St. Michael Medical Center RN - SIGN THE STRIKE PLEDGE CARD

“Stand in solidarity with your co-workers for a fair contract by signing the strike pledge card TODAY!”

Your Bargaining Team: Brett Moore, Cindy Franck, Kimberly Fraser McMillan, Michael Nord, Tammy Olson, and Janice Jones.

Our Bargaining Team met with management again on April 11 to continue negotiations for the St. Michael Medical Center RN contract.

At this meeting the Employer did not provide an updated economic offer, sticking with their last offer of 15% over the next three years. Your Bargaining team finds it difficult to be excited about the Employer’s offer, which would still place us about 6.50% behind the base wage rate at St. Joseph Medical Center after their 2022 raise in November.

The Employer’s last bargaining update claimed their proposal would be “on average, at least” (whatever that means) 20% over the life of the contract. Make no mistake, all nurses will NOT receive at least a 20% wage increase throughout the life of the contract with the Employer’s proposal. After working through a global pandemic, our bargaining team refuses to let management’s creative math pressure us into a mediocre agreement.

We also continue to fight for several important non-economic improvements such as implementing safe staffing standards in every department, permanent pandemic language that prepares the hospital for the next public health emergency, and new language about the refusal of hazardous assignments.

Despite our frustration, significant progress was made on several other issues such as holiday pay, charge nurse language improvements, notice of resignation, low census, and union steward access to disciplinary meetings. We were only able to make such progress after nurses showed solidarity during last week’s sticker action, which made clear to management that we are not satisfied with the progress of negotiations.

Our next bargaining session with the Employer is scheduled for April 27, which will be our last meeting before our contract is set to expire on May 1. Management has signaled that they want to reach an agreement this month, however, we remain far apart on many important issues.

Stand with our bargaining team and show management that nurses at St. Michael Medical Center are willing to do whatever is necessary to win a fair contract by SIGNING THE STRIKE PLEDGE CARD and send a strong message that management’s failure to reach a fair agreement is unacceptable.

To sign please scan the QR code or follow the link below.

You’re Invited!

Attend regular Contract Action Team (CAT) meetings to hear the latest updates regarding negotiations, plan actions to pressure management, and learn how to get your co-workers involved.

Wednesday, May 4

6:00PM

https://zoom.us/join

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

Emergency Department Meeting: Meeting focused on discussing the serious issues faced by nurses in the Emergency Department and working on solutions that can be achieved through contract negotiations.

Tuesday, May 10

6:00PM

https://zoom.us/join

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

Central CoOp - Contract Ratified

On Tuesday, April 12, Central Co-op members voted to ratify the new contract. We won improvements to our PTOs, no new healthcare costs, as well as other improvements to the contract including new safety language to make sure that Central Co-op is providing a safe place for us to work!

Seattle Children's - Contract Ratified

We are excited to announce that UFCW 3000 members at Seattle Children’s Hospital overwhelmingly voted to ratify their new collective bargaining agreement!

This historic agreement includes unprecedented wage increases (retroactively paid back to January 31), a significant increase to the per diem wage differential, increases to several differentials, contractual language improvements for a more equitable workplace, and many other improvements.

If you have any questions about your new contract, please reach out to a workplace steward or Union Representative Christie Harris at (206) 436-6606.

Meet the 2022 Grocery Store Workers Negotiations Team: Sam Dancy

Sam Dancy, Grocery Store Worker at Westwood Village QFC 825 and UFCW 3000 grocery contract negotiations team member

As we negotiate the 2022 Grocery Store Workers contract with the employers, let’s get to know your fellow grocery store workers who are part of our member-led bargaining team!

Sam Dancy has worked at Westwood Village QFC 825 since 1991, starting as a graveyard-shift night stocker. Since then, he has worked his way up the ladder and now works as Front End Supervisor! Through the years, Sam’s coworkers have seen him supporting others by educating them on their rights at work, standing up to management, and helping coworkers advocate for themselves.

