her store for 9 years accumulating over 11,000 hours. Safeway kept her at $10/hr because they said she had been jumping departments, and her accumulated hours started over each time she changed departments. With the amount of hours she had worked in the store she should be at the Journey rate of pay. Terri went to her union Rep about the new language in the grocery contract that says all hours are equal. Thanks to the new contract and Terri knowing her rights she is now at $15/hr and received $2,500 in retro pay.
left to right: Amanda Tapfield, Linda Johnson, Danielle Wolfe, and Doris Kimball
At Planned Parenthood Contact Center in Tacoma, 20 members have been working for over a year in a hostile work environment due to a bully boss. When their numerous complaints were ignored, they took collective action. With the help of the union, they created a petition with a “Vote of No Confidence” and marched on their boss. Because of the collective action, their voices were heard and an investigation was launched. Management agreed to meet with members to discuss the findings of the investigation and solutions to the problem.
A Courtesy Clerk at the Issaquah Fred Meyer was approached by his manager, in front of customers, to talk about his job performance. He felt ambushed. With his mental disability, he needs support in confrontational situations. His co-worker confidant, was not working that day so he had to leave to seek support. Fred Meyer never called to see what happened, they just told him that he was terminated when he returned to work. When his Steward Mary Stoddard heard her co-worker got fired for an issue relating to his disability, she took action. Mary worked together with the union and got her co-worker his job back. Outstanding Stewards like Mary Stoddard let us know we are not alone in times of trouble.
Scott Eddy worked for The Markets and was laid off after the store closed. He remained unemployed for 22 months. When applying at Safeway, Scott informed them that he had been at Journey rate for The Markets. He was hired at Safeway starting at minimum wage. Our Skagit Grocery contract gives Safeway the option to bring in our members at 2 steps below Journey rate if they have been out of the unit for 0-2 years, but not at minimum wage. Because Scott knew his rights under the contract and informed the union we were able to correct Scott’s wages.
We are the Union. The members of UFCW 3000 are over 50,000 members working in grocery, retail, health care, meat packing, cannabis, & other industries across Washington state, north-east Oregon, and northern Idaho. UFCW 3000 is a chartered member of UFCW International with over 1.4 million workers in North America.
To build a powerful Union that fights for economic, political and social justice in our workplaces and in our communities.
