PRMCE Technical - Bargaining Begins!

On Wednesday, April 30, our union bargaining team representing the technical workers at Providence Regional Medical Center Everett (PRMCE) met with management for the first session of contract negotiations for the 2025 bargaining cycle.

To prepare for our first day, our team held a planning session on April 21 to review feedback from bargaining surveys submitted by our union siblings, and we used this input to conduct a comprehensive audit of our current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and identify areas for improvement. In addition, we've been collaborating closely with our coalition partners—SEIU 1199NW and WSNA—to research strong contract standards for healthcare workers both regionally and nationally. All of this groundwork has helped shape the proposals we're bringing to the table.

For this first session, we opened with proposals focused on several key non-economic articles—contract provisions that don't directly impact wages or benefits but are essential to protecting and improving our working conditions. Our initial proposals included:

• Free on-site parking for PRMCE employees.

• Priority access to extra shifts for bargaining unit members—before those shifts are offered to travelers or agency staff.

• Stronger workplace safety protections, including comprehensive proposals to prevent and respond to incidents of workplace violence.

Later that afternoon, the employer responded to our opening proposals, and we engaged in a productive dialogue around the priorities we brought forward. While no tentative agreements were reached on day one, the conversation marked a constructive start, and we are already working on thoughtful responses to management's counterproposals.

As we continue preparing for upcoming sessions, our team also spent time reviewing union contracts at neighboring hospitals to inform our upcoming economic proposals—including competitive wage scales, shift differentials, and premiums that reflect the value and skill of technical workers in our region.

"We're looking forward to returning to the bargaining table soon to continue this work. Our goal is clear: secure a stronger contract that delivers real improvements in pay, protections, and working conditions for the dedicated technical workers at Prov Everett!"

— Cris Cassady, IR Technologist

Your bargaining team:

• Maria Goodall, Vascular Technologist

• Cris Cassady, IR Technologist

• Terryl Smith, Pharmacy Technician

• Noah Holland, Sr. Surgical Tech

• Darryl Keffer, Respiratory Care Practitioner

• Rodney Powers, Radiology Technologist

Contract Action Team (CAT) Meeting

May 14
6:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Teamsters Local 38 Union Hall

• 2601 Everett Ave

• Everett, WA 98201

Sign the strike pledge card: We need to show Providence we're ready to do what it takes to get what we deserve. Sign the strike pledge card or ask a fellow member to sign it if they haven't already.

Leaders in Action:
May 31
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Labor Temple
"How to Strike and Win"
Event details

Step up! We need department leaders to keep members engaged in the fight.

Organize, organize, organize: Know a worker who wants to join a union? Send them here.

St. Michael Medical Center RN - Bargaining update: Join us May 8!

St. Michael Medical Center RN
Bargaining update: Join us May 8!

On May 8, we're heading back to the bargaining table to present our counterproposal in response to the hospital's comprehensive economic and non-economic offer. Unfortunately, the hospital's proposal showed little movement—especially on our staffing priorities. In our response, we'll reinforce the urgent need for real staffing guardrails to protect both nurses and patients.

While we haven't been at the table the past few weeks, we've kept the momentum going in the community. Just recently, the Kitsap Sun reported on our ongoing efforts to win a strong contract.

As we continue bargaining, we need your support to show the hospital that we are united and serious about achieving meaningful change. That's why we're asking everyone to wear UFCW 3000 gear or yellow and blue scrubs to work on May 8. A strong visual message of unity helps build power at the table.

After the May 8 bargaining session, we'll hold a Contract Action Team (CAT) and bargaining update meeting. Please join us to hear the latest and find out how you can stay involved in the fight for better staffing and a fair contract.

Contract Action Team Meeting:
May 8
7:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Kitsap Sun article >>
Sign our strike pledge card! >>

At First I Thought I Couldn’t Afford to Strike, but Now I Know I Couldn’t Afford Not To

Bargaining Team Member Todd Heuer on a Background of UFCW 3000 Blue with the quote “At First I Thought I Couldn’t Afford to Strike, but Now I Know I Couldn’t Afford Not To” in white and “The Better wages, Better Staffing, Better Stores” logo in the bottom right corner

By Todd Heuer

When you’re living paycheck to paycheck, the word “strike” can send chills down your spine. You can’t even afford to pay rent and put food on the table—how can you even think about not working?

