PCC Nominations for the new Labor Management Committee are open!

Nominations for the new Labor Management Committee are open!

As a democratic union, we know that when we all come together and actively participate in the decision-making processes that have direct impacts on our workplace then we win better outcomes, safer workplaces, and a more fulfilling work environment. One crucial way we can have direct impact is through the election of PCC workers to the Labor Management Committee (LMC), which will play a key role in representing our collective interests and ensuring a fair and respectful work environment for all.

The LMC's purpose is to study and make recommendations on important matters to the PCC Board of Trustees or Leadership Team. These recommendations will cover various issues that are important to workers and members at PCC like, profit sharing structures for unionized staff, fostering understanding of the co-op's business and financial model, workplace enhancements and improvements, staff training needs, productivity improvements, financial performance, and the member/shopper experience. 

Our participation in this election is vital to ensuring that the voices and concerns of PCC workers are addressed. By electing five representatives who truly understand and advocate for our needs, we can work together to create a stronger and more inclusive workplace for everyone. Read more about the LMC in our union contract FRS (page 23) here.

Are you interested in nominating yourself or a co-worker for the Labor Management Committee? 

The best potential candidates should fit the following criteria:

1. You are a PCC employee in good standing.

2. You can represent diverse ethnic groups, backgrounds, and positions within PCC.

3. You are willing to commit the time needed to the LMC (3 year term) to have the greatest impact for co-workers.

Once all the nominations are in, we will hold a democratic online vote to choose the five new LMC members!

The deadline to submit LMC nominations is April 27, 2024 at midnight.

Nominate yourself or a co-worker for the LMC here>>

Make sure you can participate in the vote! Once all the nominations are in, we will hold a democratic online vote to choose the five new LMC members! You are encouraged to learn about the candidates, and to cast your vote. Your vote matters, and your involvement in this process will help to strengthen our union and build a better future for all of us. To participate in the online vote make sure your personal contact information is up-to-date, go to ufcw3000.org

Join the next Contract Action Team Meeting

4/15, 4/17, 4/18, 4/22, 4/24, 4/25 @ 6pm via zoom >>
Meeting ID: 871 1956 3836 Passcode: 095974 
Contract Action Team (CAT) meetings are a time for us to get together, talk about workplace issues and our plans for the future! If you have questions about nominations for the LMC wring those questions to the next CAT meeting!

PCC Workers Ratify Industry Leading Collective Bargaining Agreement!

Today we ratified a new 2-year Collective Bargaining Agreement! 

Our union Bargaining Team put our interests first and we won on our top priorities.  

The contract was not only ratified, workers at every PCC location overwhelmingly voted YES! Many members who were initially skeptical ended up voting yes when they saw the details of the contract.   

The new contract will make our PCC members the highest paid Grocery and Meat workers in the area, improve the safety of our stores, and maintain our healthcare benefits. We also made significant gains in increasing our voices in the operation of PCC going forward. We secured a groundbreaking agreement and process to have workers on the board and begin discussion with the company around profit sharing. Together, our collective action set a new standard for PCC workers and continues the fight of moving PCC closer to its CO-op roots. We stood together for each other and our community.    

“For the first time ever, we won wage escalators to ensure our lowest wage workers stay above the minimum wage.  We fought hard for helper clerks and won wage increases for our lowest paid deli workers. We did this by standing together and fighting together.” -Atsuko Koseki, Deli, PCC Edmonds 

“Healthcare was a top priority and we fought back PCC takeaways. We also reduced our wage scales and won a path for permanent worker representation on the PCC Board of directors. Our co-workers and customers stood with us. And we won.” -Keith Allery, Deli, PCC Green Lake Village 

“Perserverance to prosperity, I am grateful for the largest pay raise in PCC history.” -Allison Smith, Meat Cutter, PCC Issaquah 

“My coworkers and fellow union members are happy with our union contract and we won a groundbreaking contract. There were outside agitators who tried to divide us, but we stood together. Can’t wait two years from now to bargain again. We must build off every contract.” -Yasab Pfister, PIC, PCC Burien 

PCC Tentative Agreement Reached! Bargaining Committee is recommending a YES vote!

