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REUTERS! Macy's workers in Washington state to strike for three days from Black Friday Nov 22 (Reuters) - More than 400 Macy's (M.N) workers in Washington state are planning a three-day strike from Black Friday through Sunday, alleging unfair labor practices and demanding better wages, according to UFCW Local 3000's website.
On Labor: Recap. Nearly 400 Macy’s workers in Washington state began a three-day strike on Black Friday, protesting alleged unfair labor practices and refusal to agree to a new contract. The workers, represented by UFCW 3000, are calling for increased wages and better worker protections. Negotiations with the retail giant stalled recently over issues surrounding shoplifters. In October, 96% of workers voted in favor of the strike.
CBS Texas: As Black Friday shoppers hit the stores, one major retailer will have no one at their registers because hundreds of union workers at Macy's locations in the state of Washington are going on strike for three days.
Retail News: Macy’s staff in Washington on three-day strike from Black Friday
Workers at US department store chain Macy’s in Washington state are planning to launch a three-day strike from Black Friday (24 November 2023) through to the following Sunday, labor union UFCW Local 3000 has announced.
GUARDIAN: ‘They’ve worked us to death’: Macy’s workers to strike on Black Friday Four hundred workers in Washington state to strike, alleging the company – which pays millions to executives – is not playing fair We would like them to share some of those profits so we can have a liveable wage,” said Azia Domingo, who has worked at Macy’s in Tukwila, Washington, for 21 years. “Macy’s CEO gets $11m per year while a lot of his workers rely on food banks, and some can’t even afford to see doctors because of the low wages and the expensive healthcare.”
GUARDIAN: Macy’s workers launch Black Friday strike in Washington state About 400 workers walk out in dispute over allegedly unfair labor practices and failure to agree to a new contract. “We are on an unfair labor practice strike because Macy’s intimidated and retaliated against me for calling security and 911 about a thief,” one employee, Liisa Luick, said during a rally outside Southcenter. “Macy’s has not bargained in good faith throughout this process, frustrating our ability to get to a fair contract.”
FOX13: Washingtonians expected to spend more this year, Macy's employees plan to protest. Get ready for a major shake-up at Macy’s…in a nod to the Thanksgiving Day Parade, they’ll march around with giant inflatable balloons and have musical performances…Liisa: ‘It’s gonna be kinda nuts’...staff has major safety concerns the company refuses to address. Liisa: ‘Retail theft is really ratcheted up, and as such, it reflects on our safety, and this is really where it springs from.’..[Bellevue] Police going undercover in plains clothes to catch shoplifters in the act…”
KIRO-TV: Macy’s workers to strike Black Friday across Washington over ‘unfair’ labor practices “When workers ask that store safety just be a topic that they can talk about in future meetings with management, Macy’s even says no to that,” Joe Mizrahi, Secretary-Treasurer of UFCW 21, said on Friday. “Macy’s workers would much rather be inside the store helping customers this Black Friday. But instead they’ll be out here (at the Southcenter Mall) on one of the busiest shopping days of the year.”
KGMI RADIO: Local Macy’s workers to strike on Black Friday Macy’s Workers United said on their website that over 14,000 customers signed a pledge to not shop at Macy’s during the strike.
Bellingham Herald: Bellingham Macy’s to strike on Black Friday; Bellis Fair employees calling for change “I’ve been at the Bellis Fair Macy’s for 19 years,” Christina Verkist said in the release. “I’m in home goods, and my customers count on my knowledge of the products. But because they cut down on workers, I’m alone a lot in my department. With the threats we face from shoplifters, Macy’s needs to improve security, and we deserve better pay. The price of everything is up but my pay is not. Most of the time I can’t afford to fill up my gas tank. We hope customers will shop elsewhere while we are on strike for safer stores and better pay.”
Lynnwood Times: Macy’s workers to strike on Black Friday throughout Washington “Now we are afraid to call 911 when safety issues come up because we worry we will get in trouble, or even lose our jobs,” Luick said. “Workers don’t feel safe in our store, and now they are scared of retaliation, so they’ve stopped calling for help when they see a threat. Macy’s needs to step up and make our stores safer for workers and customers. I’m asking our customers to shop elsewhere this holiday while we are on strike.”