Outside of his leadership in the workplace, Sam is passionate about connecting grassroots community work with the organized Labor movement. For example, Sam traveled to St. Louis, to talk to community members about opposing Proposition A, which would have upheld right-to-work laws in Missouri. Sam is proud of the fact that Proposition A was ultimately defeated! It’s this same spirit of advocacy that brings Sam to the grocery contract negotiations team.

“All essential workers deserve to not have to live from paycheck to paycheck. One job should be enough! Grocery store workers deserve stability, and it’s time the employer did their part to guarantee us fair wages, workplace safety, and respect on the job.”

Richland Fred Meyer Bargaining Update

Our Richland Bargaining Team met Tuesday, April 12 with Fred Meyer to begin the negotiation process. Our committee drafted and made contract proposals to create our new union contract that includes:

• Workplace Safety, contract language that would improve training and safety in the store and create avenues to address safety concerns that are not addressed at the store level.

• Just Cause, making sure that workers cannot be terminated or discipline without a reason.

• Grievance procedure, to give workers the ability to challenge any unjust discipline or violation of our new contract.

• Recognition, making it clear that the contract will cover workers at the Richland Fred Meyer.

• Health and Welfare, ensuring workers will have access to affordable high-quality healthcare.

• Union Security, to ensure that we have a strong store for years to come.

Unfortunately, Fred Meyer did not make any formal responses to our proposals. Although we hoped and were available to bargain sooner, we look forward to our next bargaining meeting with Fred Meyer on Monday, May 9 and Tuesday, May 10 and anticipate that Management will have responses to our proposals.

The push for a first contract continues! While our team meets and continues to work diligently leading up to next bargaining sessions, we need to stay UNIFIED in our fight for a good first contract.

Attend a Contract Action Team Meeting for updates on what our Team is working on:

Tuesday, April 19 • 9am or 6pm

Friday, April 22 • 12pm or 8pm

UFCW 3000 Tri-Cities Office • 2505 Duportail St, Suite D Richland, WA 99352

Your Richland Fred Meyer Bargaining Team: Jeremy Brewer, Eden Hill, Kelly Swallow, Todd Davis, Brandyn Farrell-Parker, Suzanne Geffre, Melissa Lozano, Roxanne Reynolds

UFCW 3000 Member Story: Jessica Leon

Jessica Leon, RN at Lourdes Medical Center and proud UFCW 3000 member, pictured with her family

It’s time for another UFCW 3000 #MemberMonday spotlight! Today’s story is about Jessica Leon, who currently works as an RN at Lourdes Medical Center in Pasco, WA.

Jessica is a dedicated nurse, mother, and leader in her workplace. Growing up, her parents imbedded in her the importance of helping others and of being mindful in relationships with family, friends, coworkers, and community members. These skills are constantly on display whether Jessica is at work or at home.

Jessica states that she is currently working on building relationships with her coworkers and encouraging them to organize together to bring about change in their workplace. In fact, Jessica stepped up as a leader this year by joining the bargaining team at her hospital. In her eyes, having a voice at the table has helped her encourage others to advocate for their rights at work.

Outside of work, Jessica is very close with her family, and spends as much time with them as she can. She is proud of the fact that her family comes together and works through challenges and goals as a team. Jessica wants to keep learning and growing as a worker-leader in her hospital so that she can help her coworkers have quality family time, since it is so important for her!

Jessica — thank you so much for your leadership in the workplace and in the community!

Rite Aid - Contract Ratified

On Thursday, April 7, Rite Aid members voted to ratify the new contract. In the coming weeks many members will be receiving a $0.40 raise that is retroactive back to January 1 of this year, a ratification bonus of $600 (fulltime) or $300 (part-time 30 hours or less), as well as other improvements to the contract including new safety language to make sure that Rite Aid is providing a safe place for us to work!

Meet the 2022 Grocery Store Workers Negotiations Team: Amy Dayley Angell

Amy Dayley Angell, Grocery Store Worker at Ballard QFC and UFCW 3000 grocery contract negotiations team member

As we negotiate the 2022 Grocery Store Workers contract with the employers, let’s get to know your fellow grocery store workers who are part of our member-led bargaining team!

