UPDATE: MultiCare’s Dirty Tactics Shut Down Community Caravan Supporting Its Workers, Community Vows to Return in Force!

View fullsize

Glen Steele, Mary Bridge

View fullsize

Alexis Dotts, Tacoma General

View fullsize

Pastor Greg Christopher

View fullsize

MultiCare workers & allies

Health care workers, faith leaders, labor unions, and community allies in Pierce County planned a car caravan around MultiCare-owned Tacoma General and Mary Bridge Children’s Hospitals today, in support of a fair contract for MultiCare’s essential workers. Workers who risked their lives to show up for patients during a yearlong global health crisis are now having to fight for pay that respects their work, for their own access to affordable health care, and for safe staffing in their hospitals and clinics. Workers have been bargaining since January with little movement from MultiCare in agreeing to fair wages and working conditions, and the Tacoma and Pierce County community is ready to step up and support their health care workers.

But before the caravan could begin, MultiCare sent a last-minute cease and desist letter to block it from taking place, saying they consider cars with signs to be unlawful picketing activity and threatening legal action if it continued.

This community will not be silenced. MultiCare workers will not be silenced. If MultiCare is so scared of our voices that they are already resorting to threats, we know that our solidarity and determination are working. The numerous community allies and workers who organized this public event are already spreading the word about MultiCare’s dirty tricks and planning our next action calling attention to this important fight.

We thank the Tacoma NAACP, Tacoma DSA, Union of American Physicians and Dentists, Tacoma Ministerial Alliance, Political Destiny, Unite Here Local 8, and SEIU 1199NW for joining us today and for committing to this fight for health care workers’ rights and for safe, quality patient care in Tacoma and Pierce County. MultiCare workers have taken care of our community through a traumatic year, and it’s time for MultiCare to take care of its workers.

Zenith American Solutions - Fighting for Real Wage Increases

We met with management on May 10 to continue negotiations. We passed them our initial wage proposal that would bring us closer to market rates and recognize longevity with the company. The Employer countered with ZERO percent wage increase for the first year with ONLY a $750 ratification bonus. We find that to be unacceptable and continue to fight for a fair contract with real wage increases.

“Zenith’s wage proposal is insulting and devalues all current employees. Their proposal appears to show that they value recruitment over retention, whether you have been here for one day or 40 years. Join us next week to share your thoughts and help guide our proposals going forward.” 

— 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

Join our drop-in meeting on May 19 @ 6PM via ZOOM to ask questions and get an update! 

Wednesday, May 19

6:00 PM

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

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

Next Bargaining Date: 

May 24

Planned Parenthood - Management Holds to Bad Proposals

Management Holds to Bad Proposals

While we have reached tentative agreements on:

• Reinstating our ability to grieve discipline at every level

• Receiving email address with employee rosters for easier communication

• Ensuring seniority remains full intact if recalled from a layoff

• Bringing our contract in compliance with meal and rest break laws

Management has dug in their heels on their anti-union proposals and REJECTED our proposals for:

• Severance language in case of layoff

• Notifications on changes to telecommuting practices

• Paycheck deduction of union initiation fee

• We have not yet traded proposals on economics.

Your Bargaining Team: Charlie King, PAC Rep - Tacoma; Monalisa Baumann, MA - Federal Way; Jennifer Morgan, PCC - Tacoma; Sage Alixander, Insurance Biller - Seattle

Macy's - Management still wants to mess with our PTOs

Our Union Bargaining Team met with Management for the first time on Monday, May 10 to deliver our initial proposals for the new Union contract.

Some of what the Union proposed was:

• Language to protect our vacations, personal days, and other benefits when there is another health emergency like there has been with COVID-19

• Making sure that compensated hours and short-term disability benefits count towards qualifying hours for health insurance and FMLA leaves

• Fixing the MLK PTO problem by making it permanent for us to use as we choose

Macy’s also made some of their initial proposals, many of which takes us in the wrong direction:

• The Employer wants to delete language that lets us take our PTOs for whatever reason we need.

