Town Hall Call Monday: Important Union Update on Kroger/Albertsons Merger

Important Union Update on Kroger/Albertsons Merger

On Friday, Kroger and Albertsons announced plans to sell at least 413 stores across the country to C&S Wholesale Grocers (C&S) as part of the mega-merger of the two companies.

Our coalition of local unions have strongly opposed the proposed merger between Kroger and Albertsons since day one. Our position has not changed because of the recent news from Kroger and Albertsons of their plans to sell some stores.

Important point right off the bat -- this sale is not happening now and it’s contingent on the overall merger being approved, a merger we are fighting. As a result, this sales deal only moves ahead if and when the federal regulators who are reviewing the overall merger approve it. We don’t think this sales deal will appease the Federal Trade Commission or the various State Attorneys General that have expressed concerns over the merger.

An additional 237 stores may also be sold to C&S as part of the deal, depending on the results of the regulatory review of the merger with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

The stores would not change hands unless and until the FTC approves the overall Kroger/Albertsons merger.

UFCW 3000 Telephone Town Hall Planned for Monday

We are planning a live Telephone Town Hall for our grocery store members on Monday, September 11 at 5 PM to share updated information and to address your questions. When your phone rings Monday at 5, just answer it and you will join the call. If for some reason, you don’t receive a call, you can call in to join us by dialing 1-877-365-5237 and entering meeting ID number 7585.

As of now, according to Korger and Albertsons, about ¼ of the stores to be sold to C&S, if and when the merger is completed, are in Washington state. The exact stores have not been identified at this time. There are no further details on store divestments available at this time. We will continue to keep you updated as more information becomes available. We will use every available resource to enforce our contracts with Safeway and Kroger and protect our members.

#StopTheMerger Coalition

We remain opposed to the Kroger/Albertsons merger for the negative impact it will have on our members, customers and communities. That’s why we’ve partnered with more than 100 unions and organizations nationwide in the Stop The Merger Coalition to urge the Federal Trade Commission to oppose this deal. Visit NoGroceryMerger.com to learn more and take action today.

NoGroceryMerger.com

Send a Message to the FTC

The Federal Trade Commission has the power to block this merger. Take action now by sending a message to the FTC to let them know we stand united in opposition to the Kroger/Albertsons merger.

Send a Message

Coalition of UFCW Local Unions Raise Concern and Caution About Kroger/Albertsons Divestiture Deal with C&S Wholesale Grocers

UFCW Locals 5, 7, 324, 400, 770, 1564, 3000

Des Moines, WA – Today, a coalition of United Food & Commercial Workers local unions in fourteen states and the District of Columbia representing more than 100,000 Kroger and Albertsons workers released the following statement regarding the announcement of a divestiture deal to sell hundreds of Kroger and Albertsons stores to C&S Wholesale Grocers:

“We have raised alarms about the proposed Kroger/Albertsons merger from the very beginning— from threats of store closures, higher prices and reduced competition, the harm to unionized workers’ ability to negotiate strong contracts, as well as the negative ripple effects lower union density would have on workers throughout the grocery industry. News of a possible deal with C&S to buy hundreds of stores as part of the proposed merger in no way reduces those alarms. Indeed, in many respects this announcement raises the level of concern for our members.

“Workers and shoppers have been seriously harmed by large-scale sell-offs in the past, orchestrated as part of a potential merger. It was only in 2015 that private equity-owned Haggen acquired a large number of stores as part of a divestiture scheme to appease antitrust regulators in the Albertsons/Safeway merger. It took less than a year for that company to go bankrupt and for Albertsons to pick up the very same stores it had divested for a fraction of what Haggen paid less than a year before, thus undoing the remedy to resolve antitrust concerns. Moreover, thousands of workers lost their jobs and were forced to start over. Today’s announcement of a nearly identical divestiture scheme is a troubling sign that history could repeat itself.”

