UFCW 3000 Member Story: Zhi Liang
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Zhi Laing in the produce department at the Bear Creek Safeway.
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Watch: Albertsons-Kroger Merger Update Webinar
/Attention all UFCW 3000 Grocery Store Members at QFC, Fred Meyer, Albertsons, Safeway and Haggen
Ever since the day in mid-October when Kroger and Albertsons announced they were proposing to merge, we have been taking action to protect grocery store workers and our customers. What are all the threats of the merger and what actions have we taken already to protect jobs and community? Please watch the webinar above on the proposed Albertsons/Kroger merger to learn more about the activities our local union, in coordination with a handful of other UFCW locals, has been doing since the announcement. While much is still not known about what specifically these companies propose, it is clear that the proposed mega-merger would impact workers’ jobs, our shoppers and our communities.
Senate Bill 5259: Protecting Workers from Impacts of Retail Theft
/On January 26, 2023, the Senate Labor Committee heard Senate Bill 5259, a bill we’ve worked on to address the impacts of retail theft on our members and our workplaces. UFCW 3000 members have been raising the safety and financial issues around retail theft for years now, and members in grocery and retail said that tackling retail theft and ensuring workplace safety were top legislative priorities for 2023. SB 5259 would prohibit discipline of a grocery worker who engages during a situation of retail theft, and UFCW 3000 members and staff testified in support during the committee hearing.
Watch UFCW 3000 members’ testimony below!
“I wasn’t given any kind of training on what the manager wanted me to do to ‘intervene’ here, but I felt like I needed to follow his instructions or I would lose my job. In fact, in this case, following his instructions got me fired because when I did in fact intervene here, I lost my job for violating company policy by intervening with this woman. Instead of being required to take preventative measures to deter this kind of theft, Fred Meyer punished me for doing what should be their job. I hope we can get the committee support for SB 5259 so this doesn’t happen to another worker in this industry again.” -Suzanne Geffre, Fred Meyer, Richland
“While protecting workers, this legislation will not mitigate all the harms to me and my coworkers from retail theft. We think it will go a long way in ensuring our members feel empowered to make their jobs safer. From 2018 to 2020, the number of assaults reported to the FBI rose 42% overall, but by 63% in grocery stores. And in 2021, more than half of mass shooter incidents were in places of commerce. We need your help! Violent attacks are going to continue regardless of what you do this year to protect our jobs. We know what type of deterrence works, and that is to deliver the best possible customer service to every customer. This legislation will ensure we can do that without fearing we will lose our job and we need you to pass it in 2023.” -Naomi Oligario, Safeway, Port Orchard
“Our daily loss is listed by the time clock in our stores. Between when I started to now, that daily loss number has gone from in the hundreds to now thousands. Daily. It doesn’t seem fair to me that the theft the grocery companies do nothing to deter affects my department profit numbers, for which I’m then held accountable. At my Safeway we are told that we have to have our counters full and ready for customers by a set time every day, but it’s hard to do that when a customer walks in and fills up a cart with meat and walks out without paying. I know that as a manager in my Seafood department, if I could simply walk up to a customer who was doing this, to ask them if they need help, it would be a deterrence. Our stores need to have effective deterrence because workers in our stores like me are held to account for the store’s failure to deter theft.” -Anna McAllister, Safeway, Kent
Sarah Cherin, Executive Vice President of UFCW 3000, speaks to the committee about members’ experiences with retail theft.
Debbie Gath, with Teamsters Local 38, talks about her work as a Union Rep helping members facing discipline or termination.
YOU CAN TAKE ACTION TO SUPPORT THIS BILL:
UFCW Local Unions Disappointed by Washington State Supreme Court Ruling to Allow Albertsons Massive $4 Billion Dividend as Part of Proposed Mega Merger
/UFCW Local Unions React to Washington State Supreme Court Decision on Massive $4 Billion Albertsons Dividend as Part of Proposed Mega Merger
Jointly Issued Press Statement by :
UFCW 3000 of WA & Northern ID
UFCW 400 of MD, DC, VA, WV, KY, OH, & TN
UFCW 7 of CO & WY
UFCW 770 of Southern CA
UFCW 5 of Northern CA
UFCW 324 of Orange County, CA and Southern Los Angeles County
UFCW 367 of South Puget Sound, WA
Teamsters 38 of Snohomish Country, WA
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 17, 2023
Contact: Tom Geiger, UFCW 3000, 206-604-3421
UFCW Local Unions Disappointed by Washington State Supreme Court Ruling to Allow Albertsons Massive $4 Billion Dividend as Part of Proposed Mega Merger
“We are disappointed to see a ruling that favors a small number of ultra-wealthy shareholders over the many thousands of essential workers and millions of Americans who will be left to suffer the consequences of the outright financial looting of Albertsons. Despite this setback that allows the $4 billion dividend to be issued, the delay allowed the United States Senate to scrutinize the dividend payment as well as the mega-merger, and alerted the public to the disastrous consequences if the merger were to go through. We applaud Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson and his staff for their efforts fighting to protect our members and the communities we serve. Our unions will not stop working to protect our members and our communities from the harmful impacts of this proposed mega-merger of Kroger and Albertsons. It is now even more important that the Federal Trade Commission take swift and decisive action to block the acquisition.”