• Macy’s wants to eliminate attendance credits entirely and replace it with a “Reliability Indicator.” If you are asking yourself, “What’s that?” so are we, but it doesn’t sound good.

• They want to change the definition of a late shift from one ending at 7 PM to one ending at 8 PM, which would mean more shifts at night would be required.

“Many of Management’s proposals are not appropriate for employees to have worked through a deadly pandemic and shown Macy’s loyalty.”

— Candice Hemphill

Want to find out more?
Join our online CAT Meeting via Zoom
Friday, May 14
6 PM
Contact your Bargaining Team or Union Rep for call-in details. Details will be also emailed out.

MultiCare Employees Take Action!

Contract Action Team Meeting

Date/Time
Wednesday, May 12
9AM & 6:30PM
Contact your Bargaining Team or Union Rep for call-in details. Details will be also emailed out.

Join your Bargaining team for our next virtual Contract Action Team (CAT) meeting to hear the latest from negotiations and talk about next steps towards winning a fair contract. All members are welcome to join!

---

Multicare Community Car Caravan

Date/Time
Thursday, May 13 • 3PM

Location
Shiloh Baptist Church
1211 S I St
Tacoma, WA 98405

Join the MultiCare Bargaining Team, UFCW 21 Movement Builders and community leaders from around Pierce & King Counties for the Community Car Caravan action.

The Bargaining Team has been fighting for months to address the dangerous staffing levels across the MultiCare Health System, the skyrocketing cost of our healthcare, and uncompetitive wages that have made the recruitment and retention of workers extremely difficult. Management has rejected nearly every Union proposal and makes clear every time we meet that they are simply “not interested.” We must stand-up and take action to show MultiCare that we stand in solidarity against their anti-worker behavior!

---

The community will converge in the parking lot of Shiloh Baptist Church, where we will hear from our healthcare leaders and then go safely in our cars by caravan to Tacoma General Hospital and Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital. Before leaving the staging area, materials will be available to decorate your vehicles with Union colors and messages of solidarity with healthcare workers for a fair contract.  

Working during the event? If you’re working at TG/MB during the event, but can take a break or lunch, you can show your support by joining the caravan outside the hospital on the M.L.K. Jr. Way sidewalk around 3:45PM. 

FM Personal Shopper Update - Union Proposes Return to 6 Tote Trollies and Fred Meyer’s Answers Raise More Questions

On May 5 we met with Fred Meyer reps to discuss the extension of the shopping carts. 

We proposed that FM go back to 6 totes per trolly to make sure workers are able to handle the trollies safely. Fred Meyer is considering our proposal, and we expect them to get back to us at our next bargaining session on May 19.

They did provide answers to questions from our previous meeting; but those answers only raised more questions, and we have serious concerns as to the accuracy of some of the responses. Especially the estimated weight of the totes and trollies, which seemed low at best.

Over the past month we have heard directly from personal shoppers about injuries sustained on the job because of the weight of the extended trollies and want to get more specific examples of these problems. Members have sent in pictures of heavy, overstuffed totes, broken carts, and accounts of the injuries, aches, pains, and accidents involving these expanded trollies. While Fred Meyer has said that “anecdotally” they have heard no complaints.

We need to show Fred Meyer that our safety is important, that our customers’ safety is important and that the new trollies are needlessly dangerous. 

Take action by sharing your story, concerns and evidence about safety concerns the new trollies have created at safetyreport@ufcw21.org or contact your union representative or shop steward!

“Fred Meyer’s response to our questions doesn’t fit with reality. The larger trolleys are too heavy and unsafe. Our members are getting hurt. It is time for Fred Meyer to take the matter seriously.” 

—Maggie Breshears, Personal Shopper at Fred Meyer Greenwood.

