Updates on August COVID-19 Outbreak for CHI Harrison / St Michael Members

UFCW 21 has been tracking the COVID-19 outbreak at CHI Harrison/St Michael very closely. The hospital says they learned of the first case and notified Kitsap County Health Department on August 4. The outbreak was not made public until August 21.

This week we had an emergency online meeting with hospital workers to discuss the outbreak, our demands from CHI, and our next steps. We talked in the meeting about a way for workers to report our experiences before and during this outbreak, and there was a lot of interest in a meeting with state officials to report issues directly to relevant agencies.

LISTENING SESSION WITH STATE HEALTH & LABOR OFFICIALS & GOVERNORS OFFICE

MONDAY AUGUST 31

7:30 PM

ONLINE MEETING

We immediately scheduled a listening session meeting with top officials at all relevant state agencies. This is an online meeting over Zoom and all Harrison/St Michael workers are invited. We will be joined by officials from:

• WA State Dept. of Health

• Kitsap County Public Health

• Labor & Industries

• Office of the Governor

You will have a chance in this meeting to ask questions, report safety concerns, and let them know what is really happening on the ground. These agencies want to hear from you about your experiences and what you need. Please register as soon as possible, and share this important opportunity with your coworkers.

---

We also created a COVID outbreak safety survey and reporting tool. Members said they would appreciate a place to share experience with testing, exposure, notification, safety protocols, PPE, and other issues surrounding this outbreak. That survey is here:

We encourage all Harrison/St Michael workers to spend 5 - 10 minutes this week to go through these questions and help us track as much information as possible about this outbreak and your safety. There is an option to upload pictures or documents in that survey as well, and a place you can request support if you are in quarantine and would like to be connected to any union or community support. Other members and our community across Kitsap is reaching out to ask how they can help support you at this time.

---

NOTES FROM OUR EMERGENCY MEETING

Our current demands for CHI:

• Rapid testing for all workers

• Complying with our existing agreement for 8-hour notification of any exposure

• Paid administrative leave during the full length of any quarantine and while waiting for test results

• Adequate PPE for all workers

• Maintaining safe staffing levels even during this outbreak

• Hazard pay

Existing right to paid leave: The first piece of our existing agreement with CHI says:

“A nurse or healthcare worker who the Employer does not permit to work due to exposure to Covid-19 disease while at work shall be placed in paid leave status during any required quarantine period. Paid leave status may be a combination of L&I Workers Compensation and employer paid administrative leave. The combination of which will ensure the employee will experience no loss of pay or accrued time off until such time as the Employer permits the employee to return to work. An employer representative will be available to assist employee with coordination of federal, state and employer benefits as may be applicable.”

The state has ruled that there is an automatic presumption that if a health care worker acquires COVID, it was acquired at work and you are eligible for workers comp. If you have any questions or issues with paid leave during this time, please contact your Union Rep as soon as possible.

Community support: Fellow UFCW 21 members and the larger Kitsap community are springing into action and asking what they can do to help, especially for workers who are in quarantine. We will be organizing whatever support workers need, be it meals, wellness checks, financial support, or anything else, and encourage all Harrison/St Michael workers to contact your Union Rep for whatever you or coworkers need so we can connect you with your community support.

​Union actions: We are planning for public actions that are safe but can put pressure on Harrison/St Michael management to meet our demands, keep workers and patients safe, and prevent the next outbreak crisis. We will be updating everyone as these plans solidify, but if you are interested in participating or have ideas for safe actions that make a point, please connect with your Shop Steward or Union Rep.

Ongoing safety issues: We received many helpful and specific reports of safety issues and workplace concerns during the emergency meeting. We will be addressing these individually and collectively in the coming days. Examples of issues discussed include: the safety of floating right now; worries about the upcoming flu season; inadequate PPE supplies, training, and fit-testing; short staffing in many departments including EVS; nurses being asked to clean COVID rooms; special issues facing procedural care staff, cath lab, and high-risk workers; problems with testing and notification; concern around new CDC guidelines; and much more.

As always, we encourage you to report safety concerns to your Union Rep, or to use our COVID safety report email:

safetyreport@ufcw21.org

---

PRESS COVERAGE OF HARRISON/ST MICHAEL WORKERS SPEAKING OUT

On Tuesday August 25, we held a press conference responding to CHI’s public statements that they are handling this outbreak as well as possible, that they notified everyone involved in a timely way, and that their PPE supplies now and throughout the COVID pandemic have been totally adequate.

