CHI Harrison - Bargaining Continues

“Please join us for our first virtual Contract Action Team meeting next Tuesday May 19 @ 7:30pm!”

Harrison Medical Center Pro-Tech Bargaining Team

CHI Harrison Medical Center Service & Dietary + Pro-Tech Contract Action Team Meeting
Tuesday, May 19 - 7:30PM
RSVP to get call join info 

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PRO-TECH UPDATE

Your Bargaining Team met with Management again on May 5, 12, and 14. We have come to agreements with the employer to improve language regarding schedule posting, promotions, new hire orientation, and safety.

However, we are still fighting the employer to protect our Union healthcare, maintain successorship language that has protected our contract through recent mergers, create a member driven emergency preparedness team, and fair wage increases that keep Harrison Medical Center market competitive. Our next bargaining dates are June 5, 12, and 14.

If you have any questions, please contact your Union Rep Aimee Oien @ 360-662-1981.

BARGAINING TEAM: Judy Shoesmith, Kain Mcleod, Connie Baker, Rob Shauger, Don Szabo, Ona Burkett, Sonja Hammes

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SERVICE & DIETARY UPDATE

Your Bargaining Team met with Management on May 8 and achieved improvements on schedule postings, new hire orientation, safety, and won a new short-term personal leave benefit.

However, we continue to fight Management to maintain successorship language that has protected our contract through recent mergers, ensure adequate training for new hires, job positing transparency, create a member driven emergency preparedness team, and fair wage increases that keep Harrison Medical Center market competitive. Our next bargaining date is May 19. 

If you have any questions, please contact your Union Rep Ryan Degouveia @ 360-662-1989.

BARGAINING TEAM: Bobby Harris, Susan Mayer

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Have you signed the Petition for our fight for a fair contract?

Masks for UFCW 21 Members

Our member-led executive board knows firsthand how hard it is for working people during this COVID-19 pandemic, and we are so proud of UFCW 21 members everywhere for serving our communities, stepping up to help each other and keep each other safe, and caring for our families and loved ones during a public health crisis. 

When the CDC released recommendations that we should all be wearing cloth masks in public to help slow the spread of COVID-19, the board moved to purchase cloth barrier masks for our fellow UFCW 21 members. We contracted with a local union company to produce these masks. 

Masks are now arriving, and Shop Stewards are distributing them to coworkers. We will continue to distribute masks as more of them arrive. As we have throughout this pandemic, we are still fighting for everyone’s employer to provide them adequate protective equipment at work, the hazard pay we deserve for the work we are doing, and support for everyone facing the economic impacts of the pandemic. 

Thank you to every UFCW 21 member. We are union strong! 

Members take action, Governor responds with mandated customer limits and other protections

Grocery employers’ failure to enforce social distancing requirements in their workplaces has led to member actions across the state. UFCW 21 has been advocating for stricter limits on customer counts backed by members’ dramatic stories, testimonials, and petitions. Fred Meyer workers have been especially concerned about the issue of customer counts because they say the company’s self-imposed limit of 50% was inadequate to begin with and rarely enforced. 

“We have one of the busiest stores and no one is seeing the customer numbers drop. I make homemade masks for free for my co-workers because I want us safer. The top treats us like numbers instead of people.  We have names, we are important, treat us like we are your family and respect us."  -S., Fred Meyer 

“There needs to be a limit on the customers allowed in the store at a time, masks and gloves should be required, and social distancing enforced.”  -Bella, Fred Meyer 

Governor Jay Inslee has responded to frontline grocery workers’ safety concerns by requiring retail stores to limit customer counts to 30% of maximum occupancy during Phase 2 of the State’s Covid-19 response plan. 

Thanks to workers speaking up, the state’s new rules include: 

• Limiting store occupancy to 30% of maximum building occupancy or lower.

• Distance markers to help maintain 6-foot social distancing in lines both inside and outside the store.

• Conspicuous signage at entrances and throughout the store alerting staff and customers to the required occupancy limits, six-foot physical distancing guidance, and policy on face coverings.