Don’t forget our grocery bargain is next year, Fred Meyer workers are signing Strike Pledge Cards to let Kroger know we are serious about getting a fair contract!

Swain’s General Store - Tentative Agreement Reached; Vote Scheduled

We are excited to announce that, after months of delays, your Bargaining Team has finally reached a tentative agreement with management for a full three-year contract! Details about the tentative agreement, which includes a $2,500 signing bonus, historic wage increases, and increased holiday pay will be available at the vote.

Last year we conducted a mail-in vote due to COVID-19, but due to easing government restrictions and the widespread distribution of vaccines we will be holding an in-person vote this time! However, in order maintain social distancing during the vote, we will be conducting the vote in a large conference room at the Red Lion Hotel instead of the Swain’s breakroom.

Your Bargaining Team: Leanne Price, Michael Nichols, Pamela Anuspach, Becky Peterson-Matthes, Richard Drake, Shawn Price

Vaccine or not, masks and social distancing are required and will be strictly enforced. Masks will be available at the vote if you forgot to bring one.

If you have any questions, please reach out to a Bargaining Team member or call Union Representative Ryan DeGouveia at (360) 662-1989.

CONTRACT VOTE SCHEDULED!

Friday, May 21

• 8AM – 10AM

• 12PM – 2PM

• 4PM – 6PM

Red Lion Hotel @
Port Angeles Harbor

221 N Lincoln St, Port Angeles, WA 98362

Juan De Fuca Room

Mason General Tech - Bargaining Dates Set!

Our Bargaining Team is excited to get to the table to negotiate a fair contract. We will begin bargaining on June 4, but we need to hear from you about your priorities! 

Make sure you fill out your bargaining survey!

We will have a Virtual Contract Meeting on Thursday, May 20 @ 7PM to go over the results and discuss our priorities. 

Your Bargaining Team: Brenda Routson, Jennifer Madara, Pam Murphy, Jessica Turner (not pictured), Melody Warren (not pictured)

Virtual Contract Action Meeting on Thursday, May 20 @ 7PM !

RSVP for Zoom info here: 

Planned Parenthood - Bargaining Continues

Our Bargaining Team met with Management on Wednesday to receive Management’s non-economic proposals for our contract. Unfortunately, many of these proposals were outright anti-union including:

• Using union dues to cover the cost of Management’s attorneys’ fees for lawsuits related to our contract

• Large expansions of Management rights, potentially eroding union rights 

• Voiding the entire union contract’s protections during “emergencies” as defined by Management

• Allowing discipline and attendance to determine layoff and recall instead of seniority and disrupting seniority for certain recall scenarios

• Limiting workers’ ability to take action educating co-workers and the public during contract disputes and bargaining

Our Bargaining Team proposed adding per diem employees to our contract, and Management rejected the idea entirely. If you work with a per diem, please reach out to a member of the Bargaining Team.

We need to stand together for a contract that improves our wages and working conditions with NO TAKEAWAYS. Wear your sticker to support the Bargaining Team when we return to the table May 10!

Your Bargaining Team: Charlie King, PAC Rep - Tacoma; Monalisa Baumann, MA - Kent; Jennifer Morgan, PCC - Tacoma; Sage Alixander, Insurance Biller - Seattle

Join us for a Virtual Contract Action Meeting on Tuesday, May 11 @ 7PM for more updates! Get the Zoom info here: 

Worker candidates WIN at PCC!

PCC has just announced that worker candidates Donna Rasmussen and Laurae McIntyre have WON seats on the co-op Board of Trustees! They are the newest board members governing our co-op, alongside new candidate Rodney Hines. 

We know why this happened: Hundreds of PCC workers spent months organizing to make it happen.

We gathered thousands of signatures, wore buttons, held actions outside our stores, spoke up at board & CEO meetings, participated in info pickets and Contract Action Team meetings, and kept talking with each other about why we deserve representation on the co-op board and how we can work for the changes we want to see. We did this!

