Providence St. Peter Hospital - Heated discussion over EIB and PTO!

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On February 2, we met with Providence and discussed EIB/PTO, retirement plan, health insurance, seniority, lay-offs, and leaves of absence. We are getting close to an agreement on seniority and leaves of absence. Seniority is the years of service you have within a bargaining unit job classification and is specific to union contracts. “Seniority” is an example of the UNION DIFFERENCE!

Union contracts often times memorialize current workplace practices, but they also have better benefits than those non-represented/non-union employees receive. Also when benefits and workplace conditions are spelled out in a union contract, Providence cannot make changes without first bargaining with the Union. This is the UNION DIFFERENCE! As a non-represented employee, Providence can change all workplace conditions without any employee input.

We organized to keep our EIB/PTO, to better workplace conditions, and to stop Providence from changing policies. We have been making proposals with this in mind. Providence lost their cool in the last session and showed us that they are not interested in our need for stability and want to continue changing policies like EIB/PTO. They want to take away our ability to “demand to bargain.” We will continue to demand better contract language and better workplace conditions, but we need your support!

We are circulating a financial transparency petition, which demands that Providence share financial information with us.

We ask that everyone sign this petition, which will pressure Providence to give us more financial information and will show that we are united! You can sign this petition online or sign in-person with one of the Bargaining Team members.

Our next bargaining date is February 11 and we have a couple of dates in March. If you have bargaining questions or workplace issues, please contact Erin McCoy (union representative) emccoy@ufcw21.org.

In Solidarity, Your Tech Bargaining Team: Josh Wood (CT), Shapel Morgan (X-ray), Rae Lynn Korpi (RT), Colleen Castaneda (Cath Lab)

Burien passes a $5 hazard pay ordinance for grocery store workers

For media inquiries contact Joe Mizrahi, Secretary Treasurer UFCW 21 

Victories like this can only happen when workers’ voices are heard. We believe every worker should have a voice on the job. Do you need a Union? >> 

Are you ready to fight for hazard pay in your city! >> 

During the COVID pandemic, grocery store operators have reaped billions of dollars in windfall profits as a direct result of the shift to at-home meal preparation, but they have failed to compensate workers for the added risks and burdens of working on the frontline during the pandemic. The pandemic has intensified in recent months and new variants will increase the risk, but most grocery workers have not received hazard pay in over 6 months. 

Last night, thanks to the hard work, testimony, and actions of UFCW 21 members, we won $5/hour Hazard Pay for grocery store workers in Burien at large grocery stores. 

Thanks to all the members and allies who contacted Burien City Council in support of this ordinance, as well as those who testified in favor of Hazard Pay by sharing their heartfelt stories and fears. Thank you to those on the Burien City Council who took a stand to champion essential workers, Mayor Jimmy Matta, Deputy Mayor Krystal Marx, Councilmember Pedro Olguin, Councilmember Cydney Moore, and Councilmember Kevin Schilling. 

The big-name grocery stores are making record profits during one of the worst pandemics in history, and they are doing it on the broken backs of their employees.” Sean Murphy, Safeway

I am fearful every day for myself and my loves ones, our health and safety are put in danger every time I step into work.” Maria Dirdala, Safeway

The effective date of the law is still being determined due to a special council session on Monday, February 8, but the progressive majority on the council has indicated they want it to go into effect as soon as possible.  

Our union’s success in passing this ordinance builds on the hard work we have done to pass Initiative 1433 Statewide Sick Leave in 2016, to pass Washington State Paid Family and Medical Leave in 2017, to pass Uninterrupted Meal/Rest Breaks and close the mandatory overtime loophole for health care workers in 2019, and to raise the minimum wage! 

 

Dynacare LabCorp - Tentative Agreement Reached

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Your Bargaining Team met with Management on January 25 to negotiate a new contract.

“We worked very hard all through the night and reached a settlement around 1:30AM, that we can be proud of. Make sure to update your contact information with UFCW to get your ballot and have your vote counted.” 