Background:
On November 1st, Washington state Attorney General Bob Ferguson filed a lawsuit in state court seeking to stop the payout and a temporary restraining order was granted through December 9th.
On Tuesday November 29 the US Senate Judiciary Subcommittee held a hearing to scrutinize the proposed Kroger/Albertsons mega merger, along with an alarming, up to $4 billion “special dividend” announced by Albertsons in connection with the merger agreement. In a letter to the Federal Trade Commission urging the agency to intervene, more than two dozen antitrust experts and local unions representing Albertsons’ workers decried the payout as “nothing less than an out-and-out looting of the company” and a brazen attempt to destabilize the company ahead of regulatory review of the merger.
On December 9th, the Superior Court Judge in King County Washington ruled against issuing a preliminary injunction, but delayed the effect of the decision until December 19th to allow time for an appeal by the WA AG to be considered by the State Supreme Court. On December 16th, the WA State Supreme Court issued a ruling granting the State AG’s Injunctive Relief and extended the Temporary Restraining Order on the Albertsons dividend until further order of the court.
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UFCW 3000 Member Story: Dawn Harris
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Dawn Harris, grocery store worker at safeway fairwood & proud ufcw 3000 member
It’s #WorkerWednesday, and today we are spotlighting Dawn Harris, a grocery store worker at Safeway #519 in Fairwood! Dawn is a strong workplace leader and is currently being trained as a shop steward for her store.
Dawn recently attended the 2022 Safety Summit with a cohort of coworkers from her store and is excited to continue to grow as an effective advocate for her & her coworkers’ rights on the job. Dawn is passionate about the arts and sports (biggest Seahawks fan around!) and loves spending time with her family.
Dawn, thanks for all your hard work on behalf of your community, coworkers, and fellow union members. If you shop at Safeway in Fairwood, be sure to say hi!
UFCW 3000 Member Story: Terry Lakes
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Terry Lakes, UFCW 3000 member & GROCERY STORE WORKER AT FRED MEYER
It’s #MemberMonday, and today we’re spotlighting Terry Lakes, who currently works at Fred Meyer in Auburn, where she’s worked for the past 33 years!
Terry is originally from Iowa, but moved to Auburn, WA at a young age and considers both places her home. While Terry started her career in healthcare, working in a nursing home, she has been in the grocery industry for so many years because of her bond with her coworkers and customers. For Terry, her coworkers are like family! Terry is always ready to greet you, whether you’re a customer or a coworker, with a warm smile.
Terry’s solidarity with her coworkers has also motivated her to be a leader in her workplace. Since 2015, she’s been a shop steward, and in recent years, she’s also been active in getting coworkers, customers, and community members involved in contract campaigns.
When she’s not working, Terry loves to read and tend to her home. We are so grateful to Terry for the knowledge, expertise, and compassion that she brings to not only her store but our entire Union. Thank you Terry!
UFCW 3000 Member Story: Maureen Williams
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It’s #MemberMonday, and today’s spotlight is on Maureen Williams, who currently works at Fred Meyer in Covington, WA. Maureen has been working in the grocery industry since she immigrated to the U.S. from her homeland of Guyana in South America.
Originally, Maureen was a seasonal worker and cashier. Through the years, she has worked her way up and is now head of her department! In fact, Maureen is now contemplating retirement in the near future.
Maureen is a proud union member and strong worker-leader. She has been a shop steward since 2017. Most recently, Maureen attended the 2022 Safety Summit and has taken what she learned back to her store & their safety committee.
Maureen says that one of her main motivations for wanting to advocate for her coworkers is the history of the Labor movement in Guyana. One such example is Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow, also known as the founding father of the Union Trade Workers in Guyana. Inspired by this history, Maureen believes it’s a necessity to stand up at work for her rights and for her coworkers who might otherwise feel powerless. In her words, being an engaged union member and workplace leader is important because “if there’s not a body of people representing the vulnerable and underdogs, we would be taken advantage of.”
