Summary of the Macy’s Reopening Agreement

This is a summary of the agreement which outlines options if you are not able to return to work, Macy’s safety procedures when the store opens, and how the stores will operate until August starts. Please contact your rep if you have questions or concerns:

Not able to return to work:

If you are not able or willing to return when recalled, there are three different options:

-One time pass: places you on the bottom of the one-time recall list for reopening, this does not affect your seniority within Macy’s, when called back the second time must be able to return to work or the Employer will consider it your resignation. Macy’s will be keeping you on furlough, so your employment status is should not be changing in regard to unemployment insurance.

-Personal leave: 2-weeks of unpaid leave to give you time to prepare for the return to work. You would then return to work after the 2 week leave. You can access you vacation/sick bank and your PTOs as you will be considered “active.” This will change your status for unemployment insurance.

-Medical leave: You will need doctor’s certification and would be placed on active status and given medical leave. When medical leave is up, you will to return to work. You can access your vacation/sick bank and your PTOs as you will be considered “active.” This will change your status for unemployment as you will be active, however if you are a person who is “at risk” for COVID-19 or is sick with COVID-19, you may still be eligible for unemployment insurance. If you are not eligible you for unemployment insurance, you could be eligible for Washington State Paid Family Leave.

Safety at the store:

-Macy’s will provide PPE (personal protective equipment) to all members, including face masks and gloves (where needed).

-Macy’s needs to enforce social distancing and provide for the time and cleaning materials to sanitize the areas where we are working, while we are working.

-Macy’s will perform wellness checks of all employees before the start of their shifts, to help stop the spread in our workplaces.

-Members have the rights to refuse work that is not safe, with proper notification to management (contact your rep or shop steward).

Hours workers, commission pay, COVID-19 leave:

-While the store gets back to normal volume, the stores are operating with temporarily reduced business hours. Full time will be guaranteed 28 hours, part time 10, recalled Flex workers will not be assigned shifts (as usual).

-Once the store returns to regular hours, or the agreement expires, the people will return to their hours options before the stores closed for the pandemic. If there are permanent staff/hours reductions those are subject to seniority.

-For returned to work members, Macy’s will pay up to two weeks leave for members required to self-quarantine due to or have been diagnosed with COVID-19.

-For draw vs commission Macy’s will clear possible deficits until agreement ends on August 1st.

-Our union contract has not changed; Macy’s still needs to follow it.

Reps:

Bill Roberts
Bellingham Macy’s
(360) 419-4665

Teasha Karell
Alderwood Macy’s and Furniture Gallery
(206) 436-6510

Ariana Davis
Southcenter Macy’s and Furniture Gallery
(206) 436-6586

Monica Smith
Federal Way Commons Macy’s
(206) 436-6524

MLK Labor Council Kicks Out SPOG

For Immediate Release: 10:29 PM, June 17th

MLK Labor Council Kicks Out SPOG

Seattle, WA – In a dramatic show of building a labor movement that is better connected with the local community and taking action to address historic and ongoing racism in our society, the MLK Labor Council affiliates voted tonight to expel the Seattle Police Officers’ Guild from the Council.

“Two weeks ago we gave yet another chance for the Seattle Police Officers’ Guild to make immediate and drastic changes to correct the systemic and institutional racism in the Department. That was not done, and tonight we followed through on our commitment for change by voting for accountability, for justice, for Black Lives Matter and for reform by kicking SPOG out of the MLK Council,” said Joe Mizrahi Secretary Treasurer of UCFW 21.

“As a worker, as a labor leader, as a Black man in Seattle, I am honored to be part of this action tonight. We have made the voice of the community and the voice of the workers in our city loud and clear. We will not tolerate racism and we are demanding that SPOG make systemic changes to address the racism in the Police Department,” said Sam Dancy, a UFCW 21 member from QFC in West Seattle.

UFCW 21 is the state’s largest private sector union with over 46,000 members working in grocery stores, health care, retail and other industries.