— Shelby Tyner 

Some of the improvements we won include: 

  • Market Adjustments for Key positions

  • Competitive wage increases each year of the contract.

  • Maintained BCBS medical plan and Mitigated healthcare increases; plus added a “Healthy Value Plan” option

  • Several improvements to strengthen and clarify the contract language

  • Pandemic safety language 

  • Stronger Staffing language 

  • Enhanced grievance rights

  • Ratification bonus of $750.00 (if employed before May 31, 2020)

More information and the full contract will be available once ballots are sent out. UFCW 21 members in good standing are encouraged to attend a virtual vote meeting, ask questions, and vote on the contract.

Your Bargaining Team: Shelby Tyner, Sam McVay, Nancy Pyanowski, Steph Royce, Eli Lanczos, Fredel Albritton 


Due to the Pandemic all voting will take place via secure email ONLY. To vote we MUST have a Valid personal email address for you on file. If you have unsubscribed from UFCW 21 email lists or do not currently have a personal email address, please consider rejoining or creating a new address if you would like to receive a ballot and cast your vote! 

Follow this link to update your contact info by February 9.

Ballots will be emailed out by a third-party administrator on February 11. Voting will close at Midnight on February 16, 2021 (2/16/21). Ballots will be counted on Febuary 17. 

Have questions about the contract and why we recommend a YES vote? Join your Bargaining Team at the Virtual Vote meetings:  

Thursday, Febuary 11
6:30PM-8PM

Saturday, Febuary 13
8AM-10AM

Sunday, Febuary 14
2PM-3:30PM

Tuesday, Febuary 16
6:30PM-8PM

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

PCC pushes to cut workers out of new hazard pay law!

Support Essential PCC workers’ Demand for Hazard Pay 

Grocery stores have seen increases in sales during COVID but most grocery employers have failed to share their profit windfall with the frontline workers who are taking all the risk to keep stores open. 

PCC cut hazard pay in July and refused to reinstate it, despite persistent demands from workers. 

In an unprecedented move, the new PCC CEO, a former Kroger executive, is pushing Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan to kill the grocery store hazard pay mandate approved by Seattle City Council last week. 

This move is out of step with the values that have made PCC a success. 

Hazard pay is not just about safety, but about the respect and dignity of essential workers. We are 1500 workers currently bargaining to reinstate hazard pay and implement much needed quarantine pay when we are exposed to or diagnosed with COVID.  

We demand that PCC reinstate hazard pay for ALL essential workers in all PCC stores and publicly withdraw their request to the Seattle Mayor and City Council. 

Providence Sacred Heart Tech - Protect Your Frontline, Not Your Bottom Line! Put Families First!

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We have had 7 session of bargaining and are making progress in many areas but we are focusing our fight for fair wages and you to be able to continue to take care of yourself and YOUR FAMILY. Providence has proposed the elimination of your EIB benefits which for a full-time person would eliminate 64 hours from your Extended Illness Bank.

Please look out for the SAVE OUR EIB petition to show Providence that we are united in the fight to save our EIB.

Please reach out to your bargaining team with questions or concerns or contact your Union Representative Maureen Hatton at 509-340-7370.

OUR BARGAINING TEAM: Lisa Aker, Surgical Tech; Angela Holmes, Surgical Tech; Teresa Bowden, Respiratory Therapist; Laurie Trudeau, Respiratory Therapist; Sam Zabala, Respiratory Therapist; Miriam Critelli, Pharmacy Tech; Kevin Lange, Mental Health Counselor; Shane Sullivan, Peds Sonagrapher; Aaron Bryant, IR Tech; Derek Roybal, CV Tech; Jason Van Curler, EP Tech

MultiCare - Bargaining Begins

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Your Bargaining Team, Left to Right: Glen Steele, Yvette Broeckel, Kelly Gusman, Julianna Van Enk, Gregg Barney, Patricia Brown, Not Pictured: Alexis Dotts, Heidi Strub, Jamie Fenton, Kurtis Chaffin, Rochelle Brummer, Ryan Boyd, Sammy Bainivalu, Teri Kruse, Wanda Rodriguez-Ramos


Your Bargaining Team met virtually with MultiCare Management for the first time on Wednesday January 27. After months of preparation including the bargaining survey, extensive market research, and the kick-off event, the team passed to Management our first bargaining proposal!

