ACME Farms + Kitchen ACME Workers Ratify First Contract!

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ACME Farms + Kitchen ACME Workers Ratify First Contract!

On Friday, March 3, 2023 ACME workers overwhelmingly ratified the first contract. This one-year contract had big wins like:

  • Wage Scales for all union jobs with increases based on length of service. Including language that moves the wage scale up when minimum wage goes up.

  • Time-and-one-half for:

    • More than 9 hours worked in a day.

    • Work performed on holidays that ACME is operating.

    • All shifts during inclement weather events where ACME members commute to work.

  • Paid holiday benefits.

  • Paid time off:

    • 5 personal days a year.

    • 40 hours of vacation in the first year of employment, 80 hours for 1-4 years, & 120 hours for 5+ years (earned as you work).

    • Paid sick leave. Plus quarantine pay.

    • 7 paid days for bereavement leave for those that have more than 90+ days of employment.

  • Protections from unjust termination.

  • Seniority rights for hours and recall from layoff.

There are many other benefits to union members. Make sure you get signed-up as a union member right away. To get copies of the vote documents contact our Union Rep Aisha Womack at 360-419-4681.

Acme Farms + Kitchen Contract Vote Rescheduled

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Acme Farms & Kitchen

VOTE MEETING RESCHEDULED

On Wednesday, February 8 our union bargaining committee reached a tentative agreement for the first Acme Farms & Kitchen Union contract! This tentative agreement is unanimously recommended contract by our Union Bargaining Committee for a “yes” vote at the ratification meeting now RESCHEDULED for Friday, March 3, 2023 at 3:30pm. It includes:

  • Wage Scales for all union jobs with increases

  • based on length of service.

  • Paid holiday benefits.

  • Paid vacation benefits.

  • Protections from unjust termination.

  • Many other benefits to all employees.

In-Person Contract Vote Details:

Rescheduled Vote: Due to the COVID-19 outbreak at the worksite and the Employer’s closure of the warehouse, the contract ratification vote, has been rescheduled for:

Friday March 3, 2023 at 3:30pm

909 Squalicum Way, Unit 104 Bellingham, WA 98225

All eligible current bargaining unit members are eligible to vote. Full details of the contract will be available in a vote summary document and the full version of the tentative agreement.

CANCELED: Ratification Vote | Acme Farms & Kitchen Tentative Agreement Reached!

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Acme Farms & Kitchen
Tentative Agreement Reached!

On Wednesday, February 8 our union bargaining committee reached a tentative agreement for the first Acme Farms & Kitchen Union contract! This tentative agreement is unanimously recommended contract by our Union Bargaining Committee for a “yes” vote at the ratification meeting. It includes:

  • Wage Scales for all union jobs with increases

  • based on length of service.

  • Paid holiday benefits.

  • Paid vacation benefits.

  • Protections from unjust termination.

  • Many other benefits to all employees.

Because of the number of details to review, we will be having an on-line meeting (via Zoom) to discuss the agreement ahead of the main vote meeting: Thursday, February 16 at 4pm

In-Person Contract Vote Details:

Canceled Vote: Due to the COVID-19 outbreak at the worksite and the Employer’s closure of the warehouse, the contract ratification vote, Friday, February 24 @ 3:30pm is canceled. We will reschedule it as soon as possible. 

All eligible current bargaining unit members are eligible to vote. Full details of the contract will be available in a vote summary document and the full version of the tentative agreement.

ACME Farms - Bargaining Continues

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ACME Farms
Bargaining Continues

  • After last week’s snow and ice storms, and the ensuing chaos about working on December 23, 26, and 27, we met with ACME Farms to talk about the pace of negotiations, emergencies like last week, and the upcoming busy season. We clarified that:

  • We wanted to pick up the pace of negotiations (while acknowledging scheduling issues on our side of the table) and now have bargaining scheduled on January 9 and 27, and February 3 and 17.

  • We wanted good faith negotiations that would bring us a fair contract to vote on, rather than a series of small agreements on issues that were Management’s priority.

  • We wanted clear communication about emergency situations as they evolve and other things that are important to us (like our pay).

Management talked about the need for more help during the upcoming business season and to deal with incentives for unscheduled shifts. After our meeting with Management, we talked about how to secure incentive pay for us and to make sure that Management didn’t replace union workers with temporary hires.

We are expecting a full set of counter-proposals when we meet again on Monday, January 9. We will have a full report on negotiations and what our next actions will be at our next Contract Action Team (CAT) meeting that same day.

Contract Action Team (CAT) Meeting
Monday, January 9
6pm

Round Table Pizza
1145 E Sunset Dr #135, Bellingham, WA 98226

RSVP: Contact Union Rep Aisha Womack @ 360-419-4681

ACME Farms - 1st Day of Negotiations

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Today we met with Management from ACME Farms via Zoom for the first day of negotiations. We delivered out initial proposals for most of the contract, including substantial wage increases for all employees, paid holidays, vacation, sick and safe leave, premiums (training duties, commuting in inclement weather, overtime after 8 hours, etc.), and a fair discipline process. We are still exploring health insurance and retirement benefit options to propose before our next bargaining session which is on October 21.

“Our first day of negotiations went well, we are all hopeful that we will soon have a union contract. I am grateful to have you all as my coworkers and friends and am thankful of how hard everyone has worked throughout this process to make it a success.”

— Evan Bailey, Delivery Driver

Our next bargaining date is on October 21 so stay tuned for more information, and keep those union buttons on to support your bargaining committee!

Draper Valley Farms - Accelerated wage increases and increased shift differentials starting February 28!

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Accelerated wage increases and increased shift differentials starting February 28!

The Company and Union have agreed to accelerating wage increases starting February 28. All union members shall receive a $1/hour increase (accelerating the full $0.75 increase that is to be paid starting April 1, 2022, and $0.25 of the increase that is not due until April 1, 2023).

Additionally, we were able to win a one dollar increase to shift differentials for Distribution and Processing plants! The new shift differentials will be $1.25/ swing shift and $1.35/ night shift.

These increases shall be effective February 28 and will appear on your March 11 paycheck.

¡Aumentos salariales acelerados y mayores diferenciales de turno a partir del 28 de febrero!

La Compañía y el Sindicato han acordado acelerar los incrementos salariales a partir del 28 de febrero. Todos los empleados recibirán un aumento de $1/hora (acelerando el aumento total de $0.75 que se pagó a partir del 1 de abril del 2022, y $0.25 del aumento que no se adeudó hasta el 1 de abril de 2023).

Adicionalmente, ¡pudimos ganar un aumento de un dólar para cambiar diferenciales para plantas de distribución y procesamiento! Los nuevos diferenciales de turno serán $1.25/ turno swing y $1.35/turno nocturno.

Estos incrementos entrarán en vigencia el 28 de febrero y aparecerán en su sueldo del 11 de marzo.