The above statement can be attributed to the following UFCW local presidents:

John Nunes, UFCW Local 5 President
Kim Cordova, UFCW Local 7 President
Andrea Zinder, UFCW Local 324 President
Mark Federici, UFCW Local 400 President
Kathy Finn, UFCW Local 770 President
Greg Frazier, UFCW Local 1564 President
Faye Guenther, UFCW Local 3000 President

Contact: Tom Geiger, UFCW 3000, 206-604-3421

PCC - Contract Action Team meetings

PCC - Contract Action Team meetings

Monday, September 25 @ 2pm—3pm
Lynnwood Library, 19200 44th Ave. Lynnwood, WA 98036

Wednesday, September 27 @ 5pm—6pm
The Seattle Public Library: University Branch, 5009 Roosevelt Way NE, Seattle, WA 98105

Wednesday, September 27 @ 6pm—7pm
Kingsgate Library - Meeting Room, 12315 NE 143rd St, Kirkland, WA 98034

Wednesday, September 27 @ 2pm—3pm
The Seattle Public Library: Columbia City Branch, 4721 Rainier Ave S, Seattle, WA 98118

Thursday, September 28 @ 4pm—5pm
Bellevue Library, 1111 110th Ave NE, Bellevue, WA 98004

Tuesday, September 26 - Online Zoom Meeting @ 9am—10am
Contact a Bargaining Team member or your Union Rep for Zoom meeting details.

Join your coworkers to prepare for upcoming negotiations and how to win a fair contract! If you have any questions, call 1-800-732-1188 and ask to speak to your Union Rep.

Stopping the merger update

Since the day the proposed merger of Kroger and Albertsons was announced, our local unions and members have been taking action to protect our stores, our jobs, and our customers. Keeping you all informed during this process has been a priority. Thousands of you joined our Telephone Town Hall Update in May with members from the West Coast, the East Coast, and many states in between. Since May , members, community and allies across the country have been working hard as part of the “Stop the Merger Coalition" to convince the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) that this merger is a bad deal for everyone.

Here's a brief snapshot of what we've been doing to oppose the devastating proposed merger between Kroger and Albertsons:

• Getting the Word Out: spreading the word through social media, press releases, and community events. Members have been letting everyone know why this merger is a major problem, including a threat to jobs, competition, higher prices, and how it will hurt our local communities.

• Talking to Decision-Makers: advocating with policymakers in the federal government and state Attorneys General in California, Washington, Idaho, Colorado, Washington, DC, and many more to ensure they understand our concerns. UFCW Members are testifying, sharing stories, and making sure your voices are heard where it counts. The news coverage has been massive and important in getting our stories out to the public.

• Making Our Case: UFCW members are leading the fight to show federal and state policymakers that prioritizing the impact on grocery store workers is paramount to a thriving network of grocery stores in our local communities. Without workers’ lives being a primary consideration, the ones who benefit will be the Kroger and Albertsons executives. Albertsons owners already took nearly $4 billion out of the company and now are looking to cash in with a $146 million golden parachute.

• Taking It to the Streets: promoting rallies, petitions, and meetings. We're making sure our communities know what's at stake and getting them involved. We've joined forces with other groups like farmers, community allies, and consumer advocates who are also worried about this merger. The more people we have on our side, the stronger our message becomes.

Our fight isn't over. Your involvement is crucial to our success. For example, by adding your stories of harm from past mergers, we are forcing the FTC to take notice that the people who are hurt most by these mega-mergers are the workers and the communities they serve.

Take Action

The FTC has the power to block this merger. Take action now by sending a message to the FTC to let them know we stand united in opposition to the Kroger/Albertsons merger.
 
We'll keep you posted as the fight continues. In the meantime, talk to your Union Rep or Steward to learn how you can be more involved.

Town & Country LOU votes scheduled

We will be voting on two LOU’s regarding safety committees and a fish monger position. UFCW 3000 members in good standing are encouraged to attend a meeting, ask questions, and vote on the contract. Contact a Bargaining Team member or your Union Representative for any questions!