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Hood Famous Bakeshop Update Bargaining Begins

The bargaining team met with Chera and Geo for the first time on June 2 and begin negotiations for your first collective bargaining agreement. Based on the bargaining survey results, our discussions during the proposal meeting on May 4, and reviewing other local contracts, the team was able to submit our first proposal to the employer.

While this proposal was not comprehensive, and didn’t include our economic concerns, we did lay the foundations of a good contract and addressed the following:

Establishment of a Labor Management Committee, Discipline and Discharge, Holidays (scheduling & pay), Event and New Product Announcements, Harassment/Discrimination, Seniority & Layoffs, Leave of Absences, Transparent Job Postings, Grievance Procedure.

We are still reviewing the concerns brought to our attention during the proposal meeting, both economic & non-economic, and are crafting proposals that we hope to pass to the employer soon.

Please join us for our Contract Action Team (CAT) meeting on Tuesday, June 23 at 5pm! At this meeting we will provide a detailed update on the status of negotiations, get direct member feedback on current and forthcoming proposals, and answer any questions you may have. For details on how to RSVP call your Union Representative, Ariana Davis (206) 436-6586

Resources from our Guardian Nurses

Resources for UFCW 21 Town Hall on June 15, 2020

1. National Suicide Prevention Line: 800.273.8255 or https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/

2. King County Crisis Line: 866.427.4747 or 206.461.3222 or https://www.kingcounty.gov/depts/community-human-services/mental-health-substance-abuse/services/crisis-services.aspx

3. National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)/Washington office: NAMI Washington is the state office of the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for those affected by mental health conditions. (206) 783-4288 or website: https://www.namiwa.org/

4. Asian Counseling and Referral Service (ACRS); promotes social justice and the well-being and empowerment of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and other underserved by developing, providing and advocating for innovative, effective and efficient community-based multilingual and multicultural services.  https://acrs.org/ or 206-695-7600

5. Black Mental Health Alliance.  A national organization whose mission it is to develop, promote and sponsor trusted culturally-relevant educational forums, trainings and referral services that support the health and well-being of Black people and other vulnerable communities. https://blackmentalhealth.com/ or (410) 338-2642

6. Mindfulness and Meditation: Check out Headspace for hundreds of articles for any mind, any mood, any goal.  Articles about sleep, anxiety, meditation, movement and healthy living. https://www.headspace.com/ or check out https://www.calm.com/

7. Domestic Violence Hotline (with on-line chat functionality) www.thehotline.org or 800-799-7233

8. Sexual Assault National Hotline (with on-linen chat functionality) www.rainn.org or 800-656-HOPE

9. On-line emotional support: www.7cups.com offers 180 professional therapists and over 300,000 trained listeners.

10. National Parent Helpline:  powerful online resource for parents and caregivers of children all across the United States.  https://www.nationalparenthelpline.org/

11. El Centro de la Raza Center. A local community organization whose mission it is to confront problems of racism, sexism and other forms of inequality http://www.elcentrodelaraza.org/

Find additional resources for UFCW 21 Members here

UFCW 21 Celebrates Today’s Supreme Court Ruling Affirming LGBTQ Workers’ Rights

UFCW 21 Celebrates Today’s Supreme Court Ruling Affirming LGBTQ Workers’ Rights 

Today’s Supreme Court ruling confirms the legal precedent of what our union already knows: all working people deserve a workplace that is free from discrimination based on who we are. No one deserves to be fired or denied a job because of our gender identity or sexual orientation. That has now been upheld as federal law by the highest court in the country, offering millions of workers legal protection from discrimination at work. For this decision to be announced during Pride Month makes it extra joyous, and we lift up and join in UFCW OUTreach’s celebration of a meaningful victory and continued dedication to the work of building a more inclusive world. 

From today’s Supreme Court ruling: 

In Title VII, Congress adopted broad language making it illegal for an employer to rely on an employee’s sex when deciding to fire that employee. We do not hesitate to recognize today a necessary consequence of that legislative choice: An employer who fires an individual merely for being gay or transgender defies the law. 

