Kroger Bargaining update: We refuse to be intimated by bully tactics

Yesterday, our UFCW 21 bargaining team made cost-saving proposals to Kroger's QFC representatives that we believe would help keep the Capitol Hill and Wedgwood QFC stores stay open.

In a clear attempt to intimidate workers and city governments, Kroger announced it would close these stores at the end of April, the company blamed its decision on increased costs due to the Seattle City Council’s passage of a temporary $4 per hour hazard pay mandate for grocery store workers on the front lines of the pandemic.

“We met with Kroger's QFC representatives today and presented creative cost-saving proposals that we believe would help keep these stores open. We eagerly await Kroger's response and we remain committed to fighting for the pay that essential workers deserve. We refuse to be intimidated by Kroger’s bully tactics” -Our QFC Bargaining Team

Like other large grocery companies, Kroger has profited from the COVID pandemic as consumers shifted to at-home meal preparation. In 2020, Kroger’s profits increased 53% to $2.74 Billion, and the company funneled $1.9 Billion to investors through dividends and stock buybacks.

UFCW 21 members have been taking action to fight back against Kroger’s bullying by continuing to push Hazard Pay ordinances across the state, speaking out in the media, sitting down with the employer to bargain over the store closures and gearing up for the start of Grocery Store Bargaining in 2022.

Join hundreds of community members that are standing up to Kroger and QFC's bullying - Sign the Petition!>>

Or Text “NOBULLY” to 52886

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RSVP to upcoming Grocery Store CAT (Contract Action Team) meetings>>

OUR QFC BARGAINING TEAM
Sam Dancy, QFC Westwood Village
Amy Dayley Angell, QFC Ballard
Robin Hillistad, QFC Uptown
Jeff Alexander, QFC Wedgwood
Stefanie Cook, QFC Capitol Hill
Faye Guenther, President UFCW 21
Joe Mizrahi, Secretary Treasurer UFCW 21
Jim McGuinness, Attorney

Summit Pacific Medical Center - Progress with Mediation

We had our first mediation Friday with Management and a PERC mediator. We were able to have good discussions and come to agreement on some outstanding non-economic issues. We reached tentative agreements on:

• Feedback (Evaluations)

• Union Bulletin Boards

• Job Postings

• Introductory Employee (Probation Period)

• Department Orientation

There’s still a lot of hard work ahead. We have not yet discussed economics with the mediator, and we are still awaiting Management’s response to our last economic proposals. Our next mediation date is March 24.

“It’s good to see progress with the mediator. Now we can really focus in on our economic issues and win a fair contract.”

—Your Bargaining Team

Your Bargaining Team: Angi Swinhart, Barbara Ford, Jessee Bednarik, Michael Granstrom

Hear more about how mediation went at our Contract Action Meeting this Thursday @ 7PM!

Thursday, March 18
7:00 PM

Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center - Contract Approved

Contract Approved

On Monday, March 15, members of the Technical Bargaining Unit voted to ratify a new 3-year contract with Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center.

Our new contract won by supermajority vote and it includes:

• Wage increases that will begin first full pay period following ratification

• Enhanced Bereavement Leave

• NO takeaways to our EIB ad PTO

Our Bargaining Team stood UNITED. When we speak with one voice, we WIN.

Please contact Union Rep Maureen Hatton at 509-340-7370 with any questions or concerns.

OUR BARGAINING TEAM:
Lisa Aker, Surgical Tech; Angela Holmes, Surgical Tech; Teresa Bowden, Respiratory Therapist; Laurie Trudeau, Respiratory Therapist; Sam Zabala, Respiratory Therapist; Miriam Critelli, Pharmacy Tech; Kevin Lange, Mental Health Counselor; Shane Sullivan, Peds Sonagrapher; Aaron Bryant, IR Tech; Derek Roybal, CV Tech; Jason Van Curler, EP Tech

Samaritan Hospital - Settlement Reached on Extra Shift Pay During COVID-19

After months of bargaining with Management we have reached a Memorandum of Understanding regarding extra shift pay. Some of the highlights:

Eligibility:  Nurse must accept a designated eligible shift within 5 calendar days of its original designation. A Nurse must work full FTE during the week she/he accepts an incentive shift.