Lynnwood Times: Macy’s workers launch strike on Black Friday at Alderwood Mall. [YouTube vid link]. “For the longest time we didn’t have enough Assets Protection [personnel] in the store,” Kaleen told the Lynnwood Times. “There are a good amount of times we don’t have any on the store and no response just because there are so many thieves in the store.” She shared how one of their female coworkers was “beat up” by three visitors to the mall and workers stood by afraid to call 911 for the fear of being fired. Lynnwood City Councilman George Hurst joined Macy’s workers on their strike for better wages and a safe working environment. He shared with the Lynnwood Times that Macy’s policy discouraging employees to call 9-1-1 is of great concern.
Newsbreak (DC): Hundreds of Macy's Workers Across Washington Set To Go On Strike on Black Friday! In an unprecedented move, over 400 Macy's workers in Washington are set to strike on Black Friday, citing Unfair Labor Practices ("ULP").
Edmonds News: Macy’s workers plan to strike starting on Black Friday at state’s busiest stores Hundreds of Macy’s workers Friday announced a countdown to an Unfair Labor Practices (ULP) strike at some of the busiest stores in Washington, including Alderwood Mall in Lynnwood, Bellis Fair Mall in Bellingham and Southcenter Mall in Tukwila. Striking workers will kick off picket lines on Black Friday — Nov. 24 — with a Macy’s Striking Workers Parade at Southcenter Mall, according to a news release from macysunited.com.
KOMO TV: Macy's workers in western Washington plan Black Friday strike over safety concerns, low wages: “This is what we feel is necessary to stand up for what is right and what we deserve,” Azia Domingo, who has worked at Macy’s in Southcenter Mall for 21 years. "This is unknown territory for a lot of us, but the time is now. We need to fight for what is right.”...."Macy’s makes billions of dollars a year in profit while many employees are struggling to make ends meet, that’s unacceptable."' Employees said they're hoping customers will support them by not shopping at Macy’s during the strike, which kicks off with a rally outside Macy’s at Southcenter Mall Friday at 9 a.m. For more information on the strike, click here.
NBC, Fox News, KNDU / KNDO (Tri-Cities): Seattle-area Macy's workers strike on Black Friday. “2 main reasons for this strike: Safety concerns and low pay…been working with Macy’s since February to get a resolution…’Macy’s, first of all, isn’t even keeping up with inflation, which is leading to things such as short staff, us being stretched thin, which is making us more vulnerable’…It’s not just Macy’s employees leading this charge…It’s scary to take a leap of faith like this, but she feels, it’s worth it.”
KCPQ FOX 13 TV: Local Macy's employees go on strike during busiest shopping weekend of the year: "Macy’s, first of all, isn’t even keeping up with inflation, on top of, we don’t feel safe in our stores, which is leading to short staff, us being stretched thin, which is making us more vulnerable," said Azia Domingo…..”"To see the community, to see the other unions, to see politicians, to see moms and dads, our customers out there supporting us, this is amazing. And this gives us the strength to stand together and fight.”
KING 5 TV: Macy's workers striking in Lynnwood, Tukwila and Bellingham over 'unfair labor practices': “We’re tired of being frightened and endangered at work,” said Mary Stephen who works at the Alderwood Mall Macy’s in Lynnwood, “My hope is that it doesn’t last very long and we can come to a fair solution for all of us for safety, better affordable healthcare and better pay.” (YouTube mobile,, and another horizontal)
KING 5 TV: Youtube horizontal w/Azia. “She recalled when shootings happened…When we asked the department store to specifically provide its safety policy and whether employees are suspended for calling help, Macy’s said it had no further comment.”
KIRO News Radio: Washington Macy’s workers strike for higher wages, better crime protection: Liisa Luick, who has worked at the Macy’s in Lynnwood for more than 15 years, says there’s no clear safety procedures in place, and employees are left virtually on their own.“Macy’s intimidated and retaliated against me for calling security and 911 about a thief,” she says. “Macy’s has not bargained in good faith throughout this process, frustrating our ability to get to a fair contract. Macy’s has also attempted to restrict our ability to talk with our union representatives about workplace issues and bargaining.”
New York Times: Black Friday Isn’t What It Used to Be: ….“Many retailers now make a point of staying closed on Thanksgiving. (Employees at some Macy’s stores in Washington State used Black Friday to make a statement about their working conditions. More than 400 sales associates went on strike over issues they say they’re facing, including theft in stores and low wages.)”
