Monica Meloy and Jason Sherwood Foug knew their contract language and timelines, and helped win them and their coworkers nearly $80,000 in backpay for bonus pay in their contract that was paid out incorrectly.
Read MoreMeet Michael Condon, a Planned Parenthood security officer who chooses to brave the rain and cold to ensure the safety of our communities.
Read MoreMeet Cheryl Ziegler who has worked at Kaiser (formerly Group Health) since 1978, has been a shop steward since 1982, and has served on multiple bargaining and labor committees since 1987.
Read MoreAlycia Barrow has worked in the grocery industry since she was 19 years old, and has stepped-up on and off the job to make her community a better place, “ I have a diverse set of skills, from being trained on de-escalation tactics, to knowing how to deal with someone in a mental health/addiction crisis, and who to call. I am also trained on how to use Narcan and know general community resources, having to navigate those systems for my own family.”
Read MoreShelbie had heard that the Union contract was about to expire and discovered that there was no one at the Long Beach location of Harbors Home Health and Hospice to represent them in these negotiations. So she volunteered to serve on the bargaining committee both for herself and coworkers. As bargaining unfolded, she learned more about the rights the contract provided her and how important it was to enforce it.
Read MoreRoberta Bollin (Birdie) has been with the Burlington Fred Meyer store since 2002 and loves working for a company that is represented by a union and being able to help solve problems on every day working conditions, like being able to take breaks, with management without having to fear repercussions.
Read MoreKelly Kanary has been working for Kaiser Permanente as a Certified Registered Nursing Anesthetist since 2015. Many union activists don’t get involved until workplace issues arise and suddenly they are getting a crash course in shop floor organizing, which is how Kelly got involved.
Read MorePrince Hart, Sean Ricco, Kevin, Daly, and Solas McGregor decided to take action to highlight their safety concerns at the University District Safeway. They started a petition to discuss their concerns and ways to help solve the problem. After collecting a majority of signatures of their coworkers they “marched on the boss” to talk with store management about the probelm.
Read MoreAs a twenty-nine year Safeway employee in Spokane Washington, who has been a shop steward for twenty of those years, Vanessa Evans has seen that consolidation over decades of work in the grocery business.
Read MoreAs the 2013 contract negotiations between UFCW 21, UFCW 367, Teamsters 38, and the national grocery chains (represented by Allied Employers) in Western Washington opened, it was obvious that it was going to be a fight to win a fair contract.
Read MoreCheyenne Corneau had been working as a Medical Lab Technician for about a year in 2022 when her and her coworkers Colleen, and Marisa were talking about the need to get their coworkers involved in the union for better representation for lab techs at the next bargaining table.
Read MoreIn 2022 Early Supports workers at Northwest Center decided to form a union and contacted organizers at UFCW 3000. Northwest Center is a not-for-profit organization that provides assistance and support to people with disabilities or those who care for them.
Read MoreSam Dancy has been a union steward and workplace leader for nearly 30 years. Sam has served on the executive board of what was then UFCW Local 21 and, after the merger with Local 1439, he continues to serve on the executive board as a vice president of UFCW 3000. “I try to be a good steward and representative for my coworkers, union, and community,” is how Sam sees his work as a trade union activist.
Read MoreKamila Aburkis works in the deli at the Kirkland Metropolitan Market and enjoys her work, both preparing delicious food and serving her customers, “Maintaining strong customer relationships is important to me. My goal is to be a friendly face to our customers, so they keep coming back.”
Read MoreEmma Perdomo received her Bachelor of Science from Southern New Hampshire University in Health Information Management. She moved to Washington with her husband and applied at North Valley Hospital in Tonasket Washington. Emma got the job and was placed on the union-bargained wage scale but suspected it wasn’t the correct step.
Read MoreAnnie Walton and Sarah Tran Lau are both new union stewards at Kaiser Permanente working at the Renton Admin Building that holds the regional lab. Sarah and Annie, after working behind the scenes on vital lab work, became fed up with wages continuing to be below market.
Read MoreAllison Smith has worked for PCC as a meat cutter since 2013, and is currently home-stored at the Issaquah store, which has been great for her as it is close to home.
During Allison’s time at PCC, she has stepped up to become a leader, including currently serving on the bargaining team for the new PCC contract…
Read MoreMichael McDonald is an Emergency Department Tech in the pediatric department at Sacred Heart Hospital in Spokane Washington. Michael assists doctors and nurses in giving care to kids who come into the Emergency Room and makes sure that the rooms and equipment are ready to go when needed.
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SHeila SLoan-Evans in the deli
Here is Sheila Sloan-Evans’s story in her own words:
Prior to the pandemic, I was a job coach with Northwest Center in a high school transition program. I so enjoyed training a client in his new grocery job that I realized grocery might be a fit for me too! I have been a PCC member for many years, but during COVID, the Redmond PCC was my go-to store, always a safe and welcoming place with quality products.
I began work at PCC on October 4th, 2022. I take customer service and food safety seriously but also have fun in the process. I enjoy helping people in both French and English--and attempting to learn Spanish from my coworkers!
In late May of this year, Sheila became injured off the job and had to apply for a leave of absence. It was here that her story took a troubling turn:
I provided Redmond PCC and HR a return-to-work letter for July 7th, 2023; Redmond staff and managers were very supportive. PCC human resources called me en route to surgery to terminate me as ineligible for the 6 weeks off and inform me that my insurance coverage would end the next day as well. It was devasting.
Sheila reached out to her rep and the Member Resource Center, who filed a grievance for her termination. After some meetings with PCC, they agreed to restore her employment and bring her back to work!
I truly love this job. I say that every day and am genuinely surprised by that, as it is an unexpected joy to work with these great people in grocery who have so much to teach me. The support of the union was essential. Having strong union advocates really helped me focus on healing and getting back to work. Thank you!!
Brian Peters leads a chant on the Macy’s Picket Line
For 3 days, starting on Black Friday this year, Macy’s workers went on strike over their employer’s unfair labor practices of retaliation and bargaining in bad faith. Macy’s stores at Southcenter, Alderwood, and Bellingham malls picketed outside their store asking for their customers’ support.
If you came to the Alderwood strike line you definitely would have seen and heard Brian leading chants for hours each day of the strike. He started leading chants on Black Friday and everyone loved his steady energy that kept the picket line moving! Once he tried out the mic, Brian was hooked. A 15-year employee in men’s suits, Brian always came to Macy’s picket line looking snazzy and ready to chant for Macy’s to negotiate in good faith. We are so glad you used your voice, Brian!
The Macy’s bargaining team resumes bargaining today, Monday, December 18th with a federal mediator present during the sessions. Stay tuned for updates!
We are the Union. The members of UFCW 3000 are over 50,000 members working in grocery, retail, health care, meat packing, cannabis, & other industries across Washington state, north-east Oregon, and northern Idaho. UFCW 3000 is a chartered member of UFCW International with over 1.4 million workers in North America.
To build a powerful Union that fights for economic, political and social justice in our workplaces and in our communities.
