Standing with Dreamers FREE DACA Renewal Scholarships From Nonprofit Nationally

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Friends,

The last week has been trying for our community especially as we face a deadline that is less than 3 weeks away. We have fantastic news from one of our trusted, national partners, Mission Asset Fund (MAF).

In 2012, MAF collaborated with 21 Progress on our first 150 DACA assistance loans in Washington State. Now, MAF is offering free DACA renewal scholarships.

Simply apply at LC4DACA.org and MAF will send a $495.00 check already written out to USCIS for payment of DACA renewal. This is not a loan and no one will be asked to pay the money back. The deadline to renew DACA is October 5 for eligible participants, so apply for this scholarship as soon as possible.

Since 2015, MAF has provided $5 million dollars in financial assistance to immigrants as a nonprofit. In the past, this took the form of lending circles - now they have switched to DACA renewal scholarships.

Mission Asset Funds is committing to sending the scholarship through priority mail within 48 hours of receiving your DACA renewal scholarship application, if eligible.

APPLY

FOR DACA RENEWAL SCHOLARSHIP

If you have any concerns about your DACA renewal, legal clinics are available to help you with your application. You can find a list for  Washington state here: https://www.nwirp.org/options-after-daca-community-forums/ http://www.seattle.gov/iandraffairs/programs/daca#top

Step 1: Complete your DACA renewal application (get help at a legal clinic) if your DACA expires on or before March 5 to be eligible for a renewal.

Step 2: Apply for a free DACA renewal scholarship at LC4DACA.ORG.

Step 3: Send your application to USCIS before October 5 according to your state here:

https://www.uscis.gov/i-821d-addresses

IMPORTANT: Scholarship applications must be fully completed. Please answer every question.

Please share this information widely! We want to reach as many people as possible. No one should miss the renewal deadline due to financial concerns. These scholarships are for the entire United States of America.

WASHINGTON: If you have any questions about this process or problems during your application, please email us at daca@21progress.org. If you are outside of Washington state, please contact MAF directly: (888)274-4808

Hospital Workers Join Community to Oppose Closure of Harrison Medical Center in Bremerton

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For Immediate Release: August 23, 2017

Hospital Workers Join Community to Oppose Closure of Harrison Medical Center in Bremerton

The union that represents workers at Harrison Medical Center (HMC) in Kitsap County has declared its opposition to CHI Franciscan Health’s (CHI Franciscan) plan to close HMC’s Bremerton campus. UFCW 21 announced today that, while it supports having a new, unionized hospital in Silverdale, Phase 2 of CHI Franciscan’s plan should be to upgrade or replace the hospital that currently serves the largest city in Kitsap – rather than close it down, as CHI Franciscan intends.

UFCW 21 member Aimee Oien said, “As a Pharmacy Tech at Harrison and a Kitsap resident, I expect CHI Franciscan to put the community’s needs ahead of their corporate parent’s bottom line. Kitsap County gives CHI a huge property tax exemption. It just does not make sense for them to close the hospital in our largest city.”

It is the position of UFCW 21 that instead of cutting staff, closing a hospital and outsourcing work, CHI Franciscan should improve staffing levels, keep more union workers on the job serving patients, and maintain hospital beds in the largest city in the County. That path would be better for health care workers, patients and the community.

Aimee Oien is one of about 1,300 members of UFCW 21 who work at HMC in Bremerton and Silverdale. These workers are members of UFCW 21 which represents more than 3,300 healthcare and grocery store workers who live in Kitsap County, and more than 46,000 around the state of Washington. UFCW 21 is the state’s largest private sector local union.

BACKGROUND:

CHI Franciscan’s parent company, Catholic Health Initiatives, acquired HMC in 2013 and recently asked the Washington State Department of Health (DoH) for permission to permanently close the hospital’s Bremerton campus and relocate all HMC hospital beds to its Silverdale campus. CHI’s plan calls for opening one new hospital tower in Silverdale in 2020 and a second in 2023, at which time the Bremerton campus would be closed.

DoH had originally approved CHI Franciscan’s request, but then in an unusual move agreed to reconsider its decision after reviewing information provided by the City of Bremerton, which opposes the hospital closure.

UFCW 21 Encourages Everyone to Attend Hearing:

The DoH will hold a second public hearing on CHI Franciscan’s plan.

·         Friday, September 8

·         Bremerton School District Office (134 Marion Ave N. Bremerton).

·         UFCW 21 members and allies will rally at 9:30 AM, prior to the start of the 10:30 hearing.

CHI Harrison Medical Center Wages for missed rest periods

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We also have grievances for the same issue of overtime for missed rest periods for Harrison Dietary & Service and ProTech. 

You should have received this from your employer:

Dear Nurse,

On Friday, June 9, 2017 you will receive an additional direct deposit for payment of a UFCW RN rest break arbitration settlement.  The settlement payment is for a daily overtime rate applied to missed rest breaks from March 15, 2015 through March 11, 2017.

Since missed rest breaks were paid at straight time, we are paying an additional half-time for any missed rest breaks reported and paid for during this period, assuming they meet the following criteria:
  1. The entire shift was worked.
  2. No duplication of overtime pay would result.
  3. The rest break was not already paid at a weekly overtime rate.
A second back payment award will occur for the period of March 11, 2017 through the date of implementation of the calculation of missed rest breaks at a daily overtime rate.  We will notify you of this payment date when set. 

Moving forward payroll will be paying missed rest breaks for RN’s at a daily overtime rate, assuming the above criteria is met. Please call Vickie Lackman if you have any questions.

United State of Women Event in Nation's Capitol with AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Liz Shuler Features UFCW 21 Member Ariana Davis

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United State of Women Event in Nation's Capitol with AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Liz Shuler Features UFCW 21 Member Ariana Davis. There are so many challenges of women the the workplace. But being in a union can make a huge difference. Protection from favoritism, a wage scale, security from unfair discipline.