Amy Dayley Angell has worked as a cashier at QFC for 15 years and now works at QFC 891 in Ballard. Amy started getting involved with the union when one of her coworkers was unjustly fired. Amy and her coworkers started a store-wide petition and worked together with their union rep to successfully reinstate the employee! Since then, Amy has been her store’s shop steward, showing up for her coworkers whenever they need help. In her words: “we are the union — without us stepping up, nothing changes!”

Outside of work, Amy is the proud mom of two teenagers. She loves spending time with her family, whether that’s playing board games, going camping, or walking their dog together. Amy wants to win a fair contract so that she and her coworkers can spend more time with their families. She also wants grocery store workers to feel more safe at work and to improve the turnover issue.

“Since the pandemic started, I don’t feel like the company takes our safety seriously. As grocery store workers, we have all been put into positions where we have to, essentially, be social workers — a job that we are neither trained nor equipped to do! Basic health precautions, like mandatory masking, sanitization, and plastic dividers, are all disappearing. Our employers are hanging us out to dry; it’s a big reason there’s so much turnover in our stores. If they want people to stay in this industry, they have to step up and take responsibility for employees’ health & safety at work!”

Grocery Store Worker Contract Negotiation Update: It is time to turn up the heat!

It is time to turn up the heat! 

Our contracts begin to expire May 7, 2022. We have seen workers take strike votes and prepare to strike to get the contracts and workplaces they deserve. 

After two years of the pandemic, feeling unsafe, overworked, understaffed, and underpaid, our full member negotiating team met with the employers. We hoped that the CEOs of these big national chains would have learned from the 10 day grocery store worker Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) strike in Colorado, and the recent near-strike in Southern California. Our union member negotiating team shared our moving stories of unsafe working conditions, inadequate safety standards, and grueling working conditions with the Employers’ representatives.

Our team proposed changes to our contracts that would, among other things: improve the safety at our stores, maintain and enhance our health care plan, increase the trainings we have access to, improve our vacation accrual, and most importantly, provide the pay increases that we deserve as frontline essential workers.

“I have been working for Fred Meyer for over 20 years. Even after working on the frontlines throughout the pandemic, Kroger pays me less than my coworkers, simply because I am classified as the ‘General Merchandise receiver’, while the ‘Grocery receiver’ gets nearly 5 dollars more an hour. How is that fair? These companies have made a lot of profit while we have been working and struggling to be there for our customers and communities.” — Jeff Smith, Fred Meyer, General Merchandise Receiver

“Since the pandemic started, I don’t feel like Kroger takes safety seriously. As grocery store workers, we have all been put into positions where we have to be essentially like social workers — a job that we are neither trained nor equipped to do! Basic health precautions, like mandatory masking, sanitization, and plastic dividers, are all disappearing. Our employers are hanging us out to dry; it’s a big reason there’s so much turnover in our stores. If they want people to stay in this industry, they have to step up and take responsibility for employees’ health & safety at work!” — Amy Dayley Angell, QFC

After our fourth consecutive day of negotiations...

Kroger continues to fail to properly comply with even our most basic information request, which we have a legal right to possess in order to negotiate the wages we deserve. We can not bargain effectively without the information we have requested. Our union member negotiating team’s attempt to get the Employers to agree to a new contract has not made significant progress. What we all want is no secret: more respect, better safety protections, better scheduling, significant pay raises; and to finally do away with the historic inequities that pay some workers a lot less just because of the departments in which they work.

Addressing these issues will help us live better lives and build a better and safer experience for our customers when they shop. The Employers have so far been unwilling to agree to improvements that are needed to reach an agreement. So, it is time for us to take action.

Our union negotiation team is using our time between analyzing proposals building strength - calling through store Contract Action Team phone trees, preparing everyone for action when and should it be needed!

Plan of Action: 

We look forward to returning to the bargaining table with Safeway/Albertsons next week on April 13 and 14. We are waiting to hear from Kroger on when they will be available to meet next. Our Richland Fred Meyer bargaining team will be meeting with Kroger next Tuesday April 12 to win a fair first contract.

