Mariners (Retail) Update - Employee benefits and Unfair Labor Practice charges

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Our fight continues for the reinstatement of subsidized parking and promotion of item benefits. Currently the results of the decertification vote are pending certification with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) while one of our ULPs is being resolved.  

Here is where we stand:  

  • Subsidized Parking and Promotional Items Grievance
    An arbitration hearing date is set for Thursday, October 12​

  • Subsidized Parking and Promotional Items ULP
    Currently under investigation and pending a hearing with the NLRB

  • Decertification Election Process ULP
    Denied for review by the NLRB  

While this process moves through the arbitration and board hearing process, UFCW 3000 continues to vigorously enforce our Collective Bargaining Agreement. If you have any questions or believe there is a contract violation, please feel free to reach out to your union representative Dominick Ojeda at (206) 436-6586. 

Mariners (Retail) Collective Bargaining Agreement: Mariners Team Store 

Mariner's Retail - No retail discount during the All-Star game?

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It was reported to your Union that Management sent you an email informing you that the 30% discount required by your union contract would not be available during the All-Star game on July 11. Our position is that this is a contract violation and made that clear to Management in a communication sent prior to the All-Star game.

If you purchased merchandise on the day of the All-Star game and did not receive the discount, please call your Union Representative Dominick Ojeda at 206-436-6586 no later than Friday, July 28.

Mariners Team Store Retail Workers Update

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On March 18, retail workers at the Mariners Team Store ratified our Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), which included a 30% Employee Discount, $1.50 to $3.50 raise for workers, improved full-time staff healthcare qualification, secured 4 game tickets per month, and more. Shortly after, however, the Employer took away long-standing benefits that workers had enjoyed in previous seasons—subsidized parking and promotional items. In response to this unilateral change, the union filed a Grievance and an Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) claim, alleging that the employer was retaliating against workers for their union activity.

After filing the ULP and Grievance, the union received a decertification petition that aimed to eliminate the union and representation at Mariners Team Stores. A vote was scheduled for May 30, 2023. Before the vote, our union filed a Request for Review with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), alleging that the decertification vote was conducted in conflict with the intent of the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) and in conflict with decades of established NLRB precedent. The results of the vote are pending certification with the NLRB—the enforcement arm of the NLR—while the ULP and Request for Review are being resolved.

Here is where we stand:

Subsidized Parking and Promotional Items Grievance:

  • Recently selected an arbitrator to hear the case and we are working to confirm a date for the arbitration.

Subsidized Parking and Promotional Items ULP:

  • Currently under review with the NLRB

Decertification Election Process Request for Review:

  • Currently under review with the NLRB

You and your coworkers deserve to have subsidized parking and promotional giveaways restored. It is unfortunate that the timeline for a resolution has not been quicker. The game-to-game impact of additional commute times, expensive parking, and missing out on great promotional giveaways is why we’re fighting to secure those benefits moving forward. Pending the certification of the election results, UFCW 3000 continues to represent you and your coworkers as unionized workers, and all provisions of your CBA remain in effect. One of the provisions of our CBA includes union dues deduction and collection. We are currently inquiring our International Union to see if we can delay the collection of union dues until the Election results have been determined.

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to your union representative Dominick Ojeda at (206) 436-6586.

Mariners Retail New Member meeting!

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Our Union will be holding an online New Member Meeting on May 17 at 4:30pm to inform members about the dues structure and timeline. This meeting will also give everyone an overview of our Union, your rights, and what’s going on with the parking and promotional giveaways grievance. If you have not yet done so, take a few minutes today to complete your Union application: join.ufcw.org/join/3000

If you cannot make it to the May 17 meeting, please call our Membership Services Representative Cassy Wolle at 360-662-1983 to learn more about your dues.

In response to the grievance meeting our union held with Mariners management in April, the Mariners responded stating that, “consistently throughout bargaining, the Mariners expressly rejected paying any retail employee parking expenses going forward.” They additionally stated that, “the Mariners had the management right to alter any parking practices and/or its Employee Handbook on this topic...[and] the Mariners had the management right to stop providing [promotional giveaways] without prior discussion or negotiation with the Union.”

The Mariners reiterated their misunderstanding of our grievance against their discrimination for Union activity by removing parking and promotional giveaway benefits. Also, the Mariners are contraindicating the understanding we had at the bargaining table that they will continue providing subsidized parking and promotional giveaway items in accordance with negotiations and their employee handbook.

Our Union is confident in our grievance and will continue this to the next step, arbitration. If you have any questions, reach out to our Union Rep Dominick Ojeda 206-436-6586.

New Member Meeting: May 17 @ 4:30PM via Zoom

Mariners Retail Grievance Update

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Mariners Retail Grievance Update

On Tuesday, April 25, we met with the Management and Human Resources team from the Mariners for our Step 2 grievance meeting. Mariners bargaining unit members sat in on the meeting to hear directly from Management as to why they took away subsidized parking and promotional benefits.

Our grievance states that the Employer removed subsidized parking and promotional benefits in violation of Article 4 Section 4.1 of the contract: removing such benefits in retaliation for Union activity and discriminating against union employees.

The Management team from the Mariners behaved in a way that was not conducive to coming to a resolution about the grievance meeting. Our Union reiterated that the Employer should restore subsidized parking, distribute promotional giveaways members lost out on, and reimburse members for costs incurred while the subsidized parking was taken away.