You can watch the full press conference at this link

And find some of the press coverage below:

• KING 5: Hospital staff at St. Michael in Bremerton release list of demands after COVID-19 outbreak

• Kitsap Sun: ‘I’m surprised it took this long’: Hospital workers fault St. Michael leaders over handling of COVID-19 outbreak

• KUOW radio: Workers at Bremerton hospital say they are not being protected

• Seattle Times: Bremerton hospital’s union asking for more to be done to control COVID-19 outbreak

• KOMO News: Bremerton hospital workers speak out after COVID-19 outbreak

• Spokesman-Review: COVID outbreak at Bremerton hospital worries workers

National Week of Action for Hazard Pay for Essential Workers

When the COVID-19 outbreak hit, our members across industries felt it immediately—especially in frontline industries like health care and grocery stores.

We continue to believe that all essential workers deserve hazard pay during this pandemic.

UFCW has been advocating for employer-paid hazard pay as well as federal support for essential workers throughout this pandemic. Hazard pay is intended to compensate people for hazardous work duties, and all essential workers have had elevated risk added to their work lives during this crisis. We also believe many workers have new job duties related to sanitizing, infection control, protective equipment, chemical use, and handling ever-evolving public health recommendations and government mandates that change nearly everything we do. These new duties and the reminder of the centrality of our work deserves recognition that goes well beyond thank-you commercials.

After workers spoke up about what we were facing on the job and started organizing for hazard pay, many grocery employers started paying it in various forms, most commonly $2/hour in extra wages. “We recognize that this crisis is far from over,” Kroger CEO Rodney McMullen wrote to workers in mid-April. “After reflecting on feedback from you, we want to further acknowledge you for your hard work to date as well as the work yet to come.” But by mid-May, Kroger had cut hazard pay, and in mid-June Safeway/Albertsons followed suit. Other smaller local chains have ended hazard pay or never started it in the first place. And health care workers facing daily exposure to COVID patients have been demanding hazard pay from early on in this once-in-a-century pandemic, with very little action from health care employers.

We know this crisis is still far from over. This summer we’ve started giving employers more of the kind of “feedback” that really moves corporate offices—union grievances, public pressure, and essential workers and our community coming together to say enough is enough.

---

NATIONAL WEEK OF ACTION FOR HAZARD PAY

UFCW essential workers across the country are taking action next week to stand up for hazard pay. You can participate in this week of action!

Below, click the button to record a video message explaining why hazard pay is important to you, and what it’s like working through a pandemic. Whether it’s cracked skin and repetitive stress injuries from constant sanitizing and disinfecting, working in health care without adequate PPE, or representing an industry that hasn’t been in the news as much but is still essential—laundries, food processing, cannabis, retail, etc! Why do we need hazard pay? Let’s tell the public:

If you’d like to participate further in the national week of action for hazard pay, contact your Union Rep.

---

HAZARD PAY GRIEVANCES FILED

In July, UFCW 21 filed grievances over Fred Meyer, QFC, Albertsons, Safeway, Haggen, and PCC’s cutting of our hazard pay. Here’s an excerpt of what we said in our grievance:

As you know, the Employer paid Hazard or Appreciation pay to bargaining unit employees for at least two reasons. First, it recognized Local 21 members have been working in the stores under constant threat of exposure to the deadly COVID-19 virus. Second, the Employer relies on Local 21 members to perform additional and/or different job functions to allow customers to continue shopping uninterrupted during pandemic conditions.

Both conditions mentioned above continue to persist today. Nevertheless, the Employer unilaterally decided to eliminate or modify the Hazard/Appreciation pay. In doing so, Local 21 believes the Employer has violated numerous terms of the parties' labor agreements, including, but not limited to the Recognition, Wage classification provisions and Appendices, and Just Cause.

In the coming weeks there will be plenty of opportunities to support this grievance and take action to show employers that we are all paying close attention to their next steps and we are not taking no for an answer.

Providence - Providence, We Will See You at the Bargaining Table!

Early June 2020, Providence Everett approached us and asked if the RN unit would be interested in extending the contract through June 2021. Currently the Providence Everett RN contract expires October 31, 2020. Providence offered a 4% increase (split in two payments), implementing paid parking on 2021 for all bargaining units, and starting talks to eliminate/replace EIB. We took this offer to the members and on August 20th, the RNs overwhelmingly voted down Providence’s contract offer!