Thursday, September 14, 2023

9:00 AM–11:00 AM

1:00 PM – 3:00 PM

Vote meeting held @ store location

#208 (Bellevue) 4989 Lakemont Blvd SE Bellevue, WA 98006

Reps: Rhonda Fisher-Ivie, Mohamed Bonah

#211 (Ballard) 1400 NW 56th St. Seattle, WA 98107

Reps: Bruce Le, Aaron Bailey

#212 (Shoreline) 15505 Westminster Way N Seattle, WA 98133

Reps: Chris Crawford, Joshua Johnson

#215 (Bainbridge) 343 E Winslow Way Bainbridge Island, WA 98110

Reps: Tae Abranam, Sharra Oakley

#216 (Poulsbo) 20148 - 10th Ave. NE Poulsbo, WA 98370

Reps: Cynthia Hill, Scott Pattison

#217 (MillCreek) 15605 Main Street Bothell, WA 98012

Reps: Adrian Noel, Dacia Burley

UFCW 3000 Member Story: Penelope DeMeerleer

Penolope DeMeerleer at the Edmonds’ PCC educating customers about the fight for a fair contract.

Penelope DeMeerleer works at the Ballard PCC and has jumped headfirst into stewardship. She traces her enthusiasm for organizing with her coworkers back to her time working as an advocate focused on empowering children born with disabilities. Penelope has worked as a grocery clerk in the front end of the store checking out customers for over a year now. As contract negotiations started this year she knew that PCC workers had a lot on the line for their future.

Better wages, staffing levels (or a premium for when staff is so low that everyone has to work harder), and transportation options are just some of the issues on the table for these essential food chain workers. While they have made progress on important working condition issues and better leave of absence language, they still have a long way to go.

Penelope knows that workers showing solidarity in PCC stores is the key to winning at the bargaining table and has been eager to talk to her coworkers about getting active. So she is making sure Ballard PCC union members have the latest bargaining updates and are participating in actions such as the leaflet action at PCC Edmonds (pictured above).

PCC - Multiple Tentative Agreements Reached—With More Bargaining Dates to Come

We met with PCC representatives on August 22 and 23. Our Bargaining Team stayed long into the night, put forth proposals, and reached multiple Tentative Agreements:

Proposals:

• Board of Trustees (improvements)

• Bus passes for staff (never to exceed $15 required for staff)

• Premium when staffing is at a minimum (critical staffing premium)

• Point of Sales (POS) to group A

Tentative Agreements:

• Leave of Absence Improvement

• Shop Steward Union Leave

• Employee Spaces

• Strengthening the WCC

PCC leadership communicated to us that they intend to deliver their full economic package on September 6!

---

Take action to build power in your workplace by:

• Updating your information with our union UFCW 3000 to receive updates during the bargain

• Wearing your union button

• Discussing the bargain with your coworkers, it’s your right!

• Attending the CAT meetings during the week of September to get all the latest updates!

---

Your Bargaining Team wants to hear from you—look for them in the store and give them your feedback!

RSVP for our next bargaining dates: September 6, 7, 18, and 19. We hope to see you there!

Bargaining will be held at the Sea-Tac Hilton, right off the airport light rail station.

2023 Wildfire and Smoke Information for Workers

As our region again faces wildfire season, wildfires and wildfire smoke may affect us in the workplace and at home. Below are important things to know to stay safe and enforce your rights at work. Here are the most important actions to care for yourself and your coworkers during wildfire season:

1. Report any safety concerns to your worksite safety committee & management right away, and get support from your Shop Steward and/or Union Rep if your concerns are not addressed.

2. Get accommodations if needed and exercise your rights—use your sick leave if you become unwell; speak with a health care provider and use FMLA or exercise your disability rights under the ADA if you have a health condition that makes you vulnerable to wildfire smoke.

3. If your home or work is affected by wildfire and financial assistance would help, speak with your Union Rep about the UFCW 3000 Membership Assistance Fund.

Your Rights During Wildfires

If your workplace, home, or family are evacuated, burned, or otherwise affected by active wildfires:

With a union contract, you have “just cause” protection, meaning you should not be disciplined at work for reasonably having to deal with a circumstance outside of your control like a wildfire that affects your home, work, or commute to work

• Make sure to invoke your right to union representation if you are called into a meeting that could lead to discipline (we call these “Weingarten Rights” — read more here)

Workplace Safety for Wildfire Smoke

You have the right to a safe workplace, and if wildfire smoke makes your workplace unhealthy for you, you should be able to address that with your employer and get support from your Shop Steward and/or Union Rep.

