UFCW 3000 Member Story: Safeway #1550 Workers Organize to Win!

#WorkerWednesday is here and we want to spotlight the incredible organizing being done by grocery store workers & proud UFCW 3000 members at Safeway #1550 in the Roosevelt neighborhood of Seattle, WA.

Like many frontline, #EssentialWorkers at grocery stores across the PNW, the workers at Safeway #1550 have been dealing with many safety issues: cars being broken into, verbal assault, and harassment. One top concern was simply having a coded door to their break room so that workers could feel safe, knowing their personal belongings were not accessible to the public. Despite submitting the most store incident reports in their district to corporate about their concerns, management did not take any steps to address these issues.

One of the workers at Safeway #1550, Joaquin Viralta, came up with the idea of getting his coworkers to sign onto a petition. Leaders like Ian Bangs and many others soon took the drafted petition to their coworkers, getting over 80% of the store to sign on within 3 weeks. Ian and other worker-leaders represented their coworkers by delivering this petition to management. The workers received a commitment from management to: 1) install a coded break room door, 2) supply adequate PPE for each department, and 3) begin a program to help members get to their cars at night safe & sound.

This victory was only possible because of leaders like Joaquin and Ian stepping up, encouraging their coworkers to get involved with the union, and trying tactics like safety reports & the petition to successfully advocate for the change they needed in their workplace.

To all the worker-leaders at Safeway #1550: we are so inspired by your creativity & dedication!

Stop the Kroger Albertsons Merger and the Cash Grab - Add your name!

Stop the Kroger Albertsons Merger and the Cash Grab - Add your name!

We would like to send an email to the FTC’s AntiTrust division and add your name to the growing list endorsing the letter we sent on 11/3 expressing concern about this proposed merger.

On November 3, 26 organizations, including UFCW 3000, wrote a formal letter to the Federal Trade Commission raising serious concerns regarding the proposed merger of Kroger and Albertsons. That letter concluded with the following:

 “The bottom line is that this proposed merger is bad for workers, bad for consumers, bad for communities, bad for the economy—indeed, bad for everyone not associated with Cerberus Capital Management or owning shares in these two companies. We urge you to take immediate action to stop the special dividend payment and block this merger altogether.”

Providence Holy Family Hospital - New three-year contract Ratified 6 months before expiration

Providence Holy Family Hospital
New three-year contract Ratified 6 months before expiration

“I have just witnessed a one day negotiation with a approval rating of 99% from our members. I have been in management for just over 18 years and have been with this great union UFCW 3000 for around 10 years. I have also been employed with Holy Family Hospital for over 21 years. In my eyes this fast track negotiation is a blessing. Corporate management has realized that we are all in a desperate mode to keep us staffed properly and the reason we haven’t been able to is money. We have great language in our contract that I feel will keep this process going. Thank you all for participating and God bless.” -David James Coleck, NAC, Union Steward and Bargaining Team

On Thursday, November 3, UFCW 3000 represented Service and Maintenance members at Providence Holy Family Hospital ratified a new 3 year contract. We have set a foundation to build power within the workplace that will improve working conditions. Our new contract contains the highest wage increases that we have seen at Holy Family, increases to premiums, and tuition reimbursement by super-majority vote.

Thank you to all members who joined one of our vote meetings and participated in the ratification of this contract. Contact a Bargaining Team member or Union Rep Lenaya Wilhelm @ (509) 340-7369 for any questions or concerns.

Our Providence Holy Family Bargaining Team: Joseph Turner - SPD, Jackie Williams - UFCW Negotiator, Kendrick Jones - EVS, David James Coleck - NAC, Emily Hoover - Lab, Jodi Spurgin - Cook, Denise Hatch - Medical Support Staff, Lenaya Wilhelm - UFCW Union Rep, Not pictured: James Joyce - ER Tech, Alysha Cooper - CNA

Harbor Regional Health - HRH Management is Starting to Get it

Your Bargaining Team: Janet Byrd, Ricki Franklin, Dan James, Bambi Shope, Debbie Sturm.

After months of being severely understaffed and unable to hire, HRH is starting to make the connection and come to the table with proposals recognizing the high cost of living and pay at surrounding hospitals. (The connection may also have something to do with the large group of energetic picketers marching in front of the hospital a few weeks ago!)