While there are many issues your Bargaining Team plans to address, our initial proposal focused on non-economic issues and standardizing language between contracts. 

Here’s a sample of what we proposed:

  • Successorship: Proposed strengthened language that would ensure our contract would survive any potential sale or transfer of ownership.

  • Staffing: Proposed a streamlined process for reporting staffing issues to MultiCare executives, removing existing roadblocks to finding staffing solutions. 

  • Schedules: Proposed that hard copy schedules be posted in each department at least 14 days in advance of the schedule’s effective date.

This is only the beginning—your Bargaining Team is currently working on additional proposals regarding wages/economics, healthcare, PTO/EIT, COVID-19 safety, and so much more. We want to get some of our less contentious proposals resolved before the larger issues—which will require a fight—dominate the table. 

Our next bargaining date is next Monday, February 1, followed by the 8, 10, 16, 22, and 26.


You’re Invited! Please join our next virtual MultiCare Campaign Update meeting on Wednesday, February 17 @ 7:30AM or 6:30PM. Hear the latest directly from your Bargaining Team:

Wednesday, February 17
7:30AM or 6:30PM
Contact your Bargaining Team or Union Rep for call-in details. Details will be also emailed out.

Summit Pacific Medical Center - The Employer Produces Another Shameful Economic Response

“The frustrating thing is that we are proposing a fair economic package and Summit doesn’t want to even meet us at our reasonable demands.” 

— Angi Swinhart, Clinic Resource RN

On Friday, January 22, the employer made many flip-flop arguments regarding current policy; it seems like when it is financially beneficial to them, they’d like to stick to current policy, yet when it benefits employees, they’d like to get rid of it. For example, SPMC would like to deny pay raises to employees they issue discipline to, which they justify by citing existing policy; yet they also want to eliminate paid lunches for ED RN’s which has long been standard practice at SPMC. 

Other highlights from last Friday include:

Education Leave—The union has proposed to expand paid educational leave for Tech and Service, but the employer continues to reject this proposal.

“I would think SPMC would want to support and encourage their staff to move up the ranks especially if they plan on working within the organization.” 

— Bailey Walczak, BSN, RN, DNP-S

Wages—the Employer produced another shameful wage proposal which is nowhere near area competitor’s wages with minimal movement to slightly increase Hospital RN’s wages and only in year one of the three-year deal. Most employees would only see a 4.5% increase over the course of 3 years in the employer’s most recent proposal, well below what most other area hospitals have been offering.


“We are the employees that go into the trenches with these patients and put our health and safety on the line for this company. We are what makes Summit Pacific what it is. Many of your employees are scared to express how they feel and how disconnected they feel administration is. Stop stalling on fair and doable changes!” 

—Mandy Jo, Ultrasound Tech

We are still asking for you to join us at our next board of director’s meeting and to share our stories; this has been a powerful way to make sure our voices are heard and will help hold the administration accountable. 

Join Us Thursday, January 28 

@ 6PM (via Zoom) 

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

Even if you can’t attend the board of director’s meeting, share your stories here:

Seattle approves $4 hazard pay for grocery store workers

For media inquiries contact Joe Mizrahi, Secretary Treasurer UFCW 21

Help our Union fight for hazard pay in your city!  

During the COVID pandemic, grocery store operators have reaped billions of dollars in windfall profits as a direct result of the shift to at-home meal preparation but have failed to compensate workers for the added risks and burdens of working on the frontline during the pandemic. The pandemic has steadily gotten worse while grocery workers have not received hazard pay in over 6 months.