At this point, I’ve worked at Fred Meyer for 17 years. I’m a vice president on the executive board for UFCW 3000, and I’m sitting across the table from Kroger and Albertsons on the bargaining team right now.

I support doing whatever we can do as a union – up to and including a strike – to get the contract we deserve. But I wasn’t always like that.

Back when I first got the job, the word “strike” scared the hell out of me.

Like many of my co-workers, I was working part-time, couldn’t afford the rent, and was weeks away from eviction. At that time, I felt like I couldn’t support a strike in good conscience.

But then I started talking to other workers about it.

My co-workers told me the union has a strike fund that pays benefits out to workers who walk the picket lines, helping us support ourselves and our families.

On my way into the store one morning, I was chatting with a bus driver, and he said their union and others would stand with us and support our strike.

Then I talked to the truck drivers, and they said they wouldn’t deliver food to striking stores. How long could the CEOs keep the stores open when the supply lines dry up?

Then I talked to customers, and many of them said they’d honor our line. Because – look, we all know this – the customers don’t keep coming back because they want to fatten corporate pockets – they keep coming back because of the customer service we provide.

But we can’t provide that customer service if the bosses run skeleton crews, cut pay, gut health care, and fire people for no reason.  

Without a strike-ready union, that’s our future.

As a matter of fact, at a bargaining session last month, Kroger and Albertsons proposed a pay and benefit package that would have amounted to a pay cut and worse health care.

But with a strike-ready union, we can fight back.

Join me and our bargaining team and thousands of other grocery store workers, sign the strike pledge, become a strike captain, and support your coworkers in our fight  for us all to have a better life.

Kaiser Permanente - We're Bargaining for a New Contract!

Our amazing bargaining team has begun negotiations for a new contract. There's a lot to talk about since KP recently decided to restructure and rebid several positions. We understand that KPWA has been facing challenges. We hope management will partner with us in creating contract language that will be sustainable for retention and recruitment of great employees.

Thanks to all our coworkers for filling out surveys!

Having reviewed the results of surveys, we have been working directly with management to thoroughly explain what's important to KP employees.

We know that compensation, staffing, and working conditions are at the top of everyone's list and we are developing proposals and contract language that gets to the heart of the problems we face every day.

Our first bargaining sessions have been centered on the processes we use when there needs to be operational adjustments (like rebids).

We have several bargaining sessions planned to address all these concerns with management.

As a reminder, we bargain over local contract language like seniority, layoff and restructure, hours of work and schedules, as well as local economics such as premiums and differentials. At national bargaining, we will talk about wages, health benefits, and all the things that live in the National Agreement.

Next Bargaining Session: Wednesday, May 14

Bargaining Team: Nicole Merriam, Sarah Lau, Ashleigh Aufort, Chandra Allen, Vicki Kobeski, Juli Bell, Bryana Kolppa.

Sea Wolf Bakers - Bargaining Update

On Tuesday, April 22, our bargaining team met with management for our second bargaining session.

The employer was able to provide us some responses on non-economics and we were able to reach tentative agreements on:

• Monthly employee roster lists to be provided to our union

• Access to the workplace for our union representative

• An introduction to our union during employee onboarding

• Leaves of absence for union business

• Safety and equal protection from unlawful harassment

• Just cause for workplace discipline

We were also able to provide them with our initial economic proposals, covering retirement, wages, healthcare, and other benefits. We still expect to continue working through non-economic items next week in bargaining but wanted to give the employer a chance to digest these ideas for future sessions.

"It felt like things moved slowly today, but when we reviewed our tentative agreements it was surprising how much we had accomplished."