And our community stood with us all along the way, from signing petitions to contacting PCC administration to showing up in person at our pickets.

“We listen to hundreds of customers every day, and they told us PCC would be a better co-op for members, customers, workers, and the community with both of us on the board. We’re ready to share our expertise in shaping the values and direction of this community.” - Donna (View Ridge)

“Our co-op can expand without losing its core mission and overstressing our existing stores and staff. With our voices on the board, the decisions that steer the future of our co-op can be informed by our one-on-one conversations with our customers and working with the beautiful food from our farmers and providers.” - Laurae (Fremont)

Let’s celebrate this win, and keep the momentum going: Our bargain for a fair contract isn’t over, but we move forward knowing that when we organize, we can win. PCC members are energized, and we are ready to do what it takes to win a contract that respects our work, protects us from harm, and pays us fairly for the essential work we do.

Lourdes Counseling Center- Important Vote Scheduled

After a year of negotiations, the employer continues to neglect the needs of its employees. The Employer has continued to refuse to fairly compensate employees, recognize Charge RNs desires to be part of the Bargaining Unit, and pay employees overtime for work performed beyond their daily shifts as it does for other represented employees at the hospital. We continue to fight for just compensation including a fair placement on the new wage scale for existing employees that recognizes their experience with Lourdes.

Our last bargaining date was April 30, and due to the lack of movement from the Employer, it was determined by our committee that it is time for a STRIKE AUTHORIZATION vote. Therefore, at the date, times, and location set forth, we will be holding a contract ratification and strike authorization vote.

Our Bargaining Team is recommending:
NO Vote on the Employer’s latest Contract Proposal
YES Vote for a Strike Authorization

Now is the time to make your voices heard. Come to a vote meeting to review the full details of the employers proposed contract, get questions answered, and vote.

Join the Contract Ratification and Strike Authorization Vote Meeting
Thursday, May 13
8 am - 10:30 am
2 pm - 5 pm

Courtyard by Marriott Richland Columbia Point
Fairway Boardroom
480 Columbia Point Drive
Richland, WA 99352

These votes are open to all Represented workers at Lourdes Counseling Center. Employees must be present at whichever time is most convenient in order to cast your vote.

If you have any questions, please contact our Bargaining Team members or your Union Rep Austen Louden at 509-340-7372.

UFCW 21 Endorses Nikkita Oliver for Seattle City Council

UFCW 21 PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: Date
Contact: Tom Geiger, 206-604-3421

One of Region’s Largest and Most Influential Labor Unions Endorses Nikkita Oliver for City Council Seat

Seattle, WA – Adding significant momentum for Nikkita Oliver’s bid in Seattle’s At-Large Position 9 City Council race, UFCW 21 today announced its endorsement. UFCW 21 represents nearly 50,000 workers across the state in grocery store, health care, retail, and other industry jobs. The union represents over 10,000 workers who either live in, or are employed in, the City of Seattle. The union has been a leader in most of our city and region’s largest workplace and social issue efforts over the last decade – from higher wages, Paid Sick and Safe Leave Paid Family Leave, Secure Scheduling, to greater protections in the COVID 19 pandemic, as well as strongly supporting efforts to reform policing, and improve equity in housing and in cannabis legalization.

“We are excited to endorse Nikkita Oliver and look forward to educating voters across the city on their record of helping the working people of the Seattle,” stated Jeannette Randall, a grocery store worker from Seattle and UFCW 21 member. “We know that having Nikkita on the Council, who will complement Teresa Mosqueda as the other at-large council member, will fight to give a fair shot to those of us who want to afford to live and work in Seattle.”

Oliver reacted to the endorsement: "UFCW 21 has been at the forefront of pushing our elected officials towards bold, equitable policies. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the union was key in ensuring the health and safety of essential, frontline workers throughout the state. As a Seattle City Councilmember, I would be honored to continue to fight alongside them for workers' rights, housing justice, and cannabis equity. The power of organized labor and movements for racial justice is undeniable. Together, we can push for the redistribution of political and economic power to working people in our city."