Informational Pickets on April 26 at your store, or a store near you. 

Our customers and communities are willing to stand with us, we just need to reach out and share our stories, and the informational pickets will provide an excellent opportunity to do so. RSVP for an informational picket April 26 at: bit.ly/april26infopicket

Unfair Labor Practice Charges

Members continue to learn to identify unfair labor practices in their workplaces so that we can continue to hold the Employers accountable. These ULPs range from safety and contract violations, to other threats to our well-being at work. These charges provide the force behind an Unfair Labor Practices Strike if left unresolved by the company.

United, Arm-in-Arm

Union staff and members flew out to Colorado (UFCW 7) during the freezing 10-day long grocery store worker strike a few short months ago and Union staff and members went to Southern California during their strike authorization votes last month. In both cases, the solidarity across all our local unions was a key to the success of those contract fights and we were able to share experiences, resources, and power. Now these local Unions - together representing over 80,000 grocery store workers- have pledged their willingness to come here to Washington and stand with us if it becomes necessary to strike.

• RSVP for an informational picket April 26 at RSVP at: bit.ly/april26infopicket

• Make sure your personal contact information is up-to date: ufcw21.org/update-your-information

• Sign up for a Picket Captain Training Sign up at: bit.ly/groceryPCT

OUR UNION NEGOTIATIONS TEAM: 

Ames Reinhold, Metropolitan Market
Amy Dayley Angell, QFC
Aaron Streepy, Attorney
Cliff Powers, Safeway
Caprii Nakihei, Safeway
Cosmo Villini, Safeway
Eric Renner. UFCW 3000
Enrique Romero, Fred Meyer
Suzi Geffre, Fred Meyer
Faye Guenther, UFCW 3000 President
Jeff Smith, Fred Meyer
J’Nee DeLancey, Town & Country
Joanna Clapham, Fred Meyer
Joe Mizrahi, UFCW 3000 Secretary Treasurer
Kevin Flynn, Albertsons
Kyong Barry, Albertsons
Maggie Breshears, Fred Meyer
Naomi Oligario, Safeway
Roger Yanez, QFC
Sam Dancy, QFC
Sam Kantak, Teamsters 38 Secretary Treasurer
Shawn Hayenga, Metropolitan Market
Tammi Brady, Teamsters 38 President
Wil Peterson, Fred Meyer

Meet the 2022 Grocery Store Workers Negotiations Team: Cliff Powers

Cliff Powers, Grocery Store Worker at Oak Harbor Safeway and UFCW 3000 Grocery Contract Negotiations Team Member

As we negotiate the 2022 Grocery Store Workers contract with the employers, let’s get to know your fellow grocery store workers who are part of our member-led bargaining team!

Cliff Powers has worked in Produce at Safeway 402 in Oak Harbor for over 33 years! Cliff is originally from Virginia, where many community members were union workers in the mining industry. Before pursuing a career in grocery, Cliff spent 12 years as an EMS worker. In his free time, Cliff is passionate about film photography and model railroading!

Cliff started getting involved with the union years ago, when his produce manager — who was the store’s shop steward at the time — invited him to various trainings on his rights at work. Since then, Cliff has become a reliable resource for his coworkers, helping them navigate workplace challenges and advocate for themselves.

“I joined the grocery contract negotiations team because I want my coworkers to have better quality of life. That means fair pay, the hours necessary to ensure our stores aren’t understaffed, and respect on the job!”

Meet the 2022 Grocery Store Workers Negotiations Team: Naomi Oligario

Naomi Oligario, grocery store worker at Port Orchard Safeway and UFCW 3000 grocery contract negotiations team member

As we negotiate the 2022 Grocery Store Workers contract with the employers, let’s get to know your fellow grocery store workers who are part of our member-led bargaining team!

Naomi Oligario has worked at Port Orchard Safeway for 37 years! She started as a courtesy clerk before working her way up to produce & front end. Throughout the years, she has trained countless other grocery store workers, all while getting to know customers as they’ve grown up and built families of their own. While this year is the first time Naomi is part of the contract negotiations team, she has been a shop steward for her store since 2015-2016. Naomi is a respected workplace leader, helping her coworkers win grievances for backpay, educating them on their rights at work, and pushing management to respond to employee concerns.