MASKS

• You can wear a respirator mask at work that helps protect you against wildfire smoke.

• Most masks we wear to protect against COVID do not actually protect against wildfire smoke. The right mask to protect against wildfire smoke is an N95 mask or other respirator with the same or higher level of protection. These respirator masks should have two straps and the word “NIOSH” and/or “N95” or “N100” printed on it.

EXPOSURE TO SMOKE

• When the air is smoky, your employer should allow workers to follow basic steps that will help prevent excessive exposure to wildfire smoke—that could include things like reassigning workers to less smoky areas or allowing for extra rest and water breaks away from smoky work areas.

MEDICAL LEAVE AND ACCOMMODATIONS

• If you or a family member gets sick because of wildfire smoke, you have the right to use Paid Sick & Safe Leave for illness

• You may also be able to use your Paid Sick & Safe Leave if your child’s school or place of care, or your worksite has been shut down by a public official due to health-related reasons resulting from exposure to wildfire smoke

• If you are vulnerable to smoky air due to an existing medical condition, talk to your health care provider about your workplace and see if they have recommendations for how to keep you safe from smoke exposure. Use FMLA if needed, or exercise your disability rights under the ADA.

---

General Wildfire and Smoke Information and Resources

• Airnow.gov Federal Air Quality Information

• Washington State Air Quality Map

• L&I Information on Worker Health and Smoke/Air Quality

• Department of Health Information & FAQ on Smoke from Wildfires

• How to Keep Indoor Air Clean at Home on Smoky Days (King County Public Health)

• Spokane Regional Health District: Get the Facts About Wildfire Smoke

• Washington Smoke Blog

The UFCW 3000 Union Bargaining Committee invite you to observe our next Bargaining Session with PCC Management!

We believe that PCC should be the leader in our Grocery industry on wages, safe staffing, equity in the workplace and more. We will only achieve that together: Join your coworkers and get involved today in helping make PCC better.  

PCC workers’ grocery and meat contracts end on Dec. 31, 2023 — Here are some important ways you can stay up to date and involved as we bargain this contract: Study the current contract, attend Contract Action Team meetings, and come observe a bargaining session – each bargaining session is open for all PCC workers to attend and see the process firsthand. 

Bargaining takes place in person, and meetings often start at 9am and run into the evening. Whether you can observe a session or not, the bargaining committee wants input from all workers throughout this process.You can reach your bargaining team anytime: bit.ly/PCCbargainingteam

RSVP for our next bargaining dates, We hope to see you there! 

Wednesday, Sept. 6 / Thursday, Sept. 7 
Bargaining will be held at the Sea-Tac Hilton right off the airport light rail station. 
(Sea-Tac Hilton, 17620 International Blvd, Seattle, WA 98188)
RSVP: form.jotform.com/231724973124052or call our Union Rep!

Frequently Asked Questions

What wages are we fighting for? 

We recently made our first wage proposals for Clerks, Meat Wrappers, and Meat Cutters that establish a starting wage of $25 per hour and achieve $35 per hour for journeypersons by the end of the contract! We also proposed one wage scale for all regardless of location, increases to other pay categories and differentials, and wage escalators that guarantee wages always stay above the rising minimum wage. 

Why are we negotiating? 

PCC has been a union workplace for 40+ years, and union workers have helped the co-op grow and succeed. It’s our right as we negotiate each new contract to demand fair wages and working conditions. PCC workers are in need now. We have asked PCC for immediate raises but leadership chose to continue to pay only the minimum that our contract requires. 
Coworkers need change and many can’t afford to settle for less. 

Why do you need me to get involved? 

Every voice matters. Our ability to reach a contract that sets the standard in our industry depends on co-op management and negotiators seeing a united front from workers. 
By speaking up, talking to coworkers and getting involved, we communicate clearly  that we’re united and that we’ll stand strong for what we need to survive and thrive. 

Are we going to bankrupt PCC? 