Today, thanks to the hard work, testimony, and actions of UFCW 21 members, we won $4/hour Hazard Pay for grocery store workers throughout Seattle at grocery companies with 500 or more employees worldwide. Thanks to Seattle City Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda for her leadership in bringing forward this ordinance, the over 800 UFCW 21 members and allies who contacted Seattle City Council in support of this ordinance, as well as all the members and community allies who testified before the Seattle City Council in favor of Hazard Pay by sharing their heartfelt stories and fears. The effective date, pending signature from the Mayor, is February 3, 2021. 

“I am grateful the council recognized the risks grocery store workers face during this extraordinary crisis. Thank you to our communities for hearing our stories and helping us get our voices out. Now, thanks to our hard work together, Seattle has won hazard pay for essential front line grocery store workers. This is a victory for Seattle workers, and I hope other cities follow Seattle's lead.” - Maggie Breshears, Greenwood Fred Meyer

Our union’s hard work in passing this ordinance builds on the hard work we have done to pass Initiative 1433 Statewide Sick Leave in 2016, to pass Washington State Paid Family and Medical Leave in 2017, to pass Uninterrupted Meal/Rest Breaks and close the mandatory overtime loophole for health care workers in 2019, and raising the minimum wage! 


We believe every worker should have a voice on the job.  



Here’s what some UFCW 21 members have shared about hazard pay…

“Hazard pay is recognition that we are still risking our health and our lives to ensure people are able to eat. Throughout this whole pandemic, we’ve been a front line and I can see burnout happening in real time. I’ve come to work already crying, already shaking with anxiety over having to deal with unmasked customers and bus patrons on top of the taxing work. Everyone I talk to is at their wit’s end. If these pandemic conditions are to continue as the virus mutates, we deserve hazard pay. We’ve deserved it for a long time.” -Tori Nakamatsu-Figaroa, Uptown Metropolitan Market

“Hazard pay is important to me because fellow coworkers and I have to clean the protective barriers, surfaces, etc. What do they think we're cleaning!? The answer is we're cleaning COVID! It is outrageous that employees are not receiving hazard pay as of now. I have a fellow coworker who had a breakdown today because a customer was repetitively coughing on our video game cases, and we receive absolutely no compensation for cleaning up after customers. This has made me very angry.” -Björn Olson, Greenwood Fred Meyer 

“I work in Clicklist [grocery pickup] and I am responsible for caring for my 95-year-old grandmother. I am so afraid that I will unknowingly pass Covid-19 on to her. I take all the responsible actions in making sure I use latex gloves and double-mask for extra measure. I am in small living quarters with her, and if I was to pass this on to her it would most likely be a death sentence for her. That is an incredibly large burden on my shoulders. My fellow co-worker, also in Clicklist, passed it on to her mother and sadly her mother passed away. I feel as though I’m looking at my future and the end to my grandmother's life. The risk I'm taking by working at Fred Meyer and serving the community is not being acknowledged by my employer. The burden is high and the pay is low.” -Cindy Wilbur, Fred Meyer  

“Hazard pay is needed for grocery workers. We work around the public every day, risking our health to feed our families. I am a single mother of 2 small children that are at risk because I am at risk. I struggle to pay my babysitter, who basically raises my children because I am working 40+ hours just to barely survive, on top of risking not only my health but my children’s health. Kroger is making massive increases in profit while I barely scrape by.” -Hilary T.E. Williamson, QFC 

“My husband and I both work at Metropolitan Market grocery. I am on leave of absence for health reasons and to help care for our child while they are distance learning. We are currently relying solely on my husband's income and a few assistance programs to get by. I've also lost my insurance due to sheltering. Hazard pay would be so helpful to offset my lack of income and help us keep on top of bills and rent. It would also help my husband and coworkers feel as though they're valued as essential workers and that their sacrifice at this time isn't going without notice.” -Holly Jansma, Metropolitan Market 

Willapa Harbor - 100% “YES” VOTE! Willapa Harbor RN Contract ratified on January 14

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We were able to win respectful wage increases that keep us on par with area hospitals. We were also able to win a new bilingual premium and improvements to vacation scheduling language and retirement contributions while maintaining our health benefits.