Seattle Times: Seattle-area Macy’s workers strike for better protection from crime
“Some accountant in New York has figured out that it costs them less to just let people steal product than it does for them to have a perception of there being safety issues in their stores,” says Joe Mizrahi, UFCW 3000 secretary-treasurer. Macy’s has “financial incentive to pretend like there’s not a problem.” Yasmina Grainat, 55, who was picketing at Alderwood with other members of United Food & Commercial Workers Local 3000, which represents around 400 workers at the state’s three unionized Macy’s stores: Alderwood, Southcenter and in Bellis Fair mall in Bellingham and others say Macy’s management does too little to deter the thieves or protect staff. Employees say they’re not allowed to interfere with thieves, or aid colleagues, but are told to report incidents to store security…“When I call security, no one picks up the phone,” says Grainat, who adds that the stress is too much at a job that pays a 23-year veteran just $20.73 an hour.“We need them to respect us.”
Cascadia Daily News: Macy’s employees strike on Black Friday weekend over safety, wages Union workers urge public to go elsewhere on nation's busiest shopping days
Outside Bellis Fair mall, a worker barked into a megaphone, “Their 50 cent. Won’t pay rent,” striking union employees and community members replied in a call-and-response chant. Debbie Walk, who has worked for Macy’s in Bellingham for at least eight years, said it was “ridiculous” that employees were having to bargain for the right to call the police when they felt a situation was unsafe. “We’re seeing a lot of retail theft and they don’t seem to be doing enough to stop it,” said Walk, who works in the retailer's fine jewelry department. “We feel unsafe a lot of times.”
“Macy’s is not the first or last strike in Washington,” Mizrahi said. “Providence nurses and hospital staff and now Macy’s employees are demanding CEOs share the wealth made off of their hard work.”
Everett Herald: Macy’s employees strike on Black Friday at Alderwood Mall
Protesters in Lynnwood called for better wages and safety measures. Staff at other Macy’s stores picketed in Bellingham and Tukwila.
Thailand Post: Employees at Macy’s in Washington state will go on strike for 3 days, starting on Black Friday
KIRO 7 TV: Southcenter Macy’s employees go on strike, seeking more work rights
They chanted loudly with signs in hand. From dawn to dusk, workers at the Macy’s in Southcenter Mall were calling attention to their fight for better rights Friday. Domingo and her colleagues want more safety measures in place after a Macy’s Alderwood employee said she was retaliated against for calling 911 when she witnessed someone shoplifting.
The UFCW 3000 said she was put on unpaid leave because of it. “What we are asking from Macy’s is to provide a clear, concise policy on what to do when a security threat arises and when we can call 911,” Domingo added. “We don’t feel safe in our stores. This leads to short staff, us being stretched thin, and creating more of a security threat because there’s not enough coverage.”
Mother Jones: On Black Friday, Unions Are Striking For a Better Deal It’s been a historic year for labor action—and it’s not over yet. Retail workers are walking out during the busiest shopping day of the year, Black Friday, leveraging a weekend of huge profits for retailers to demand better pay and working conditions….In Washington, about four hundred Macy’s employees from three different stores went on strike, beginning their picket at 3:00 AM on Black Friday. Their union, the United Food and Commercial Workers, says that Macy’s isn’t doing enough to address safety threats like violent shoppers and shoplifting, and that pay is not keeping up with the cost of living. “Workers don’t feel safe in our store, and now they are scared of retaliation so they’ve stopped calling for help when they see a threat,” explained sales associate Liisa Luick in a release from UFCW 3000. Azia Domingo, who has worked for Macy’s for 21 years, said, “Macy’s is making billions of dollars and paying their CEO $11 million a year, but most of us workers are struggling to make ends meet…We shouldn’t have to question whether we can afford to have health insurance and go to the doctor.”