All bargaining units at Everett, oppose paid parking and eliminating EIB. As the largest unit at Everett with about 1,500 members, the RNs have demonstrated to Providence that an increase for one unit will not be divide the units and change their minds on paid parking and EIB.

Voting down the contract was the first step in our contract campaign! Next we will be sending out bargaining surveys via email/mail, requesting financial information from Providence, and requesting for bargaining dates. 

Also, the Everett RNs will be joining three newly organized Providence units at the bargaining table: St. Peter Technical unit, Centralia Technical unit and Support Services unit. Together we will have about 2,500 Providence union members at the bargaining table.

Last year, the other Providence units were able to keep EIB and win a good contract because they were united! All four units will be fighting together and showing Providence that a fight with one unit is a fight with all! It is especially important that St. Peter and Centralia win a good first contract in order to keep across the board contract standards and show other non-organized Providence units that when we organize, we win!

Franz Bakery - Tentative Agreement Reached, Contract Vote Scheduled

After lengthy negotiations we were able to win meaningful wage increases and a long-term solution for our pension while maintaining our benefits with FULL retro and NO takeaways!

Details of agreement and full document will be available at vote meetings. Ratification votes will be held in stores following masking and social distancing guidelines. UFCW 21 members in good standing are encouraged to attend a meeting, ask questions, and vote on the contract. 

Contact a Bargaining Team member or your Union Representative for any questions.

---

Ratification votes will be held in stores following masking and social distancing guidelines:

• Bremerton – 4800 Auto Center Way, Bremerton
  Tuesday, September 1
  9AM - 10AM 

• Port Angeles - 2920 E Hwy 101, Port Angeles
  Tuesday, September 1
  3PM - 4PM

• Seattle – 2901 6th Ave S, Seattle
  Tuesday, September 1
  9AM - 10AM 

• Tukwila - 17500 W Valley Hwy, Tukwila
  Tuesday, September 1
  11AM - 12PM

The Doctors Clinic - Contract Vote Scheduled

Your Bargaining Team has finally reached an agreement with The Doctors Clinic. Management was initially opposed to many of our demands, however, a safety focused campaign successfully pressured TDC to come to the table and reach a deal. 

The tentative agreement includes: 

• Wage increases retroactive to August 1,

• Increased Paid Time Off (PTO) accruals,

• NEW safety committee language,

• NEW floating holidays that YOU schedule, 

• NEW COVID-19 language, and more.

Now it’s time to vote to approve your new contract! Due to the current health crisis we will be conducting the ratification vote through mail-in ballots. We will be sending out a vote packet with your ballot and a summary of the proposed changes to the mailing address we have on file. 

Please reach out to your Union Representative if you do not receive your vote packet by September 7.

---

We will be holding a contract vote meeting to explain the tentative agreement via Zoom on Monday, September 14 from 8AM – 9AM, 12PM – 1PM, and 6PM – 7PM. 

Instructions to join will be included in your vote packet. 

Press Advisory: St Michael's Medical Center Workers and Their Union to Speak Out

Press Advisory

Contact: Tom Geiger, 206-604-3421
For Immediate Release: Monday, August 24

Press Conference Tuesday at Noon Regarding St Michael’s Outbreak

After announced outbreak of COVID cases among staff and patients, St Michael’s Medical Center workers and their union (UFCW 21) are outraged, but no longer surprised by ongoing problems at the Hospital. St Michael’s Medical Center is formerly known as Harrison Hospital and is located in Bremerton, WA.

WHAT: Staff and members of UFCW 21 plan to hold a Zoom Press Conference to communicate the magnitude of the problems at St Michael’s – both how widespread the concerns are and how long the workers have been raising the alarm. Workers and their union will present a list of demands to the WA Department of Health and Kitsap County Public Health.

ZOOM MEETING:

Direct join link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86353217505
Webinar ID: 863 5321 7505
Dial-in #: (253) 215 8782

WHEN: Tuesday, August 25, 2020 at 12 PM, NOON

WHO:   UFCW 21 President and staff will be joined by hospital workers who will share their experiences regarding the problems that have been going on at the hospital for months. These individuals will make brief prepared statements including information about their efforts over each and every month since March to raise concerns and the hospital’s failed response. We will be available to answer questions live during the ZOOM call.