Thank you Maureen for your leadership and strength! It is truly inspiring to witness you connect the organizing we need in our workplace with global movements for justice.
UFCW 3000 Member Story: Sandy Pyle
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Sandy Pyle (left), grocery store worker, is pictured here with her union representative, Tae (center), and a fellow UFCW 3000 member, Yasmin (right).
It’s #MemberMonday and today we are spotlighting Sandy Pyle, who has been a member of our union since 2004! Sandy works at Albertsons #419 in Port Orchard, WA, starting her career as a courtesy clerk. In the years since, Sandy has worked her way up the ladder and is now a Front-End Supervisor.
Sandy’s coworkers have seen her supporting others for many years. Whether she is educating fellow union members on their rights at work, standing up to management, or identifying & documenting safety hazards, Sandy is always helping her coworkers advocate for themselves. This same attitude extends to the customers who frequent her store, many of whom know her by name and are always happy to see Sandy.
Sandy’s leadership extends to being passionate about workplace safety as well. Recently, Sandy attended our first annual Safety Summit, bringing with her two other union members. Regardless of whether they work at her store or not, Sandy is always motivated to provide as many resources as possible to fellow frontline, essential workers. Sandy’s goals now are to train coworkers to become shop stewards or recruit them to join their stores’ safety committees.
Sandy — thank you so much for your leadership in your workplace and your community. We are so inspired!
UFCW 3000 Member Story: Safeway #1550 Workers Organize to Win!
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#WorkerWednesday is here and we want to spotlight the incredible organizing being done by grocery store workers & proud UFCW 3000 members at Safeway #1550 in the Roosevelt neighborhood of Seattle, WA.
Like many frontline, #EssentialWorkers at grocery stores across the PNW, the workers at Safeway #1550 have been dealing with many safety issues: cars being broken into, verbal assault, and harassment. One top concern was simply having a coded door to their break room so that workers could feel safe, knowing their personal belongings were not accessible to the public. Despite submitting the most store incident reports in their district to corporate about their concerns, management did not take any steps to address these issues.
One of the workers at Safeway #1550, Joaquin Viralta, came up with the idea of getting his coworkers to sign onto a petition. Leaders like Ian Bangs and many others soon took the drafted petition to their coworkers, getting over 80% of the store to sign on within 3 weeks. Ian and other worker-leaders represented their coworkers by delivering this petition to management. The workers received a commitment from management to: 1) install a coded break room door, 2) supply adequate PPE for each department, and 3) begin a program to help members get to their cars at night safe & sound.
This victory was only possible because of leaders like Joaquin and Ian stepping up, encouraging their coworkers to get involved with the union, and trying tactics like safety reports & the petition to successfully advocate for the change they needed in their workplace.
To all the worker-leaders at Safeway #1550: we are so inspired by your creativity & dedication!
Stop the Kroger Albertsons Merger and the Cash Grab - Add your name!
/Stop the Kroger Albertsons Merger and the Cash Grab - Add your name!
We would like to send an email to the FTC’s AntiTrust division and add your name to the growing list endorsing the letter we sent on 11/3 expressing concern about this proposed merger.
On November 3, 26 organizations, including UFCW 3000, wrote a formal letter to the Federal Trade Commission raising serious concerns regarding the proposed merger of Kroger and Albertsons. That letter concluded with the following:
“The bottom line is that this proposed merger is bad for workers, bad for consumers, bad for communities, bad for the economy—indeed, bad for everyone not associated with Cerberus Capital Management or owning shares in these two companies. We urge you to take immediate action to stop the special dividend payment and block this merger altogether.”
UFCW 3000 Member Story: Connie Schlosser
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As a child, Connie has vivid memories of shopping for groceries at the Rosauers just down the street from her house. These days, Connie is a cornerstone of her community, with so many people having gotten to know her and appreciate the work she does in the store.
Read MoreRichland Fred Meyer Community Action
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This community has our back! Give us a fair first contract!
Show your support for Richland Fred Meyer workers, join us on the sidewalk outside the Richland Fred Meyer to demand a first contract for workers at the Richland Fred Meyer.
Friday, October 7 @ 1PM
Richland Fred Meyer workers organized at the end of last year and have been bargaining with the company since early spring for a first contract.
Richland Fred Meyer - This community has our back - give us a fair contract!
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Richland Fred Meyer
This Community Has Our Back, Give us a Fair First Contract!
Our Richland Bargaining Team met on August 16 and 17 and exchanged many proposals with the company including; arbitration procedures and grievance processes, workplace safety language, union security guarantees, just cause protections, paid holidays, sick leave and other important issues. We are very close to an agreement on many of these critical matters. We have dates set in September to continue negotiations with the employer over these critical issues.
