Progress made in ‘23 – Building for more in ‘24

Progress made in ‘23 – Building for more in ‘24

Our union came into 2023 with some great successes, like winning a "best in a generation" contract for 25,000 Western Washington grocery store workers, but we also faced some huge challenges. Health care workers continued to be crushed by severe staffing shortages at hospitals that threatened both patient and caregiver safety alike, and at the same time, we had just learned of a proposed mega-merger between Kroger and Albertsons that threatened layoffs, store closures, and higher prices. 2023 was shaping up to be a big year.
 
UFCW 3000 members working in health care, grocery stores, food processing plants, retail businesses, and many other industries are fundamentally linked to the communities we work and live in. We are the essential workers that our communities depend on every day. That is why the challenges we face, like ferocious corporate greed that under-staffs us to make huge record profits, or the extreme and growing inequality between the wealthiest one percent and everyday working people are not just a problem for our workplaces —they are problems for our entire community. Greed and inequality are also underlying and insidious drivers of systemic racism and sexism —pitting us against each other, while an economic appetite of extraction and churn threatens the future of humanity itself. These toxic realities of greed and inequity also threaten our most cherished aspirations of democracy, freedom, and a better life for the next generation.

If together, as organized workers and communities, we want to fight back and build a better future, we are going to have to face these challenges head-on. While we recognize we still have a lot of problems and a lot of work to do to make things better in 2024, we also think it is important to celebrate the fact that we have been a leader in our region and around the nation —attacking these problems, making an impact, and being part of the movement to turn things around for the better.

Here’s a snapshot of some of our accomplishments from 2023, our wins as a collective union of workers in action. 

In 2023...

• We won important reforms at our UFCW International Convention and began the much-needed campaign for greater reforms in the future. Learn more about our local's fight to bring democracy to the UFCW >>

• We joined the 'year of strikes' when thousands of UFCW 3000 members voted to authorize ULP strikes: The nurses at Providence Everett and workers at Macy’s in Southcenter, Alderwood, and Bellingham went on strike in 2023. Both strikes were joined by hundreds of community supporters while thousands signed petitions in support of these striking workers.
  Providence strike recap video >> 
  Macy's strike recap video >>

• We passed a Safer Staffing Law! Working in a first of its kind in the region, a coalition with SEIU Healthcare1199NW, WSNA and UFCW 3000 worked to pass the historic ESSB 5236 Safe Staffing legislation that will take steps towards ensuring safer hospital staffing levels across WA. Learn more about the Safe Staffing legislation >>

• We opened a new Union Hall in Des Moines! After completing the sale of our flagship office of over 20 years in Seattle to the Seattle Labor Temple, we held an open house in our brand new union hall in Des Moines. This new location will save money, be more accessible to members (it is located on the new Light Rail route), and be a gathering space for members. Learn more about UFCW 3000 office locations >>

• Our elected Executive Board made of rank-and-file members adopted a powerful new 5-year strategic plan to guide our union and prioritize our work until 2028. Learn more about the Strategic Five Year Plan >>

• Our Executive Board also helped begin a national call from labor unions for a ceasefire in Gaza. Learn more about the petition for peace >>

• Had fun! Thousands of members and their families attended UFCW 3000’s summer events at Wild Waves in Federal Way, WA, and Silverwood in Idaho. Save the date for the next Summer Picnics at the Park: Silverwood is August 6 and Wild Waves is August 8.

• Union member bargaining teams won 8 first-time contracts and ratified 30 new contracts with higher wages, improved benefits and better working conditions.

• Held off the grocery store mega-merger by being instrumental in building a national coalition of unions that includes UFCW locals 5, 7, 324, 400, 770, 1564 and 3000 and community groups including 55 from our own region to oppose the Kroger and Albertsons mega-merger. We have successfully lobbied —through data, testimony, and evidence to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) who has recently ruled in our favor and decided to reject this proposed mega-merger! Learn more about efforts to stop the mega-merger >>

• In 2023 we organized hundreds of new members! New organizing wins from determined organizing committees both big and small resulted in hundreds of new members joining our union. Welcome Ferry County, Downtown Dog Lounge, REI Bellingham, MultiCare Auburn Pros, and Fred Meyer Port Orchard General Merchandise, and our first Cannabis producer contract at Mfused, who won a standard-setting contract in the cannabis industry.