• Sneeze guards or other barriers wherever there’s potential interaction between employees that could be less than 6 feet.

• Frequently cleaning and sanitizing, especially high-touch areas.

• Maintaining minimum six-foot separation between all employees and customers in all interactions at all times.

• When that’s not feasible, they must use other prevention measures such as barriers or staggered breaks and shifts.

• Providing personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves, goggles, face shields and face masks as appropriate or required to employees for the activity being performed. 

• Ensuring frequent and adequate hand washing with adequate maintenance of supplies. 

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Read the state’s full guidance here.

If your employer is not following these guidelines, you can report them directly to the State of Washington for violating the governor’s order. 

UFCW 21 Political Director Samantha Grad said the voice of frontline workers was essential in moving the Governor to action: “It only happened because UFCW 21 members were sharing what it’s like in their stores and why it’s dangerous for workers and customers. We are grateful to Governor Inslee for listening to workers and taking action to protect our communities.” 

Tell Kroger CEO Don't Cut Worker Pay

New company filing today: Kroger (parent of QFC and Fred Meyer) paid CEO Rodney McMullen $21.1 million last year – 789 times more than the median employee and a 75% increase over the year before.*

Now McMullen says the company will cut workers’ pay on May 17th -- eliminating the $2/hour “Hero Pay” bonus it coughed up beginning in April. 

Tell Kroger CEO Rodney McMullen: Don’t cut grocery worker pay during a pandemic! 

*Source: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/56873/000114036120011379/nc10008523x1_def14a.htm

Median worker pay in 2019: $26,790 

We wanted to let our customers and community know: As grocery store workers, we are proud of the work we do every day to get people the food and supplies they need. But our jobs have become more demanding, dangerous, and stressful during the COVID-19 pandemic.

SEND A MESSAGE TO KROGER THAT YOU STAND WITH FRED MEYER AND QFC WORKERS FOR SAFE STORES AND AGAINST PAY CUTS!

We're exposed to hundreds or thousands of people each week, which means an elevated risk of bringing COVID-19 home to our loved ones. We need the executives at Fred Meyer and QFC to keep workers and customers safe. We need meaningful limits on the number of shoppers entering stores. And now their parent company Kroger says it will take away our $2/hour “Hero Pay” on May 17th – even though the added burdens and risks of working through COVID-19 remain.

King's Command - Contract Vote Scheduled

After months of negotiating with King’s Command Foods, we have reached a tentative agreement for a six (6) month contract extension that includes improvements to the wages through the life of the contract extension.

Wage increases for every single union member and retro pay were secured. No takeaways!

Voting will be by mail-in ballot! We will mail you the voting materials to the address we have on file.  Ballots must be returned by Friday May 29, 2020 in order to be counted.  In order to make sure your ballot makes it to the right place, please confirm your address.

We will send out information soon with more details of the changes in your new contract and how the voting process works. To review a copy of the full legal document with all changes to the contract please visit the link provided below.

Read the Document

JOIN OUR ONLINE VOTE MEETINGS:
Drop-in on Tuesday, May 26 to ask any questions about the tentative agreement:
5:00PM – 6:30PM
Details for joining will be mailed out with the vote instructions.

National Leader to Testify At Senate Hearing On Coronavirus Deaths and Infections Among Food Workers

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
May 12, 2020

**TODAY, May 12 at 2:30PM ET**

National Leader to Testify At Senate Hearing On Coronavirus Deaths and Infections Among Food Workers

Marc Perrone, International President of Largest U.S. Food Retail and Meatpacking Union, to Testify on Growing Threat To American Workers and Food Supply, Urge Congress to Put Worker Safety First

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, May 12 at 2:30PM ET, the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) International Union, which represents 1.3 million workers in food and retail, will testify in a U.S. Senate hearing on the growing number of deaths across the food industry from COVID-19 and the threat to America’s food supply. The U.S. Senate hearing will highlight the push to exempt businesses from liability for ensuring the safety of their employees during the ongoing pandemic.