As union members negotiating a contract, we have the right to make proposals reflecting what membership needs. If PCC management says the co-op can’t afford it, it is their obligation to open their books and show us why. It wouldn’t benefit us to bankrupt our employer, but we deserve to have an open and transparent conversation about finances. We know our own budgets best. We know the costs to raise a family, have a hobby, stay housed and fed. 
It is up to PCC leadership to provide evidence if this is too much to ask. 

Are we going to strike? 

The best way to avoid a strike is to be prepared for one, which is why we want as many workers involved as possible throughout the bargain—often management doesn’t take us seriously until they see we are united, ready, and willing to strike. But striking can be disruptive for both management and workers, and the decision-making process is democratic. Before a strike could take place, there would be a vote. Members would have to vote to reject the employer’s proposal and to authorize a strike. It takes a 2/3 majority vote of the PCC membership to authorize a strike. 

To be prepared, save money if you can. Strike pay is determined by the UFCW 3000 member-led executive board and generally doesn't replace your current wages. You are not eligible for unemployment while on strike, and do not accrue vacation or sick leave. It is also possible to risk lapses in Healthcare Coverage depending on how long a strike lasts and your plan details. 

GET THE LATEST PCC BARGAINING UPDATES, CAT MEETING SCHEDULE, READ YOUR CONTRACT, CONTACT YOUR REP AND UPDATE YOUR INFORMATION!  >>

UFCW 3000 Member Story: Phil Gillette & Elizabeth Olson

Phil Gillette and Elizabeth Olson

Phil Gillette and Elizabeth Olson both work at the Bellingham Fred Meyer. But their true passion lies in the rabbit rescue that they started.

Bunanza Rabbit Rescue Ranch and Adoption Center got its start in 2015 when someone dumped a post-Easter bunny on Phil and Elizabeth's property in Lynden WA. Soon after they rescued another bunny running down the middle of a highway. Out of love for those first two rabbits in need, Bunanza has grown to include dozens of volunteers and has helped over 750 bunnies find permanent homes – all of them spayed or neutered, socialized, litter trained and vet verified to be healthy.

Phil and Elizabeth are vital members of their community, both at the grocery store and on the expanse of Bunanza Rabbit Resue Ranch!

PCC Bargaining Update

KEY PROPOSALS NOW ON THE TABLE —KEEP UP THE PRESSURE!

Our Union Bargaining Committee met with PCC representatives on August 10. We put quite a few important proposals across the table, and expect serious responses from management at our next bargaining session. The proposals we made include:

• One wage scale for all, whether you’re in Seattle or Issaquah

• Wage proposals for Clerks, Meat Wrappers, and Meat Cutters that establish a starting wage of $25 per hour and achieve $35 per hour for journeypersons by the end of the contract!

• Moving all Helper Clerks to the Clerk wage scale

• Increasing the pay for group A and B by $1.00

• Increases to our Courtesy and Service Counter wage scales

• Increasing night pay differentials

• Wage escalators to guarantee our wages stay above the minimum wage

• Improved holiday language

• Seats for cashiers as well as others

• Strengthening the four 10-hour workdays for grocery

• An ability to pick up open shifts through new DayForce roster

• Increasing the rest between shifts from 10 hours to 12 hours

Take action every day to build power in the workplace! You can help further the fight for a fair contract by:

Updating your information to ensure you receive all updates during the bargain

Wearing your union button every shift

Discussing the bargain with your coworkers—it’s your right!

Attending a Contract Action Team meeting during the week of August 21 – 24 to get the latest information

Sharing your feedback: The Bargaining Committee wants to hear from you! Look for us in the store and let’s talk.

RSVP for our next bargaining dates: August 22 & 23. We hope to see you there! Bargaining will be held at the Sea-Tac Hilton right off the airport light rail station. (Sea-Tac Hilton, 17620 International Blvd, Seattle, WA 98188)

PCC August Contract Action Team Meetings

UFCW 3000 Podcast Episode 4: Apprenticeships—or, WeTrain You on How to Pick Your Steak and Advance Your Career

How can your union further your career? What is a union apprenticeship? What's our union doing to create more high-paying and safer jobs in our industries? Michaela talks to fellow UFCW 3000 member Indy about his experience with the union meat cutting apprenticeship program, and then talks to Evan and Andy about the apprenticeship and the new WeTrain workforce development organization.