Low Census after an extra shift has begun will not affect the payment of incentive shift.

Retroactive to January 24, 2021

Ending April 30, 2021

Incentive Tiers

• 12 hour shift - $150

• 10 hour shift - $125

• 8 hour shift - $100

Please contact Maureen Hatton or one of your Union Stewards for more information.

Discovery Behavioral Health - Tentative Agreement Reached

Tentative Agreement Reached

OUR BARGAINING TEAM IS RECOMMENDING A YES VOTE

Our Bargaining Team reached a tentative agreement with Management recently and some of the highlights include:

• Wage increases each year

• Maintaining our healthcare costs

• Ratification bonus

Join our Bargaining Team to discuss the Tentative Agreement reached with Management. We will be conducting an online vote on March 25 @ 9 AM – 9 PM.

Please be on the lookout for an invitation. If you need to update your email, go to:
ufcw21.org/update-your-information

Join our online pre-vote meeting!
Wednesday, March 24
6:00 PM
Contact your Bargaining Team or Union Rep for call-in details. Details will be also emailed out.

“We look forward to seeing everyone on Wednesday evening so we can discuss what we accomplished at the Bargaining Table.”

-Discovery Behavioral Bargaining Team
Lenora Johnson, Walter Jordan

Providence Everett RNs // Providence St. Peter’s Techs - 99% Vote to Reject Providence’s latest proposal!

On March 11 and 12, the Nurses at Providence Everett and the Technical Workers at Providence St. Peter’s overwhelmingly voted to reject Providence’s latest proposal! While Providence Everett RNs are fighting for improvements to an existing contract, Providence St. Peter’s is fighting for a first contract for the Technical unit.

Providence is proposing to retire the EIB program, reduce PTO for more senior employees, and offering below market wage increases at both bargaining tables. We have notified Providence that both units are not interested in their latest proposal. Providence Centralia is also bargaining a first contract for the Service and Technical units and will be prepared to vote down if they receive the same proposals.

Back in 2019, the Providence units all stood together and fought to keep their EIB/PTO by taking workplace actions together and a strike authorization vote across the state. It is clear to our four bargaining teams that we need to take UNITED action once again!

We will be bargaining with Providence St. Peter’s on March 19 and April 6 and will be going to mediation with Providence Everett on April 12 and April 16.

Please join one of our meetings to find out more and hear about our next steps. Contact your Bargaining Team or Union Rep, Anthony Cantu (PRMCE) and Erin McCoy (PSPH), for call-in details. Details will also be emailed out.

PSPH Techs
Contract Action Team Meeting
March 22 @ 6:30 PM

Picket Captain Training
April 7 @ 6:30 PM

Picket Captain Training
April 28 @ 6:30 PM

PRMCE RNs
Picket Captain Training
April 6 and April 13 @ 8 PM

PCC Bargaining Update: Management Doesn't Get It

We bargained with PCC again last Thursday.

Our Bargaining Team has met with PCC seven times now, and all they’ve been willing to agree to is cleanup language. PCC has been rejecting many of our proposals, without coming up with any creative solutions of their own. Meanwhile, Management has put corporate-style proposals on the table that would erode our just cause language, weaken our grievance procedure, and reduce existing rights under our current contract.

PCC is still refusing to respond to our economic proposals.

We demand that PCC lives up to co-op values, respects workers’ rights, and truly engage with the communities in which they operate.

“Current PCC Leadership doesn’t understand where the co-op has come from and what PCC has stood for in the past. We need to make sure that PCC doesn’t forget its roots so that it can be successful moving forward.”

— Our PCC Bargaining Team

Co-op or corporate? Let PCC know what you think co-op values are by attending an informational picket on 4/14. RSVP now!

RSVP to join our Informational Picket! Contact our Bargaining Team or Union Rep for details

Our PCC Bargaining Team:
Atsuko Koseki, Edmonds Deli
Greg Brooks, Fremont Meat
Keith Allery, Greenlake Village Deli
Quinn Ráo, Ballard Front End
Scott Shiflett, Redmond Meat
Yasab Pfister, Burien Front End

Zenith American Solutions - Management is Not Listening to Us

We met with Zenith Management on March 9 and 10 to continue negotiations. We reached a few tentative agreements but are still far apart on some key issues. We are frustrated by Zenith’s lack of care and consideration of our members issues. This has been demonstrated by their consistent out right rejection of our proposals.

