Kroger Bargaining update: We refuse to be intimated by bully tactics

Yesterday, our UFCW 21 bargaining team made cost-saving proposals to Kroger's QFC representatives that we believe would help keep the Capitol Hill and Wedgwood QFC stores stay open.

In a clear attempt to intimidate workers and city governments, Kroger announced it would close these stores at the end of April, the company blamed its decision on increased costs due to the Seattle City Council’s passage of a temporary $4 per hour hazard pay mandate for grocery store workers on the front lines of the pandemic.

“We met with Kroger's QFC representatives today and presented creative cost-saving proposals that we believe would help keep these stores open. We eagerly await Kroger's response and we remain committed to fighting for the pay that essential workers deserve. We refuse to be intimidated by Kroger’s bully tactics” -Our QFC Bargaining Team

Like other large grocery companies, Kroger has profited from the COVID pandemic as consumers shifted to at-home meal preparation. In 2020, Kroger’s profits increased 53% to $2.74 Billion, and the company funneled $1.9 Billion to investors through dividends and stock buybacks.

UFCW 21 members have been taking action to fight back against Kroger’s bullying by continuing to push Hazard Pay ordinances across the state, speaking out in the media, sitting down with the employer to bargain over the store closures and gearing up for the start of Grocery Store Bargaining in 2022.

Join hundreds of community members that are standing up to Kroger and QFC's bullying - Sign the Petition!>>

Or Text “NOBULLY” to 52886

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RSVP to upcoming Grocery Store CAT (Contract Action Team) meetings>>

OUR QFC BARGAINING TEAM
Sam Dancy, QFC Westwood Village
Amy Dayley Angell, QFC Ballard
Robin Hillistad, QFC Uptown
Jeff Alexander, QFC Wedgwood
Stefanie Cook, QFC Capitol Hill
Faye Guenther, President UFCW 21
Joe Mizrahi, Secretary Treasurer UFCW 21
Jim McGuinness, Attorney

Summit Pacific Medical Center - Progress with Mediation

We had our first mediation Friday with Management and a PERC mediator. We were able to have good discussions and come to agreement on some outstanding non-economic issues. We reached tentative agreements on:

• Feedback (Evaluations)

• Union Bulletin Boards

• Job Postings

• Introductory Employee (Probation Period)

• Department Orientation

There’s still a lot of hard work ahead. We have not yet discussed economics with the mediator, and we are still awaiting Management’s response to our last economic proposals. Our next mediation date is March 24.

“It’s good to see progress with the mediator. Now we can really focus in on our economic issues and win a fair contract.”

—Your Bargaining Team

Your Bargaining Team: Angi Swinhart, Barbara Ford, Jessee Bednarik, Michael Granstrom

Hear more about how mediation went at our Contract Action Meeting this Thursday @ 7PM!

Thursday, March 18
7:00 PM

Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center - Contract Approved

Contract Approved

On Monday, March 15, members of the Technical Bargaining Unit voted to ratify a new 3-year contract with Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center.

Our new contract won by supermajority vote and it includes:

• Wage increases that will begin first full pay period following ratification

• Enhanced Bereavement Leave

• NO takeaways to our EIB ad PTO

Our Bargaining Team stood UNITED. When we speak with one voice, we WIN.

Please contact Union Rep Maureen Hatton at 509-340-7370 with any questions or concerns.

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

Samaritan Hospital - Settlement Reached on Extra Shift Pay During COVID-19

After months of bargaining with Management we have reached a Memorandum of Understanding regarding extra shift pay. Some of the highlights:

Eligibility:  Nurse must accept a designated eligible shift within 5 calendar days of its original designation. A Nurse must work full FTE during the week she/he accepts an incentive shift.

Low Census after an extra shift has begun will not affect the payment of incentive shift.

Retroactive to January 24, 2021

Ending April 30, 2021

Incentive Tiers

• 12 hour shift - $150

• 10 hour shift - $125

• 8 hour shift - $100

Please contact Maureen Hatton or one of your Union Stewards for more information.