• People powered politics in action: Our member-led endorsement committee interviewed 57 candidates for local office. 68 members participated in our Political Action Advisory Committee and were able to help win a new just cause standard for grocery store workers around retail theft. Learn more about our People-Powered Politics agenda >>

• The Essential Workers Organizing Academy is up and running! The program was broken up into three distinct phases: training, internal organizing, and external organizing/preparing for strikes. Apprentice organizers supported on campaigns that included Macy’s, Bartell Drugs, Fred Meyer, PCC, Providence Everett, as well as political and community projects. Congratulation to the first EWOA graduating class of 2023! Learn more about EWOA >>

• Enforced our rights: Together as members, stewards, and union Reps we work hard to ensure members’ rights are protected and that the process is transparent, and management is held accountable to our members, our contract, and the law. In 2023 we had to file 182 grievances against management that could not be resolved at the worksite level. 

• Got the training to empower ourselves: Over 300 members participated in a union training in 2023. These trainings included topics like Weingarten training and enforcement, Leaders in Action, New Member Meetings, Grievance Training, Retirement Seminars, and more. Learn more about upcoming union trainings >>

• No union should be an island. We support others in their struggles and UFCW 3000 attended strikes, showed solidarity and gave other support for Starbucks Workers United in Washington and around the nation.

And in 2024 we’ll fight for even more.

2023 Scholarship Recipients

Congratulations to our 2023 Scholarship Recipients!

Four-Year Scholarship of $4,000/year for 4 years
Cassy La
of Bornstein Seafoods

Health Care Scholarship: $3,000
Jesse Brinson-Wagner
of Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center

Health Care Profession Scholarship: $3,000
Ada Gutierrez
of Ashley House

Health Care Profession Scholarship: $3,000
Jack Larson
of MultiCare

Full-time Student Scholarship: $2,000
Linzi Geiger
of St. Michael Medical Center

Full-time Student Scholarship: $2,000
Emily Wills
of Kaiser Permanente

Full-time Student Scholarship: $2,000
Kaitlynn Butler
of Safeway

Full-time Student Scholarship: $2,000
Savannah Bruno
of MultiCare

Full-time Student Scholarship: $2,000
Levi Holms
of Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center

Full-time Student Scholarship: $2,000
Gie Coulibaly

Full-time Student Scholarship: $2,000
Allison Gumiran
of Bartell Drugs

Full-time Student Scholarship: $2,000
Rosemary Mitchell
of EvergreenHealth Monroe

First in Family Scholarship: $2,000
Amil Ocham
of Safeway

$2,000 Full-Time Scholarship award
Natalie Fawcett-Long
of PCC

2022 Scholarship Recipients

Congratulations to our 2022 Scholarship Recipients!

KAMORA MCMILLIAN

4,000/year for 4 years
Kamora McMillian
on behalf of UFCW 3000 member Kimberly Fraser McMillian of St Michael Medical Center

Marilyn Savage, RN Memorial Scholarship: $3,000
Kathryn Hoppins
of QFC

Health Care Profession Scholarship: $3,000
Mary Contreras
of Fred Meyer

Health Care Profession Scholarship: $3,000
Billy Connelly
of Auburn Medical Center

Full-time Student Scholarship: $2,000
Arvin Thyagarajan
of Haggen

Full-time Student Scholarship: $2,000
Shaakym Humphrey
on behalf of UFCW 3000 member Kimberly Fraser McMillian of St Michael Medical Center 

Full-time Student Scholarship: $2,000
Emma Lawrence
on behalf of UFCW 3000 member Jennifer Slown of Northwest Administrators

Full-time Student Scholarship: $2,000
Kaleb Sapien
on behalf of UFCW 3000 member Maria Goodall of Providence

Full-time Student Scholarship: $2,000
Lily Drozynski
on behalf of UFCW 3000 member Jenny Drozynski of Kaiser Permanente

Full-time Student Scholarship: $2,000
Shayan Shahrabdi
on behalf of UFCW 3000 member Setareh Soltani of Sacred Heart Medical Center

Full-time Student Scholarship: $2,000
Beemnet Yimam
on behalf of UFCW 3000 member Erku Gessesse of Providence Sacred Heart