“Management is not taking our concerns seriously. We need to show them that we are standing strong together and united for a fair contract. We want to hear from you! Please join our ZOOM meeting to ask questions and follow-up on your biggest concerns.”

— Debbie DeVore

Your Bargaining Team: Carlotta Bogdon, Sr. Fund Accounting Specialist; Debbie DeVore, Sr. Pension Processor; Sue Wehmeyer, Sr. Claims Processor.

Questions or concerns? Contact your Bargaining Team or Union Rep, David Trujillo @ dtrujillo@ufcw21.org or 360-419-4665

Your voice matters! Come hear from the bargaining team and ask questions. We are developing a plan and want to hear your thoughts.

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Join our online meeting!

Wednesday, March 24

6:00 - 7:30 PM

Contact your Bargaining Team or Union Rep for call-in details. Details will be also emailed out.

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Not getting communications from us? Be sure to update your contact information!

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Next Bargaining Date:

March 30

Summit Pacific Medical Center - RSVP to a Contract Action Meeting

Join our Bargaining Team at a Contract Action Meeting on Thursday, March 18 @ 7 PM to hear the latest bargaining update and how we can support our fight for a fair contract.

RSVP for the Zoom information

Thursday, March 18
7 PM
Contact your Bargaining Team or Union Rep for call-in details. Details will be also emailed out.

Click HERE for the CAT Meeting RSVP

Our Bargaining Team:
Angi Swinhart- RN, Clinic; Barbara Ford- ED, HUC; Alicia Wood- RN, ED; Jessee Bednarik, RN, ED; Michael Granstrom, ED Tech

Kaiser Spokane Pharmacy Techs - Know Your Rights and Union

Thanks to everyone who joined us on Thursday for a great meeting! We talked about what was accomplished at the last bargaining session and discussed questions related to retirement, dues, NLRB election, and seniority in Spokane.  

Our next bargaining dates with Kaiser are scheduled for April 1, 15, and 29. Between now and then, the Pharmacy Tech Bargaining Team will meet with benefit experts at Kaiser and the Alliance of Health Care Unions to compare retirement and healthcare plans—Union vs. Non-Union. 

The NLRB Election to determine if we will be represented by UFCW 21 will take place by mail over the next four weeks. Ballots will be sent out by mail by March 8, and must be returned to the NLRB Regional Office by no later than 3:00 PM on April 5, 2021. The ballots will be counted, and election results determined on April 7. If you do not receive your ballot, you may call the NLRB Region 19 Office at 206-220-6300 and ask for the information officer to request a ballot. 

It’s important for everyone to have accurate and up to date information—and that happens best when people are involved in each Clinic. Join us for our next meeting to learn more about your rights and Union—we hope to see there!  We will have a short training and an open space to talk about issues as a group.

For questions or more information, please contact Union Representative Maureen Hatton at 509-340-7370.  

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Kaiser Spokane Pharmacy Techs:
Know your Rights and Union!
Wednesday, March 17
6:45 – 7:45 pm

Contact your Bargaining Team or Union Rep for call-in details. Details will be also emailed out.

Lourdes Counseling Center - Bargaining Update - March 8

Our Union Bargaining Team made an aggressive comprehensive counter proposal to the Employer’s most recent proposal in an attempt to make considerable progress. The Employer was not ready to respond but we are looking forward to a counter proposal at the next bargaining session on March 19. We have scheduled two additional bargaining dates prior to our final contract vote. 

Thank you all who came out on Monday, March 1 for our picket! Great showing!  

Please reach out to your Bargaining Team with any questions or concerns or contact your Union Representative Austen Louden @ 509-340-7372 

Providence St. Peter Hospital - Bargaining Committee Recommends a “No” Vote on March 12!

Since the beginning of bargaining in June 2020, Providence has made it clear that they are not willing to give the technical unit the same benefits or contract language that the RNs have in their contract. Currently we have several tentative agreements around non-economic contract language, but are still far apart on economic topics.