Discovery Behavioral Health - Tentative Agreement Reached

Tentative Agreement Reached

OUR BARGAINING TEAM IS RECOMMENDING A YES VOTE

Our Bargaining Team reached a tentative agreement with Management recently and some of the highlights include:

• Wage increases each year

• Maintaining our healthcare costs

• Ratification bonus

Join our Bargaining Team to discuss the Tentative Agreement reached with Management. We will be conducting an online vote on March 25 @ 9 AM – 9 PM.

Please be on the lookout for an invitation. If you need to update your email, go to:
ufcw21.org/update-your-information

Join our online pre-vote meeting!
Wednesday, March 24
6:00 PM
Contact your Bargaining Team or Union Rep for call-in details. Details will be also emailed out.

“We look forward to seeing everyone on Wednesday evening so we can discuss what we accomplished at the Bargaining Table.”

-Discovery Behavioral Bargaining Team
Lenora Johnson, Walter Jordan

American Rescue Plan: How It Benefits Essential Workers

On Thursday, March 11, President Joe Biden signed the COVID relief bill into law. This will provide millions of workers and families with the urgent relief they need as the COVID-19 pandemic continues. 

“In grocery stores and meatpacking plants across the country, millions of essential workers are on the frontlines as they face the daily threat of COVID infection to protect our food supply during this crisis. With the American Rescue Plan, these brave frontline workers will receive the support they have earned as they continue to put their own health at risk so that our families can put food on the table.” -UFCW President Marc Perrone

What’s in the American Rescue Plan for UFCW Members:

• Relief Payments: Provides $1,400 in relief payments per person for individuals making less than $75,000 and married couples making less than $150,000. along with additional tax relief for working families with children. 

• Childcare: Includes $15 billion for the Child Care and Development Block Grant and allows those funds to be used by essential workers. 

• COVID Testing and Vaccine: Provides funding towards testing, contact tracing, PPE, and vaccine distribution.

• Health and safety: Provides $200 million for pandemic-related worker protection activities at the Labor Department, half of which would go to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to support OSHA enforcement and worker training in high-risk sectors such as meat processing, health care, correctional facilities and agriculture.

• Extends unemployment benefits: Extends pandemic-related unemployment assistance that was set to expire on March 14, including the current $300 supplement to unemployment benefits, for another six months through Sept. 6. Provides that the first $10,200 of unemployment benefits received by taxpayers making less than $150,000 will not be subject to federal taxation.

• Retirement Security: Strengthens the entire pension system by helping pension plans that are in danger of failing.

Providence Everett RNs // Providence St. Peter’s Techs - 99% Vote to Reject Providence’s latest proposal!

On March 11 and 12, the Nurses at Providence Everett and the Technical Workers at Providence St. Peter’s overwhelmingly voted to reject Providence’s latest proposal! While Providence Everett RNs are fighting for improvements to an existing contract, Providence St. Peter’s is fighting for a first contract for the Technical unit.

Providence is proposing to retire the EIB program, reduce PTO for more senior employees, and offering below market wage increases at both bargaining tables. We have notified Providence that both units are not interested in their latest proposal. Providence Centralia is also bargaining a first contract for the Service and Technical units and will be prepared to vote down if they receive the same proposals.

Back in 2019, the Providence units all stood together and fought to keep their EIB/PTO by taking workplace actions together and a strike authorization vote across the state. It is clear to our four bargaining teams that we need to take UNITED action once again!

We will be bargaining with Providence St. Peter’s on March 19 and April 6 and will be going to mediation with Providence Everett on April 12 and April 16.

Please join one of our meetings to find out more and hear about our next steps. Contact your Bargaining Team or Union Rep, Anthony Cantu (PRMCE) and Erin McCoy (PSPH), for call-in details. Details will also be emailed out.

PSPH Techs
Contract Action Team Meeting
March 22 @ 6:30 PM

Picket Captain Training
April 7 @ 6:30 PM

Picket Captain Training
April 28 @ 6:30 PM

PRMCE RNs
Picket Captain Training
April 6 and April 13 @ 8 PM

PCC Bargaining Update: Management Doesn't Get It

We bargained with PCC again last Thursday.

