Providence St. Peter Hospital - Bargaining begins!

We met with Providence Management for our first bargaining session on April 18. We presented our non-economic proposals and had productive dialogue about resolving workplace concerns. Management was receptive and had thoughtful responses. We are looking forward to having continued collaborative dialogue in our future sessions on April 19, 20, 25, and 26.

PSPH RN Bargaining Team: Mike Staley, Andy Dusablon Jacob Kostecka, Darlett Holm, Holly Wallace, Marcia Chinnick, Julia Douglas

Skagit Regional Health - Laying the Foundation for a Strong Contract

Bargaining Team: Aaron St. John- CS Tech, Alina Delano - Ultrasound Tech, Ashley Price- Medical Assistant-Certified, Jill Douglass- Data Entry Clerk, Maria Muñoz- Environmental, Megan Osborn- Med Tech, Mike Koenig- Engineer, Rindi Atkins- Radiology Tech, Thomas Kean- Exercise Physiologist, Katie Davis- Social Worker

“Today was a good day full of lots of discussion on both sides. Looking forward to presenting more proposals next session.” -Aaron St Paul, CS Tech

On April 13, our Bargaining Team met with Management for our third joint negotiations session. Our team presented proposals that would increase seniority protection, minimize variable shifts, and limit how much Management can change our posted schedules. Management also provided a couple of proposals, and we had some productive conversations around some of the information we requested. With this additional information, we worked on drafting many more proposals on non-economic issues. We plan to present these proposals at our next joint session on April 27. Once all of our non-economics are on the table, we can start negotiating over economic issues, like wages, Premiums, PTO, and other benefits.

While our conversations with Management have been productive so far, we know that was we get into the tougher topics (like wages) we are bound to meet a lot of resistance. This is why it’s important we start preparing to stand in solidarity and take action now. Doing so will enable us to win a stronger contract quicker.

Please join us for one of our upcoming virtual Contract Action Team (CAT) Meetings on Tuesday, April 19 @ 1PM and 6PM. At these meeting we will provide more details about what’s happening at the table, the steps we can take to support our teams in securing a strong contract, and ask for your input changes you want to see in our next contract. RSVP to get the meeting details emailed to you.

We hope to see you at our CAT meeting! Be sure to stay tuned for more updates after our April 27 session.

If you have any questions about the bargaining process, please call our Union Rep Celia Ponce-Sanchez at (360) 419-4678.

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Contact Action Team (CAT) meetings:
Tuesday, April 19 • 1pm and 6pm

Contact a Bargaining Team member or Union Rep for CAT meeting details. The RSVP links to both meetings will be emailed to you.

CC Filson - Bargaining Begins

Your union bargaining committee met for the first time with CC Filson Management on Wednesday, April 13. Much of our time was spent going over questions we had concerning areas of the contract we want to change, especially safety in the new facility and having retirement benefits. We also made our first proposals and were encouraged that they agreed to extend recall from lay-offs from 12 months to 18 months, and they made some counter proposals that interested us on job posting and bereavement leave.

Management also had prepared economic proposals for us which included:

• New pay for leads

• A bonus for all workers if certain “target metrics” were met on an annually. (We have a lot of questions about what these “target metrics” are).

• BUT they also proposed no increases for Warehouse workers, and only minor increases to manufacturing piece-rate pay!

Their proposal raised many new questions for us, but one thing is for sure, their first economic proposal falls short of what we need, a living wage!

Filson workers need to stand together to show management that we won’t settle for anything less than a fair contract with fair wages. Join us at the new UFCW 3000 union hall at 23040 Pacific Highway South, Des Moines, WA 98198 for a Contract Action Team meeting on Friday, April 22, @ 4PM, where we will discuss plan the next actions we need to take to win a fair contract.

“Today was a good start, but we are far apart on wages, and are serious about bargaining retirement options!”

—Jared O, Bargaining Team Member

Tentative Agreement Reached with Albertsons/Safeway, Negotiations Continue with Kroger to Ensure All Our Grocery Store Workers Get Treated Fairly

After months of preparation and workers taking action, marathon bargaining sessions led to a tentative agreement with Albertsons/Safeway, at 3 AM on April 14. This followed four long days of negotiations last week. Our Team will return to the bargaining table with Kroger on Tuesday, April 19. Members at our Kroger stores should continue to prepare for our Informational Pickets on 4/26 to take action on Kroger so we all gain the respect, protection, and pay we deserve. We will all stand united until we all win.