UFCW 3000 union shop steward Michaela is always ready to answer fellow members’ questions about their union. She’s also a devoted murder podcast listener. Put those interests together, and she decided to start a union podcast to get all her coworkers’ questions and her own questions answered, and to meet as many people as possible who could share what it means to be a part of UFCW 3000. (No murder on this podcast, only solidarity!)

*The information shared on this podcast is offered by rank and file union member leaders of UFCW 3000. There may be inaccuracies or misstatements shared, as members will be speaking from the lenses of their perspectives and life experiences. While members are doing their best to share good information, we can make no claims to 100% accuracy and this podcast should not be construed as legal advice.

Yakima—The Markets, LLC Grocery & Meat - Contract Ratified!

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

PCC - Declaration Delivered!

Our bargaining team met with PCC management on July 26 to respond to their earlier proposals and bring forward some of our own, including:

• IMPROVING CAUCUS COMMITTEES: We proposed building more structure, efficiency and communication for all parties involved in the Worker Caucus Committees (WCC) to make them more effective.

• EXPANDING LEAVE: We proposed an expansion of Leave of Absence (LOA) language so we get at least as much LOA time as other Union grocery store workers in the area—including staff with less than 18 months of service with PCC, who also need and deserve protected leave.

• VACATION BIDDING & APPROVAL CHANGES: We reached a Tentative Agreement on an improved vacation bidding process and a clear timeline for approval!

We presented our Declaration of Demands signed by nearly 80% of PCC workers! Yasab, Marlin, and Allison of our Bargaining Comittee spoke to PCC representatives about the importance and strength of this petition.
 
Take action to build power in your workplace:

• Keep your personal contact information up-to-date with our Union to receive important updates during the bargain. 

• Wear a Union button!

• Attend CAT meetings regularly and stay connected with co-workers.

• Our Bargaining Committee wants to hear from you, look for them in the store and give them your feedback!

• Any PCC member is invited to RSVP to observe our bargaining sessions with PCC. See you there!

Albertsons Workers React to Quarterly Fiscal Report

Contact: Tom Geiger, UFCW 3000, 206-604-3421
For Immediate Release: July 26, 2023

UFCW 5, UFCW 7, UFCW 324, UFCW 367, UFCW 400, UFCW 770, UFCW 3000, UFCW 1564, UFCW 1889

Albertsons Workers React to Quarterly Fiscal Report and Executive Golden Parachute of Tens of Millions of Dollars

Today, essential workers from Albertsons-owned grocery stores reacted to the company's first quarter fiscal results, as well as the outlandish payouts planned for corporate executives in the event the company’s proposed merger with Kroger were approved. The workers are members of local unions within the United Food and Commercial Workers Union, the largest union of grocery store and food production workers in the country.  

“My work, and my coworkers' work, is helping Albertsons to produce billions of extra dollars. We are hardworking people, we respect our jobs, and we just ask that respect back in the form of equal pay for equal service,” says Gerald Gates, an employee at an Albertsons-owned Pavilions in the LA area and UFCW 770 member. “During the pandemic food prices went up and consumers continued shopping at the stores. After all that money is out there, one wonders why they entertain a megamerger of $25 billion and potentially divest hundreds of stores across the country, especially in Southern California?”

Gerald’s concerns were echoed by another Albertsons worker in the Pacific Northwest. “We have been working hard for years to serve our customers and scrape by enough for ourselves and our families. Our work, and our customers’ purchases are what have made the profits of these companies. It should be illegal for these CEOs who already make tens of millions of dollars each year, to stuff their pockets full of millions more through this proposed merger," stated Yasmin Ashur, an Albertsons grocery store worker and UFCW 3000 Member in Washington State.

“I’ve worked hard day in and day out to make Albertsons a place customers want to come back to and shop for their special occasions,” said Judy Wood, a cake decorator at Albertsons in Orange, CA and member of UFCW 324. “That customer loyalty is what has made Albertsons’ billions in dollars of profits over the years. When I hear that those profits will be used to pad shareholders’ and executives’ pockets if they leave the company, it’s disheartening. Those profits should be going to fixing stores, lowering prices and paying workers more so they’re not homeless and food insecure.”