The following are excerpts from prepared remarks UFCW International President Marc Perrone will deliver today at 2:30pm in front of the U.S. Senate hearing on employer liability: 

“UFCW supports measures to make workers safer and rejects calls for employer immunity, which would only exacerbate the current crisis. It is not just wrong for workers; it will endanger the very food supply we must all strive to protect. The best way to keep our essential businesses up and running, and to reopen additional businesses, is to ensure that workers have essential protections they need.

“This virus does not care whether you are Republican or Democrat, and when it comes to such a national crisis, neither should we. Without standardized and uniform protections, and when no one at the federal level is holding these companies responsible, I can promise you that these workers will continue to get sick and die.”

“Protecting these workers is not about dollars and cents, it is about life and death. It is about this simple fact – we can’t protect America’s food supply unless – and until – we protect America’s food workers.”

**Livestream: Click here to watch today’s 2:30pm U.S. Senate hearing on employer liability**

Background:

During the testimony, President Marc Perrone will discuss the conditions grocery workers and meatpacking workers face on the frontlines of the outbreak, share best practices and safety standards that must be followed, and talk about how to protect America’s food supply. 

Since the beginning of this pandemic UFCW has been proactive in advocating for the best and necessary safety standards to protect America’s food supply, grocery workers and meatpacking workers. The below is a summary of measures UFCW has urged employers and elected leaders to immediately implement:

• Prioritize Essential Workers for Testing: To protect grocery and meatpacking workers and the food supply, these essential workers must be prioritized for testing.

• Immediate Access to Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): All grocery, meatpacking and food processing workers must have priority access to the critical personal protection equipment necessary to do their job and reduce the risk of exposure. 

• Immediate Halt On Line Speed Waivers: USDA’s recent approval of 11 regulatory waivers for poultry plants to increase line speeds shows a reckless disregard for worker safety during this pandemic. The USDA must immediately cease granting any new waivers and suspend all existing waivers that allow plants to operate at faster speeds.

• Mandate Social Distancing Where Possible: Companies must enforce and practice six-foot social and physical distancing to the greatest extent possible, even if it slows production. When not possible, companies should use plexiglass barriers and/or ensure all workers have masks that can safely be used. 

• Isolate Workers Who Show Symptoms or Test Positive for COVID-19: It is critical to identify and isolate workers who test positive or exhibit COVID-19 symptoms. These workers must be allowed to quarantine at home, with pay, per CDC recommendations. 

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 The UFCW is the largest private sector union in the United States, representing 1.3 million professionals and their families in grocery stores, meatpacking, food processing, retail shops and other industries.

Our members help put food on our nation’s tables and serve customers in all 50 states, Canada and Puerto Rico. Learn more about the UFCW at www.ufcw.org.

Reporting safety issues at businesses

Our state’s Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) has produced a document with their recommendations for grocery stores to ensure that stores comply with the state’s social distancing requirements. Find a printable PDF of this document on the L&I website here. 

If you think your store is not following social distancing protocols, there are lots of ways to report that, including via safety and health complaints or through the state’s COVID-19 social distancing report form, or by emailing UFCW 21 at safetyreport@ufcw21.org. 


Learn more>>

May 11: COVID-19 Telephone Town Hall for UFCW 21 Members – Call-In Only!

Note: This week’s Telephone Town Hall meetings are call-in only, meaning you must call the number below to join in.

Join us for a town hall call to ask questions, share ideas, hear from your fellow members and union leadership, and work together to face the COVID-19 crisis and stand up for working people.

We are testing different methods to make these calls better for everyone, so this week’s is call-in only. You will not receive a call at the meeting time, so mark your calendar and call in at the number and time below:

Monday, May 11

6:30 pm

Phone number: 844-227-7553

Meeting ID: 4677

Health Care Members Call:

Monday, May 11

7:30 pm

Phone number: 844-227-7561

Meeting ID: 4678

COVID-19 Updates and Resources from the Sound Health and Wellness Trust

If you access health insurance through the Sound Health and Wellness Trust, there have been some important updates to our coverage during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of us have bargained for this affordable family health insurance over the years, and our representatives at the Trust have advocated during this crisis for some expansions in our coverage. If you have any questions about this information or about your coverage, you should reach out directly to the Trust at soundhealthwellness.com or by calling (206) 282-4500 or (800) 225-7620 (Mon–Fri, 8am–5pm). 