Your Bargaining Team: Jan Ritzman, Paula Gonzalez, Robyn Taylor

Safeway Albertsons Haggen Bargaining Team meets with management

Today the bargaining teams of UFCW 21 and Teamsters 38 met with the employers for Albertsons, Safeway, and Haggen to bargain over our working conditions and hazard pay throughout the pandemic.

"Since the beginning of the pandemic we have taken on the risk of working everyday while producing huge profits for the companies we work for. We are standing up to keep our workplaces safe not just for our coworkers but also for our communities and families. We deserve to have the respect of hazard pay and safe stores."

-Albertsons/Safeway Bargaining Team


Today our proposals to the employers included:

  • Reinstatement of Hazard Pay.

  • Stronger enforcement of safety measures, including enforcement of masks and store capacity limits.

  • Better notification to workers when COVID exposures occur.

  • Moving .COM to the higher Grocery A scale.

  • Added pay including: Premiums for safety certifications, support for added childcare costs and compensation for off the clock hours after work spent keeping safe.

  • Adding hours to the store to address increased need for sanitization and to enforce social distancing.

After a few clarifying questions, the employer said they would need some time to analyze our proposal and get back to us with another date to meet.

JOIN THE FIGHT: Sign up if you are interested in taking action at your workplace for Essential Workers, Hazard Pay, and Safety. Sign up for actions here >>

SPEAK UP: Why is hazard pay important to you and your coworkers? Share a quick video or written message! Share why hazard pay is important to you >>

TESTIFY: These days, speaking before city council can be done from your own home or break room because meetings are held online. Live or work in Seattle or Burien? Sign up for more information, and we’ll connect with you when there’s a city council hearing you could speak at! Sign up to speak at a council meeting >>

START SOMETHING: Do you want to bring up a hazard pay ordinance in your city or county? Sign up and a UFCW 21 organizer will connect with you for a training on how to move an ordinance through your city! Sign up for a training on organizing for hazard pay ordinances >>

SPEAK UP: Why is hazard pay important to you and your coworkers? Share a quick video or written message! Share why hazard pay is important to you >>

Our Bargaining Team:
Kyong Barry, Albertson (S Auburn)
Sue Wilmot, Safeway (Bainbridge Island)
Naomi Oligario, Safeway (Port Orchard)
Richard Waits, Haggen (Burlington)
Maroot Nanakul, Safeway (Bear Creek)
Cliff Powers, Safeway (Oak Harbor)
Jeannette Randall, Safeway (Roxbury)
Faye Guenther, President UFCW 21
Joe Mizrahi, Secretary Treasurer UFCW 21
Samantha Kantak, President Teamsters 38
Steven Chandler, Secretary Treasurer Teamsters 38
Tammi Bradey, Recording Secretary Teamsters 38
Jim McGuinness, Attorney

PRMCE RN - Providence Rejects Better Scheduling Language!

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On January 20, we met with Providence. We proposed increases to annual wage increases, shift differentials, certificate pay, weekend pay, stand-by pay, and callback pay. In the past year, short-staffing has been rampant throughout the Hospital. It is clear to us that Providence is having difficulty hiring and retaining nurses.

Also from your feedback in bargaining surveys and contract action team meetings, we have heard that wages and proper staffing are the two things we should be fighting for. Until this date, Providence has continued to pushback on our contract changes. Our goal is to win better contract language which gives us the opportunity to give feedback to Management regarding staffing, unit restructures/mergers, and scheduling.

Providence will not agree to our language unless we pressure them. One way to pressure them is through legislation in Olympia. UFCW 21 along with other healthcare unions are lobbying to pass a financial transparency bill which forces hospitals to be transparent with their finances. We have launched a financial transparency petition to support this bill and are using this petition to hold Providence accountable for the COVID-19 government relief money they received in 2020.