Our Bargaining Team has met with PCC seven times now, and all they’ve been willing to agree to is cleanup language. PCC has been rejecting many of our proposals, without coming up with any creative solutions of their own. Meanwhile, Management has put corporate-style proposals on the table that would erode our just cause language, weaken our grievance procedure, and reduce existing rights under our current contract.

PCC is still refusing to respond to our economic proposals.

We demand that PCC lives up to co-op values, respects workers’ rights, and truly engage with the communities in which they operate.

“Current PCC Leadership doesn’t understand where the co-op has come from and what PCC has stood for in the past. We need to make sure that PCC doesn’t forget its roots so that it can be successful moving forward.”

— Our PCC Bargaining Team

Co-op or corporate? Let PCC know what you think co-op values are by attending an informational picket on 4/14. RSVP now!

RSVP to join our Informational Picket! Contact our Bargaining Team or Union Rep for details

Our PCC Bargaining Team:
Atsuko Koseki, Edmonds Deli
Greg Brooks, Fremont Meat
Keith Allery, Greenlake Village Deli
Quinn Ráo, Ballard Front End
Scott Shiflett, Redmond Meat
Yasab Pfister, Burien Front End

Zenith American Solutions - Management is Not Listening to Us

We met with Zenith Management on March 9 and 10 to continue negotiations. We reached a few tentative agreements but are still far apart on some key issues. We are frustrated by Zenith’s lack of care and consideration of our members issues. This has been demonstrated by their consistent out right rejection of our proposals.

“Management is not taking our concerns seriously. We need to show them that we are standing strong together and united for a fair contract. We want to hear from you! Please join our ZOOM meeting to ask questions and follow-up on your biggest concerns.”

— Debbie DeVore

Your Bargaining Team: Carlotta Bogdon, Sr. Fund Accounting Specialist; Debbie DeVore, Sr. Pension Processor; Sue Wehmeyer, Sr. Claims Processor.

Questions or concerns? Contact your Bargaining Team or Union Rep, David Trujillo @ dtrujillo@ufcw21.org or 360-419-4665

Your voice matters! Come hear from the bargaining team and ask questions. We are developing a plan and want to hear your thoughts.

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Join our online meeting!

Wednesday, March 24

6:00 - 7:30 PM

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

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Not getting communications from us? Be sure to update your contact information!

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Next Bargaining Date:

March 30

Summit Pacific Medical Center - RSVP to a Contract Action Meeting

Join our Bargaining Team at a Contract Action Meeting on Thursday, March 18 @ 7 PM to hear the latest bargaining update and how we can support our fight for a fair contract.

RSVP for the Zoom information

Thursday, March 18
7 PM
Contact your Bargaining Team or Union Rep for call-in details. Details will be also emailed out.

Click HERE for the CAT Meeting RSVP

Our Bargaining Team:
Angi Swinhart- RN, Clinic; Barbara Ford- ED, HUC; Alicia Wood- RN, ED; Jessee Bednarik, RN, ED; Michael Granstrom, ED Tech

Providence Sacred Heart Tech - Contract Vote Scheduled!

We held three contract Q&A meetings via Zoom on March 8, 2021 to answer any questions or address any concerns about the proposed contract prior to voting.

We will be voting online via “Simply Vote” on Monday, March 15, 2021 from 12AM to 11:59PM. You will be receiving an email from “Simply Vote” with your unique login information. If you do not receive an email from UFCW 21 or “Simply Vote,” by March 12, please update your information (via ufcw21.org/update-your-information) or contact your union representative Maureen Hatton at mhatton@ufcw21.org or 509-340-7370

Your Bargaining Team is recommending a “YES” vote!

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

King County passes $4 Hazard Pay for Grocery Store Workers

This afternoon the King County Council voted 8-1 to pass a $4/hour Essential Grocery Store Worker Hazard Pay measure. This ordinance will cover large grocery stores in unincorporated King County, which are stores that are usually left out of city-level ordinances like those passed in Seattle and Burien. Grocery store workers at locations in unincorporated King County will now earn an extra $4/hour until the end of the county’s COVID state of emergency.

“Watching this ordinance pass today made me really emotional,” said Jeannette Randall, UFCW 21 executive board member and shop steward at the Roxbury Safeway, a store that would be covered by this ordinance. “This vote and passing of this ordinance shows that local government can help improve the lives of workers. This legislation passing shows that King County Council cares about the vital service grocery workers provide for our community."