“Far too often candidates for office shy away from leading on the hard, important issues. Nikkita Oliver is not the typical candidate – they have worked with us over many years, both out of the lime-light and in the streets, to improve workplace safety, to take on corporate power, to increase worker protections in the cannabis industry, and build support for police accountability,” said Zion Grae-El, a Budtender at Have a Heart in Seattle and UFCW 21 member. “Nikkita has continuously demonstrated commitment to speak up against injustice and foster transparent and open communication. We believe they will be a very good addition to our city council as we continue to push to address workers’ rights, housing and homelessness, racial and social inequities, and the need to further police accountability reform.”

UFCW 21 has a long history of successfully taking on corporate power and monied interests in contract negotiations as well as in the halls of government. UFCW 21 is building a more powerful union for economic, political, and social justice in our workplaces and communities. We pursue that mission through organizing workers who want a union at their job, negotiating and enforcing standard-setting contracts, partnering with other unions and organizations, and supporting candidates and then holding elected officials accountable in local, state, federal office. One way to advance the interests of working people is to elect the best candidates for office who will hold true to their word once elected. We believe Nikkita Oliver is such a candidate. To find out more about UFCW 21, our members, and our community partnerships, go to UFCW21.org

PCC - PCC Reveals Priorities

In a week where PCC promotes office staff and shares that their sales have increased 25% over the past year, they hold to their unacceptable wage proposal. Through three days of bargaining PCC proposes no wage increases in the first year of the contract and no increases to the wage scale through the life of the contract, with only an increase to the Journey rate of 5 cents from their last proposal. 

Last week our Bargaining Committee made wage proposals to increase the Journey rate of pay by $1.45 each year with improvements to the wage scale in each year of the contract, including a safeguard to keep our wages above State and Seattle minimum wage. We reached an agreement for new safety committee language in the contract which will help ensure a safer workplace. We also made proposals that maintained our commitment to improve our retirement, create a better process for PCC to partner with community and to create a training program that would help workers develop skills in our industry. 

Join us at a Contract Action Team meeting where we will be doing a Picket Captain Training and discussing how to prepare for a possible strike. 

May 17 - 10am & 7pm
May 19 - 10am & 7pm

RSVP through the link below!

“PCC needs to be a leader in the Grocery industry and if they are not prepared to lead, we are prepared to fight to return PCC to its roots and for a contract that gives us better wages, better access to training, a better retirement and community a stronger voice.” 

– 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

Our next bargaining dates are 5/18 and 5/21. 

Kaiser Spokane Pharmacy Techs - Positive Gains in Bargaining

On April 29, bargaining went well as we continued negotiations and had a robust session that led to some agreements. These positive conversations around key topics are leading the way for us to have a fair contract. 

We are excited to say as we ended the day of bargaining, we had agreements on Rest and Meal Periods and Stand-by pay.  We continue to talk about Vacation PTO, Floats and Staffing, and Alternative work schedules to include daily overtime. We feel confident that these few topics will be agreed upon early in our next session and we will head to economics.  

Questions or ideas to share, please reach out to the Bargaining Team or Union Representative Maureen Hatton at 509-340-7370

“We are optimistic about the forward movement in bargaining as our seniority and time of service was acknowledged by management showing us we that our voices are valued.” 

– Jackie McFarlen and Tiffany Yeates, Bargaining Team

MultiCare Update - "Stop the disrespect!"

“Stop the disrespect!”

Your Bargaining Team: Alexis Dotts, Glen Steele, Gregg Barney, Heidi Strub, Jamie Fenton, Julianna Van Enk, Kelly Gusman, Kurtis Chaffin, Patricia Brown, Ryan Boyd, Sammy Bainivalu, Teri Kruse, Wanda Rodriguez-Ramos, Yvette Broeckel

Your Bargaining Team met with management again this week.