We are asking that you please sign onto this petition and take a stand with Providence caregivers from Centralia and St. Peter’s. We will have a contract action team meeting to discuss bargaining on January 26 at 8pm.

If you have any questions, please contact your Union Rep, Anthony Cantu—acantu@ufcw21.org or 206-436-6566.

In solidarity, Your RN Bargaining Team: Juan Stout, ER; Kimball Conlon, ER; Betsy Bourg, Glasgow; Cindi Dyson, Float Pool; Jenney Gannon, L&D; Madison Hamilton

Dynacare Labcorp - Bargaining Continues

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Your Bargaining Team met with Management on Wednesday, January 20 to continue negotiations.

“There was major movement at the table today. We reached agreements on several items and hope to continue this momentum at our next bargaining session. We are down to wages, healthcare, and a few language items.” 

— Eli Lanczos

 Your Bargaining Team: Sam McVay, Steph Royce, Eli Lanczos, Shelby Tyner, Nancy Pyanowski, Fredel Albritton

Update Your Information!

As we get close to a deal, it is very important that we have your correct home address and home email address. Voting will be done completely remotely and ballots will be sent either by US Mail or Personal Email.  Update your contact information today!

Next Bargaining Date: 

January 25

20/20 Looking Back and Looking Forward

Dear UFCW 21 members,  

At the start of a new year, we find ourselves looking back and looking forward. 2020 was an intense year for most of us, and we face 2021 still in the grip of a public health and economic crisis, alongside a reckoning on racial oppression and an assault on our democracy.  

But we also face this new year together, as a union of over 46,000 working people. Many UFCW 21 members put their lives on the line in 2020 to show up for work and keep our communities fed, supplied, and cared for. Thousands of you newly joined us in 2020, making our union stronger in the face of challenges. We have grieved together, celebrated together, and stood side by side fighting for fair pay and safe working conditions.  

Together in 2020 we: 

Settled 25 contracts, including 70 Memorandums of understanding with employers around COVID safety and benefits. 

Welcomed 8,378 new members into our union, including 1,023 members from 8 new units who organized unions at their workplaces for the first time! 
Welcome to our union: 

Providence St Peter Techs 
Summit Pacific Medical Center RNs, Techs, and Service 
Providence Centralia Techs and Service 
Lourdes Medical Center Service 
Seattle Children’s Hospital Medical Assistants 
Metropolitan Market Mercer Island 
PCC Central District 
14 QFC ClickList locations 
Kaiser Pharmacy workers 

Conducted 41 Telephone Town Hall calls with thousands of members. 

Came together and donated 141,867 pieces of Personal Protective Equipment to frontline workers including: 95,600 Gloves, 18,353 N95 Masks, 9,740 goggles, and 6,175 Surgical Masks. 

We awarded $42,000 to our 2020 Scholarship Recipients

2021 will certainly bring new opportunities to accomplish our top priorities, including:  

Hazard pay for all essential workers. 

Priority vaccine access for essential workers and vulnerable populations. 

Personal protective equipment wherever it is needed. 

Child care support for working families.  

Maintain workers’ right to safety, including enforcement of COVID safety requirements and our right to workplaces free from discrimination. 

Milestones in our training and workforce development programs. 

Passing a Worker Protection Act and a financial transparency bill for big health care systems in Washington State. 

We will win these at bargaining tables, through our city councils and state legislature, through outreach in the press, and directly in our communities and workplaces by speaking up for what we know is right, caring for each other so we can stay in the fight, and standing together in solidarity as a union family.  

If you have questions or concerns, do not hesitate to reach out. Join us at the Winter General Membership Meetings, check out all the resources on our union website at UFCW21.org, call us at 1-800-732-1188, and get involved however you can. If you need help, you can always file a safety report at safetyreport@ufcw21.org or reach the Rep of the Day at (206) 436-6578.  

In solidarity, Faye & Joe  

Faye Guenther, President, UFCW 21 

Joe Mizrahi, Secretary-Treasurer, UFCW 21 

Mason General RN - Fully Recommended Tentative Agreement Reached!