Grocery store workers in unincorporated areas in King County organized to let the county council know what it’s been like to work on the front lines of the pandemic, maintaining our community’s access to food throughout this global crisis. Workers contacted council members and spoke out in public comment at council meetings, sharing stories of their own and their family members’ illnesses, the fear of showing up to work when it doesn’t feel safe, and the courage it has taken to face a constant risk of exposure just to keep our neighbors and families fed and supplied.

Grocery stores have made profits not just during the COVID pandemic, but because of it, as people’s shopping habits were forced to change while schools, restaurants, and many workplaces were shut down or limited. Today, King County Council Members like Rod Dembowski, who sponsored this ordinance, and Dave Upthegrove, who co-sponsored it, along with King County Executive Dow Constantine, have shown their support for the county’s essential grocery store workers.

Grocery Workers’ Voices at King County Council:

“It’s been so hard watching my dad’s health decline after contracting COVID-19. The hardest part is knowing I might be the one that exposed him to this disease because of my constant contact with people at work.” -Marcie Griffin, Roxbury Safeway

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“I have severe lung damage due to COVID-19 and had to spend months on an inhaler to help with the symptoms. My daughter still coughs profusely and sounds like she’s been smoking for years. These are some of the impacts this pandemic has had on my family.” -Tiffany Melligan, Roxbury Safeway

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“We all need help right now. We are barely making it on the wage we are given, and we need help to support our families where most of our children are not in school. We need the support of our companies.” -Lindsay Young, Kent Fred Meyer

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Contact your councilmembers!

Voted in Favor:

• Rod Dembowski: 206-477-1001, rod.dembowski@kingcounty.gov

• Girmay Zahilay: 206-477-1002, girmay.zahilay@kingcounty.gov

• Kathy Lambert: 206-477-1003, kathy.lambert@kingcounty.gov

• Jeanne Kohl-Welles: 206-477-1004, jeanne.kohl-welles@kingcounty.gov

• Dave Upthegrove: 206-477-1005, dave.upthegrove@kingcounty.gov

• Claudia Balducci: 206-477-1006, claudia.balducci@kingcounty.gov

• Pete von Reichbauer: 206-477-1007, pete.vonreichbauer@kingcounty.gov

• Joe McDermott: 206-477-1008, joe.mcdermott@kingcounty.gov

Voted Against:

• Reagan Dunn: 206-477-1009, reagan.dunn@kingcounty.gov

Kaiser Spokane Pharmacy Techs - Know Your Rights and Union

Thanks to everyone who joined us on Thursday for a great meeting! We talked about what was accomplished at the last bargaining session and discussed questions related to retirement, dues, NLRB election, and seniority in Spokane.  

Our next bargaining dates with Kaiser are scheduled for April 1, 15, and 29. Between now and then, the Pharmacy Tech Bargaining Team will meet with benefit experts at Kaiser and the Alliance of Health Care Unions to compare retirement and healthcare plans—Union vs. Non-Union. 

The NLRB Election to determine if we will be represented by UFCW 21 will take place by mail over the next four weeks. Ballots will be sent out by mail by March 8, and must be returned to the NLRB Regional Office by no later than 3:00 PM on April 5, 2021. The ballots will be counted, and election results determined on April 7. If you do not receive your ballot, you may call the NLRB Region 19 Office at 206-220-6300 and ask for the information officer to request a ballot. 

It’s important for everyone to have accurate and up to date information—and that happens best when people are involved in each Clinic. Join us for our next meeting to learn more about your rights and Union—we hope to see there!  We will have a short training and an open space to talk about issues as a group.

For questions or more information, please contact Union Representative Maureen Hatton at 509-340-7370.  

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Kaiser Spokane Pharmacy Techs:
Know your Rights and Union!
Wednesday, March 17
6:45 – 7:45 pm

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

Lourdes Counseling Center - Bargaining Update - March 8

Our Union Bargaining Team made an aggressive comprehensive counter proposal to the Employer’s most recent proposal in an attempt to make considerable progress. The Employer was not ready to respond but we are looking forward to a counter proposal at the next bargaining session on March 19. We have scheduled two additional bargaining dates prior to our final contract vote. 