Naomi is a proud mother of four and grandmother to four! Her youngest grandson is 7 months old, and her youngest grandchild was born just a few weeks ago. Naomi is excited to visit her in Ireland — after we’ve won a fair contract!

“I’m here at the negotiations table because I want the coworkers who have put in years and decades of service in the grocery industry to be taken care of. I want folks who are new to the business to feel like they belong and can truly make a career out of this work. A rising tide lifts all boats!”

Meet the 2022 Grocery Store Workers Negotiations Team: Roger Yanez

Roger Yanez, Grocery Store Worker at Redmond QFC and UFCW 3000 Grocery Negotiations Team Member

As we negotiate the 2022 Grocery Store Workers contract with the employers, let’s get to know your fellow grocery store workers who are part of our member-led bargaining team!

Roger Yanez started working at Fred Meyer in 2007 before transferring to QFC 860 in Redmond, where he has been for several years. He started getting involved in the union about three years ago, after successfully winning a grievance. Since then, Roger has truly stepped up as a workplace leader, training to become his store’s shop steward, and helping answer his coworkers’ questions about their rights at work.

In his free time, Roger is an avid coin collector! He loves spending time with his family, and that’s one of his main motivations for joining the grocery contract negotiations team this year. He’s excited to fight for a fair contract that will allow his coworkers to spend more time with their families.

CHI St. Michael Medical Center RN - Bargaining Continues

“Management’s initial economic offer misses the mark, failing to come close to St. Joseph Medical Center’s recent wage increase.”

-Bargaining Team: Brett Moore, Cindy Franck, Kimberly Fraser McMillan, Michael Nord, Tammy Olson, and Janice Jones.

Our Bargaining Team met with Management again on April 5 to continue negotiations for the St. Michael Medical Center RN contract.

Before sending over their economic offer, Management gave our Bargaining Team a speech about the financial health of the medical center. Management outlined that the medical center is $45 million behind budget this year because of issues with patient length of stay, non-emergent procedure moratoriums, and the high number of travelers.

We countered by pointing out that if they agree to competitive wage increases for bargaining unit nurses, then they could retain and attract staff nurses and significantly cut down on the number of expensive travelers. We also noticed that they never mentioned that they are going into debt just not making as much money as they anticipated, which does not really concern our Bargaining Team. Management even admitted that they’ve noticed positive financial trends in March as the pandemic continues to abate.

Management’s Economic Proposal
Year 1 Year 2 Year 3
8.00% 3.50% 3.50%

While we would have likely been excited about their initial offer in previous contract cycles, we are now in different times with historic inflation and a hyper-competitive labor market. In fact, their proposal is far behind the 11% wage increase that nurses at St. Joseph Medical Center recently won, even worse when you consider that they will receive an additional 4% increase later this year.

We also reminded Management that St. Michael Medical Center is in a unique geographic location, meaning that we need to pay a higher wage to attract nurses into Silverdale or, more importantly, stop nurses from commuting into Seattle.

Management also continued to REJECT our enhanced charge nurse language, guarantees that nurses won’t be responsible for EVS or billing work, permanent pandemic language that ensures nurses will be protected during the next public health emergency, and our addition of staffing ratios into the contract.

We are scheduled to meet with the employer on Monday, April 11 and then again on Wednesday, April 27.

Next Steps:

Our Bargaining Team invites you to join our official Facebook page to get the latest news regarding contract negotiations at: facebook.com/SMMCNURSES

Contract Action Team Meeting: Attend regular Contract Action Team (CAT) meetings to hear the latest updates regarding negotiations, plan actions to pressure Management, and learn how to get our co-workers involved. We’ve also started holding a separate Emergency Department meeting focused on discussing the serious issues faced by nurses working in the department.

Sticker Action! Reach out to our workplace leader or Union Rep Aimee Oien to get a stack of our “Hello Staffing Crisis” or “Hello Missed Breaks” stickers to wear in the workplace. The stickers are launching on April 7, so make sure to get yours soon!