After a Powerful Strike Vote, UFCW 3000 PCC Bargaining Team Reaches a Tentative Agreement on a New Contract and Recommends a YES vote!

Contract Vote: Tuesday, February 6.

After months of bargaining and a powerful strike authorization vote, we reached an overall tentative agreement with PCC that will once again make our workplace an industry leader in workplace standards, wages, and benefits. 

We strengthened our voice as workers over the future of the co-op for the first time ever securing permanent seats for PCC workers on the Board of Trustees, improving our Worker Caucus Language, and setting up a Labor Management Committee that is tasked with exploring profit sharing, improving the workplace and more. PCC workers know better than anyone what works in our stores. Workers' voices will make PCC successful. 

We won wage increases that will put us ahead of every other grocery store in the region, recognizing our hard work and expertise. We won wage scales that will help foster retention by allowing workers to reach top of the scale within three years of employment. We protected our high road healthcare and pension.

Key Tentative Agreements include:

• Wages: Largest wage increases ever at PCC, making PCC workers some of the highest paid Grocery Store workers in the Puget Sound

• Healthcare: Maintaining our high road healthcare plan and controlling cost for workers

• Pension: Securing our pension for all workers

• WeTrain Funding: Funding for future training programs and keeping our Meat Apprenticeship Program strong

• Improvements to Work Schedules: Allowing workers to pick up more hours when they are available

• Improvements to Leave of Absence, Bereavement

• Improvements to the Workers Caucus Committee

• Establishment of a committee to discuss gainshare and profit share for PCC workers to benefit from PCC profits and gain greater insight into PCC financials

• Increases to the night premium, time and one half for all work after 8th day (Grocery), increasing rest between shifts from 10 hours to 12 hours

• Orca Pass: provided for no more than $20, stronger promotion language

• Improved Safety language

• And more

Contract Vote: Tuesday, February 6.

You may attend any vote location during the polling times to vote on the tentative agreement. The full tentative agreement will be available to review at the voting locations. All members in good standing are eligible and encouraged to vote on the tentative agreement.

Morning Votes 8:00AM — 12:00PM

West Seattle PCC: 2749 California Ave SW. Seattle, WA 98116

Burien PCC: 15840 1st Ave. South, Burien, WA 98148

Green Lake Village PCC: 450 NE 71st St. Seattle, WA 98115

Bothell PCC: 22621 Bothell Everett Highway, Bothell, WA 98021

Fremont PCC: 600 North 34th St. Seattle, WA 98103

Bellevue PCC: 11615 NE 4th St. Bellevue, WA 98004

Ballard PCC: 1451 NW 46th St. Seattle, WA 98107

View Ridge PCC: 6514 40th Ave NE. Seattle, WA 98115

Afternoon Votes 2:00PM — 6:00PM

Columbia City PCC: 3610 South Edmunds St. Seattle, WA 98118

Central District PCC: 2230 E Union St. Seattle, WA 98122

Redmond PCC: 11435 Avondale Rd NE. Redmond, WA 98052

Edmonds PCC: 9803 Edmonds Wy. Edmonds, WA 98020

Issaquah PCC: 1810 12th Ave NW. Issaquah, WA 98027

Kirkland PCC: 430 Kirkland Wy. Kirkland, WA 98033

Greenlake PCC: 7504 Aurora Avenue N. Seattle, WA 98103   

Our Union Bargaining Committee: 
Atsuko Koseki – PCC Edmonds – Deli
Scott Shiflett – PCC Redmond – Meat
Greg Brooks – PCC Burien – Meat
Allison Smith – PCC Issaquah – Meat
Cina Ebrahimi – PCC View Ridge – Grocery
Yasab Pfister – PCC Burien – Front End
Keith Allery – GLV – Night Crew Deli
Emily Weisenburger – Issaquah – HBC
Arlo Bender-Simon – Bothell – Grocery  
Marlin Hathaway –  GLV – Grocery
Jordan Young – View Ridge – Grocery

PCC Strike Vote Results: Strike Authorization APPROVED, Contract Offer REJECTED

Today, PCC workers overwhelmingly voted to reject PCC’s most recent contract offer and voted to authorize a strike!

PCC has historically led the grocery store industry, but now they are making proposals that are far behind other stores—Town and Country, Saar’s, Safeway, and every other union grocery store in this region pays more than PCC.