Thank you all who came out on Monday, March 1 for our picket! Great showing!  

Please reach out to your Bargaining Team with any questions or concerns or contact your Union Representative Austen Louden @ 509-340-7372 

Providence St. Peter Hospital - Bargaining Committee Recommends a “No” Vote on March 12!

Since the beginning of bargaining in June 2020, Providence has made it clear that they are not willing to give the technical unit the same benefits or contract language that the RNs have in their contract. Currently we have several tentative agreements around non-economic contract language, but are still far apart on economic topics.

In one of our last sessions, Providence proposed no longevity wage increases and no guaranteed annual wage increases. All UFCW 21 contracts with Providence have longevity wage increases and annual across-the-board increases. We believe that we deserve the same!

It is now time to tell Providence that we are not interested in their wage scale proposal or subpar contract language! We deserve a fair contract which will help retain our current workforce and help us recruit skilled technical workers.

The committee is recommending a “NO” vote on Providence’s latest proposal!

We will be voting online via “Simply Vote” on Friday, March 12 from 12 AM to 11:59 PM.

You will be receiving an email from “Simply Vote” with your unique login information. If you do not receive an email from UFCW 21 or “Simply Vote,” by March 11, please update your information online.

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

We will have vote meetings on March 10 @ 7:30PM and March 11 @ 7:30 AM via Zoom to go over Providence’s last proposal.

Kroger Update - March 5, 2021

Yesterday, the UFCW 21 bargaining team demanded that QFC bargain with us before finalizing a decision to close two Seattle stores.

On February 16, 2021, Kroger-owned QFC announced that it would close QFC 804 in Capitol Hill and QFC 873 in Wedgwood. In a clear attempt to intimidate workers, QFC blamed the store closures on the Seattle City Council’s passage of a $4 per hour hazard pay mandate.

“We have seen increased sales with the pandemic, QFC can afford the temporary hazard pay, and by the time the stores close they will already have paid out a lot of it. By picking on two of the smallest stores in Seattle, Kroger is simply looking for the least costly way to intimidate workers in Washington and around the country who are standing up for hazard pay.”

— Our QFC Bargaining Team

Sam Dancy, QFC Westwood Village

Amy Dayley Angell, QFC Ballard

Robin Hillistad, QFC Uptown

Jeff Alexander, QFC Wedgwood

Stefanie Cook, QFC Capitol Hill

Faye Guenther, President UFCW 21

Joe Mizrahi, Secretary Treasurer UFCW 21

Jim McGuinness, Attorney

Like other large grocery companies, Kroger has profited from the COVID pandemic as consumers shifted to at-home meal preparation. In 2020, Kroger’s profits increased 53% to $2.74 billion, and the company funneled $1.9 billion to investors through dividends and stock buybacks. 

UFCW 21 members have been taking action to fight back against Kroger’s bullying by continuing to push Hazard Pay ordinances across the state, speaking out in the media, and sitting down with the employer to bargain over the store closures. 

Sound Retirement Pension Seminar

While planning for retirement can be confusing and frightening for many workers, many UFCW 21 members have the benefit of a pension when they retire. If you have questions about your retirement benefit, please join us at one of our regularly scheduled retirement seminars to learn about how to plan for your retirement and apply for your retirement benefit. These seminars are open to all UFCW 21 members, but the content is designed specifically for those members participating in the Sound Retirement Pension Plan.  

All seminars are conducted on-line over Zoom. Once registered you will receive a confirmation email and a Zoom meeting invitation.

March 9, at 5:30 PM

Register in advance for this meeting: After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

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March 10, at 12:00 PM

Register in advance for this meeting: After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

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March 11, at 6:30 PM

Register in advance for this meeting: After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

PCC Worker Candidates Qualify for the Ballot!

A huge thanks to everyone that signed petitions in November and December to put Donna Rasumussen and Laurae McIntyre on the ballot for the PCC Board of Trustees elections! We have received official verification of those signatures from PCC, which means that workers will be on the ballot for the first time in decades.