Covering COVID-19 Testing 

Testing for COVID-19 is paid for 100% by the Trust. If you are covered by the Trust and had to pay for a COVID-19 test already, call them at (206) 282-4500 or (800) 225-7620 (Mon–Fri, 8am–5pm) and see if this can be resolved. 

Virtual Care Options 

In order to stay home during this outbreak and still consult a medical professional for advice as quickly as possible, many people are looking to phone or online medical services. Virtual care is fully paid for by the Trust. Here are the options for the two covered plans: 

PPO Plan Participants 

• Doctor on Demand is a confidential virtual medical care service available 24/7 to treat non-emergency health conditions like colds, flu, migraines, urinary tract infections, and more. 

• The Nurse Line is available 24/7 and gives you access to trained registered nurses who can help you find reliable information so you can make informed health care decisions. Call (877) 362-9969, option 1 to reach the Nurse Line. 

• Virtual visits: Check with your primary care physician about phone or video visits 

Kaiser Permanente Plan Participants 

• The Consulting Nurse Helpline is available 24/7 and gives you access to trained registered nurses who can help you find reliable information so you can make informed health care decisions. Call (800) 297-6877 or (206) 630-2244 (TTY 711). 

• Phone appointments, Care Chat, and e-visits are available at Kaiser Permanente. 

Expanded Behavioral Health Coverage 

With the recent COVID-19 outbreak, the Trust is offering virtual care with licensed mental health providers for both PPO and Kaiser Permanente Plan participants.  

PPO Plan Participants: 

• Doctor On Demand’s diverse team of licensed psychiatrists and psychologists can provide the emotional support you need from the privacy and comfort of home. This program is available for the next six months and is fully paid for by the Trust.  

Kaiser Permanente Plan Participants 

• Call the KPWA Mental Health Access Center at 1-888-287-2680 or (206) 901-6300 to schedule a phone or video visit. A trained clinician will ask a few questions, and help match you with a counselor or other specialist. 

Waivers During COVID-19 Shutdowns 

The Board of Trustees of Sound Health & Wellness Trust has adopted certain temporary benefit changes to help participants who may be impacted by COVID-19 keep health coverage during this time. If you stopped working or worked reduced hours in March or April 2020 due to a COVID-19-related reason, contact the Trust at (206) 282-4500 or (800) 225-7620 to see if your coverage can continue. 

St. Joseph Tech - Contract Vote Scheduled

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UPDATE 5/13/20

Saint Joseph’s Medical Center Technical Unit
Ratification Vote – By Mail
May 2020
Vote Document
BARGAINING TEAM IS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDING A YES VOTE!
This cycle the Union Negotiating Committee pushed to begin bargaining prior to expiration in order to come to a timely resolution.  After months of bargaining, the team received an offer they can recommend.
How to Cast Your Vote:

1. Review the offer, then mark your ballot "Yes" to accept the proposal, or "No" to reject the proposal.

2. Place your marked ballot in the Ballot Envelope. Do not put your name on the outside of the Ballot Envelope, or on the ballot itself. This ensures the secrecy of your ballot.

3. Place the Ballot Envelope inside the Return Envelope.

4. Sign the back of the Return Envelope, noting your name and work location. Your signature is how we verify each eligible voter can cast one and only one vote.

5. Note: The Ballot Envelopes will be separated from the Return Envelopes before any Ballot Envelopes are opened, so the secrecy of your ballot is preserved.

6. Ballots must be returned by Wednesday, May 27th in order to be counted.

HAVE BALLOT RETURNED TO:
UFCW Local 21 c/o David Barnes, Negotiator
5030 1st Ave South #200
Seattle, WA 98134

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We will be holding 3 different drop-in online Vote meetings on Friday, May 15 to answer any question about the tentative agreement. Details for joining will be mailed out with the vote instructions.

We will send out information soon with more details of the changes in your new contract and how the voting process works. To review a copy of the full legal document with all changes to the contract please visit the link provided in the body of the text below.