We are sending a clear message: We will no longer allow our wages to lag behind and we are ready to strike.

PCC is the largest food co-op in the United States. When they were doing well, PCC was all too happy to spend money on fancy executive offices, or on big payouts to recruit Kroger and Starbucks management, or to install, then uninstall, then install again banks of USCAN machines, or to expand beyond their ability to operate. They spent their money in ways that did not benefit workers or improve the customer experience, over the objections of workers and our union. And now, after years of poor executive decision-making, PCC wants to balance their books on the backs of the workers.

We will not tolerate a grocery store that claims to care about the community and its members while undercutting community standards.

PCC has lost its way. And the only way for PCC to find its way again is to have workers involved in the decisions. Workers know better than anyone what works in our stores. Workers know the customers. Workers’ voices will make PCC successful.

Our message is clear: If we must strike, we will.

We are back at the bargaining table Tuesday, January 30. We must stand against the corporatization of PCC, we must stand together to keep up with industry standard wages, and we must stand up for ourselves.

Our Union Bargaining Committee: 
Atsuko Koseki – PCC Edmonds – Deli
Scott Shiflett – PCC Redmond – Meat
Greg Brooks – PCC Burien – Meat
Allison Smith – PCC Kirkland – Meat
Ebrahimi – PCC View Ridge – Grocery
Yasab Pfister – PCC Burien – Front End
Keith Allery – GLV – Night Crew Deli
Emily Weisenburger – HBC – Issaquah
Arlo Bender-Simon – Bothell – Grocery  
Marlin Hathaway – GLV – Grocery
Jordan Young – View Ridge – Grocery

PCC Friday Contract Vote and Strike Authorization Vote

Friday Strike Vote: Our UFCW 3000 PCC Bargaining Team Unanimously Recommends a NO Vote on the Contract Offer and a YES Vote to Authorize a STRIKE! 

Yesterday, after having six weeks to prepare a fair proposal, PCC came to our bargaining session only willing to propose a move of 10 cents for the Grocery contract and 20 cents for the Meat contract at the top of our scales. PCC then left the session without even responding to our counter proposals. PCC has clearly decided that our wages should be lower than our region’s grocery store standards. They think we deserve less than the grocery store worker across the street.

Our Member Bargaining Team thinks our work is worth more than that. We are ready to stand up for a fair contract.

PCC has historically led the grocery store industry and now they have fallen far behind. PCC is behind Town and Country, Saar's, Safeway, and every other union grocery store in this region.

We are sending a clear message: We will no longer allow our wages to lag behind and we are ready to strike.

PCC is the largest food co-op in the United States. When they were doing well, PCC was to happy to spend money on fancy executive offices, or big payouts to recruit Kroger and Starbucks management, or to expand beyond PCC's ability to operate, or to install, then uninstall, then install again U-SCAN machines. PCC has spent money in ways that did not benefit workers or improve the customer experience, over the objections of workers and our union. Now, after years of poor executive decision-making, PCC wants to balance their books on the backs of workers.

We will not tolerate a grocery store that claims to care about the community and its members while undercutting community standards.

PCC Management has lost its way. And the only way for them to find their way again is to have workers involved in their decisions. Workers know better than anyone what works in our stores. Workers know our customers. Workers' voices will make PCC successful.

If we must strike, it will be a strike to protect PCC from itself.

Contract Votes and Strike Authorization Meetings: Friday, January 26

Tomorrow, Friday, January 26, we will be holding Strike Authorization votes at all 15 PCC store locations. All members in good standing are eligible to vote. Copies of the PCC contract offer highlight sheet will be available for review at each vote location. Our Union Bargaining Team is recommending a NO vote to reject PCC's latest contract proposal and YES vote to authorize a strike.