Full-time Student Scholarship: $2,000
Soleil Wieland
of QFC (Kroger)

First in Family Scholarship: $2,000
Anna Croissant
of St Peter Hospital

First in Family Scholarship: $2,000
Narateena Dowding
of Kroger/QFC

$500 Scholarship:
Sarah Knight
on behalf of UFCW 3000 member Brian Budravage of Safeway

$500 Scholarship:
Citlalli Judith-Cruz
on behalf of UFCW 3000 member Maria Judith-Cruz of Washington Beef

$500 Scholarship:
Peyton Schimmels
on behalf of UFCW 3000 member Julie Schimmels of United Way

$500 Scholarship:
Areyana Cervantes
on behalf of UFCW 3000 member Cecilia Cervantes of Washington Beef

$1,000 Scholarship:
Jensen Hill
of Safeway

$1,000 Scholarship:
Sierra Straub
of Safeway

2021 Scholarship Winners

Congratulations to our 2021 Scholarship Recipients

Four-Year Scholarship
Jack Mezzone
on behalf UFCW 21 Member Melissa Mezzone of Skagit Regional Clinics

Health Care Profession Scholarship
Mari Bradley
of Multicare Good Samaritan Hospital

Health Care Profession Scholarship
Angela Harper
of Safeway

First in Family Scholarship
Jeanett Quintanilla
of PCC Community Markets

First in Family Scholarship
Melissa Morales
of PCC Community Markets

Full-time Student Scholarship
Lindsey Franklin
on behalf UFCW 21 Member Colton Peterson of PCC

Full-time Student Scholarship
Troy Schmidt
on behalf UFCW 21 Member Laura Schmidt of Safeway

Full-time Student Scholarship
Kelly Smith
of Providence St. Peter's Hospital

Full-time Student Scholarship
Viviane Mitchell
of Kaiser Permanente Washington

Full-time Student Scholarship
Emily Drozynski
on behalf UFCW 21 Member Jenny Drozynski of Kaiser Permanente Tacoma Specialty Clinic

Full-time Student Scholarship
Elisa Kooiman
of Food Pavilion

Full-time Student Scholarship
Shayan Shahrabadi
on behalf UFCW 21 Member Setareh Soltani of Sacred Heart hospital

Full-time Student Scholarship
Carmen Wilwert
on behalf UFCW 21 Member Tracy Wilwert of Olympic Medical Center

Our Voice - UFCW 21 August E-Newsletter

Edited by Wil Peterson, member of UFCW 21

UFCW 21 member takes self-protective action at self checkout

“It seems like a constant fricking battle to make it safe there.”

Standing up to management is nothing new for UFCW 21 member and Bainbridge Island Safeway cashier Sue Wilmot. But the stakes—and potential health risks—are higher than ever during the novel coronavirus pandemic. So when a manager ordered her to open all eight of the store's self-checkout (SCO) stations, despite overcrowded conditions, she respectfully declined because of concerns about maintaining social distancing.

“I feel that I can refuse to do something that I feel is unsafe, and it’s not safe for the customers, either,” Sue said. “It seems like a constant fricking battle to make it safe there. It’s just constantly running in circles... a constant battle. They know what’s right, but they’re more worried about getting the customers through.”

The temporary standoff happened in late March, just after the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) had issued recommendations that include maintaining a distance of at least six feet between workers and customers. Since compliance would have been impossible that day, Sue’s survival instinct kicked in. After a bit of initial pushback from the manager, he allowed her to keep four SCO stations closed but said she would have to open the others if necessary.

Sue stood her ground for the remainder of the shift. The next day, she opened the four outside stations but left the others closed. The store manager ordered her to open each station. Once again, Sue politely refused to comply, citing safety concerns. She was removed from SCO to cashier elsewhere.

A precedent was set, however. During her subsequent SCO shifts, Sue was allowed to open only four stations. But other cashiers were still required to operate at least six of the stations. “They say they don’t feel they can stand up to them,” she said.

That's never been a problem for Sue. During her 39 years at the store, she has circulated petitions and initiated actions, which included organizing an employee walkout during a historic strike in 1989. She recalls being the first employee to wear a protective face mask before management granted permission. As a UFCW 21 Executive Board member, she helped bargain last year’s retail and grocery store worker's contract.