Our team continues to fight for:
Fair wages with an enforceable wage scale and increases.
Affordable and quality health care that cannot be changed without the agreement of our union team.
It’s time to show Fred Meyer that this community is clearly on our side and demands that we get the fair first contract that includes fair wages, good health care, secure retirement, and a voice on the job that we deserve!
Save the date:
‘This Community Has Our Back, Give us a Fair First Contract’
Richland Community Rally, October 7 from 1:00-3:00PM
UFCW 3000 Member Story: Britt Leggett
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Britt Leggett, grocery store worker at Fred Meyer in Ballard and proud UFCW 3000 member
It’s time for this week’s #MemberMonday spotlight! Today, our story is about Britt Leggett, grocery store worker at Fred Meyer 608 in Ballard.
Britt is an amazing example of a workplace leader. Britt makes an effort to get to know her coworkers in the store — not just how their work affects her day-to-day responsibilities, but also more about who they are as people outside of work and their hobbies. It’s this friendliness and consistency that helps Britt serve her fellow UFCW 3000 members as a shop steward! Britt helps encourage her coworkers to lead efforts within the store to problem-solve issues that may come up in the workplace. With over 200 workers that make FM 608 run, Britt plays an essential role in educating & training coworkers on their rights at work.
Britt’s leadership can be traced to her family’s roots in the Labor movement. Her grandfather, father, and aunt were all active Union members, organizing and advocating for higher standards in the workplace. As Britt says:
“When we are isolated in the workplace we are weak, but when workers come together as a Union we are strong…It is through our combined voices and solidarity with one another that Union workers can achieve our common goals. These are the beliefs and principles of the Labor movement that I am proud to be a part of.”
Britt — thank you for all that you do with and for your coworkers. You model leadership and service every day!
Ken’s Korner Red Apple (Meat), it’s time to vote!
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Ken’s Korner Red Apple (Meat), it’s time to vote!
Member Bargaining team recommends a YES vote!
This historic agreement is a direct result of our actions and commitment to fighting for essential frontline grocery store workers and serving the communities in which we live, both during and long before COVID. This is a Tentative Agreement and is not final until we vote to accept it. Full details of the agreement will be provided at each vote location. Our Union Member Bargaining Team reached this Tentative Agreement and recommends a YES VOTE to accept the proposal from the employers. These votes are open to all active members of UFCW 3000 Grocery Store Workers in Island, Jefferson, Clallam, Skagit, Whatcom, and independent stores covered by this Tentative Agreement.
CONTRACT VOTE MEETINGS
Active members are eligible to vote.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 6 - KEN’S KORNER
12pm - 2pm
Oak Harbor Marketplace (Meat), it’s time to vote!
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Oak Harbor Marketplace (Meat), it’s time to vote!
Member Bargaining team recommends a YES vote!
This historic agreement is a direct result of our actions and commitment to fighting for essential frontline grocery store workers and serving the communities in which we live, both during and long before COVID. This is a Tentative Agreement and is not final until we vote to accept it. Full details of the agreement will be provided at each vote location. Our Union Member Bargaining Team reached this Tentative Agreement and recommends a YES VOTE to accept the proposal from the employers. These votes are open to all active members of UFCW 3000 Grocery Store Workers in Island, Jefferson, Clallam, Skagit, Whatcom, and independent stores covered by this Tentative Agreement.
CONTRACT VOTE MEETINGS
Active members are eligible to vote.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 6 - OAK HARBOR MARKETPLACE (MEAT)
8am - 10am
Grocery Store Workers: Whatcom, Skagit, Island, Jefferson & Clallam Counties Ratify New Contracts
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Large wage increases, gains in safety & training, health care benefits protected with no increased costs, a secured pension, and more.
Grocery store workers across five western Washington counties wrapped up a week of voting and overwhelmingly ratified a new three-year contract made possible by standing together and taking action. Over the life of this new three-year contract, grocery store workers will see wage increases of $4 — $9 an hour, gains in safety and training, health care benefits protected with no increased costs, a secured pension and more.
Over the past two and a half years these frontline essential grocery store workers stayed on the job during the pandemic, ensuring our communities had the food, medicine, and supplies we all needed. While the grocery store chains made additional billions of dollars in profits, Essential Workers were denied the respect, protections and pay they deserved. Workers in North Puget Sound counties of Jefferson, Clallam, Island, Skagit and Whatcom voted to approve their new contracts in June. Altogether, there are over 25,000 essential grocery store workers of UFCW 3000 in the Puget Sound area working at Safeway, Albertsons, Fred Meyer, QFC, The Markets, Haggen, and other independent grocery stores.