We spent countless hours working through the outstanding issues on the table, trying to come up with a counteroffer that might be more acceptable to the Employer but still address our members’ concerns. For example, the Union floated the idea of allowing the PTO-WS program but, instead of a use it or lose it system, hours would instead roll back into our standard PTO bank at the end of the year. However, we told management that if they expect us to make real movement on the PTO issue, they first need to guarantee that we will not lose PTO hours AND must make movement on several of our proposals.

MultiCare responded with nothing. That is right, management not only failed to make movement. They failed to make a proposal altogether. We are working hard to have a constructive dialog with management, but they continuously treat our efforts with disrespect. It is extremely frustrating that we have had 15 bargaining sessions and have made so little progress just because MultiCare “is not interested” in changing the status quo.

At this point, the only way to get MultiCare “interested” in change is if we get the community involved in our fight. That is why we have planned a Community Car Caravan for Thursday May 13 @ 3pm, where we will hear from the bargaining team then drive our cars over to Tacoma General. MultiCare members and community leaders will join together, showing management that we stand in solidarity for a fair contract.

Your Bargaining Team will meet with Management again on May 11, 18, 25, 27, and June 1.

RSVP to join the Community Car Caravan!
Thursday, May 13
3 PM
Shiloh Baptist Church
1211 S I St
Tacoma, Wa 98405
>>Click HERE to RSVP<<

Join the UFCW 21 MultiCare Facebook Page for the latest updates

Zenith American Solutions - Bargaining Continues

We met with Zenith management on April 27, 2021 and discussed our Healthcare proposals. A few agreements were reached but nothing substantial was agreed too. Management rejected our proposal that would have eliminated any additional healthcare costs and proposed to only contribute the minimum amount required to our pension plan. We know that these issues are important to you and we will continue to represent our collective interests at the table. .

“We are standing together to secure a fair contract that addresses your priorities. We still have a ways to go as we get into economics in the coming sessions.” 

— Carlotta Bogdon

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

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

Next Bargaining Date: 
May 10 and 24

Harbors Home Health and Hospice tentative agreement reached

Harbors Home Health and Hospice

Tentative Agreement Reached

Bargaining Team Recommends a YES Vote

Our bargaining team reached a tentative agreement with management that includes some of these highlights:

• Wage Increases Each Year

• Increases to Wage Premiums

• Ratification Bonus

• Retirement Improvements

Please join us on Zoom May 6 from 6:00pm-7:30pm to learn more about the exciting changes to our contract.

Harbors Home Health and Hospice Vote Meeting

May 6, 2021 at 6:00PM Pacific Time

“We hope everyone will be able to attend and look forward to talking about the important wins we achieved during these negotiations.” - Harbors Home Health and Hospice Bargaining Team: Sarah Schimelpfenig, RN; Megan Rolfing, RN; Stacy Mathis, Medical Records

Vote Online on May 7th from 9:00am – 9:00pm

Bellingham grocery workers win their fight for a $4/hour hazard pay mandate

The Bellingham City Council voted 5 to 2 last night (May 10) to mandate $4 per hour hazard pay for frontline workers at large grocery chain stores in the city. Last night’s vote was a final procedural step, following initial approval of the ordinance two weeks earlier. The ordinance will go into effect at 12:01AM on May 25th. It will cover unionized employers, including Fred Meyer, Safeway, and Haggen, as well as some non-union stores such as Whole Foods.

Chris Vincent, a veteran produce worker at Bakerview Fred Meyer, helped organize co-workers to send emails and give public comment at multiple City Council meetings. Upon hearing of the victory, Vincent offered words of celebration:

“We fought an honorable fight for an honorable cause to give the hard-working people on the front lines what they deserve in these hazardous times. I want to personally thank the Bellingham City Council for recognizing the hazardous conditions we work in and for their support in compensating us for it. When we stand together, we win together!”