Our Voice - UFCW 21 August E-Newsletter

Edited by Wil Peterson, member of UFCW 21

UFCW 21 member takes self-protective action at self checkout

“It seems like a constant fricking battle to make it safe there.”

Standing up to management is nothing new for UFCW 21 member and Bainbridge Island Safeway cashier Sue Wilmot. But the stakes—and potential health risks—are higher than ever during the novel coronavirus pandemic. So when a manager ordered her to open all eight of the store's self-checkout (SCO) stations, despite overcrowded conditions, she respectfully declined because of concerns about maintaining social distancing.

“I feel that I can refuse to do something that I feel is unsafe, and it’s not safe for the customers, either,” Sue said. “It seems like a constant fricking battle to make it safe there. It’s just constantly running in circles... a constant battle. They know what’s right, but they’re more worried about getting the customers through.”

The temporary standoff happened in late March, just after the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) had issued recommendations that include maintaining a distance of at least six feet between workers and customers. Since compliance would have been impossible that day, Sue’s survival instinct kicked in. After a bit of initial pushback from the manager, he allowed her to keep four SCO stations closed but said she would have to open the others if necessary.

Sue stood her ground for the remainder of the shift. The next day, she opened the four outside stations but left the others closed. The store manager ordered her to open each station. Once again, Sue politely refused to comply, citing safety concerns. She was removed from SCO to cashier elsewhere.

A precedent was set, however. During her subsequent SCO shifts, Sue was allowed to open only four stations. But other cashiers were still required to operate at least six of the stations. “They say they don’t feel they can stand up to them,” she said.

That's never been a problem for Sue. During her 39 years at the store, she has circulated petitions and initiated actions, which included organizing an employee walkout during a historic strike in 1989. She recalls being the first employee to wear a protective face mask before management granted permission. As a UFCW 21 Executive Board member, she helped bargain last year’s retail and grocery store worker's contract.

Fortunately, enforcing customer compliance with state face-masking mandates isn't one of Sue's recent responsibilities. “It’s Bainbridge Island,” she said, referring to the residents’ generally cooperative behavior. “Plus, we just give them to the few who don’t have one. Or when they’re told they need one, they go out and get it.”

We want to hear from you!

Workers Stand Up to Say Black Lives Matter

As union members, we fight for fairness and against discrimination in all forms. Standing together against racism at work and in the community is one of the most UNION things we can do. Plus, when we stand up for each other, we are building the solidarity that makes our union strong.

Workers across the country are taking action to stand up for racial justice in our workplaces and in our communities. Many UFCW 21 members and other union and nonunion workers have begun wearing buttons, stickers, clothing, or face masks saying Black Lives Matter, and the union is producing Black Lives Matter buttons for distribution in workplaces. “I’m choosing to wear this button because we need to bring attention to social injustice,” says shop steward Samuel Dancy, Westwood Village QFC. “We need to head in a different direction.” Unfortunately, some workers are also facing intimidation and retaliation from management for wearing BLM-themed masks or buttons, and some have been directed to remove them.

We must enforce our rights. The law gives us the right to speak up and take collective action on issues that affect us at work, including racism and discrimination. Regardless of the issue, we can’t let management pick and choose when we get to exercise our basic legal and contractual rights.

If management asks you or a coworker to remove a button, apparel, or PPE related to Black Lives Matter: You should comply in the moment and immediately contact your union representative. This action by management may be a violation of your rights under your contract and or the law. It is important that you document any such interaction with management, clearly tell management that you will comply with their request but that you disagree and will be contacting your union representative. This will allow you and your union representative or steward to investigate and take appropriate action – which could include grievances, charges or other actions filed against the employer.

If you would like to get Black Lives Matter buttons to wear and distribute in your workplace, just text (803) 820-2121.

UFCW 21 Member 3-D Prints Protective Equipment for Fellow Members 

UFCW 21 member Ben Hartman believes desperate times call for creative measures. So he used his 3-D printing knowledge to help combat the personal protective equipment (PPE) shortage faced by scores of first responders during the first phase of the COVID-19 crisis. 

“I’m doing this because we need to make sure we eliminate this disease as much as possible,” Ben said. “We need to find ways to protect our Union members.” 