UFCW LOCAL UNIONS PLEASED TO SEE ALBERTSONS PURCHASE OF 29 HAGGEN STORES IN THE NORTHWEST APPROVED

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WASHINGTON, D.C. — The United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) International Union released the following statement regarding Albertsons’ approved purchase of 29 Haggen stores in the Northwest. 

For several months now, the Haggen bankruptcy process has brought a great deal of uncertainty to hard-working UFCW members and their families. With the sale of these 29 stores to Albertsons, we are optimistic that everyone who works within them will finally be able to have the certainty and stability that they deserve.  

With the approval of this sale, Haggen will assume, assign, and transfer relevant labor agreements to Albertsons. This means that every UFCW member who works within these 29 Haggen stores will keep their job, seniority status, wages, earned sick leave, vacation days, paid time off and personal holidays.   

The success of these stores relies upon the talent and pride of UFCW members. We are absolutely committed to partnering with Albertsons to provide all of these communities with better jobs and the best grocery store experience possible.

The entire UFCW union family remains dedicated to helping members and their families live better lives. We will continue to fight every single day for higher wages, affordable benefits and retirement security because hard-working families everywhere deserve an economy that rewards their work.

 

Scholarships available NEW extended deadline

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New extended deadline for UFCW 21 Scholarships applications: April 1, 2016

UFCW 21 members and their spouses/domestic partners and dependents will be able to apply for a scholarship. Last year UFCW 21 awarded over $40,000 in scholarships to our members and their families. Please visit here for application forms and information.

Initiative Filed for Paid Sick Leave and Higher Minimum Wage

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Ariana Davis (shown here), a UFCW 21 grocery member from Safeway and Jane Teske, a UFCW 21 health care member from Providence both spoke at the kick off press conference this morning in the Washington Secretary of State's office after the initiative was officially filed.

Today, your union, UFCW 21, along with a coalition of labor, faith, and community organizations introduced a people's initiative with the Secretary of State's office to raise up working standards for all Washingtonians.

The proposed initiative gives workers up to seven earned sick days and phases in a minimum wage up to $13.50.

For years we have negotiated for wage increases and paid sick leave - on the first day you are sick and free from discipline. For years we have tried unsuccessfully to get statewide elected politicians to address these issues. Locally, we have pushed to address these issues in Seattle, Seatac, Tacoma, Bellingham, Spokane and Olympia and already won in some places. But we can't wait any longer for a statewide solution. 2016 is the year to win these for workers all across the state.

UFCW 21 members and workers around this state are rising up together for this change in the law. We are going to need all of us to come together to ensure that this initiative gets passed and the first step will be to gather enough signatures to qualify for the 2016 ballot.

Click on the button below to pledge to gather signatures from your friends, family and coworkers to help us pass a law to give all Washington workers paid sick leave and better wages. 

 

MORE BACKGROUND

PAID SICK AND SAFE LEAVE FOR ALL

The ability to take a paid day off to care for ourselves or a loved one shouldn't be negotiable, it should be a basic right. When we ensure working people across Washington aren't forced to choose between a pay check and a sick child, we can prevent the spread of disease and make our communities safer, healthier, and stronger.

HIGHER MINIMUM WAGE LIFTS US ALL

The promise of America should be for everyone, not just the wealthy few. Yet over the past four years, our economy has swung out of balance. While the richest one percent saw their incomes rise 31 percent and big corporations made record profits, working families have been left behind. We can fix this. Increasing Washington's minimum wage will lift hundreds of thousands of working families out of poverty, respecting people's real contributions with fair wages that help them afford food, a home, and a life for themselves and their kids. Since Seattle and SeaTac passed minimum wage increases, the unemployment rate has fallen, creating more opportunity and a fair shake for working families and putting more money into local small businesses which helps our economy thrive. Everyone across the state deserves this opportunity.

UFCW 21 year in review 2015

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2015 was a year of victories for UFCW 21 Members striving for better work conditions, social justice and higher wages. 2015 welcomed new membership to many workers who believe in the promise of America. A promise that our children can lead better lives than ours. A promise that with hard work and standing up for our rights we can make a decent living that includes a good wage, health care and retirement.

Haggen Stores Up for Auction This Week, Motion Filed for Core Stores in Our Region to be Auctioned in January

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Haggen Stores Up for Auction This Week, Motion Filed for Core Stores in Our Region to be Auctioned in January

You are probably hearing about events this week and the auctioning of some Haggen stores. Representatives from UFCW Locals and our International Union are at the auction for the 95 Haggen stores taking place this week. We are strongly presenting our position that these stores need to be bought by responsible store owners to ensure that our members can continue to provide for their families and give customers the great service that they expect...

Read More

Retail workers deserve better. Help Change Walmart.

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Last night millions of TV viewers heard our call for change at Walmart and other corporations that treat workers like they are disposable. Retail worker families deserve better. The future of the American economy demands better. Help change Walmart. Check out the ads. Together  we can make change happen.

Watch the ad and share the need for change at Walmart.

makingchangeatwalmart.org

State Supreme Court Upholds SeaTac's Minimum Wage Law

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UFCW 21 member Shukri Hussien spoke on the steps of the Olympic court on June 26

UFCW 21 member Shukri Hussien spoke on the steps of the Olympic court on June 26

This is a great decision for the workers in SeaTac and the broader SeaTac community. The successful initiative was a critical part of jump-starting the national movement for higher wages and better benefits in the workplace. It spread from SeaTac to Seattle and communities all across the nation. With the court’s decision today, the national movement that has been picking up steam has even more momentum for raising standards in the workplace and reducing inequities in our economy. Read the full opinion.