Per the contract, the Management team has 14 days to respond in writing to the Union’s grievance after the meeting. We hope the Mariners honor their commitment to their employees and reinstate the subsidized parking and promotional giveaways benefits as outlined in the Employee handbook.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Union Reps: Dominick Ojeda 206-436-6586 or Mohamed Bonah 206-436-6514. You can find a digital copy of our Mariners Team Store Contract online at ufcw3000.or/find-a-contract

Mariners Retail Update

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Mariners’ workers continue to advocate for reinstatement of subsidized parking and promotional items

Shortly after the ratification of our first union contract on March 18 we learned that the Mariners Club intended to take away long established subsidies for parking and promotional items for UFCW 3000 Members at the Mariners retail stores and kiosk. During contract bargaining our Bargaining Committee proposed that the Mariners Club provide free parking to all employees at the retail and kiosk locations when scheduled to work. Ultimately the committee withdrew the proposal with the understanding that the Mariners intended to maintain the subsidized parking and promotional items as outlined in the employee handbook. Unfortunately, we have heard Management may have made the unilateral decision to revise the employee handbook removing the subsidized parking and promotional items for retail and kiosk workers.

Our Union filed a grievance on April 5 against the Mariners for removing the subsidized parking and promotional items, alleging that Management is violating our Union contract article 4 section 4.1 by removing such benefits in retaliation for Union activity. On Tuesday April 25 we will be meeting with Management in a Step 2 grievance meeting in an attempt to resolve the issue. The contract allows for up to 5 Members to participate in the meeting. If you are interested in participating, please contact one of your union representatives.

In addition to filing a grievance alleging retaliation for union activity, our Union has filed a charge with the National Labor Relation Board on April 13 alleging Management bargained with our Union in bad faith and discriminated against UFCW 3000 Members for their union activity in violation of National Labor Relations Act.

The events that have occurred since ratifying our contract around subsidized parking and promotional items are regrettable and do not reflect the type of relationship we were hoping to have with Mariners’ Management. Mariners retail workers deserve to have the same benefits we have enjoyed in previous seasons and that we believe are still offered to other non UFCW 3000 Members. We hope that during the Step 2 meeting we will be able to find common ground with the Management and restore these benefits.

If you have any questions, please reach out to our Union Reps: Mohamed Bonah (206) 436-6514 or Dominick Ojeda (206) 436-6586.

Mariners Retail Workers - Union Contract Ratified

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Mariners Retail Workers
Union Contract Ratified

Congratulations, Mariners retail workers! You have ratified your first contract and can expect new wages to go into effect on Friday, April 14.

WHAT’S NEXT?
Fill out your UFCW 3000 membership application if you haven’t done so already.
Scan or go to: https://join.ufcw.org/join/3000

YOUR WEINGARTEN RIGHTS
If you’re called into a meeting that you think could lead to discipline, STOP! Ask for union representation.

“I request a union representative during this meeting. If you accuse me or ask me questions I believe may lead to my discipline, I have a right not to answer those questions and will continue to ask for a union representative until you comply with my request.”

For questions or issues, please reach out to Union Rep Mohamed Bonah at 206-436-6514.

Mariners Retail Workers Tentative Agreement Reached!

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Mariners Retail Workers

Tentative Agreement Reached! Contract vote scheduled

Our Union Bargaining Team has reached a tentative agreement with Seattle Mariners Management that includes 9.25%—11.13% pay increase! Additional gains includes:

  • Increased pay for special events

  • Higher discounts on Merchandise

  • Nine holidays that include holiday-pay when worked

  • Progressive discipline language that keeps our jobs protected

  • Complimentary game tickets

  • Orca passes and more!

CONTRACT VOTE details:

Saturday, March 18 from 1PM to 2PM

at T-Mobile Park – Ellis Room (accessible from the Lobby at the Third Base Entry)

Retail staff have an in-person staff training on March 18 that is scheduled to end at 1pm. After the training, please come to the Ellis Room at T-Mobile Park between 1PM and 2PM to vote on our contract, (accessible from the Lobby at the Third Base Entry). Union Representatives will be available to walk us through our contract and answer any questions we have on the new contract language! If you have questions contact our Union Rep Mohamed Bonah at 206-436-6514.

Mariners Retail Workers - Tentative Agreement Reached! Your Bargaining Team Recommends a “YES” Vote

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Congratulations on your FIRST UNION CONTRACT! We have reached a tentative agreement with the Seattle Mariners that includes between 9.25% increase and a 11.13% pay increase over the life of the contract, depending on your position with the Mariners. Increased pay for special events including the All-Star Game, World Series Games and American League Championship Games held in Seattle. 50% off meals and 30% off merch. Protections for you that include: progressive discipline language, grievances, Air-quality and other weather related protections, and MORE!

Year-round employees will receive: An unlimited Orca pass and 4 complimentary tickets PER GAME, Healthcare for 1k or more hours worked in a year. 9 paid holidays!

Seasonal employees will receive: 4 complimentary game tickets per month, holiday pay including for Memorial Day, July 4th and Labor Day. Free ORCA transit for commuting to work shifts. 

What’s next? We are working with the Mariners to schedule a day for you to VOTE on your NEW contract and will be reaching out to you again with a vote day. On that day we will walk you through your entire new contract!