Fortunately, enforcing customer compliance with state face-masking mandates isn't one of Sue's recent responsibilities. “It’s Bainbridge Island,” she said, referring to the residents’ generally cooperative behavior. “Plus, we just give them to the few who don’t have one. Or when they’re told they need one, they go out and get it.”

We want to hear from you!

Workers Stand Up to Say Black Lives Matter

As union members, we fight for fairness and against discrimination in all forms. Standing together against racism at work and in the community is one of the most UNION things we can do. Plus, when we stand up for each other, we are building the solidarity that makes our union strong.

Workers across the country are taking action to stand up for racial justice in our workplaces and in our communities. Many UFCW 21 members and other union and nonunion workers have begun wearing buttons, stickers, clothing, or face masks saying Black Lives Matter, and the union is producing Black Lives Matter buttons for distribution in workplaces. “I’m choosing to wear this button because we need to bring attention to social injustice,” says shop steward Samuel Dancy, Westwood Village QFC. “We need to head in a different direction.” Unfortunately, some workers are also facing intimidation and retaliation from management for wearing BLM-themed masks or buttons, and some have been directed to remove them.

We must enforce our rights. The law gives us the right to speak up and take collective action on issues that affect us at work, including racism and discrimination. Regardless of the issue, we can’t let management pick and choose when we get to exercise our basic legal and contractual rights.

If management asks you or a coworker to remove a button, apparel, or PPE related to Black Lives Matter: You should comply in the moment and immediately contact your union representative. This action by management may be a violation of your rights under your contract and or the law. It is important that you document any such interaction with management, clearly tell management that you will comply with their request but that you disagree and will be contacting your union representative. This will allow you and your union representative or steward to investigate and take appropriate action – which could include grievances, charges or other actions filed against the employer.

If you would like to get Black Lives Matter buttons to wear and distribute in your workplace, just text (803) 820-2121.

UFCW 21 Member 3-D Prints Protective Equipment for Fellow Members 

UFCW 21 member Ben Hartman believes desperate times call for creative measures. So he used his 3-D printing knowledge to help combat the personal protective equipment (PPE) shortage faced by scores of first responders during the first phase of the COVID-19 crisis. 

“I’m doing this because we need to make sure we eliminate this disease as much as possible,” Ben said. “We need to find ways to protect our Union members.” 

Ben, a dairy manager at QFC in Bellevue, has been 3-D printing since a friend introduced him to the technology in 2016. He built a printer and eventually learned the ins and outs of the process, including creating the electronic maps the printer follows as it melts and transforms plastic filament into finished products and dealing with jams and complications along the way. This spring, he focused on printing components for protective face shields, designed to be worn with face masks as a stop-gap PPE option. Ben used personal 3-D printers to produce top pieces for the face shields, and connected through UFCW 21 with local companies like Fremont Laser and Seattle Makers that were producing other face shield components which could be put together and distributed to members. 

“We need to find ways to protect our Union members.”

Putting his knowledge to work on behalf of fellow members was gratifying for Ben, who also helped collect donations of N95 masks, gloves, goggles, lab coats, boot covers and respirators from multiple sources including painters, carpenter unions, veterinarians, Microsoft and the Seattle Children's Theater. “It’s a little bit coming from everywhere that’s making the difference,” he said.

And because the term “first responders” is open to interpretation, Ben believes PPE should be available to as many members as possible. 

“All of our members are our first responders—from our members working in the hospitals coming in contact with the virus head on, to our grocery workers who come in contact with the virus on a daily basis from customers who don’t even know if they have the virus, since there are so many people who are still not wearing gloves or face masks,” he said. “We have to protect our members, and that’s what we are hoping to accomplish with this project.”

---

UFCW 21 Winter 2020 Newsletter: The Power of Unity

UFCW 21 Winter 2020 Newsletter Articles:

The Power of Unity

Our unity is what got us here, we can’t forget that our united strength against the third largest healthcare corporation in the nation is how we will win!