Wall Street Journal Editorial: A Labor Strike Over Shoplifting Seattle-area Macy’s workers say thieves jeopardize their safety, and the union walked out. Ms. Luick says workers at her store “frequently observe shoplifting and even occasional violence,” and “the lack of security affects our customers too.” But when she called 911 about “a repeat shoplifter that even law enforcement was familiar with,” Macy’s suspended her without pay “for nearly three weeks,” she wrote in a letter to the Everett Herald last week. Now Macy’s workers “are afraid to call the police because we worry we’ll get in trouble or even lose our jobs,” she Said. Macy’s declined to respond to Ms. Luick’s claims but said “our top priority is to ensure the safety of our colleagues and customers in-store.” UFCW Local 3000 said it filed an unfair labor practice charge against Macy’s over its treatment of Ms. Luick and that the company “eventually provided back pay.” Ms. Luick isn’t alone in worrying about crime. “Shoplifters and even violent customers are constant threats to our security,” wrote Nicole Hardin, who has worked at the Macy’s cosmetics counter for more than 15 years. Yasmina Grainat, another longtime employee, told the Seattle Times that the stress of dealing with thieves isn’t worth her $20.73 hourly wage.
BNN (Hong Kong) Macy’s Workers Strike Over Shoplifting Safety Concerns. The strike action taken by the Macy’s workers is not just about their individual stores; it is a reflection of a larger issue permeating the retail industry. Employees in retail environments are increasingly exposed to threats stemming from shoplifting and retail crime, raising questions about the responsibility of employers in ensuring staff safety. This strike is a call for better security measures and a safer work environment, pushing the conversation about employee safety into the spotlight.
ZMG’s Veuer (online news wire). Disseminated across TX Macy's Workers Plan Black Friday Strike Over Wage Disparities. (video)
NPR: It's peak shopping — and shoplifting — season. Cops are stepping up antitheft tactics (more about cops) / There's been a noticeable pushback against shoplifting this year. "We have these 'Chanel girls' that come in and steal thousands of dollars in Chanel," says Jeanne Peterson, who works at the fragrance counter at the Southcenter Macy's, near Seattle. "They will show their pepper spray or they will spray you. What we've been trained to do is to let them come behind the counter and let them take what they want to take."In a statement to NPR, Macy says, in part, that "our top priority is to ensure the safety of our colleagues and customers in-store."....But Kathy Henderson says that's not how it feels for salespeople like her. She says Macy's suspended her because she briefly pulled back on a box of perfume when a shoplifter tried to take it. Asked why she should care whether someone gets away with the company's merchandise, she says it's because it's just so hard to live with, day after day. "It's total anxiety," Henderson says. "If we hear a loud noise or if there's a whole bunch of people talking loud or whatever, it's like PTSD."
Mention in WA State Standard story on holiday retail workers
Op-Eds and Letters to the Editor
Everett Herald: Comment: Retail workers are essential; treat them as such (Liisa Luick)
Retail workers face low wages, short-staffing and threats from shoplifters that stores are ignoring.
Mt Lake Terrace News: Letter to the editor: Macy’s needs to support its workers (Janet Bates)
That’s why we are united with the power of our union UFCW 3000, ready to strike during the busiest shopping days of the year around Black Friday. We hope our customers and the community will stand with us until Macy’s corporate shows us they care about more than their profits.
Everett Herald LTE: Back Macy’s workers efforts for better pay (Daniel Vargo)
So, if you see workers like me united with the power of our union UFCW 3000 holding signs outside Macy’s Alderwood in the upcoming weeks, I hope you will support our fight against Macy’s unfair labor practices and for better pay and improved safety for workers and customers at our stores.
Everett Herald LTE: Pay, safety are major concerns for Macy’s workers (Nicole Hardin)
To make it even tougher, Macy’s management doesn’t take our safety seriously. Shoplifters and even violent customers are constant threats to our security. But Macy’s hasn’t provided safety procedures, and workers who called for help have been retaliated against by management.
South Seattle Emerald: Macy’s Profits Surge While Workers Struggle: Hundreds of Employees Plan Black Friday Strike (Azia Domingo). These days, it’s rare to find workers who stay at their jobs in retail businesses for very long. The pay is low, the schedules can be tough on a family, and working on your feet and engaging with customers all day can be incredibly draining….I’ve worked at Macy’s over 21 years…The majority of us are living paycheck to paycheck…I stopped getting health insurance through my job because the premiums and copays were so high. I have 3 children…Meanwhile, Macy’s is paying its CEO $11 million a year, and the company’s profits were more than $2 billion in the past two years combined — even more than before the pandemic.
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