QUESTIONS? Join your coworkers and hear from the Bargaining Team! Zoom links are in the text below.

Wednesday, April 6 @ 6 PM
Contract Action Team (CAT) Meeting

Tuesday, April 12 @ 6 PM
Emergency Department Meeting

Meet the 2022 Grocery Store Workers Negotiations Team: Maggie Breshears

Maggie Breshears, Grocery Store Worker at Greenwood Fred Meyer and UFCW 3000 Grocery Contract Negotiations Team Member

As we negotiate the 2022 Grocery Store Workers contract with the employers, let’s get to know your fellow grocery store workers who are part of our member-led bargaining team!

Maggie Breshears has worked at Greenwood Fred Meyer since 2013. Maggie started getting involved with the union when one of her co-workers lost health insurance in the middle of her cancer treatment. Since that experience, Maggie has become a leader in her store, serving first as a shop steward and then joining the grocery contract negotiations team in 2019.

Maggie’s biggest goal is to support her co-workers as best as she can. She frequently stands up to management, clarifies new policies, and educates co-workers on their rights at work. Maggie has also taken her advocacy outside of the workplace, testifying in support of hazard pay to the Seattle City Council when it initially passed.

“I am a firm believer that it is the people you work with that makes a job great, regardless of what work you do. And I work with some wonderful people. I will fight for them at the bargaining table, support them when management oversteps and join them in the fight for fair wages, safe workplaces and a contract that respects us as a vital part of the nation's food chain. When we work together, we can create change.“

Meet the 2022 Grocery Store Workers Negotiations Team: Enrique Romero

Enrique Romero, Grocery Store Worker at Bellingham Fred Meyer and UFCW 3000 Grocery Contract Negotiations Team Member; Photo by Jovelle Tamayo for The New York Times

As we negotiate the 2022 Grocery Store Workers contract with the employers, let’s get to know your fellow grocery store workers who are part of our member-led bargaining team!

Enrique Romero has worked at Fred Meyer since 2012 and currently works at Bellingham Fred Meyer. Enrique started getting involved with the union because he felt motivated by his coworkers’ negative experiences with management. He got in touch with his Rep, received Shop Steward training, and has been helping his coworkers learn about their rights and get connected to resources ever since.

Outside of work, Enrique enjoys spending time with his family, who live in Everett. He also practices pyrography — the art of precisely burning wood with intricate designs!

Enrique joined the grocery contract negotiations team this year because he wants to keep fighting for his coworkers and ensure we all have respect & dignity on the job.

“The revolving door is swinging off its hinges. The sets of challenges essential workers face are changing rapidly. A fair contract would go a long way in repairing a torn social contract. A fair contract would give workers back a sense of pride in our work.”

Grocery Store Worker Contract Negotiations Update: First Day of contract negotiations concludes

First Day of contract negotiations concludes

Today was the first day our union member negotiating team met with the Employer’s representatives. During contract negotiations each side will make proposals, and in the end, members will have a chance to vote on the final agreement. Over the past year we have been preparing to win a better contract by holding monthly Contract Action Team meetings, signing strike pledge cards committing to do whatever it takes to win a fair contract—including going on strike—and participating in trainings to learn more about our rights. Our member negotiations team is focusing on our top priorities:

• Win higher wages, especially at the top of our pay scales

• Create more equity in pay between departments

• Protect our high-quality, low-cost health care plan

• Keep our pension funded and secure

• Improve store safety and training

• Improve recruitment and retention so we have the proper staff to help us get the work done

“We have shared our priorities with the employer about wage increases, equity, and safety, we know that many of the Employers have made record profits during some of the most hazardous few years for workers. Now it is time for them to invest in their workers and the communities they serve.” — Kyong Barry, Albertsons & Suzi Geffre, Fred Meyer

We know that when we stand together and hold strong we can win. In 2019, successful contract negotiations resulted in the largest wage increases in our union’s history, improved safety language, stronger scheduling language, new workforce development and training language, maintained our health care benefits with no increase in costs, and perhaps the biggest win of all: secured and improved our retirement pension. We need to build on that success to build equity and prosperity for workers.