Across the state, health care workers had been in hard negotiations with Providence Health for over a year at some hospitals and were making little headway. At every turn Providence was using intimidation, surveillance, unlawful polling, and threatening lockouts against health care workers. Progress at the bargaining table was also frustrating: Providence proposals failed to adequately address safety, staffing and other workplace concerns raised by employees. At the same time, they continued to insist on a massive takeaway of hard-earned benefits that some workers have been earning for decades. Jose Hernandez, a member of UFCW 21, summed up many workers’ frustration: “As an Emergency Room Assistant at Sacred Heart, I see patients and their families in times of greatest need. They are counting on Providence to provide the highest quality care, but too often Providence is putting profits first. I am ready to strike for my patients and ensure their health is always our top priority.”

15,000 health care workers from UFCW 21, WSNA, and SEIU Healthcare 1199, the state’s largest unions at Providence knew that by standing together and acting in coordination we could stand up to Providence. The three unions, for the first time ever, signed a historic unity commitment, a pledge to stand as one in coordination and solidarity. Workers of all three unions voted in overwhelming numbers to authorize a strike and started joint actions across the state with the support of our community partners, neighbors, patients, and elected leaders. Our coalition fight for a fair contract at Providence was even picked up by national presidential candidates and news outlets across the state and country.

Our unity paid off; hours before our planned 10-day notice to strike, Providence agreed to take their drastic cuts off the table—creating a pathway to win strong contracts at all of our Providence locations. We will continue to stand with our partners until we all win strong contracts at Providence and we remain committed to building strong coalitions with SEIU and WSNA—and throughout the labor movement—to fight for stronger jobs and communities. We showed that through unity, and a commitment to our patients and each other that we could win a fair contract that is better for patient care and safety, better for staffing and better for the future of our hospitals.

UFCW 21 scholarships still available!

scholarships available

Full-time Student Scholarships: $2,000
Health Care Profession Scholarships: $3,000
Four-Year Scholarship of $4,000/year for 4 years
First in Family Scholarships: $2,000
Marilyn Savage, RN Memorial Scholarship: $3,000

Application Deadline: March 6, 2020

The community remembers Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

The community remembers Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on January 20, 2020, as families and friends unite and rally in Seattle’s Central District. Dr. King’s courage to stand up against oppression and resist hate through nonviolent direct action was his legacy that will continue to live on for generations to come. If you would like a commemorative button in honor of Dr. King, please contact your Union Rep.

When we fight, we win in Olympia

The 2020 legislative session is upon us and once again UFCW 21 will be in Olympia fighting to advance workers’ rights. Past legislative sessions have seen us win victories like ensuring uninterrupted meal and rest breaks for frontline health care workers, and vacating cannabis misdemeanors. In 2017, we fought for and won the most progressive Paid Family and Medical Leave law in the country. As of January 1, the program is now live! Information about eligibility for coverage and how to apply can be found at www.paidleave.wa.gov or reach out to your rep with any questions. This is one of the strongest statewide Paid Leave programs in the country and you now have access to it!

Legislative wins like this only happen when we have pro-worker majorities in Olympia and when legislators hear the real stories of workers. UFCW 21 has a full slate of policies on the agenda for 2020 that will make Washington a better place for workers, our families, and our communities. Read on to find out more!

• The Working Families Tax Credit would help fix Washington’s broken and upside down tax system by providing tax relief to low and moderate wage workers.

• UFCW 21 proudly represents cannabis workers at Have A Heart, and our cannabis legislation provides an opportunity for our union to grow while also ensuring that cannabis jobs in Washington state are good jobs.

• Our slate of health care legislation includes bills to help reduce work-related injuries for health care workers, protect the personal information of our public sector health care workers, and have better financial transparency in large health care institutions. These bills are designed to improve working conditions for health care workers, as well as improving the quality of care patients receive.

• We will continue our fight from previous legislative sessions to pass bills that promote housing affordability, which has been identified as the top non-bargaining issue for our members.

• Updating the workers’ compensation process is another top priority – the system is currently stacked against workers with unnecessary and overly invasive Independent Medical Exams for injured workers and Third-Party Administrators who are often utilized to suppress workers’ claims. We need to strengthen protections for workers as they navigate the system so workers can safely return to work – and pay their bills on time when they are out due to injury.