View the Document

JOIN OUR ONLINE VOTE MEETINGS:

Drop in at any of these times via Zoom on Friday, May 15:

8:30AM – 10:30AM
12:00PM – 2:00PM
4:00PM – 6:00PM 

Details for joining will be mailed out with the vote instructions.

BARGAINING TEAM: Michelle Gilmore, Sissy Allison, Vanessa Giles, Monica DeWitt, Kat Wood

PCC - Bargaining Continues

The Bargaining Committee continues to have discussions with the Employer. We are committed to fighting for a contract that ensures:

• COVID-19 pay for members who are exposed or diagnosed with COVID-19. 

• Keeping our sick leave 

• Keeping our parental leave

• Maintaining our healthcare

• Securing our pension

SIGN ON TO THE PETITION! 

Let’s tell PCC that workers deserve a safe work place! A safety petition was  launched and is circulating  to ensure PCC workers have the highest level of safety in their stores possible during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Will you STAND WITH US for Safety and Fair Pay?

Fred Meyer & QFC Customers: Tell Corporate to Support Their Workers

We wanted to let our customers and community know: As grocery store workers, we are proud of the work we do every day to get people the food and supplies they need. But our jobs have become more demanding, dangerous, and stressful during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Send a message to Kroger that you stand with Fred Meyer and QFC workers for safe stores and against pay cuts!

We're exposed to hundreds or thousands of people each week, which means an elevated risk of bringing COVID-19 home to our loved ones. We need the executives at Fred Meyer and QFC to keep workers and customers safe. We need meaningful limits on the number of shoppers entering stores. And now their parent company Kroger says it will take away our $2/hour “Hero Pay” on May 17th – even though the added burdens and risks of working through COVID-19 remain.

#EssentialHeroes

Messages from your community Grocery Store Workers

I value my relationships and friendships with customers. But right now I’m worried about my mental health and fatigue. Kroger management: Come visit our stores, and see what it's like, witness what we’re going through until this is over. Come and help us! 

-Tanya, Fred Meyer

We are tired, scared and tired! We are a BIG PART of what people are calling the “front line.” We deserve hazard pay for putting our lives on the line. We are a very important part of why your store is open during this hard time. 

-Sherrie, Fred Meyer

We have one of the busiest stores and no one is seeing the customer numbers drop. I make homemade masks for free for my co-workers because I want us safer. The top treats us like numbers instead of people.  We have names, we are important, treat us like we are your family and respect us. Do better by us workers. 

-Sheryl, Fred Meyer

We deserved higher pay even BEFORE the COVID crisis. Grocery workers work incredibly hard, and making near minimum wage is insulting. 

-John, QFC 

It's far more difficult than it's ever been, and management is giving the impression that their money is worth more than our lives. 

-Jacob, Fred Meyer

It's a nightmare. I'm being run ragged getting carts, cleaning what I have to clean, and keeping up with the people wanting help to their cars, while trying to accommodate the new measures that Kroger is implementing that affect my position. We deserve more than an extra $2 an hour. I’m scared of coming into contact with someone or something with COVID-19 and bringing it home to my family, who is at risk.  

-Isobel, Fred Meyer

I'm worried about workers not being protected enough during this pandemic. We can allow 900 customers into our store and there is no way we can socially distance with even a fraction of that amount of customers in our store. It's not fair that the company gets to act like they're doing something when in reality it doesn't do anything substantial to protect their workers. I love the team I'm on and the people I work with. But I'd say that most of Kroger management doesn't have to be in a store that allows thousands of people in every single day. It's easy for them to make these decisions, but they're not the ones who have to actually work through this pandemic day in and day out. We deserve better protection. 

-Cody, Fred Meyer

Conditions are more stressful and anxiety inducing than ever before. The extra labor involved in constantly sanitizing the store is intense and deserves at least the $2-an-hour hazard pay. It feels like expectations from management, although for a good cause, are unrealistic given the amount of staff and business my store does on most days. We should be compensated for the extra labor we do on a daily basis to keep ourselves and our customers safe. 