While employment discrimination based on sexual orientation/gender identity is already prohibited here in Washington State where most of our members live, and we are proud of the organizing we have done in our home state to further the rights of LGBTQ workers, no one should lose their basic rights just because they crossed state lines. Our union stands in solidarity with all our LGBTQ members and LGBTQ workers across the country.

How to get involved in LGBTQ rights in the labor movement: 

• UFCW OUTreach is a UFCW constituency group working to ensure full equality for LGBTQ+ workers on their jobs and in their unions. UFCW members can sign up for updates from UFCW OUTreach or join the group at ufcwoutreach.org/join-1 

• Pride at Work is a UFCW 21 community partner organization dedicated to mutual support between the organized labor movement and the LGBTQ community to further social and economic justice. Learn more at prideatwork.org 

• LGBTQ Allyship is a UFCW 21 community partner building power among LGBTQ communities and allies in Washington State to work towards economic, racial, and gender justice. Learn more at allyship.org

• Ingersoll Gender Center is a UFCW 21 community partner and one of the oldest organizations by and for transgender and gender nonconforming communities in the United States. Learn more at ingersollgendercenter.org

• Gender Justice League is a UFCW 21 community partner working to empower trans activists and our allies to fight oppression based on gender & sexuality in Washington State. Learn more at genderjusticeleague.org

More on this court ruling: 

• Pride at Work Applauds Supreme Court Ruling Banning LGBTQ Workplace Discrimination 

• Justices rule LGBT people protected from job discrimination (Seattle Times/Associated Press) 

• LGBTQ Americans Just Won A Massive Civil Rights Victory At The Supreme Court (Buzzfeed News) 

• Supreme Court Rules LGBTQ Workers Protected Against Sex Discrimination (National Public Radio) 

Telephone Town Hall Monday June 15

Special Opportunity for Telephone Town Hall Monday June 15 at 6:30 PM

Many workplaces are as stressful or even more stressful than they have ever been before. It can impact our health at work and at home. We want to hear about your concerns and help answer your questions.

As you are aware, we have been doing Telephone Town Halls for the past three months to keep members informed and answer questions. Next week, on Monday June 15th at 6:30 PM we are inviting all members to join our call with our special guests – expert professional nurses who can help us learn how to keep ourselves mentally and emotionally safe and sound during the ongoing crisis.

Please call in to the Town Hall, Monday at 6:30.

888-652-0380
Meeting ID: 4922

Over the coming days we would love to hear from you about questions you may have so we can prepare for the call. Reply to this email and let us know:

• How have the stresses in your workplaces changed as a result of more workload and fewer staff or more pressures?

• How are levels of anxiety about furloughs or reduced hours leading to less take home pay?

• As the economy opens up and Stay at Home orders are relaxed, are you at all concerned about how this could increase your exposure to COVID 19? If yes, how does that make you feel and would you like to learn more about how to address that fear and anxiety?

• Other concerns you have questions about that you would like to hear answers to?

On top of the COVID 19 pandemic, the recent killing of George Floyd has brought to the surface long-standing racial injustices that have been part of the United States since before we were a nation. We as a union have been and are continuing to work at becoming an anti-racist organization and are also working on creating systemic changes in our workplaces and society so all workers have equal opportunities for employment that is safe and has the benefits of a union.

On Monday we will be joined by two professional nurses to answer your questions live:

Stephen Mitchell, RN, BSN, MPA: Stephen was born and raised in the Seattle area and went to nursing school at Seattle University.  He has been a nurse for more than 10 years and most of that time he has worked in mental health nursing in a variety of settings and facilities around the Puget Sound. In his role as the mental health nurse for the Sound Trust Mobile Care Coordinator Program, Stephen supports members through the often complex world of mental health as well as members struggling with and recovering from drug and alcohol abuse.