Ben, a dairy manager at QFC in Bellevue, has been 3-D printing since a friend introduced him to the technology in 2016. He built a printer and eventually learned the ins and outs of the process, including creating the electronic maps the printer follows as it melts and transforms plastic filament into finished products and dealing with jams and complications along the way. This spring, he focused on printing components for protective face shields, designed to be worn with face masks as a stop-gap PPE option. Ben used personal 3-D printers to produce top pieces for the face shields, and connected through UFCW 21 with local companies like Fremont Laser and Seattle Makers that were producing other face shield components which could be put together and distributed to members. 

“We need to find ways to protect our Union members.”

Putting his knowledge to work on behalf of fellow members was gratifying for Ben, who also helped collect donations of N95 masks, gloves, goggles, lab coats, boot covers and respirators from multiple sources including painters, carpenter unions, veterinarians, Microsoft and the Seattle Children's Theater. “It’s a little bit coming from everywhere that’s making the difference,” he said.

And because the term “first responders” is open to interpretation, Ben believes PPE should be available to as many members as possible. 

“All of our members are our first responders—from our members working in the hospitals coming in contact with the virus head on, to our grocery workers who come in contact with the virus on a daily basis from customers who don’t even know if they have the virus, since there are so many people who are still not wearing gloves or face masks,” he said. “We have to protect our members, and that’s what we are hoping to accomplish with this project.”

---

Conifer St. Joseph - Contract Vote Scheduled

After months of hard work in negotiations, your Bargaining Team has reached a deal with Conifer and are recommending a “YES” Vote.  

We have secured a contract that includes:

• Guaranteed wage increases

• Job protection from unjust terminations

• A formal process to address workplace issues

• Double time for work on a Holiday

• And So Much More!

---

Vote Details

Date: Thursday, September 10

Location: Tacoma, WA (exact location TBD)

Conifer St. Elizabeth - Bargaining Update

Your Bargaining Team met with Management last Thursday after a month-long delay in negotiations. While we made some progress, we are down to the last few proposals. In order to get the contract we deserve we must stand united to finish strong!

Issues we are still working on include:

• Changes to PTO accruals

• Changes to PTO cash out

• Wage increases

---

We cannot do it without you! We need maximum participation at our next CAT meeting to make it happen! Join us on Wednesday, August 26 from 5:30PM - 6:30PM to hear our plan to WIN! 

Wednesday, August 26
5:30 PM

Contact your Bargaining Team or Union Rep for call-in details. Details will be also emailed out.

Aramark - Making Progress! / ¡Estamos avanzando!

El 17, 18 y 23 de agosto negociamos con Aramark. Tenemos unos acuerdos, pero no tenemos acuerdos sobre aumentos, contribuciones a la pensión, días de luto, pago para los “leads” y lenguaje sobre días de enfermedad. Aramark continúa proponiendo aumentos bajos y subir la aseguranza medica. 

Hemos rechazado sus propuestas, pero tenemos que demostrarles que estamos unidos y ¡dispuestos de pelear! Estamos casi a un año desde que el contrato se venció, pero estamos cerca de un acuerdo. ¡Tenemos que presionarlos! Aramark se ha dado cuenta de las camisas amarillas cada viernes y Aramark siente la presión. 

El sábado 29 de agosto vamos a tener una junta por teléfono para hablar sobre nuestros próximos pasos. 

On August 17, 18, and 23 we bargained with Aramark. We have some tentative agreements, but we have not reached an agreement on wage increases, lead pay, pension contributions, bereavement leave, and sick time language. Aramark continues to propose low hourly wage increases and increases to health insurance premiums. 

We have rejected their proposals, but we must show Aramark that we are united and willing to fight for higher wages! We are almost one year out from the expiration of the last contract and are close to an agreement, but we must pressure Aramark more! Every Friday we have been wearing union shirts and Aramark has taken notice.  

On Saturday August 29, we will be holding a telephone meeting to discuss how we will escalate our workplace actions. 

Cascade Valley Hospital ratifies new contract

Grays Harbor Update

Dynacare Labcorp - Hard at Work But Far From Over

Over the last week we have had three negotiation sessions with Management to secure a fair successor contact for all our members at LabCorp. Your Bargaining Team has been hard at work and we have passed all our proposals to LabCorp for consideration and have reached an agreement on a few items. 