In one of our last sessions, Providence proposed no longevity wage increases and no guaranteed annual wage increases. All UFCW 21 contracts with Providence have longevity wage increases and annual across-the-board increases. We believe that we deserve the same!

It is now time to tell Providence that we are not interested in their wage scale proposal or subpar contract language! We deserve a fair contract which will help retain our current workforce and help us recruit skilled technical workers.

The committee is recommending a “NO” vote on Providence’s latest proposal!

We will be voting online via “Simply Vote” on Friday, March 12 from 12 AM to 11:59 PM.

You will be receiving an email from “Simply Vote” with your unique login information. If you do not receive an email from UFCW 21 or “Simply Vote,” by March 11, please update your information online.

In solidarity, Your RN Bargaining Team: Josh Wood (CT), Shapel Morgan (X-ray), Rae Lynn Korpi (RT), Colleen Castaneda (Cath Lab)

We will have vote meetings on March 10 @ 7:30PM and March 11 @ 7:30 AM via Zoom to go over Providence’s last proposal.

North Valley - Management Continues to Low Ball Us: Not Willing to Use COVID $ for Incentive Shifts

After another round of bargaining with Management our team was disappointed to see another Low Ball offer. Also at a time when they have millions of funds for COVID relief in their bank account they refuse to offer incentive shifts or bonuses for all the hard work we have faced over the last year through the Pandemic. They also want to limit our use of sick leave when we are asked to go home because of illness. 

“We need to come together and make a plan on moving Management off of their takeaways to our contract. Join our Bargaining Team for a Strategic Contract Action Planning.” 

Your Bargaining Team: Amy Radcliff, Jason Daniels, Megan Vickers, Michelle Beattie (also pictured: Negotiator Matt Wood, Union Representative Maureen Hatton)

Join Our Zoom Meeting Online!

Tuesday, March 9

6:00 PM

Contact your Bargaining Team or Union Rep for call-in details. Details will be also emailed out.

PCC - PCC Goes Backwards on Proposals

Our member-led bargaining team met with PCC on February 23 & 24 and on March 2. PCC came to bargaining with corporate-style proposals that erode our contract rights. Our Bargaining Team has presented most of our union proposals. We’re focused on continuing to make progress towards winning a fair contract and were disappointed that PCC did not have economic responses ready for us.

PCC proposals to date include changes to:

• Recall in cases of layoff, restricting recall to 7 days from notice.

• Grievance and Arbitration language, cutting timelines to file a grievance down to 7 days, making it more difficult for members to file grievances.

• Just Cause article, limiting the scope of our Just Cause provisions, in many cases allowing the company to bypass progressive discipline.

• Union Security, putting the membership on the hook for any attorney’s fees due to legal disputes that may arise under this provision.

• Vacation scheduling, changes Meat and Grocery vacation bid periods.

• Scheduling availability, making availability subject to a Store Directors approval.

• Implementing new technology in stores, allowing PCC to implement new technologies only with simple notice to our union.

Our PCC bargaining team proposals include:

• Increases throughout and at the top of the wage scales. Including one scale for all stores.

• Overtime for consecutive days

• Increases to premiums

• Dedicated PCC Worker seats on the Board of Trustees

• Community Engagement

• Securing our Retirement

• Worker Committees

• Workforce Development

• Increasing Staff Discount

• Safety Committee

• Work on a holiday

• Expanding and updating Bereavement/Funeral Leave

• Strengthening Union Leave

• Strengthening Scheduling

• Increased notice in case of store closure

We have reached tentative agreements on:

• Recognition of newly opened stores in Central District & Bellevue

• Cleanup language for holidays

• Updating non-discrimination language

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“We expected more from PCC, but feel they came unprepared to respond to our economic proposals, and offered very little else. We will continue to push our bargaining priorities to win a fair contract.”

Your PCC Bargaining Team:

Atsuko Koseki, Edmonds Deli; Greg Brooks, Fremont Meat; Keith Allery, Greenlake Village Deli; Quinn Ráo, Ballard Front End; Scott Shiflett, Redmond Meat; Yasab Pfister, Burien Front End

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Last Wednesday, we were joined by our community partners at King County Equity Now, that brought community concerns to the table to help support the work of our PCC members and bargaining team on issues of:

• Access to co-op membership

• Racial equity for workers and shoppers at PCC

• Promoting local and BIPOC owned products in PCC stores

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Our next bargaining dates are:

March 11, March 22, March 30

RSVP to a Contract Action Meeting for more details!