Winning on issues like this is hard, it takes electing pro-worker candidates as well as workers getting involved in the legislative process. If you are interested in coming to Olympia during the 2020 legislative session, reach out to Karsten Wise, political organizer at 206-436-6556 or email: actionteams@ufcw21.org

New Seasons Workers Welcome

UFCW 21 is welcoming some of our newest members—grocery workers displaced by the December closure of New Seasons Market’s Ballard store.

New Seasons announced in December that it would close the Ballard store and leave the Seattle market, where it had previously committed to open two to three stores per year. The good news is many New Seasons workers are moving over to union stores, including Metropolitan Market and PCC. In fact, the company’s Mercer Island store will transition to Metropolitan Market in the spring. Later this year, PCC will open at the Central District location that New Seasons leased and furnished but never opened.

New Seasons is a Portland-based natural foods grocery chain with a record of anti-union activity. Naturally, UFCW 21 members were concerned when the company announced an ambitious Puget Sound expansion in 2015.

Our concerns intensified when New Seasons competed aggressively with Metropolitan Market for the Mercer Island location, a former Albertsons store. At the time, unionized Metropolitan Market and anti-union New Seasons were both owned by the same private equity firm—Endeavour Capital. So New Seasons’ competition with Met Market looked to us like an attempt by Endeavour Capital to weaken the union and undercut our contracts.

Over the past four years, UFCW 21 and our community partners repeatedly advised New Seasons that it would be welcomed in Seattle if it committed to respect workers’ rights, meet area standards, and address concerns about its role in gentrification and displacement in the Central District. The company dismissed our advice and even hired an aggressive union buster to counter worker organizing in Portland.

UFCW 21 is committed to doing everything we can to support a successful transition for all New Seasons workers. And we are also encouraging PCC to work with Central District community leaders to ensure the 23rd and Union store reflects and respects the historic African American population of the Central District.

Are you a New Seasons worker with questions about moving over to a union store, or need help with job transition? Please call Marc Auerbach at (206) 436-6519.

2019 Autumn Member Newsletter

MEET WATSON

Keeping Up and Fighting Back -Building Power in the Workplace

With all of the new technology we see around us, we need to be a part of the conversation about how it shapes our future in the workplace. We also need to use technology to help build power in our workplace.

We have created the UFCW 21 App as a powerful tool for leaders and members. The UFCW 21 App uses a robot called Watson that member leaders, union Reps and bargainers have trained to find answers to your questions based on your unique contract and new laws and policies that affect your workplace.

You ask a question, then Watson provides the answer to you. If Watson doesn’t know the right answer, it bumps it through to a person in our member support team, who’ll be able to help out and then train Watson to answer it next time. The more questions we ask Watson, the smarter it gets and the better it’s able to find the correct answers to questions.

We are continuing to get feedback and build the UFCW 21 App to help in the workplace. With this new technology, workers have access to the knowledge and information they need to be informed about bargaining agreements, company policies, and laws―regardless of whether they’ve just clocked off at 2am, or are about to walk into a meeting with management!

Do you know your rights?

Christina Harris is a Bakery Clerk at the Lake City Fred Meyer. She shared her story with the Seattle City Council about the many times she was expected to stay late, occasionally pulled to other departments, and not compensated. When Seattle adopted Secure Scheduling, Christina believed that this behavior of unpredictable scheduling would end, but Management persisted. So she worked with her Union Representative, and together, along with many more Fred Meyer employees, they instigated an investigation with the Office of Labor Standards.

While the investigation of Fred Meyer is ongoing, hundreds of workers have received checks to compensate them for Fred Meyer’s violations of the Secure Scheduling ordinance. Christina got over $2,500 in earned income as a result of this action. As she stated to Councilmembers: “If labor standards exist but nobody is around to enforce them, do workers really have protections?”

We know the answer, and that is why we continue to not only advocate for policies that protect workers, but also to fully fund agencies created to enforce those rules. And with your help, we are able to alert those agencies, and ensure that your rights are protected, and that workers receive the pay they deserve when employers violate the law.

Secure Scheduling was adopted so that you can count on knowing when you need to be at work and when you are free to take care of your kids, help your parents get to medical appointments, or just enjoy free time. The law includes two-weeks’ notice for schedules to be released, and compensation when Management changes your schedule or asks you to work late or come in early. These are hard-won rights that bring stability to working people, and provide a disincentive for employers that want to under-schedule workplaces.