The work is far from over and we hope to get comprehensive responses from the Employer when we meet next month.

“The last three bargaining sessions have gone at a glacial pace. The Employer is dragging their feet for no good reason and the medical benefits are the biggest missing piece.”

Eli Lanzcos,
Bargaining Team Member

---

We will need your ongoing input and involvement if we are going to secure the contract we deserve! Join our drop-in CAT meeting:

Wednesday, August 26 
6PM - 7PM

Contact your Bargaining Team or Union Rep for call-in details. Details will be also emailed out.

The Doctors Clinic - Bargaining Continues

“We were surprised by the progress, however, the Employer still showed little concern for our safety.”

OUR BARGAINING TEAM: Danilo Dantes, Monique Pyles, Katy Turek

Your Bargaining Team met again with Management on August 14 and significant progress was made towards an agreement. After days of little movement from the Employer, we were surprised by a sudden change in tone as they moved on many important issues. 

At this session we were able to win a new certified perioperative nurse premium, increased weekend premium, per diem wage differential increase, increased PTO accruals, and new floating holidays that YOU have the power to schedule. There was also hopeful movement on the Employer’s proposed wage increases that, while still not nearly enough, is a step in the right direction. 

While these economics victories are great, they don’t compensate for the Doctor’s Clinic’s failed safety response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Last week the Union sent out a “Pandemic Safety Survey” to members at TDC and we received many responses that detailed unsafe working conditions. The stories were horrific and ranged from a shear lack of personal protective equipment to people regularly entering the clinic without being screened for COVID-19. 

When we shared your stories (anonymously) Management responded by saying they “appreciate the information… but we think we’ve done a good job responding to the crisis.”

We think it’s time for Management to step up to the plate, take ownership for their failures, and work with their employees to create a safe working environment. Having Management resolve these safety issues would be more important than any amount of hazard pay as our health & safety cannot be bought! 

The Bargaining Team will meet with Management again this Friday August 21 in hopes that we continue the momentum and come to an agreement soon.

---

Update your Information with the Union!

Due to the current health crisis, contract votes are being conducted through mail-in ballots. We’ll need an updated address to ensure you get a ballot when it’s time to vote your contract.

---

Complete the Survey Here!

Summit Pacific Medical Center - Proposed Improvement in COVID Protections and Practices

Our Bargaining Team proposed improvements to our COVID agreement with Summit around:

• Paid administrative leave while waiting for COVID test results

• Improvements for notification of exposure to COVID

• Premium pay for Respiratory Care Unit

Management has been consistently denying our proposals around safety, so we expect them to put up a fight about our health and safety concerns now too.

---

We need to hear from you about any pandemic safety issues you’ve experienced at Summit! 

Take the Survey!

---

Please join us at our next contract action meeting on Wednesday, August 19 at 7PM.

Wednesday, August 19
7PM via Zoom

RSVP for call-in details!

Four-Part Education Series: Help Build the Movement for a Better Future

Want to be better informed on how we got into this current crisis, the ongoing attack on working people, and what we as a union can do about it? Sign up today.

UFCW 21 is holding a free series of four 90-minute classes online to educate members on the history and future of our active, worker-led union movement. The series will include the following four classes:

• 8/18: Stealing the 2020 National Elections: Coronavirus Style

• 9/1: How Did This Happen? This Pandemic Did Not Need to Be This Bad

• 9/15: Divide and Conquer: Promoting Hatred and Bigotry to Divide Working People

• 9/29: The War on Workers: Coronavirus Style

All classes are from 6:30 – 8:30PM.

Each class is free to members, will be taught over Zoom and include significant opportunities for Question and Answer with the instructors. You will also have an opportunity to learn about ways that you can help make a difference this fall. Members attending all four in the series there will be a awarded a certificate of completion and it will be mailed to you.

The courses will be taught by Mark McDermott, who has led seminars with tens of thousands of union members across the nation and received wide praise from diverse audiences. He will be joined by co-hosts from our UFCW 21 staff: Faviola Lopez and Ariana Davis, Union Representatives, and Pia Rivera and Indira Trejo, Union Organizers. You don’t have to have a Zoom account to participate, just register.

“The ultimate test of a person, a union, a movement and a people is not whether we get knocked down. It is what do we do when we get up. Are we smarter, stronger, more determined and more united?  This is always our choice.”