Andy (Andrea) Votendahl, RN, BSN:  Andy is also a native Seattleite, having lived and worked here all her life.  She has been a nurse for more than 28 years in a variety of roles.  Immediately prior to joining the Mobile Care Coordinator team at Sound Trust, Andy worked as an organizer representing nurses and other healthcare workers at local area hospitals including Swedish Medical Center and Harborview, where she was the immigrant rights organizer. Andy has taken and led various trainings on structural racism and antiracism work, and focuses right now on coordinating care with members who have acute medical needs.

We look forward to hearing from you soon and your joining the call on Monday the 15th at 6:30 PM. Again, the call in number is:

888-652-0380
Meeting ID: 4922

Retirement Planning Webinar for Union Members

Whether you're just starting your career or reaching that point where you’re ready to relax, planning for retirement can be a daunting process. UFCW 21 members have a great retirement resource in their Sound Retirement pension. Understanding your benefit and how to access it are the keys to successful retirement planning. Your union along with Zenith Administrators is committed to guiding you through your work life and into successful retirement. We will be offering free retirement planning webinar open to all UFCW 21 members who participate in the Sound Retirement pension. Please plan on joining us on one of the date/times. You can register for the webinar by clicking on the link.

Please call your Union Rep for information and to RSVP to a webinar.

Tuesday June 23, 5:00p
Wednesday June 24, 12:00n
Thursday June 25, 6:30P
 
We will be offering additional dates/times in the future for those unavailable at the dates/times listed above.

Albertsons, Safeway, Haggen Announce End to Hazard Pay – Let’s Take Action

Albertsons, Safeway, and Haggen just announced they plan to eliminate our hazard pay tomorrow (Sat 6/13/20). While we appreciate that corporate plans to acknowledge our hard work with one last additional bonus, cutting hourly pay during a pandemic is an unacceptable way to treat workers on the front lines and at risk every day. We have been helping our communities and our company through this crisis for months, and we continue to do so.

TAKE ACTION: If you work at Safeway, Albertsons, or Haggen, take a moment to speak up about what you’ve been through, how your job has changed, and what you think management should do to compensate you and keep you safe.

Friends, family, customers, and community can contact Albertsons/Safeway’s corporate office and let corporate know how they feel by calling 877-276-9637 or 877-723-3929.

Swain's General Store - Contract Unanimously Ratified!

Our new contract was ratified on June 12 with a 100% “YES” vote! Our Bargaining Team worked hard to reach an agreement with a HISTORIC $1.26/hr wage increase, full retro pay back to contract expiration, significant money into our 401k retirement plans, and no take-aways. 

Talk to one of your Bargaining Team members or Union Representative for more information about our new contract.

Central Co-Op - Health Care Update

After meeting to bargain over the healthcare plan, Central Co-op and the Union reached an agreement to switch to the UFCW National Fund Healthcare plan.  The Co-op has sent information to the new provider to make sure that the change takes place by July 1st.  The new plan has no cost increases to workers and provides the same level of benefits as previously provided.  

The next step is for the Fund prepare detailed benefit books for all eligible workers.  They will be sent out as soon as they are printed.

Anytime there is a switch in healthcare plans and providers, questions and concerns always arise.  Be sure to talk to your manager, shop steward, or union representative, Ariana Davis 206-436-6586 when they do.

St. Anne Hospital Pro-Tech - Bargaining Begins

“We are working together to fight for a fair contract that benefits both our members and the community.”

Our Bargaining Team

Your Bargaining Team met with Management for the first time on June 10. After reviewing your bargaining surveys, looking at opportunities for contract improvements, and discussing the hazards we face with COVID-19, the team submitted our first proposal to Management. 

Our initial proposal included a stronger safety committee, new mandatory overtime language, fair overtime for ALL members, reimbursements for license/certification renewal, and successorship language that would protect our contract through future mergers or acquisitions. 

The team is currently working on an economic proposal, which will include market competitive increases, that we hope to present within the next few bargaining sessions. We return to the bargaining table next Wednesday, June 17.

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COVID-19 Information: Keep your family, workplace, and community safe. Find coronavirus updates and resources on our website

Update Your Information!