The Northwest Central Labor Council, led by Secretary-Treasurer Michele Stelovich, and Whatcom County Jobs With Justice, led by Betsy Pernotto, provided crucial support to UFCW21, engaging Council Members and mobilizing supporters to send messages of support and provide comments at several meetings.

Speaking before Council on March 8, the Labor Council’s Stelovich lauded frontline grocery workers:

“They stepped up, they went to work, and they made sure that we had food on our tables. So I just wanted to thank all the grocery workers that have done that. You know that some of the grocery stores have made huge profits… So these are things that they can afford to be able to give their workers… and reward them for being good employees that came to work under very difficult conditions.”

The Whatcom County DSA also mobilized supporters to speak up for grocery workers at multiple Council meetings.

The Northwest Grocery Association and Fred Meyer sent representatives to Council to speak against the ordinance, but there was little opposition, otherwise.

The City Council’s action last night was the culmination of a nearly year-long campaign by Bellingham grocery workers to demand continuation of hazard pay, after Albertsons and Kroger discontinued it last Spring. Members and community supporters held multiple protest actions to educate the public and sent hundreds of messages to City Council once the issue moved into the legislative arena in February.

Throughout the campaign, UFCW 21 members have also emphasized the need for improved COVID safety in their workplaces.

City Council Member Lisa Anderson shepherded the hazard pay ordinance to victory over several months, never backing down in the face of the grocery industry’s legal threats and misinformation.

The hazard pay ordinance covers workers at companies that employ at least 500 employees worldwide and at least 40 in Bellingham. At these companies, hazard pay will be required at stores that are over 10,000 sq. ft. and primarily sell groceries for offsite consumption or which are over 85,000 sq. ft., with 30% or more of their floor space devoted to groceries.

Thank You to the Bellingham City Council members who voted to support grocery workers: Lisa Anderson, Hannah Stone, Michael Lilliquist, Hollie Huthman, and Daniel Hammill

These Bellingham City Council members voted against grocery workers: Gene Knutson and Pinky Vargas

North Valley Bargaining Update

North Valley Bargaining Update: Management still wants to limit our EIB Usage

While we agree on many issues the limited use of EIB affects all members. As we continue to go through the COVID -19 pandemic management proposing to limit our EIB usage is not acceptable.

Support your Bargaining Team by signing the petition and wearing your sticker to show management we want a fair contract.

“In Solidarity — sticker up! We are working hard to have all our voices heard”

Our Union Bargaining Team: Amy Radcliff, HUC; Michelle Beattie, Radiology; Megan Vickers, RN; Jason Daniels, RN

Lourdes Counseling Center Contract Vote

LOURDES COUNSELING CENTER CONTRACT VOTE SCHEDULED OUR BARGAINING TEAM IS RECOMMENDING A NO VOTE 

After a year of negotiations, the employer continues to neglect the needs of their employees. The employer has continued to refuse to recognize Charge RNs as part of the Bargaining Unit. We continue to fight for Compensation including a fair placement on the new wage scale for existing employees that recognizes their experience with Lourdes as well as Daily Overtime which is a staple in most Union Contracts.

Our next bargaining date is April 30, 2021 and will determine if there is a need for an additional vote.

Now is the time to make your voices heard. Come to a vote meeting to review the full details of the employers proposed contract, get questions answered, and vote.

CONTRACT VOTE SCHEDULED
Wednesday, May 5, 2021

» 8:00 am – 10:00 am
» 1:30 pm – 5:30 pm
Hampton Inn Richland
486 Bradley Boulevard
Richland WA 99352

These votes are open to all Represented workers at Lourdes Counseling Center. Employees must be present at whichever time is most convenient in order to cast your vote. If you have any questions, please contact your Union Representative Austen Louden at 509-340-7372.