-Anna, QFC

Every single day is like Christmas and Black Friday are happening. We’ve been so busy, and now they’re cutting our hours.  

-Bob, Fred Meyer 

I am worried about getting sick and taking it home to my family. I can't stay home and get paid—unlike like the higher-up corporate people that aren't out here on the front line risking their lives and the well-being of their families. They are paid much more than those of us here working our behinds off. And they can’t pay us more? I’d tell them to do our job for an entire week and see how they are when it’s over. 

-Sonja, Fred Meyer

GROCERY STORE UNIONS CALL ON KROGER TO CEASE PLANS TO ELIMINATE HERO PAY FOR ESSENTIAL WORKERS, IMPROVE SAFETY IN STORES

UFCWs 7, 21, 324, 367, 555, 770, 1439 and IBT 38

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 7, 2020 | 3  PM Pacific
Contact: Tom Geiger, UFCW 21, 206-604-3421

GROCERY STORE UNIONS CALL ON KROGER TO CEASE PLANS TO ELIMINATE HERO PAY FOR ESSENTIAL WORKERS, IMPROVE SAFETY IN STORES

AS GROCERY STORES ACHIEVE RECORD PROFITS AND CORONAVIRUS CONTINUES TO SPREAD, UFCW LOCALS REPRESENTING OVER 100,000 OF THESE #ESSENTIALHEROES ACROSS THE WEST URGE KROGER TO MAINTAIN HERO PAY AND ADDRESS SAFETY CONCERNS

Puget Sound Region, WA – Kroger-owned grocery stores across the West notified essential grocery workers that starting May 17th, the company will eliminate the $2.00 an hour bonus called “Hero Pay.”  Grocery store employees, deemed essential workers by the government, are a constant on the frontline in all natural disasters or national crises-- risking their lives to ensure America is fed no matter what.

In response to Kroger’s announcement, UFCW Local Unions are calling on the public to support these #EssentialHeroes in California, Colorado, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming asking Kroger to maintain Hero Pay and improve store safety practices and provide testing to all employees as COVID-19 continues to plague local communities, and the UFCW membership.

“We have been working hard from day one of this crisis, putting our own health at risk to serve our community, and now Kroger’s response is to say that they are going to take away our pay. Meanwhile in many stores they are still dropping the ball on limiting the number of people in the store at one time to allow proper social distancing,” said Chuck Svac, a member of UFCW 21 from the Fred Meyer store in Port Orchard.

Fred Meyer and QFC are the two Kroger store banners in the Puget Sound area.

Together, these local unions represent over 100,000 essential grocery workers in these five western states and approximately 55,000 of these are at Kroger stores. Unions have seen an uptick in cases of infection of COVID-19 amongst their respective grocery worker members.

“We will continue to recognize and support the frontline workers through this COVID-19 crisis and beyond and demand that their employer do the same by continuing to pay the $2.00/hr "HERO" pay and provide a safe working environment for these workers,” said Steve Chandler, Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Local 38. “These workers have proven themselves as dedicated employees of Kroger which is reflected in them tirelessly serving the customers on a daily basis.”

The decision by Kroger to rip away this well-deserved pay increase comes at the same time these essential grocery workers -- American heroes -- are mourning the loss of their Union brothers and sisters to COVID-19 and more workers are falling ill.

Seven UFCW Local unions across the Western US and Teamsters 38 in Snohomish County, representing over 55,000 members who work at Kroger stores, have united to bring attention to Kroger’s unjustified decision to take away Hero Pay as states reopen. We encourage customers to support grocery workers as these #EssentialHeroes and continue to support them during local stay-at-home orders and the global pandemic. Local Unions are also continuing to call on Kroger to more effectively limit the number of shoppers in a store at one time in order to allow for safe 6 ft distancing, and also have all workers and shoppers wear masks.

Please support your community grocery workers—our #EssentialHeroes—by  telling Kroger how you feel about their takeaway of the Hero pay.