Learn more about our community partners, King County Equity Now:

Central Co-Op - Hazard Pay Update

The momentum of Seattle City Council passing the Hazard Pay Ordinance for large grocers inspired workers at smaller employers to organize. Central Coop Union members acted collectively and demanded that Central Coop reinstate hazard pay. 

While we hoped that co-op leadership would have matched the pay mandated in the Seattle law, they knew they had to respond to us. Central Coop members are frontline workers and deserve this pay! 

By wearing buttons, we created visibility with the public and by collecting signatures from our coworkers we ensured that the Co-op would step up to the plate and do what is right.

Central Coop members won $2.00 an hour in hazard pay, taking effect on February 10 with no expiration date.

When we fight, we WIN!

MultiCare - Bargaining Update - March 2, 2021

“We’re diligently working on the issues you told us matter, while MultiCare continues to push for the status quo.”

Your Bargaining Team: Alexis Dotts, Glen Steele, Gregg Barney, Heidi Strub, Jamie Fenton, Julianna Van Enk, Kelly Gusman, Kurtis Chaffin, Patricia Brown, Ryan Boyd, Sammy Bainivalu, Teri Kruse, Wanda Rodriguez-Ramos, Yvette Broeckel

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Your Bargaining Team met with Management again on February 22 and 26. It was more of the same from Management as they continue their refusal to budge on most issues, responding with “status quo” every time we meet.

Frustrated with the Employer’s unwillingness to move, your Bargaining Team responded by making an aggressive proposal on healthcare, retirement, and wage premiums, which included:

• Proposal to lower the eligibility requirements for full healthcare benefits,

• Proposal to lock-in our current healthcare costs through 2024,

• Proposal to increase the Employer’s contributions into our retirement plans,

• Proposal to increase wage premiums (shift differential, weekend premium, etc.).

We also made a proposal to ensure that the upcoming move of Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital to the new facility will be conducted with as little disruption to our members as possible.

We are fighting to ensure that all the contractual benefits currently enjoyed by member’s will continue without interruption at the new facility.

Your Bargaining Team will meet with Management again on Tuesday, March 9, then again on March 16, 23, 30 and, if necessary, April 6, 13, 20, 27. Our contracts were scheduled to expire on February 28, however, we signed an extension agreement with the employer so that our contracts continue in full force and effect as we move forward with negotiations.

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Tell the Bargaining Team about the staffing issues in your department, please spend 5-10 minutes to complete the MultiCare Staffing Survey.

Join the UFCW 21 MultiCare Facebook Page for the latest updates!

Dynacare Labcorp - Contract Ratified!

Dynacare Labcorp
Contract Ratified!

Members at LabCorp overwhelming voted YES to approve the new contract with LabCorp. The new contract includes:

• All job classes paid at least 10 cents above Seattle min wage

• Ratification payment of $750.00 for all members (if employed before May 31, 2020)

• Competitive annual increases to wage scale of 2.5% each year for jobs already paid at market rates

• Market adjustments to the following job classes: Cytogenetic Technologist, Cytotechnologist, Data Entry Clerk, Lab Assistant, Sr. Lab Assistant, Mail Clerk, Material Handler, Medical Technologist, Path File Clerk, Patient Intake Rep, PST, PST Specialist, and Service Rep

• Maintained BCBS medical plan with no changes until 2022 and mitigated health increases to ensure real wage increases; plus added a NEW *Healthy Value Plan* option in 2022

• NEW! MOU Pandemic Safety committee language - Commitment to meet with committee every month over safety concerns and committee to adhere to CDC, WHO, and DOH guidelines

• Stronger Staffing Committee MOU - Added language that would allow a grievance to be filed

• AND SO MUCH MORE!

The contact is in full force and effect as of February 17, 2021 - May 31, 2023. You can expect to see your first pay increase on your 3/12 paycheck!

Questions about the contract? Contact one of our Bargaining Team members directly.