The Union Bargaining Committee met with management on October 24 and we traded proposals. 

We were scheduled to meet November 3 but management notified us at the last minute that they couldn’t meet. The Union Bargaining team made good use of the time to review management’s current proposals and plan for our next session November 15. We are hopeful that management will come back to the table prepared to get this done!

For more information or to get involved, reach out to Union Representative Brandan Zielinski at bzielinski@ufcw3000.org or (206) 436-6603.

If you or someone you know is not receiving emails, update your contact information below!

Crossroads Trading - Bargaining Continues

Crossroad’s management team made it clear their priority is to maintain the status quo, not to listen to worker’s concerns or address wage disparities. When your bargaining team proposed layoff language, Crossroads management said that they didn’t want to give workers much of a voice in the process because they want to maintain ultimate control over business decisions. That’s not right, your voices matter!

Your bargaining team is interested in moving forward with negotiations and ensuring the bargaining process finishes quickly. Crossroads workers have made their priorities clear:

• Better pay

• Paid time off and holidays

• Trans and affordable healthcare

• Pandemic and safety language to keep workers safe

Crossroads management has only scheduled one meeting time per month and have made it clear their intention is to delay negotiations again until December.

You deserve better from management. Your coworkers are taking action to demand better.

Retail work is real work!

Reach out to your union rep Dominick Ojeda (206) 649-2774 to learn about the plan to win and what actions are coming up.

Samaritan Health RN Wage Scale Change vote

Samaritan Health RN Wage Scale Change vote

Samaritan Health has proposed a mid-contract improvement to our current wage scale for all RNs.

Because it is a permanent change to our contract, we will need to have members in good standing vote on the change.

All members are encouraged to vote YES on Monday, November 14, 2022 any time between 10am–12pm in Room 405.

You will be able to ask any questions and will be provided with the proposal at the vote.

Please reach out to our Union Representative Amy Radcliff at 509-340-7370 with any questions or concerns.

WA Court Put the Brakes on Albertsons’ Proposed $4 Billion Dividend

Press Release from UFCW 3000, UFCW 367 and Teamsters 38

For immediate release: 11/3/2022
Contact: Tom Geiger, 206-604-3421

WA Court Put the Brakes on Albertsons’ Proposed $4 Billion Dividend

Seattle, WA – When Albertsons announced in mid-October that it had agreed to a purchase by Kroger, a handful of essential grocery store workers’ unions came out quickly and condemned the proposal saying it would hurt workers and shoppers. We called on federal and state regulators to stop the merger. And then the Attorney General of Washington filed a lawsuit in King County Superior Court to halt the payment of the $4 Billion Albertsons dividend that would be the 1st step of the merger agreement. Attorneys General in CA, IL, and DC filed a similar suit in the District of Columbia.

Today, after hearing the case presented by the WA Attorney General and a slew of attorneys from Albertsons and Kroger, the Court ruled to put a temporary restraining order on the payment that Albertsons had announced would happen on Monday November 7.

UFCW 367, UFCW 3000 and Teamsters 38 reacted: “We applauded these Attorneys General when they filed their lawsuits, and we applaud Attorney General Ferguson and his team for presenting a strong case today and, at least temporarily, putting a pause on Albertsons’ $4 Billion payout for rich stock holders instead of investing in lowering prices, improving store safety and increasing the wages of the workers in the store who made the stores function all during covid.”

Providence Sacred Heart - Surgical and Maternity Tech Wage Scale Change

Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center has proposed a mid-contract improvement to our current wage scale for Surgical and Maternity Techs. Because it is a permanent change to our contract, we will need to have affected members in good standing vote on the change.

All affected members are encouraged to vote “YES” on Thursday, November 10, 2022 any time between 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM in the Mary Bede room.

You will be able to ask any questions and provided with the proposal at the vote.

Please reach out to your Union Representative Juanita Quezada at 509-340-7407 or your bargaining team Lisa Aker and Angela Holmes with any questions or concerns.