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After sending a clear message to Management, we were able to come back to the table and reach a fully recommended agreement that includes respectful wage increases that are in line with area facilities, including a retention bonus. We were also able to secure improvements to our bereavement leave, jury duty pay and Earned Time request procedures.

We will be voting this recommended agreement by mail. UFCW 21 members in good standing are able to vote on these proposals. Please make sure your mailing address is up-to-date. You will receive the vote document with the full proposals in the mail along with your ballot and voting materials. 

We will be having vote meetings via Zoom to answer questions about the agreement. These are rolling meetings, members can join the meeting at any time. 

OUR BARGAINING TEAM: Megan Corbin, Tori Willis, Traci Bishop, Nancy Ownby


ONLINE VOTE MEETINGS!
RSVP TO JOIN

Thursday, January 28
5:30-7:00 pm

Tuesday, February 2
5:30-7:00pm

Bartell Drugs - Bartell’s Allowing Little Progress on the Main Issues of Pay, Healthcare, and Retirement

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We met with the employer last Friday on January 15 to bargain. While there was some important progress, there has been little progress on the main issues of pay, healthcare, and retirement. Here’s what happened:

  • The employer tentatively accepted the idea of having severance pay if there is a store closure. But Bartell’s (Rite Aid) does not want to recognize people who have over 10 years of service. Your bargaining committee thinks that is too low, so we proposed an extra week of severance for workers at or above 15 years of service.

  • Bartell Drugs (Rite Aid) has still not made a counterproposal to us on wages since November of last year. They told us that paying workers above minimum wage and increasing that amount by years of service is so “far out” that they didn’t know where to begin. We told them, that editorializing about our proposal was not making their own. They need to make the move, because we aren’t bargaining against ourselves!

  • They are rejecting the idea of Hazard Pay and many other safety protections we proposed during the pandemic.

  • We did not let the subject of wages go at that. We we told them the story of a worker who has been with Bartell’s 30 years and has done just about everything in the store, including helping interview job applicants, and still makes under $15/hr. 

“When I heard this story, it sounds almost identical to mine. I’ve been trained to help with ordering, point of sale merchandising, Rx assistant, cashier, photo department, and just about anything to be done in the store. I am still making less than $15/hr, I can’t imagine working here for 30 years, and still be just above minimum wage! Bartell’s needs to do better for their employees!” 

— Kia Haggerty (Bartell Drugs Clerk and Union Bargaining Committee Member)

Letting the public know about our fight

We will be near the Lower Queen Anne Bartell’s this Friday at 3:30 PM to wave signs letting Seattle know about our fight for a fair contract, a living wage, and hazard pay! We will be outside, masked, and staying socially distant from each other to stay safe. Talk to your Union Rep or shop steward about the action.

Join the Drug Store Workers United Facebook Group

Want to get updates about bargaining, connect with other drug store workers, and build a stronger union? Join the Facebook group for drug store workers!

UFCW 21 and Teamsters 38 Bargaining Team Continue to Push for Hazard Pay

Today the Bargaining Teams for UFCW 21 and Teamsters 38 met with both Fred Meyer and QFC for the second time this month. Since the beginning of the pandemic, we have been pushing for hazard pay and safety protection. Taking action, filing grievances on the removal of hazard pay, demanding to bargain over the effects of COVID and joining with our community partners and other unions up and down the West Coast. Today, management rejected our proposal to reinstate hazard pay along with other proposals on compensation and ways to make the workplace safer. We will not stop until essential workers gain the respect they deserve.  