-Mark M. McDermott

Telephone Town Hall Calls Monday August 17

UFCW 21 Telephone Town Hall: Monday, August 17 at 6:30 PM 

We’ll call you between 6:30 and 6:40 PM on Monday, but if you miss the call or don’t receive one, call in directly at 888-652-0386 and enter meeting ID 5066. 

It’s time for another union town hall call! We’re still fighting for safety on the job, hazard pay for all essential workers, and better enforcement of new laws and policies during this public health crisis. Let’s get together to discuss what we can do now and what we’re planning for the future. This week we’ll also be talking about our health insurance and ways to save money for anyone on the Sound Health and Wellness Trust insurance. 

Health Care Members UFCW 21 Telephone Town Hall: Monday, August 17 at 7:30 PM 

We’ll call you between 7:30 and 7:40 PM on Monday, but if you miss the call or don’t receive one, call in directly at 844-227-7561 and enter meeting ID 5067. 

It’s time for another union town hall call! We’re still fighting for safety on the job, hazard pay for all essential workers, and better enforcement of new laws and policies during this public health crisis. Let’s get together to discuss what we can do now and what we’re planning for the future. This week we’ll be focusing on the different ways to address the issues we’re facing through bargaining, grievances, and reporting violations of the law. 

OTHER IMPORTANT NEWS: 

State Protections for High-Risk Workers Have Been Extended  

If you are over 65 or have health conditions that put you at risk for COVID-19 complications, our state’s protections for you have been extended again. Find more information and an FAQ here >> 

Help Build the Movement for a Better Future 

Want to be better informed on how we got into this current crisis, the ongoing attack on working people, and what we as a union can do about it? Sign up for a free series of online classes to educate members on the history and future of our active, worker-led union movement. Click for more info and to register >> 

Report Workplace Violations of COVID-19 “Safe Start” Rules 

Is your workplace not following state regulations meant to keep you and your community safe? Don’t just ignore it—talk to your Shop Steward or Union Rep, and report any and all violations so the state can hold our employers accountable. The state has already stepped in at multiple workplaces to force management to follow the rules and maintain better safety, due to UFCW 21 members reporting violations. Click here for the state’s reporting form >> 

Mental Health Resources for Members 

This continues to be a difficult time for many people, but there are lots of resources available to help deal with stress and cope with the many challenges we’re facing. Please remember: you are a member of a union, and we have each other’s back. Click here for more information on crisis phone and chat lines, tele-mental health options, and the state’s COVID-19 stress phone line, and more >> 

PCC - PCC Delaying Raises While Eliminating “Appreciation Pay”

We ratified historic wage increases on July 1 with retro pay back to January 1 for grocery members and meat wrappers. We also won retro pay back to May 3 for meat cutters and seafood workers.

For over a month, PCC has been delaying our raises and blaming it on difficulties in programming their system with the new scales. Meanwhile, the company ended “Appreciation Pay” for members on July 4. While we want them to get the calculations correct, this is money that workers have earned and are counting on. 

We will be filing a grievance over PCC’s failure to implement the terms of our new agreement.

---

We will be sending out bargaining surveys in the next few weeks. Make sure your information is up to date

Northwest Administrators - Bargaining Begins

The Bargaining Team met with Management on Tuesday, August 11 this week to have our first negotiation session. We proposed a COVID-19/pandemic Letter of Understanding to keep our members safe during this time.

Our team is continuing to develop proposals in the upcoming weeks, if you have not completed a bargaining survey, follow this link:

Take the Survey!

---

Next Bargaining Date: Sept 1, 2020

Be on the lookout for more dates after each bargaining session!

Conifer St. Joseph - Continuing the Fight

We have been bargaining for over a year. We have been working very hard to build a contract from the ground up and have secured many of the benefits, rights, and protections that we all deserve.  

We have secured:

• Grievance process to protect you from unjust terminations

• We secured Conifer’s commitment to maintain your retirement and healthcare benefits 

Our team continues to fight for fair wage increases, Holiday Pay that compensates us for our time spent away from our family, and proposals that recognize our longevity. 

---

“We’re working hard and headed towards the finish line!”

Tracy Wolfe-Calhoun, Bargaining Team Member

ST. JOSEPH BARGAINING TEAM: Terri Ross, Tracy Wolf-Calhoun, Josie Talavera-Berg

---

Contact your Bargaining Team to pick up your car signs today!