Planned Parenthood - Tentative Agreement Reached with Planned Parenthood of the Great Northwest and Hawaiian Islands

Our Bargaining Team began meeting this Spring to negotiate our contract. Even though the COVID-19 pandemic prevented us from meeting in person, we have continued to work together to fight for fair wage increases. 

We won respectful wage increases across the board for all employees.

This agreement is for one year (through 5/31/21), so we’ll be back to the table next spring to negotiate a full contract. We’re excited to work with our co-workers to continue to address wages and other issues. 

“Given restrictions on meetings and dealing with an ongoing pandemic, we are glad to have reached this 1-year deal now so that members can get immediate raises. The outcome of the presidential elections will give us a clearer picture or Planned Parenthood’s funding, and we can fight for everything we deserve next year.”

– Your Bargaining Team

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Join an online vote meeting

 6/22   9am - 10:30am
 6/22  6pm - 7:30pm
*Contact a Bargaining Team member or your Union Representative for call-in details

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To review a copy of the full legal document with all changes to the contract please visit the link provided in the text below.

View Document

View Wagescale

St. Michael Medical Center Pro-Tech - Bargaining Continues

“Our name might have changed but our Union still stands strong for a fair contract!”

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

Your Bargaining Team met with Management again on June 9 and made additional progress towards a fair contract. We were able to maintain successorship language, which protects our contract from future mergers or acquisitions, and reached an agreement to discuss the placement of Union bulletin boards at the new Silverdale Hospital.

However, we still have significant obstacles to overcome before we reach an agreement with the Medical Center. Management continues to demand that we forfeit our Union healthcare, has rejected our requests for fair double-time language, and we remain far apart on wage increases that ensure ALL positions at St. Michael Medical Center remain market competitive.  

If you have any questions, please attend next week’s Contract Action Team meeting or contact your Union Rep Aimee Oien @ 360-662-1981.

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CAT ZOOM MEETING
 June 17th @ 6:00PM

*Contact a Bargaining Team member or your Union Representative for more call-in details

Forks Community Hospital Tech / Service - Management is Refusing to Budge

We’ve been meeting with Management for two days, and while we have been able to secure some improvements to our contract like protections for evening and night shift workers who are selected for jury duty, Management is refusing to budge where it matters most to our day to day lives.

We’ve been advocating for solutions to the problem of schedule changes after the schedule has been posted on the 20th of each month. Management has not been willing to offer concrete solutions that we can enforce.

Additionally, we have been advocating to make sure that longevity increases go into effect on the employee’s anniversary date. Currently, the wage increase doesn’t go into effect until the 1st full pay period afterwards. That means that someone could be missing out on almost 2 weeks’ worth of their contractual raise! Management has demonstrated the ability to make this change, but they say it’s an “administrative burden”.

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Have you been having issues with schedule changes?

Your story will help us win improvements to our contract. Tell us here:

PCC - Contract Vote Scheduled

Our Bargaining Team began meeting this last winter to negotiate our contract. Even though the COVID-19 pandemic prevented us from meeting in person, we have continued to work together to fight for fair wage increases. 

We won significant wage increases with full retro throughout the scale while maintaining our healthcare and securing our pension. This agreement is for 1 year (through December 2020), so we will be back to the table this fall to negotiate a full three-year contract. We’re excited to work with our co-workers to continue to address wages and other issues.

Given restrictions on meetings and members dealing with an ongoing pandemic, we are glad to have reached this 1-year deal now so that members can get immediate raises and full back pay. We can all focus on fighting for a full 3-year contract in a few months when we can regroup in person. 

– Your Bargaining Team

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To review a copy of the full legal document with all changes to the contract please visit the links provided below.

Grocery - View Document
Meat - View Document

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Zoom Vote Meeting Times
6/16 9am - 11am
6/16 5pm - 7pm
6/17 9am - 11am
6/17 5pm - 7pm

Contact a bargaining team member or your Union Rep for call-in details.