“The revolving door is swinging off its hinges. The sets of challenges essential workers face are changing rapidly. A fair contract would go a long way in repairing a torn social contract. A fair contract would give workers back a sense of pride in our work.” — Enrique Romero, Bellingham Fred Meyer

UFCW 3000 and Teamsters 38 members are preparing for informational pickets scheduled for April 26 bit.ly/april26infopicket, and signing up for picket captain trainings bit.ly/groceryPCT. Members are also taking action leafleting customers in front of our stores and asking them to support workers in our negotiations. If you would like to organize an action at your store, contact your Union Rep.

RSVP for an informational picket April 26 at RSVP at: bit.ly/april26infopicket

Make sure your personal contact information is up-to date: ufcw21.org/update-your-information

Sign up for a Picket Captain Training Sign up at: bit.ly/groceryPCT

Our union negotiations team: 

Ames Reinhold, Metropolitan Market 

Amy Dayley Angell, QFC 

Aaron Streepy, Attorney 

Cliff Powers, Safeway 

Caprii Nakihei, Safeway 

Cosmo Villini, Safeway 

Eric Renner. UFCW 3000 

Enrique Romero, Fred Meyer 

Suzi Geffre, Fred Meyer 

Faye Guenther, UFCW 3000 President 

Jeff Smith, Fred Meyer 

J’Nee DeLancey, Town & Country 

Joanna Clapham, Fred Meyer 

Joe Mizrahi, UFCW 3000 Secretary Treasurer 

Kevin Flynn, Albertsons 

Kyong Barry, Albertsons 

Maggie Breshears, Fred Meyer 

Naomi Oligario, Safeway 

Roger Yanez, QFC 

Sam Dancy, QFC 

Sam Kantak, Teamsters 38 Secretary Treasurer 

Shawn Hayenga, Metropolitan Market 

Tammi Brady, Teamsters 38 President 

Wil Peterson, Fred Meyer 

Meet the 2022 Grocery Store Workers Negotiations Team: Shawn Hayenga

Shawn Hayenga, Prepared Foods Team Member at Sand Point Metropolitan Market and UFCW 3000 Grocery Negotiations Team Member

As we negotiate the 2022 Grocery Store Workers contract with the employers, let’s get to know your fellow grocery store workers who are part of our member-led bargaining team!

Shawn Hayenga has worked as a Prepared Foods Team Member at Metropolitan Market in Sand Point since 2013. Shawn had worked in the grocery industry before, but this was her first union job and she became involved as a workplace leader immediately, helping her coworkers better understand their rights at work.

“My favorite part of the job is definitely my co-workers and our guests. I have met some amazing people over the years. My role as an essential worker provides endless opportunities to make someone's day, and it's an extraordinary feeling when I can do that!”

Shawn joined the grocery negotiations team this year because she is looking forward to working alongside members to share her coworkers’ stories. Shawn is excited to fight for a fair contract and demanding fair wage increases, including fewer hours to work up the wage scale, more secure scheduling, and benefits like transportation stipends to help members get to and from work.

Meet the 2022 Grocery Store Workers Negotiations Team: Wil Peterson

Wil Peterson, Fred Meyer CCK and UFCW 3000 Grocery Negotiations Team Member — Photo by KEVIN CLARK, THE Everett Herald

As we negotiate the 2022 Grocery Store Workers contract with the employers, let’s get to know your fellow grocery store workers who are part of our member-led bargaining team!

Wil Peterson started working at Fred Meyer in August of 2003 — first in the Home department and later transitioning into the Central Checkout (CCK) department. In his words:

“My favorite part of the job is interacting with customers and my colleagues. Over the years, I've formed tight bonds with many longtime shoppers. I've seen their children transition from infants to young adults, and I've provided moral support to these regulars during numerous challenges and triumphs. The same applies to my coworkers, many of whom feel like virtual-family members. We toil ‘in the trenches’ under often-difficult conditions, so a strong support network is important, now more than ever.”