This historic agreement with Albertsons/Safeway is a direct result of our actions and commitment to fighting for essential frontline grocery store workers and serving the communities in which we live since long before COVID. Essential grocery store workers from UFCW in Colorado, California and now here in our State of Washington are gaining some of the respect, pay and protections we deserve.

This is a Tentative Agreement and is not final until you vote to accept it. We will be scheduling votes for Albertsons/Safeway members the week of April 24 through April 30. Exact dates, times and locations will follow soon.

Full details of the agreement will be provided as soon as possible. Some top line information below:

• HIGHER WAGES: Exceeds the best wage increases in our union’s history, including hard money at the top of the scale and new money throughout the pay scales.

• ADDRESSING PAY EQUITY ACROSS DEPARTMENTS: For years we have been working toward fundamentally changing pay scales so that underpaid departments are paid more equitably. This Tentative Agreement has significant wage increases for all perimeter departments such as Deli, Coffee, Bakery, E-Commerce, Floral, GMHBC, and Fuel, with integration onto a higher paid All Purpose Clerk scale.

“This new scale moves us one step closer to having a single pay scale for everyone in the store. An hour of work is an hour of work, regardless of what department you are in, and we deserve to be compensated equally.”

- Kyong Barry, Albertsons

“This is the biggest wage increase we have ever seen. This pay increase will help thousands of workers who are struggling to put food on the table and pay rent. I am glad Safeway acknowledged the needs of our workers and stepped up with the largest pay increase we have ever seen.”

— Naomi Oligario, Safeway

• PROTECTING OUR HEALTH PLAN: For another three years there will be no increased costs for members for our quality, affordable health care. At the same time we were able to negotiate improvements to health, vision, and dental insurance.

• KEEPING OUR PENSION SECURE: Our pension continues to be well-funded and secure into the future, including increases in employer contributions to our pension as our wages go up.

• IMPROVING SAFETY: We won mandates for our Master Safety Committee Meetings so we have pre-scheduled meeting dates where our employer will discuss our safety concerns directly with worker representatives.

• IMPROVING TRAINING: We raised the employer contribution to our joint union-employer training fund to create better pathways to training and better paying jobs. This will invest millions of dollars into our workforce development.

• IMPROVING RECRUITMENT & RETENTION: With dramatic pay raises throughout the store, helping address workplace safety, keeping our quality health and pension plans, and an increased investment in training and education, this will help recruit and retain workers in our stores so we can be safely staffed.

TAKING ACTION: ENSURE KROGER WORKERS WIN A FAIR CONTRACT

PREPARE TO ATTEND THE UPCOMING INFORMATIONAL PICKETS ON APRIL 26: SIGN UP TODAY

We know our customers and communities are willing to stand with us in the fight for a fair contract, and informational pickets are an important opportunity to raise our voices, join with our communities, and show Kroger we’re not backing down. There will be morning and afternoon pickets across the region on Tuesday, April 26:

8a-12p:

• Fred Meyer #122, 100 NW 85th St, Seattle, WA 98117

• Fred Meyer #215, 25250 Pacific Hwy S, Kent, WA 98032

• Fred Meyer #681, 2801 Bickford Ave, Snohomish, WA 98290

• QFC #863, 1009 Monroe Ave, Enumclaw, WA 98022

• QFC #871, 4800 NE 4th St, Renton, WA 98059

• QFC #872, 9999 Holman Rd NW, Seattle, WA 98117

2p-6p:

• Fred Meyer #111, 33702 21st Ave SW, Federal Way, WA 98023

• Fred Meyer #28, 14300 1st Ave S, Burien, WA 98168

• QFC #808, 10116 NE 8th St, Bellevue, WA 98004

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

Get to know your Negotiations Team!

Grays Harbor Community Hospital - Bargaining Begins

As the contract cycle comes to an end, our UFCW 3000 Bargaining Team met across the table from Management on April 8 and 13 with more sessions planned in the next month.

Day one and two, the Union Bargaining Team brought proposals to the table improving employee protections, while Management came empty handed.

Next session we will be discussing the Hospital’s below market wages and premiums.

Our Bargaining Team is committed to raising the overall economic package for UFCW workers at GHCH/HRH.

Please update your contact information to receive updates: ufcw21.org/update-your-information

Your Bargaining Team (L-R): Debra Sturm, Janet Byrd, Daniel James, Ricki Franklin, Bambi Shope

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.“