“Kroger expects the same level of service from its employees regardless of the steps needed in the current COVID environment. Extra work is required to make the safest possible shopping experience for customers and employees. Extra hours are not added to do the extra things needed! Safety steps seem to be overlooked due to pressure coming from upper Management. The priority has not been for safety but for profit.”  — Robin Hillistad, QFC, Uptown 

 

JOIN THE FIGHT: Sign up if you are interested in taking action at your workplace for Essential Workers, Hazard Pay, and Safety. Sign up for actions here >>

SPEAK UP: Why is hazard pay important to you and your coworkers? Share a quick video or written message! Share why hazard pay is important to you >> 

TESTIFY: These days, speaking before city council can be done from your own home or break room because meetings are held online. Live or work in Seattle or Burien? Sign up for more information, and we’ll connect with you when there’s a city council hearing you could speak at! Sign up to speak at a council meeting >> 

START SOMETHING: Do you want to bring up a hazard pay ordinance in your city or county? Sign up and a UFCW 21 organizer will connect with you for a training on how to move an ordinance through your city! Sign up for a training on organizing for hazard pay ordinances >> 

Next bargaining date: 

We will be meeting again with Fred Meyer and QFC on February 9 

Previous Bargaining Updates: 

Bargaining with Albertsons/Safeway is set for January 22 and we are continuing to pursue bargaining with other grocery employers  

Join us for a special Grocery Store Worker 
Telephone Town Hall! 
Tuesday, January 19, 6:30PM 

Call-in number: 888-652-0383 Meeting ID: 5662 
 
Join to discuss bargaining and hazard pay ordinances, get your questions answered, and connect with other union grocery store workers. Expect a call from us around 6:30, but if you miss the call or don’t receive one, just call in yourself with the number and meeting ID! 

 
OUR KROGER GROCERY STORE BARGAINING TEAM
Maggie Breshears, Greenwood Fred Meyer
Sam Dancy, Westwood Village QFC
Amy Dayley Angell, Ballard QFC
Irene Garcia, Auburn Fred Meyer
Christina Harris, Lake City Fred Meyer
Robin Hillistad, QFC Uptown
Wil Peterson, Everett Fred Meyer
Jeff Smith, Snohomish Fred Meyer
Joanna Clapham, Benson Plaza Fred Meyer
Faye Guenther, President UFCW 21
Joe Mizrahi, Secretary Treasurer UFCW 21
Samantha Kantak, President Teamsters 38
Steven Chandler, Secretary Treasurer Teamsters 38
Tammi Bradey, Recording Secretary Teamsters 38
Jim McGuinness, Attorney
 

Summit Pacific Medical Center - Union Bargaining Team Holds the Line

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Our Bargaining team is standing firm on a number of issues that Management wants us to bend on.

We’re fighting for:

  • Educational Leave for Tech/Service

  • On call pay comparable to surrounding hospitals

  • Two hours’ notice if you don’t need to report to work

  • Increasing PTO Accruals to account for holidays

  • Creating one PTO Cap for all employees

  • Allowing Cert pay for Tech/Service

  • Double time for violation of rest between

On Wages, we have held at our earlier proposals. Today we drew a line in the sand about Management saving money by drawing out our bargain.

We have proposed that wage increases be effective January of 2021—no matter how long it takes us to ratify a contract!

Our Bargaining Team: Angi Swinhart—RN, Clinic; Barbara Ford—ED HUC; Alicia Wood—RN, ED

We’re still collecting stories about what matters to you in this contract. Contact our Bargaining Team so we can tell your story at the table!

Dynacare Labcorp - Bargaining Update

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“We met with Management on Monday, January 11 and Friday, January 15 to continue negotiations for a new contract. Monday’s session was cut short due to unforeseen circumstance beyond the employer’s control. While we had hoped to reach a deal on Friday, we are disappointed to find that we are farther apart than expected in both wages and healthcare. We are faced with some difficult decisions for the next bargaining sessions but are committed to reaching a fair deal that addresses as many of your concerns as possible.” 

— Shelby Tyner 

Questions about the contract and bargaining? Contact your Bargaining Team members directly! Your Bargaining Team: Sam McVay, Steph Royce, Eli Lanczos, Shelby Tyner, Nancy Pyanowski, Fredel Albritton

Next Bargaining Dates: 

  • January 20

  • January 25