Similar concerns were made by Christina Duran, a General Merchandise Head Clerk at a Safeway store in Sunnyvale, CA and member of UFCW 5. “I’m worried about stores closing and people losing their jobs. The impact of the merger could leave people jobless who have invested years into the company." Safeway was bought by Albertsons in 2015.

BACKGROUND:

More than nine months ago, Kroger and Albertsons announced their proposed plans to merge and create the largest traditional grocery store chain in America. Immediately, calls of concerns were aired across the US from labor, community, legal, food justice and many other organizations.

Today, Albertsons released their financial results for the 1st quarter of their fiscal year. In a statement released by Albertsons in advance of the results, the company stated, “In light of the Company’s entry into an Agreement and Plan of Merger with The Kroger Co., Albertsons Companies will not be hosting a conference call or providing financial guidance in conjunction with its first quarter of fiscal year 2023 results.”

Earlier in the month, financial news reported the massive amount of money that the CEOs of both companies would make if the merger were approved. And just this past weekend, the two CEOs of both companies did an exclusive interview with The Denver Post in response to the growing criticism facing the proposed deal.

Also, it is important to note that earlier in the year, Albertsons made a $4 billion payment to wealthy shareholders that had been proposed as a part of the proposed merger deal last fall.  That fleecing of the company’s assets was strongly opposed by many local unions, several states attorneys general and was challenged by many US Senators in a hearing in November.

Yakima The Markets Grocery Meat Contract Vote Scheduled!

Yakima The Markets Grocery/Meat Contract Vote Scheduled!

Tuesday, August 1, 2023
10am — 11am and 5pm — 6pm
At Wapato International Market 512 W. 1st St. Wapato, WA 98951

Highlights include:

• Affordable Healthcare

• Retirement Security

If you have questions please reach out to our Union Rep: Raul Zaragoza at 509-340-7391

UFCW 3000 Member Story: Kelly Shaffer

Kelly Shaffer

Kelly Shaffer knows that being part of a union means having a collective voice on the job that the boss just can’t match, “Without our labor a business can’t operate, we effectively are the store.” Her sense of solidarity comes from how she was raised:

I'm from a working-class family, and my siblings are in unions too (shout out to the electrical workers and the teamsters!), and it's a genuine joy to be able to give back in my own workplace and look out for my fellow grocery workers.

So much of labor history is forgotten, and a lot of people don't realize that their basic rights as workers, the 8-hour day, their breaks, and weekends, are things that were literally fought for. It's important to me to honor that sacrifice and protect the things we might otherwise take for granted.

When Kelly is at work and organizing her coworkers she enjoys painting, drawing, video gaming, and tending to her vegetable garden. Sounds like a well-rounded life and a great shop steward!

PCC July Contract Action Team Meetings

TUESDAY, JULY 25: 1:00PM – 2:00PM

BELLEVUE LIBRARY ROOM 4

1111 110th AVE NE, BELLEVUE, WA 98004

TUESDAY, JULY 25: 12:00PM – 1:00PM

SEATTLE LIBRARY: COLUMBIA CITY BRANCH

4721 RAINIER AVE S, SEATTLE, WA 98118

WEDNESDAY, JULY 26: 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM

SEATTLE LIBRARY: UNIVERSITY BRANCH

5009 ROOSEVELT WAY NE, SEATTLE, WA 98105

WEDNESDAY, JULY 26: 6:00PM – 7:00PM

KINGSGATE LIBRARY

12315 NE 143RD ST, KIRKLAND, WA 98034

FRIDAY, JULY 28: 4:00PM – 5:00PM

ISSAQUAH LIBRARY

10 W SUNSET WAY, ISSAQUAH, WA 98027

FRIDAY, JULY 28: 4:00PM – 5:00PM

SEATTLE LIBRARY: WEST SEATTLE BRANCH

2306 42ND AVE SW, SEATTLE, WA 98116