UFCW 3000 Calls for Resignation of St. Michael Medical Center Leaders in Petition of No Confidence

UFCW 3000 is publicly circulating a Petition of No Confidence in the leadership at St. Michael Medical Center, after years of inadequate response to issues at the hospital, including the recent experience of UFCW 3000 members in the Emergency Department who had to request assistance from the local fire department as conditions were unsafe due to short staffing.

Hospital staff, emergency services workers, physicians, local leaders, and the entire community of patients and residents in the Kitsap area served by the hospital are invited to sign on to this petition calling for accountability from Virginia Mason Franciscan Health.

We, the undersigned, hereby submit the following letter to Virginia Mason Franciscan Health Chief Executive Officer Ketul Patel:

Our community has been advocating for a safe hospital for years as workers repeatedly sound the alarm on the serious issues plaguing St. Michael Medical Center. Unfortunately, after years of ineffective response, and after workers have had to repeatedly report their concerns to hospital leadership through committee meetings, contract negotiations, and very publicly through picketing, media, and outreach to legislative officials, the health care workers’ pleas have been met with empty promises as the situation continues to deteriorate.

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! We demand change, we demand action, we demand that you take the concerns of your workers and the community seriously and make significant changes at St. Michael Medical Center.

We have lost confidence in the leadership team at St. Michael Medical Center and request that you start with the resignation of both President Chad Melton and Chief Nursing Officer Jeanell Rasmussen.

Unions Win Order Against MultiCare Payroll Deductions

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Seattle — Last month, a judge in King County Superior Court handed down an order that said MultiCare cannot deduct money from workers who were temporarily overpaid without an express agreement from the individual employee. The alleged overpayments related to an extended outage of the employer’s timekeeping system.

SEIU Healthcare 1199NW, UFCW 3000 and the Washington State Nurses Association filed suit against MultiCare after the healthcare system announced it had overpaid workers and was going to recover the overpayments by deducting amounts of their choosing from subsequent paychecks without the permission of the worker. The unions argued the law didn’t permit MultiCare to do that. The court agreed with the unions, and MultiCare was ordered to stop deductions unless it had an agreement with the individual member.

The Washington State Nurses Association, SEIU Healthcare 1199NW and UFCW 3000 filed a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) in March to prevent MultiCare Health System from garnishing wages without employees’ consent in order to recover alleged overpayments while the case made its way through the court system.

This legal win will make a world of difference to dozens of workers who were facing drastic deductions from their checks. It would have meant not being able to pay rent or mortgage or keep food on the table if MultiCare had been allowed to proceed with the deductions.

These legal actions are intended to ensure that employees have a fair, transparent, and collaborative process for establishing repayment plans, including an opportunity to challenge MultiCare’s accounting and have a say in their individual repayment plans. Under federal labor law, MultiCare must bargain with the unions to ensure a fair procedure for any repayments.

BACKGROUND

In December 2021, timekeeping software provider Kronos was hit by a ransomware attack, shutting the system down for many employers that use it. During the time Kronos was offline, MultiCare chose to duplicate employees’ last accurate timesheet for payroll purposes.

Employees continued to track hours separately outside of Kronos, but paychecks for four pay periods were based on the first pay period in December.

MultiCare knew from the start that this would result in inaccurate paychecks during the outage, as healthcare worker hours vary, sometimes significantly, week to week. Notably, the period of outage covered the worst months of the Omicron surge, during which employees saw significant upheaval in their schedules.

Following Kronos’ recovery, MultiCare announced that it would begin deducting up to $500 per paycheck without employee consent beginning March 18. MultiCare gave workers a March 9 deadline to request alternate payment plans but did not offer an option to repay by any means other than paycheck deductions, and the lowest amount offered was 10% of the amount allegedly owed per pay period. At the same time, MultiCare has not provided transparent accounting for its claimed overpayments (or underpayments), and numerous workers have reported inaccuracies in the accounting provided to them.

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Card Kingdom Bargaining Begins!

Card Kingdom

We lay out our proposals and our values

Our Union Bargaining Team: Cole (AM Production), Rio Rios (PM Production), Raevyn Fletcher (ON Production), Zach Whittle (ON Machine Ops), Mark Ochsner (AM Warehouse Specialist), Kosmo Parker (ON Shipping), Jeff Dunn (PM Inventory), Lee North (AM Grading)

On Thursday, October 27, our Bargaining Team met with Card Kingdom Management to begin contract negotiations. We proposed 7 articles that included progressive discipline and termination language, gender neutrality and inclusivity, and a community statement, with additional articles to come at future bargaining dates. We are hopeful that Management aligns with our shared values.

