Workers at Kroger QFC Fred Meyer Safeway Albertsons Win the Right to wear protective masks

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UPDATE: Safeway, Albertsons agree to allow workers to wear masks and gloves

Kroger agrees to allow QFC and Fred Meyer workers to wear masks and gloves.

*Employer not providing at this point, but will allow workers to bring in their own PPE.

We are working hard to expand this right to all grocery store employees and essential employees interacting with groups. By taking steps like this we can slow the spread and protect our frontline workers

Grocery Store Workers’ Unions and Kroger Announce New Deal for Hazard Pay

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For immediate release: March 20, 2020
Contact: Tom Geiger, 206-604-3421

Less than one week ago the grocery store workers’ unions of Washington (UFCW 21, 367 1439 and Teamsters 38) were able to reach agreements with Safeway/Albertsons and then Fred Meyer/QFC for additions to our contracts for more access to paid time off, flexible scheduling given child care challenges, and several other benefits to help with hours in the stores. Benefits have since expanded for UFCW members across the nation.

Also there has been a national announcement from Safeway of hazard pay. And we are happy that our work with Kroger over recent days has led their announcement for hazard pay for workers as well. The additional Kroger benefits include:

  • A total Hazard Pay of $300 for those working fulltime

  • A total Hazard Pay $150 for those working less than full time

  • This hazard pay would be paid in early April

We are also hopeful to be able to announce as early as tomorrow some additional advances for local union grocery store workers and are calling on all grocery stores across the nation (union or not) to adopt all these worker and community protections to help us all during the coronavirus crisis.

For additional information on the coronavirus and our unions responses, please visit www.ufcw21.org/safety-at-work

Washington State UFCW and Teamster Local Unions reach understanding with Fred Meyer/QFC to better support and protect Grocery Store Workers and Community

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Yesterday, UFCW 21, 367, 1439 and Teamsters 38 reached an understanding with Fred Meyer/QFC to better support and protect grocery store workers and shoppers in this time of need due to the Coronavirus.

This resolution includes:

  • More flexibility for schedules to accommodate childcare.

  • Joint hiring hall to allow for more workers to get work in the stores.

  • Up to two-weeks of pay for workers diagnosed with COVID-19 or workers required to self-quarantine, before needing to access sick leave and other contractual paid leave.

  • Agreed to jointly work with State and Federal government to treat Grocery Store Workers as first responders and set up a childcare fund for Grocery Store Workers.

  • Expanded use of paid sick leave to cover childcare needs.

  • Ensure workers do not lose eligibility for medical coverage or lose vacation accrual while out on sick leave.

  • Temporarily allow the employer to bring in extra outside help to make sure we are able to serve our communities during this crisis—provided bargaining unit employees are offered hours first, including overtime.

  • As always, any work done in the meat cutter classification will only be performed by individuals qualified and licensed (where necessary) to perform such work.

In addition to the terms of this understanding, Kroger has expanded its Helping Hands benefit to include hardships caused to employees by the Coronavirus pandemic.

If you have questions, please contact your Rep
You can follow important union updates and find information and resources at www.ufcw21.org/safety-at-work and on the UFCW 21 App.

Grocery Bargain CONTRACT VOTES SET

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CONTRACT VOTES SET 

Tentative Agreement Reached Fully Recommended by Union Member Bargaining Team

As you may know, a fully recommended tentative agreement was reached in negotiations on Wednesday, April 13, 2016. See the information below for times, dates, and locations for union members to review the tentative agreement, get questions answered, and vote. You may vote at whatever location is most convenient, at any time when polling is open at that location.

These votes are open to UFCW 21 grocery store workers in King, Snohomish, Kitsap, Mason and Thurston Counties at the big chains as well as the independent stores. This includes all workers at Safeway, Albertsons, QFC, and Fred Meyer (including CCK and General Merchandise), as well as workers at stores with an interim (or “me too”) agreement, such as Metropolitan Market, Town & Country and other independent stores. 

You can come by at any point during the scheduled times and take as long as you like to review the contract offer and ask questions before casting your vote. You must be present at a vote and a current union member in order to cast a ballot.

Come by at any point between 8:00AM - 12 NOON and 4:00PM - 8:00PM at the following locations to review the offer, get questions answered, and cast your vote.

Sunday, April 24

Bellevue        
Meydenbauer Center
Rooms: 404-406, 11100 NE 6th Street, Bellevue, WA  98004

Monday, April 25

Everett/Lynnwood
Lynnwood Convention Center, Rooms 1DEF
3711 196th St SW, Lynnwood 98036

Tuesday, April 26

Sea Tac
Seatac Hilton
Emerald Ballroom, 17620 International Blvd., Seattle 98188

Wednesday, April 27

Bremerton   
Kitsap Convention Center
Ballroom D, 100 Washington Ave, Bremerton 98337

Thursday, April 28

Seattle        
Best Western Executive Inn
Seafair Ballroom, 200 Taylor Ave N, Seattle 98109

Olympia        
Southsound Manor
Logan Room, 455 North Street SE, Tumwater 98501