Our Bargaining Team: Shelby Tyner, Sam McVay, Nancy Pyanowski, Steph Royce, Eli Lanczos, Fredel Albritton

Cascade Specialty Pharmacy - Tentative Agreement Reached!

Cascade Specialty Pharmacy

Tentative Agreement Reached!
OUR BARGAINING TEAM IS RECOMMENDING A YES VOTE

Our Bargaining Team is proud to announce that we have reached a tentative agreement with management at Cascade Specialty Pharmacy! Despite the current struggle with COVID-19, we won a contract that heavily invests in member’s future with improvements such as:

• Revamped, more competitive wage scale

• New 401k retirement plan that includes 100% employer matching contribution of up to 6% of your total compensation

• PTO is now available to ALL employees, including part-time

We are working on setting up a mail-in contract vote to ensure that you can vote on your contract while staying safe and healthy. Details about the upcoming vote will be mailed to you in the coming days. If you have any questions, please reach out to either your Union Representative or one of your Bargaining Team members.

Our Bargaining Team:
Daniel Kilcullen Marissa Stanley

UPDATE YOUR CONTACT INFO!
ufcw21.org/update-your-information

If you have any questions, please contact your Union Rep Aimee Oien @ 360-662-1981

PRMCE - Bargaining Committee Recommends a “No” Vote on March 11!

Back in Spring/Summer of 2020, Providence approached us with a proposal to extend the contract for a year, provide a 4% across-the-board increase for 2020, have all nurses pay for parking as of 2021, and potentially eliminate EIB. At that time, we took this proposal to a vote and an overwhelming majority of the RN unit voted down this proposal. We told Providence loud and clear that we thought their proposal was a bad deal!

We then went to the bargaining table to fight for better wage increases and no take-aways! 

Since October 2020, we have been bargaining with Providence and have made little progress around improving contract language. Providence has also proposed to eliminate EIB, reduce PTO, and provide below market wage increases. We believe it is now time to send a clear message to Providence that they need to take our proposals seriously and that the RN unit deserves better wage increases to recruit and retain nurses! 

The committee is recommending a “NO” vote on Providence’s latest proposal! 

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We will be voting online via “Simply Vote” on Thursday, March 11 from 12 AM to 11:59 PM.

You will be receiving an email from “Simply Vote” with your unique login information. If you do not receive an email from UFCW 21 or “Simply Vote,” by March 10, please update your information online or email your union rep, Anthony Cantu (acantu@ufcw21.org) 

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In solidarity, Your RN Bargaining Team: Juan Stout, ER; Kimball Conlon, ER; Betsy Bourg, Glasgow; Cindi Dyson, Float Pool; Jenney Gannon, L&D; Madison Hamilton

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We will have vote meetings on March 2 and March 9 @ 8PM via Zoom to go over Providence’s last proposal. 

Contact your Bargaining Team or Union Rep for call-in details. Details will be also emailed out. 

March Telephone Town Hall Calls

As COVID restrictions make it more difficult to meet in person and members face increased risks and concerns around COVID safety and other issues, we are continuing regular Telephone Town Hall calls for members to get important updates, ask questions of union leadership and special expert guests, and come together to plan how we can keep each other safe and fight for fairness at work even during this ongoing crisis.

Kroger, Fred Mayer, QFC Telephone Town Hall
Monday, March 1 at 5:30 PM
☎️ 888-544-2310 Meeting ID: 5734

All you have to do is pick up the phone when it rings between 5:30-5:40pm on Monday, or if you don’t receive a call, just use the call-in number and Meeting ID above.

UFCW 21 Member Telephone Town Hall
Monday, March 1 at 6:30 PM
☎️ 888-844-0776 Meeting ID: 5694

 All you have to do is pick up the phone when it rings between 5:30-5:40pm on Monday, or if you don’t receive a call, just use the call-in number and Meeting ID above.

UFCW 21 Health Care Member Telephone Town Hall
Monday, March 1 at 7:30 PM
☎️ 888-460-0109 Meeting ID: 5695

All you have to do is pick up the phone when it rings between 5:30-5:40pm on Monday, or if you don’t receive a call, just use the call-in number and Meeting ID above.