For more information visit on how to get involved visit UFCW21.org and Teamsters38.org

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St. Joseph Tech - Tentative Agreement Reached

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UPDATE 5/13/20

Saint Joseph’s Medical Center Technical Unit
Ratification Vote – By Mail
May 2020
Vote Document
BARGAINING TEAM IS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDING A YES VOTE!
This cycle the Union Negotiating Committee pushed to begin bargaining prior to expiration in order to come to a timely resolution.  After months of bargaining, the team received an offer they can recommend.
How to Cast Your Vote:

1. Review the offer, then mark your ballot "Yes" to accept the proposal, or "No" to reject the proposal.

2. Place your marked ballot in the Ballot Envelope. Do not put your name on the outside of the Ballot Envelope, or on the ballot itself. This ensures the secrecy of your ballot.

3. Place the Ballot Envelope inside the Return Envelope.

4. Sign the back of the Return Envelope, noting your name and work location. Your signature is how we verify each eligible voter can cast one and only one vote.

5. Note: The Ballot Envelopes will be separated from the Return Envelopes before any Ballot Envelopes are opened, so the secrecy of your ballot is preserved.

6. Ballots must be returned by Wednesday, May 27th in order to be counted.

HAVE BALLOT RETURNED TO:
UFCW Local 21 c/o David Barnes, Negotiator
5030 1st Ave South #200
Seattle, WA 98134

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After several bargaining sessions, in person and via telecommunications, your Bargaining Team is pleased to announce a fully recommended tentative agreement that addresses the core issues brought forward by the membership around staffing and wages.

This agreement includes a commitment from Management to address staffing concerns from frontline workers, wage increases and no Management take-aways!

Voting will be by mail-in ballot! We will mail you the voting materials to the address we have on file. Ballots return deadline to be announced. In order to make sure your ballot makes it to the right place, please confirm your address in the body of the email below.

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Need to correct your information? Fill out this form

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We will send out information soon with more details of the changes in your new contract and how the voting process works. A copy of the full legal document with all changes to the contract will be provided.

We will be holding drop-in online Vote Meetings to answer any question about the tentative agreement. Details for joining will be mailed out with the vote instructions.

BARGAINING TEAM: Michelle Gilmore, Sissy Allison, Vanessa Giles, Monica DeWitt, Kat Wood

If you have any questions, please contact your Union Representative @ 800-732-1188

STANDING WITH OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS

Many of UFCW 21’s community partner organizations are facing unprecedented financial stress as they seek to support some of the most vulnerable people in our communities: those who are in detention centers, people who don’t have homes, those experiencing domestic violence, and others.

Spring is the typical fundraising season for these organizations, some receive a sizable part of their yearly budget during these events, however, to keep us all as safe and healthy as possible they have been forced to cancel them, jeopardizing their ability to sustain their work.

But you can still help. 

In addition to the annual support UFCW 21 members collectively offer these organizations, we are encouraging you if possible, to consider supporting their vital efforts.  

All of these community organizations are non-profits and receive funding from government agencies, foundations, and donations from individual supporters.  While funding from the government and private foundations is drying up, individuals can still help.

We know it will take all of us to overcome this.

Each month we will share information on all the organizations that are holding fundraisers and/or who have reached out for support.

Please consider donating to at least one of these organizations this month. Click on the organization name and you’ll be redirected to their donation page.

GIVE to Y-WE

Y-WE cultivates the power of diverse young women to be creative leaders and courageous changemakers through transformative programs within a collaborative community of belonging. We envision a society rooted in social justice, where all young women live their truth, achieve their dreams, and change our world.

GIVE to API Chaya

API Chaya empowers survivors of gender-based violence and human trafficking to gain safety, connection, and wellness.  We build power by educating and mobilizing South Asian, Asian, Pacific Islander, and all immigrant communities to end exploitation, creating a world where all people can heal and thrive.

GIVE to One America

OneAmerica advances the fundamental principles of democracy and justice at the local, state, and national levels by building power within immigrant communities in collaboration with key allies.

GIVE to Real Change

Real Change exists to provide opportunity and a voice for low-income and homeless people while taking action for economic, social and racial justice.

Any amount, big or small, makes a difference! 

Thank you for supporting local communities!