Important Note for UFCW 21 Members Regarding a Silent March and General Strike in Support of Black Lives

UFCW 21 fully supports the mission of the BLM Silent March and General Strike. Please note that under most of our contracts striking is prohibited when the contract is in effect.

Please feel free to join the strike if you are not scheduled for work this Friday, June 12th. Members should not call in sick to attend the strike.

We hope this clarifies questions regarding attendance of the General Strike. Any questions, please call your Union Rep.

United Food and Commercial Workers Local 21 Joins Call for Resignation of Mayor Durkan

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 8, 2020

Press Contact:
Joe Mizrahi, jmizrahi@ufcw21.org,
(619) 955-2970

United Food and Commercial Workers Local 21 Joins Call for Resignation of Mayor Durkan

This weekend, Seattle residents once again experienced a massive deployment of chemical weapons from the Seattle Police Department, choking a city neighborhood during a respiratory virus pandemic.

“Many of our fellow UFCW 21 members who are essential workers have faced a choice between losing a paycheck or traveling to work during confusing curfews and consistent use of tear gas, pepper spray, and explosive devices in neighborhoods where we live and work,” said Seattle members of the UFCW 21 rank-and-file executive board Sam Dancy (QFC), Jeannette Randall (Safeway), Greg Brooks (PCC), and Amy Dayley Angell (QFC). “The distance between Mayor Durkan and the values of the membership of UFCW 21 is growing clearer each day.”

Unfortunately, it has become clear that Mayor Durkan is unable to enact the changes required to respond to community demands around the city’s budget and to protect working people from ongoing police violence. Our community’s constitutional rights and our safety is being compromised due to failed leadership.

A mayor who allows for the use of weapons of war against her own community cannot remain in office and cannot lead on the critical changes needed for public safety. We are joining the community call on Mayor Durkan to resign her position and allow the city to begin the meaningful process of seeking out community voices and listening to their calls for justice, without enacting added state violence. We need a mayor who can restore our right to peaceful assembly and free speech, which are bedrock values of the labor movement. The trust between our city and our mayor has been irrevocably broken.

We know that Mayor Durkan’s resignation will not solve the deep-seated systemic issues with policing in Seattle. As Seattle City Council member Teresa Mosqueda said earlier today, “a change in office without radical change in the institution that is policing is not transformational.” We will stand with our community and we will stand with Seattle City Council to demand this change.

UFCW 21 is working to build a powerful union that fights for economic, political and social justice in our workplaces and our communities. We represent over 46,000 workers in retail, grocery stores, health care, cannabis, and other industries in Washington State. More than 10,000 UFCW 21 members live or work in Seattle. Whenever workers are ready to form a union, give UFCW 21 a call.

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Harrison Medical Center Service & Dietary - Contract Vote Scheduled

Your Bargaining Team reached a tentative agreement with the Medical Center that won substantial wage increases, new short-term personal leave, improved schedule posting language, as well as many other improvements. 

We will be holding drop-in virtual vote meetings on Friday, June 19 at 8AM and 4PM to answer any questions 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 mail-in voting process works. To review a copy of the full legal document with all proposed changes please visit the link provided in the body of the email below.

View Document

King's Command Foods - Contract Ratified

Members at King’s Command Foods in Kent, WA overwhelmingly voted YES to a 6-month contract extension that includes improvements to the contract.

Improvements:

• 50 cent wage increases for every single union member for the life of the extension.

• 6-month extension from May 1, 2020-November 1, 2020.

• Full retroactive pay back to May 1, 2020.

• No takeaways

Other:

• MOU on COVID-19 safety procedures and commitment to follow CDC/OSHA guidelines

Members can expect their wage increases and retro pay on their 6/19/20 paycheck!

Join us for UFCW 21 Telephone Town Hall calls

You’re invited to call into our weekly Telephone Town Hall using the call-in information below: 

Monday, June 8 at 6:30 PM 

Call-in Phone Number: 888-652-0380 
Meeting ID: 4899 

Health Care:

Monday, June 8 at 7:30 PM 

Call-in Phone Number: 888-652-0383 
Meeting ID: 4900