Wil got involved with the union when, some years into his time at Fred Meyer, he successfully fought an unwarranted suspension with the help of his Rep. Since then, Wil has become more and more involved as a leader in his workplace and in the union. Wil joined the bargaining committee in 2019 and says that he learned many hard lessons about how to stand up to employers when they make insulting offers and about the importance of solidarity.

“We need higher, more-equitable pay for all workers, consistently safe workplace conditions, and opportunities for improved work-life balance. I hope that employers will finally recognize how essential their workforce is and compensate us accordingly. It shouldn't take a pandemic to underscore the vital role that we constantly play in our respective communities.”

Seattle Children’s Hospital - Tentative Agreement Reached

We are excited to announce that your bargaining team reached a tentative agreement with management on a new collective bargaining agreement for UFCW members at Seattle Children’s Hospital. Your bargaining team unanimously recommends a “YES” vote!

• The proposed changes to your contract include:

• Historic wage increases that lead the market and will help with staff retention and recruitment,

• FULL RETRO PAY back to January 31,

• Per Diem differential increased from 10% to 15%,

• Increases to several differentials including the night shift differential, 

• Juneteenth as a new paid holiday, 

• New Pharmacy Technician premiums when performing compounding or tech-check-tech assignments,

• New promotion language that ensures a fair process when moving to a level two or three position (with retroactive effect), 

• And so much more!

The full details of the offer will be made available during our online vote meetings on Monday, April 11.

Join Our Online Vote Meeting!

Monday, April 11

• 9:00AM – 11:00AM

• 7:00PM – 9:00PM

https://zoom.us/join

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

It’s extremely important that members attend the zoom meeting to get a full understanding of the employer’s offer and have your questions answered. However, voting will not take place at this meeting.

We will be voting online via “SimplyVoting” on Tuesday, April 12 from 6:00AM to 8:00PM. You will be receiving an email from UFCW 21 via “SimplyVoting” with your unique login information. 

In order to vote, everyone needs to make sure their personal email is up to date in our records. If you did not receive this announcement via email, please visit ufcw21.org/update-your-information and update your information. If you do not receive an email to vote on Tuesday April 12, then please reach out to Union Representative Christie Harris *206-436-6606 to provide an updated email address. 

*Note: this is an office line and cannot receive text messages

Our SCH bargaining team: 

Matt Brabant - Respiratory Educator, Madison Derksema - Pharmacy Tech, Angela Ballard – Surgical Tech, Kellie Koenig – Ultrasound Tech, Ashley Strickland – Respiratory Transport, Tyler Schaffer – Anesthesia Tech, Tesfaldet Kidanemariam – Respiratory Therapist 

Telephone Town Hall Call: Grocery Store Worker Contract Negotiation

Over 27,000 grocery store workers of UFCW 3000 and Teamsters 38 in Western Washington are coming together to negotiate for a better contract. Negotiations with the employers begin on Monday and will be followed by a 5 PM Live Telephone Town Hall. The call will focus on our plan to gain more respect, protections and better pay, answer your questions, and also go into details about winning better workplace training and safety. When your phone rings Monday at 5 pm, just answer and you will join the call. 
 
If for some reason you do not receive a call shortly after 5PM on Monday, or you get disconnected on the call, you can join us by dialing: 1-888-652-5399 and entering meeting ID 6692.

To learn more about how we are supporting workplace training, please read the following report published earlier this year by WE TRAIN WASHINGTON titled: “Investing in Essential Grocery Store Workers - A Blueprint for Workforce Development in Washington's Grocery Store Industry”

Read the previous Grocery Store Worker Contract Negotiation Updates Here >>

How you can help in the fight for a good contract:  

• Make sure your personal contact information is up-to-date: ufcw21.org/update-your-information

• Join our next Contract Action Team meeting!
  Call your Union Rep or a workplace leader or RSVP here!

• Sign up for a Picket Captain Training 
  bit.ly/groceryPCT

• Join the UFCW 3000 Grocery Store Workers Facebook group >>