Macy’s workers are facing COVID-19 store shutdowns with little information and support from our employer.

Macy’s workers are facing COVID-19 store shutdowns with little information and support from our employer. But this community has our back. We’ve given years of service to this store and our communities, and it’s time for Macy’s to acknowledge that their profits came from the work that we put in.

We’re calling on Macy’s to provide paid leave for those of us whose stores are temporarily closed, help to those of us who have to file for unemployment benefits, and fair severance in case of permanent store closure.

Check out this video from Macy’s workers and allies and customers in the community, and then sign our petition for fair treatment during this crisis!

Conifer St. Elizabeth - Standing Together

After three days at the bargaining table we are happy to announce that many of our non-economic proposals have been resolved. Unfortunately, Management’s response to our economic proposal is severely lacking and we must continue to stand together to demand fair wages and a fair contract.

“We are holding fast and going strong. Management was reluctant to address our concerns, but we pushed back and overcame those challenges. We are on the last leg of this race.”

Margaret “Peggy” Laush, Bargaining Team Member

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Have you signed the petition with our demands?

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Join us at the online CAT meeting via Zoom on Wednesday, May 6, 2020 from 6:30PM - 7:30PM to hear from the St. Elizabeth bargaining team and make plans for St. Joe’s first day at the table!

RSVP at the link for the CAT meeting and we will follow-up with details on how to join.

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Next Bargaining Dates
More dates to be announced

St. Elizabeth - 5/19
St. Joseph - 5/20, 5/21

May 4: Telephone Town Hall Call about safety, resources, actions, and next steps

May 4: UFCW 21 Telephone Town Hall Calls

These weekly Town Halls are a chance to ask questions, share ideas, and hear directly from fellow UFCW 21 members, union leadership, and others on what we’re all doing to face the COVID-19 crisis and stand up for working people. 

Don’t forget to share your experience: we’re collecting the voices of working people during the COVID-19 crisis to share with the public. Take the survey here >>  

Monday, May 4 @ 6:30pm 

You will receive a call at the number on file for you between 6:30 – 6:40 pm, but if you miss the call or don’t receive one, please call in at 888-652-0377. If it asks you for a Meeting ID, use 4675. 

Monday, May 4 @ 7:30pm Health Care Members

You will receive a call at the number on file for you between 7:30 – 7:40 pm, but if you miss the call or don’t receive one, please call in at 888-652-0379. If it asks you for a Meeting ID, use 4676. 

• If you work in a hospital and you haven’t rated your workplace’s response to COVID-19 yet, fill out a Hospital Report Card today. 

Harrison Medical Center - Bargaining Continues

PRO-TECH UPDATE

Your Bargaining Team met with Managament on April 23, 25, and 28. We are committed to fighting for a fair contract that maintains our Union healthcare and ensures our contract survives any future mergers or acquisitions.

We have also made proposals to address issues regarding scheduling time off, easier access to education and professional meetings, improved safety language, and market competitive wages that keep up with the rising cost of living. Our next bargaining date is May 5.

If you have any questions, please contact your Union Rep Aimee Oien @ 360-662-1981.

“Although we met virtually, we are standing together for a fair contract.”

Harrison Medical Center Pro-Tech Bargaining Team
Judy Shoesmith, Kain Mcleod, Connie Baker, Rob Shauger, Don Szabo, Ona Burkett, Sonja Hammes

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SERVICE & DIETARY UPDATE

Your Bargaining Team met with Management on April 13, 20, and 27. We submitted our initial proposals that aim to strengthen language regarding scheduling, increased transparency of job postings, stronger safety committees, maintaining healthcare costs, and market competitive wages that keep up with the rising cost of living. Our next bargaining date is May 8.

If you have any questions, please contact your Union Rep Ryan Degouveia @ 360-662-1989.

“Our first couple of bargaining dates were productive and we are looking forward to getting a contract that we can all be proud of!”

Harrison Medical Center Service & Dietary Bargaining Team
Bobby Harris, Susan Mayer, Bill A Lieseke

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Have you signed the Petition for our fight for a fair contract?