Voting will be April 8-May 3; PCC will send ballots via email. To be considered an active member who is eligible to vote, you must meet the following requirements by today, March 4, 2021:

• Your membership is paid in full.

• You have purchased merchandise, cooking classes or gift cards using your PCC membership since March 5, 2020.

To learn whether you are currently an active member, log into your PCC website account and click “Membership.”

Learn more about Donna and Laurae:

Help nominate PCC worker, Laurae McIntyre, to the PCC Board of Trustees!

Learn more about worker candidate, Laurae McIntyre, and what she stands for:

Laurae

I’ve been a member of PCC since the 1980s, and I have family whose porches used to be part of the co-op’s original network of drop-off spots in the ’50s! I came to work at PCC about 6 years ago, wanting to work somewhere that aligns with my values and where I get to interact directly with a lot of people in my community. Our role has only become more important now, during the COVID pandemic. For lots of people, coming to the grocery store is one of their only opportunities for community and connection, along with healthy food. I’ve been really humbled by this experience and the appreciation our customers have shared with us.

PCC is a community. People become members because of what we stand for. We support local producers instead of corporate ones, our food is clean and handled properly from its beginning to the store shelves. People work here because of what we stand for, too. As a union shop steward in my store, I get to welcome new people to our staff. We have a young and vibrant workforce that is pushing us to step up on racial equity, LGBTQ inclusion, and justice for workers all along the food supply chain—including the workers in our own stores.

I want to make sure my coworkers are represented on the Board of Trustees.

PCC has been expanding so fast recently, focusing on opening new stores and big remodels. That’s great, I’m happy for us to grow. But given that the people who are usually on the Board of Trustees are business focused, some with no retail experience whatsoever, PCC workers agree we need some representation on the Board. We’re the ones working in these stores day in and day out. We want to protect the core mission of the co-op, the reasons why we work here, and why our members shop here.

With a worker voice on the Board, the decisions that steer the future of our co-op can be informed by the people interacting one-on-one with our customers and working with the beautiful food our farmers provide. We’re ready to have a voice in shaping the values and direction of this community.

Help nominate PCC worker, Donna Rasmussen, to the PCC Board of Trustees!

Learn more about worker candidate, Donna Rasmussen, and what she stands for:

Donna

I’m a working mom, and my whole family is invested in the mission and success of PCC—in fact, my partner and two teenage sons all work for the co-op. In my 40 years of customer service, I think PCC has hands-down the best customers I’ve ever worked with.

As PCC focuses on its growth, many of my coworkers and I feel it’s time to again have a worker voice on the Board of Trustees to ensure that customers, workers, and our community are kept front and center in decision-making. Members helped build this co-op, and as someone who interacts with our members and customers every day, I want them to know we’ve got their backs and that they can trust us. I spend money here because I trust us and I believe our co-op can grow, while holding onto its mission, values, and connection to the community.

I’m passionate about fair trade, gender and racial equity, affordable housing, and community living. For 10 years now, I have lived in a co-op housing community, where I take an active role and hold a position in community leadership. I’ve been a grocery store worker and active member of my union (UFCW), since the 1980s, serving on the union bargaining team during the big 1989 grocery strike. I also worked for QFC for 12 years, before and after it was bought by Fred Meyer and then the national chain Kroger. I experienced firsthand what happens when a well-loved community grocery store strays away from and loses what makes it unique. I have proudly been at PCC for more than 6 years now.

I’m committed to helping PCC continue to thrive while staying focused on our mission. That means connecting authentically with the communities we’re moving into as we open new stores. It means making sure PCC workers can afford to shop at our stores and live in our communities. When PCC takes care of its frontline staff, we can better take care of our customers. It also means continuing to support our small farmers and local vendors, even if they can’t produce enough to get their product in every one of our expanding locations. After all, as a co-op, our stores should be a reflection of our communities.

Right now, 8 months into the pandemic it remains stressful for most people to shop for food. My coworkers, including my boys, and I have committed to provide our customers access to fresh, healthy food in a safe and sanitized environment. We do our best to hold each other up and try to stay healthy ourselves, while working during such difficult times.

If I ring up your groceries or pass you in the aisle, please be sure to say hi!