If you believe that Management at your worksite is breaking these rules, contact your Union Representative, and together we will work to ensure that your rights are protected. It’s your time, and you deserve to have your time protected.

THE POWER OF COMMUNITY ALLIES

Contract fights can be challenging and isolating. We need the support of our vast and diverse membership, and also the communities where we live. When we get improvements in our jobs and working conditions, we raise the quality of life for ourselves, our families and our communities.

In July, Grocery Store Workers were not alone during their canvasses and informational pickets. Neighbors, church leaders, union leaders, social justice organizations, and many others turned out in solidarity, to add their voices and strength to the people who make their neighborhood grocery stores work everyday. The community allies remembered how these workers set out in snow and ice to ensure that the shelves were stocked and the stores were open through weeks of treacherous weather this past winter.

Community allies marched into the stores armed with ‘This Community Has My Back-One Good Job Should Be Enough’ buttons, taking selfies and letting members know that they were with them in the day to-day struggle for sustainable wages and livable scheduling.

Then community met with the store managers and presented their grocery list: Eggs, Kale, and La Croix were easy to find. However, there were more important items on their list that they couldn’t find in the store: Scheduling We Can Depend On… Wages We Can Live On… A Pension We Can Count On. They asked the managers to listen to the needs of their workers, because they are also the needs of the community.

Community members in Everett, Olympia, Centralia, Walla Walla and Spokane were disheartened when they heard about the looming strike with Providence hospital workers. Elected officials, faith groups and social justice groups have scheduled Community Lunchtime Listening Sessions in these hospitals to hear directly from health care workers about the critical issues causing them to vote for a strike.

The Providence health care workers will also be going to City Council meetings to talk to elected leaders about how Providence putting their profits before patients is a community crisis. Short staffing is one of the major concerns for Providence health care workers: “We need safe staffing levels to provide the highest quality of care for our patients.” Many local businesses and labor groups have shown their support by posting signs that say ‘Providence Hospital Workers Demand Patients Before Profits.’ At this time it is still unknown whether a strike will happen, but what we do know is the community is with us.

All of these actions, throughout Washington State, unite workers and their community. Together we advocate for good contracts now, and a future where all workers get what they need to thrive.

Fall 2019 General Membership Meeting

This General Membership Meeting session, we are testing out a Townhall Call for members who work and/or live in Brewster, Centralia, Colville/Chewelah, Moses Lake, Omak, Republic, and South Bend. This is in an effort to make meetings more accessible to members and save member resources. Read more about the Townhall Call below the list of GMM locations and times.

Aberdeen
Monday, November 11
6:00pm
Grays Harbor Hospital
West Campus
915 Anderson Drive
Conference Room E - 1st Floor

Auburn (New)
Wednesday, November 13
1:15pm
Auburn Regional Medical Center
Plaza 1: 202 N Division St
AMC - 1st Floor
Board room

Bellevue
Thursday, November 14
9:00am & 7:00pm
Sheraton Hotel
100 112th Ave NE
Newport Room

Bellingham
Wednesday, November 13
7:00pm
Quality Inn Baron Suites
100 E Kellogg Road
Olympus Room

Bremerton
Thursday, November 14
11:00am
Harrison Medical Center
2520 Cherry Ave
Aspen Room - 2nd Floor

Brewster (New)
Monday, November 11
*Townhall Call 5:15pm

Centralia (New)
Wednesday, November 13
10:00am
Providence Centralia Hospital
914 S Scheuber Road
Cafeteria

Monday, November 11
*Townhall Call 5:15pm

Colville/Chewelah (New)
Monday, November 11
*Townhall Call 5:15pm

Coupeville
Wednesday, November 13
3:15pm
WhidbeyHealth Medical Center
101 N Main St
Conference Room 1

Enumclaw
Monday, November 11
1:00pm
Guesthouse Inn
1000 Griffin Ave
Meeting Room

Everett (New)
Thursday, November 14
9:00am & 7:00pm
Snohomish County PUD
2320 California Street
Room TC2-A

Federal Way
Tuesday, November 12
9:00am
Hometown Office Suites & Svcs
33530 1st Way South #102
Classroom

Forks
Monday, November 11
2:00pm
Forks Community Hospital
530 Bogachiel Way
Main Conference Room

Sea-Tac
Monday, November 11
7:00pm
Angle Lake Family Resource Center
4040 S 188th St, STE 100
Meeting Room

Seattle
Tuesday, November 12
9:30am & 7:00pm
Phinney Neighborhood Center
6532 Phinney Ave N
Room 6 - Blue Bldg.