— Sophia Cerreta, Savory & Bread Departments

Our bargaining team (left to right): Sophia Cerreta, Savory & Bread Departments; Frankie Hull, Delivery Driver; Miller Hammond, Barista; Haley Rydberg, Bread & Pastry Departments

Puget Sound Allied Grocery Stores - Hands Off Our Healthcare! (And Heads Up about the Contract Vote!)

Ten thousand people.

Even after back-to-back days of bargaining, ten thousand people is the conservative estimate for the number of workers that Kroger and Albertsons wants to kick off our health care plan by killing automatic insurance enrollment and increasing the number of hours needed to qualify for it. For more than a decade, our union has fought for and secured high-quality, affordable health care that our coworkers love and have worked hard to protect and improve. We're not about to give that up now.

"We have what you call 'good health insurance.' I've had three surgeries on my right eye. If I didn't have the insurance I have with this job, I wouldn't have been able to afford that care with what we get paid."

— Sam Dancy, bargaining team member and front-end manager at the Westwood Village QFC

If these corporations have nearly $16 billion to blow on Wall Street—plus nearly a billion to throw away on a failed merger—then they have the cash to keep our healthcare trust whole and pay us what we deserve.

Contract Extended, Vote Announced!

We have another three days of bargaining early next week, and another three days in May. After that, we'll vote on the contract in early June.

How the employers behave in these next rounds of bargaining will decide whether we recommend a "yes" or "no" vote.

Be on the lookout for future updates with vote locations and times, and then join us to make your voice heard!

Next bargaining dates: April 28, 29 and 30. May 19, 20 and 21.

Demand more from the employers!

Step up: Join a brief workplace leaflet and sign a strike pledge card if you haven't already. Contact your union steward or union rep for more information.

Speak up: File a staffing report at nogrocerylines.org

Dive deeper: Read more information about our negotiations on our website! ufcw3000.org/better-staffing

Our Union Bargaining Team:

Back row (L-R): Debra Rix, Callow Ave Safeway; Dan Howes, Crown Hill Metro Market; Roger Yanez, Bella Bottega QFC; Sam Dancy, Westwood Village QFC; Cliff Powers, Anacortes Safeway; Bryan Gilderoy, Kent Fred Meyer; Kyle Doherty, Stanwood Haggen; Kevin Flynn, Marysville Albertsons; J'Nee Delancey, Ballard Town and Country; Teamsters Local 38 E-Board Member Caprii Nakihei; Kim Hayes, Everett Safeway; Teamsters Local 38 E-Board Member Caprii Nakihei; Teamsters Local 38 Joel Palabrica; Todd Heuer, Ballard Fred Meyer. Front row (L-R): Yasmin Ashur, Port Orchard Albertsons; Daisy Hannelore, Benson Plaza Fred Meyer; Joseph Baltz, Anacortes Fred Meyer; Jeff Smith, Fred Meyer; Princetta Woodhouse, Redondo Fred Meyer; Kyong Barry, S Auburn Albertsons; Amy Dayley Angell, Ballard QFC.

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)

C.C. FILSON - Tentative Agreement Reached!

We are happy to announce that we've reached a tentative agreement with Filson on the 2025–2028 contract, and on the severance agreement for warehouse workers impacted by the August layoffs.

Your union bargaining team is recommending a "YES" vote!

CONTRACT HIGHLIGHTS

• Wage increases across the board for all members

• Improved retirement benefit

• 15-minute breaks (up from 10 minutes)

• Leave of absence available for immigration-related issues

SEVERANCE AGREEMENT HIGHLIGHTS

• Two weeks of severance pay for every year of service (up to 16 weeks)

• For employees with nine or more years of service: an additional week per year, up to a maximum of 20 weeks total

• Bonuses ranging from $700 to $1,100 based on years of service

Ratification Vote

April 29

Kent Location
6111 South 228th Street, Kent, WA
10:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Seattle Location
1741 1st Ave S, Seattle, Washington
11:00 AM – 12:15 PM

All members in good standing are encouraged to attend.

Full details of the proposed contract and severance agreement will be available at the meeting.

Our bargaining team: Jared Othieno, Jonathan Pryor, Regina Hill