“ The new contract gives us more hope, safety, and a promise of greater contracts in the years to come thanks to our strong collective bargaining power! I look forward to our union building a training and certifications to build a career like I have. Trades make our union strong, and this contract is a big step in that direction!” -Sean Stone, meat cutter Safeway 1448 Sequim
The many improvements in the ratified contract include:
Wage increases of $4 to $9 an hour over the term of the Agreement for the most veteran workers.
Elimination of lower pay scales in departments such as deli, bakery, fuel, and e-commerce, some of which are disproportionately staffed by women, immigrants, and people of color.
An increase of 150% in wage escalators – the required minimum amount for each raise, creating a larger “bump” from CPIS adjustments to the minimum wage.
Increased funding to our Health Care plan, maintaining and improving our high-quality benefits with no increase in costs for members.
Increased funding for our pension - one of the few pensions in the nation that has been able to make the leap from “Red Zone” to “Green Zone” status following the funding crisis caused by the 2008 financial crash.
Stronger ability of store-level Safety Committees to address serious safety issues, beyond just COVID protections.
A half million-dollar contribution each year from the Employers to fund the new Workplace Training program (WE TRAIN WA), allowing pathways to higher paying positions and career mobility within every store.
Island, Jefferson, Clallam, Skagit, Whatcom counties, it’s time to vote!
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Island, Jefferson, Clallam, Skagit, Whatcom counties, it’s time to vote!
Member Bargaining team recommends a YES vote!
This historic agreement is a direct result of our actions and commitment to fighting for essential frontline grocery store workers and serving the communities in which we live, both during and long before COVID. This is a Tentative Agreement and is not final until we vote to accept it. Full details of the agreement will be provided at each vote location. Our Union Member Bargaining Team reached this Tentative Agreement and recommends a YES VOTE to accept the proposal from the employers. These votes are open to all active members of UFCW 3000 Grocery Store Workers in Island, Jefferson, Clallam, Skagit, Whatcom, and independent stores covered by this Tentative Agreement.
Contract VOTE MEETINGS
Active members are eligible to vote at whichever location is most convenient, during any time when polling is open. All vote meetings will be open between the hours of 8:00AM — 12 Noon and 4:00PM — 8:00PM
MONDAY, JUNE 6 – BELLINGHAM
FOX HALL EVENTS CENTER, 1661 W Bakerview Rd, Bellingham, WA 98226
TUESDAY, JUNE 7 – OAK HARBOR
Best Western Plus, 33175 State Route 20 Oak Harbor, WA 98277
TUESDAY, JUNE 7 – MOUNT VERNON
UFCW 3000 Office, 1510 N 18th Street Mount Vernon, WA 98273
THURSDAY, JUNE 9 – PORT ANGELES
OLYMPIC LODGE, 140 S Del Guzzi Dr Port Angeles, WA 98362
FRIDAY, JUNE 10 – PORT TOWNSEND
HARBORSIDE INN, 330 Benedict St Port Townsend, WA 98368
UFCW 3000 Member Story: CJ Brings the Music!
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CJ, proud UFCW 3000 member and receiver at Fred Meyer
It’s #WorkerWednesday, and that means it’s time for another member spotlight! Meet CJ — he’s worked at Fred Meyer for 20 years and is a proud member of UFCW 3000. CJ is currently working as a Receiver at FM 210 in Monroe!
CJ was raised in a household that practiced worker power and solidarity. In fact, CJ says that he has vivid memories of being a kid in the 1990s and going on strike with his dad who was working at Boeing at the time.
While CJ enjoys the work that he does at Fred Meyer, his main passion in life is music. CJ plays the piano and just recently released a new album on Spotify! CJ says that he draws inspiration from his work at Fred Meyer. For example, CJ wrote a song about his coworker Sunil, who is a Grocery Clerk, entitled “International Man of Fiji.” You can check out his music @ CJ (DJCJ)!
CJ — thank you for bringing joy to your workplace! It is so cool to see your work & fellow union members represented in your artistry.
Thank You! - from the Grocery Store Worker Negotiations Team
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As rank-and-file grocery store workers, members of the UFCW 3000 bargaining committee, and leaders in our union, we know that our contract fight exemplifies union democracy.
This bargaining committee works in grocery stores every day. We come from many different departments. We are young and we are old. We are all genders. We are Asian, Black, White, and Latinx. We made all the key decisions at this bargain, and we are the ones who voted unanimously to recommend this settlement to the membership for approval. That is union democracy at work.
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