Thursday, November 14
9:00am & 7:00pm
UFCW 21 Office
5030 1st Ave S
Joe Crump Hall

Sequim
Wednesday, November 13
7:00pm
Quality Inn
134 River Road
Breakfast Room

Shelton (New)
Tuesday, November 12
12:00pm
Roosters Restaurant
3001 Olympic Hwy N
Large Room

Silverdale
Wednesday, November 13
9:00am & 5:30pm
UFCW 21 Office
3888 NW Randall Way #105
Conference Room

South Bend (New)
Monday, November 11
*Townhall Call 5:15pm

Spokane
Thursday, November 14
8:00am, 1:00pm & 4:00pm
UFCW 21 Office
2805 N Market St
Conference Room

Tacoma (New)
Tuesday, November 12
2:00pm & 5:00pm
Tacoma General Hospital
315 MLK Jr Way
2pm - MB Conference Room (3M North)
5pm - MB Board Room (East Wing)

Tonasket (New)
Wednesday, November 13
12:30pm & 2:00pm
North Valley Hospital
203 S Western Ave
Inservice Room

Walla Walla
Monday, November 11
1:00pm
Providence St. Mary’s Medical Center
401 W Poplar St
Vincentian Room

Wenatchee
Thursday, November 14
12:00pm
Confluence Health
Central WA Hospital
1300 Fuller St
Conference Room J

Kennewick (New)
Monday, November 11
6:00pm
IBEW 112
114 N Edison St
Meeting Room

Kent (New)
Thursday, November 14
9:00am & 5:30pm
Kent Commons
525 4th Ave N
am: Stage Room
pm: Interurban Room

Lynnwood
Monday, November 11
7:00pm
Snohomish County PUD
21014 63rd Ave W
Conference Room

Monroe
Thursday, November 14
3:30pm
EvergreenHealth Monroe
14701 179th Ave SE
The Cafe Corner

Moses Lake (New)
Monday, November 11
*Townhall Call 5:15pm

Mount Vernon
Thursday, November 14
7:00pm
UFCW 21 Office
1510 N 18th St
Conference Room

Oak Harbor
Wednesday, November 13
7:00pm
Best Western Harbor Plaza
33175 SR 20
Oak Harbor Room

Olympia
Monday, November 11
12:00pm
Kaiser Permanente
700 Lily Rd NE
Conference Room A

Tuesday, November 12
3:30pm
Capital Medical Center
3900 Capital Mall Dr SW
Cafeteria

Wednesday, November 13
1:00pm
Providence St. Peter Hospital
413 Lily Road NE
Cafeteria

Omak (New)
Monday, November 11
*Townhall Call 5:15pm

Port Angeles
Wednesday, November 13
4:30pm
Olympic Medical Center
939 Caroline Street
Linkletter Hall

Port Townsend
Tuesday, November 12
12:00pm & 5:15pm
Pt. Townsend Senior Center
620 Tyler St
Board Room

Republic (New)
Monday, November 11
*Townhall Call 5:15pm

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TOWNHALL CALL meeting

This General Membership Meeting session, we are testing out a Townhall Call for members who work and/or live in Brewster, Centralia, Colville/Chewelah, Moses Lake, Omak, Republic, and South Bend. This is in an effort to make meetings more accessible to members and save member resources.

The live Townhall Call will be hosted by your union President Faye Guenther and union Secretary Treasurer Joe Mizrahi. All you need to do is pick up your phone when we call, and you will be connected to the live Townhall Call meeting. You will have the opportunity to ask questions on this call. The call will be at 5:15pm on Monday, November 11. To make sure we have your correct phone number go to: UFCW21.org/update-your-information by November 8.

If you would like your location to have a Townhall Call in the future, please go to: UFCW21.org/gmmcall.

We look forward to talking to you!

Summer 2019 Newsletter