Although we moved forward with many articles, Management used most of the pre-scheduled time to discuss their ‘Ground Rules’ for bargaining. While not objectionable, it is an unusual level of detail to use and we hope that we can focus on progressing contract language at future bargaining dates. We will be meeting again in November with the full bargaining team. If you have additional questions or concerns that have come up since the bargaining survey, please reach out to Union Rep Dominick Ojeda (he/him) through discord, office phone 206-436-6586.

UFCW Locals Applaud Actions of Attorneys General to Protect Workers and Consumers Impacted by Albertsons Proposed $4 Billion Payout

UFCW 5 - UFCW 7 - UFCW 324 - UFCW 367 - UFCW 770 - UFCW 3000 - Teamsters 38

 For immediate release: October 26, 2022
Contact: Tom Geiger, 206-604-3421

In part of the proposed merger announced by Kroger and Albertsons less than two weeks ago, the companies buried that Albertsons is planning a $4 billion payout to shareholders. Today, six Attorneys General including CA and WA pushed back on Albertsons to protect workers and consumers by demanding the companies stop the issuance of the special dividend until regulatory review of the merger is complete.

We expect the CEOs to respond positively to the Attorneys General by the end of the day on Friday and stop the issuance of the special dividend. Any effort to rush this payment threatens thousands of jobs of essential grocery store workers and millions of shoppers who would suffer from reduced competition, reduced choice and increased costs in markets across the United States. 

We applaud Attorneys General Ferguson (WA), Bonta (CA), and Racine (DC) for their leadership and action to protect workers and consumers in our state.

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Providence Credena Monroe Tentative Agreement Reached!

Providence Credena Monroe

Tentative Agreement Reached!

“Bargaining our first contract has been very rewarding! Our new contract will provide more equal pay and better benefits. Our solidarity is our strength!” - Our union bargaining team: Sarah Woolman and Laurine Plantilla

Our Bargaining Team is excited to have reached a tentative agreement with Providence Credena! Join us on November 10 to VOTE! Our bargaining team recommends a Yes VOTE on YOUR new three year contract. We will discuss all the wins, explain your new wages and answer any questions you may have, as well as welcome you to your new UNION!

We are proud of a contract that includes:

• A NEW wage scale that is equitable for advancement and cost of living increases!

• Across the board wage increases every 6 months over the course of the contract

• Weekend differentials

• Temporary Lead Pay

• More vacation days!

• Secure all benefits so they can not be changed unless they are bargained with the Union first

Join us to vote: Thursday, November 10, 11:45AM to 12:45PM at Credena Monroe

Members in good standing are encouraged to vote.

If you have any questions, please contact your Union Rep: Anthony Cantu 206-436-6566

Duty Free America - Contract Vote Meeting

Duty Free America
Contract Vote Meeting

Come to the Westside Pizza in Blaine to vote on the new contract! All the details of the contract will be available for your review and ask questions. This is a fully recommended contract with improvements to wages, other benefits, and no take-aways. There will be pizza and beverages for you to have while you review the offer.

Thursday, November 3
3pm - 5pm

Westside Pizza, 1733 H St Unit 200, Blaine, WA 98230

Wray’s Foods Grocery and Meat Workers Ratify Contract!

Wray’s Foods

Grocery and Meat Workers at Wray’s food in Yakima ratified their contract on Wednesday October 19

The contract includes:

• Annual increases for Journey workers

• Hourly bonuses through the life of the contract

• Maintaining Health and Welfare

• Securing our pension and moving into a new variable annuity pension

Contract Union Rep Raul Zaragoza if you have

any question on the new agreement at 509-340-7391

UFCW 3000 Member Story: Brittany Reusse

Brittany Reusse, proud UFCW 3000 member and ICU RN

It’s #MemberMonday and today we’re spotlighting Brittany Reusse, who is an ICU RN at Providence St. Mary Medical Center!

Shortly after graduating from nursing school, Brittany and her husband relocated to Walla Walla because they wanted to settle down in a town with a strong community atmosphere. Immediately prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Brittany began working in the float pool. Working through such a challenging time deeply bonded Brittany with her coworkers and allowed her to make many connections throughout the hospital across different units and roles. Eventually, Brittany settled into a permanent position in the ICU.

In the spring 2021, the ICU needed a representative on the bargaining team for contract negotiations. Brittany volunteered, passionate about connecting nurses together, ensuring excellent patient care, and advocating for better working conditions for her colleagues. Brittany says that being the ICU representative (and now a union shop steward!) gave her important perspective on solidarity and what workers can achieve together when we are united.

Brittany — thank you for your leadership and all your hard work in serving your patients, your coworkers, and your community!

Essential Grocery Store Workers Say: Stop Albertsons’ Dividend Payment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 22, 2022
Contact: Tom Geiger, 206-604-3421
Union members and leaders available for media interviews

Seattle, WA – On the heels of the proposed merger between grocery giants Kroger and Albertsons, on Tuesday, Albertsons announced that it will pay out a $4 billion dividend to shareholders November 7, 2022. The 64,000+ hard-working members of UFCW 3000, UFCW 367 and Teamsters 38 strongly oppose this dividend payout and are calling upon elected officials and regulators to stop this payment and the resulting devaluation of the company at a time when consumers are facing crushing inflation.

“Taking billions in assets out of a company that is running well, employs hundreds of thousands of essential workers, and provides daily necessities for millions of customers is a bad idea for the workers as well as customers,” said Joe Mizrahi, Secretary Treasurer of UFCW 3000. “That $4 billion could be much-better spent to lower prices of food for consumers facing unprecedented levels of inflation, pay workers more or invest in safer stores for workers and customers. Our essential grocery store members will do everything we can to stop Albertsons from squeezing workers and customers to the bone to shower executives and shareholders with billions.”

UFCW is looking to regulators and elected officials to join us in putting public pressure on Albertsons to invest this $4 billion in workers and lower prices for families, rather than enriching executives and shareholders.

“Our stores are already underfunded,” said longtime grocery store worker Kyong Barry who works at the South Auburn Safeway/Albertsons store in Washington State and is a member of UFCW 3000. “Albertsons just wants to pay out stockholders and bosses instead of investing in workers like me or keeping our stores safer for customers. Paying $4 billion to stockholders is ridiculous when skyrocketing food prices are forcing people in our communities to go hungry. Albertsons should be lowering prices instead of padding our bosses’ pockets.”

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Olympic Medical Center MOU ratified!

Olympic Medical Center

Memorandum of understanding ratified by OMC workers!

On October 11, the Healthcare Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was ratified with overwhelming support.

What does this mean for you? As Olympic Medical Center transitions everyone’s healthcare back to PEBB from Premera, you will see a $100 lump sum deposited into your Flexible Spending Account (FSA) in January 2023 to help offset any cost during transition. You will be able to use this $100 lump sum immediately starting in January 2023.

If you have any questions, please contact your Union Representative Aimee Oien at 360-662-1981.

Don & Joe’s Meat Tentative Agreement Reached!

Don & Joe’s Meat

Tentative Agreement Reached! Contract Vote Scheduled!

This historic agreement 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, both during and long before COVID. This is a Tentative Agreement and is not final until we vote to accept it. Full details of the agreement will be provided at each vote location. Our Union Member Bargaining Team reached this Tentative Agreement and recommends a YES VOTE to accept the proposal from the employers.

Contract VOTE MEETING: new date!

Wednesday, November 16 // 9am – 11am

at Don & Joe’s Meats: 85 Pike St. Seattle, WA 98101

Active members in good standing are eligible to vote. If you have questions contact your union Rep Scott Pattison at 206-436-6527

Duty Free Americas Tentative Agreement Reached!

Duty Free Americas

Tentative Agreement for New Contract Reached!

Today in negotiations UFCW 3000 reached a tentative agreement for a new contract for Duty Free America. This is a fully recommended agreement with no take-aways and improvements for:

• Rates of pay

• Overtime for work in one day

• Minimum time between shifts

• Holidays

The date, time, and place of the vote meeting will be announced as soon as possible.