Morning Votes 8:00AM — 12:00PM

West Seattle PCC: 2749 California Ave SW. Seattle, WA 98116  

Burien PCC: 15840 1st Ave. South, Burien, WA 98148  

Green Lake Village PCC: 450 NE 71st St. Seattle, WA 98115  

Bothell PCC: 22621 Bothell Everett Highway, Bothell, WA 98021  

Fremont PCC: 600 North 34th St. Seattle, WA 98103  

Bellevue PCC: 11615 NE 4th St. Bellevue, WA 98004  

Ballard PCC: 1451 NW 46th St. Seattle, WA 98107  

View Ridge PCC: 6514 40th Ave NE. Seattle, WA 98115  

Afternoon Votes 2:00PM — 6:00PM  

Columbia City PCC: 3610 South Edmunds St. Seattle, WA 98118  

Central District PCC: 2230 E Union St. Seattle, WA 98122  

Redmond PCC: 11435 Avondale Rd NE. Redmond, WA 98052  

Edmonds PCC: 9803 Edmonds Wy. Edmonds, WA 98020  

Issaquah PCC: 1810 12th Ave NW. Issaquah, WA 98027  

Kirkland PCC: 430 Kirkland Wy. Kirkland, WA 98033  

Greenlake PCC: 7504 Aurora Avenue N. Seattle, WA 98103  

Resources

Strike Frequently Asked Questions document >>
Make sure you have filled-out and submitted a W9 form for union strike benefits during a strike >>

Our Union Bargaining Comittee: 
Atsuko Koseki – PCC Edmonds – Deli
Scott Shiflett – PCC Redmond – Meat
Greg Brooks – PCC Burien – Meat
Allison Smith – PCC Kirkland – Meat
Ebrahimi – PCC View Ridge – Grocery
Yasab Pfister – PCC Burien – Front End
Keith Allery – GLV – Night Crew Deli
Emily Weisenburger – HBC – Issaquah
Arlo Bender-Simon – Bothell – Grocery  
Marlin Hathaway –  GLV – Grocery
Jordan Young – View Ridge – Grocery

PCC Contract Votes are Coming!

We will be bargaining with the Employer on January 23 and 24...

If we do not reach a Tentative Agreement:

For a successor contract we will hold strike vote meetings on Friday, January 26 for all PCC workers in good standing. Members will be able to review the most recent offer from Management, ask the union member Bargaining Committee questions, and vote on whether to accept or reject the offer and vote to authorize a strike at PCC.

Tentative Votes for Friday, January 26:

8:00am — 12:00pm

West Seattle PCC: 2749 California Ave SW. Seattle, WA 98116

Burien PCC: 15840 1st Ave. South, Burien, WA 98148

Green Lake Village PCC: 450 NE 71st St. Seattle, WA 98115

Bothell PCC: 22621 Bothell Everett Highway, Bothell, WA 98021

Fremont PCC: 600 North 34th St. Seattle, WA 98103

Bellevue PCC: 11615 NE 4th St. Bellevue, WA 98004

Ballard PCC: 1451 NW 46th St. Seattle, WA 98107

View Ridge PCC: 6514 40th Ave NE. Seattle, WA 98115

2:00pm — 6:00pm

Columbia City PCC: 3610 South Edmunds St. Seattle, WA 98118

Central District PCC: 2230 E Union St. Seattle, WA 98122

Redmond PCC: 11435 Avondale Rd NE. Redmond, WA 98052

Edmonds PCC: 9803 Edmonds Wy. Edmonds, WA 98020

Issaquah PCC: 1810 12th Ave NW. Issaquah, WA 98027

Kirkland PCC: 430 Kirkland Wy. Kirkland, WA 98033

Greenlake PCC: 7504 Aurora Avenue N. Seattle, WA 98103

If we reach a Tentative Agreement:

If we reach a tentative agreement with PCC during bargaining on Tuesday 23 & 24 we will cancel the Strike Authorization Vote meetings on January 26 and reschedule the vote for a later date to give members time to review the contract offer and union Bargaining Committee recommendation.

Reach out to a Union Rep, Shop Steward, or Bargaining Team member with any questions.

Our PCC Bargain Continues

We are preparing for a ULP strike if we are unable to reach a tentative agreement during our next bargaining session on January 23 and 24.

RSVP as soon as you can!

Next Bargaining dates are January 23 and 24 at the Federal Mediation and Consolatory Service office located at 2001 6th Ave #2500, Seattle, WA 98121. If you plan to attend bargaining, you must RSVP by January 15 to ensure you are on the list and can attend as an observer. You will need to RSVP with your name as it appears on your government ID and supply a valid email address. Upon arrival, you must present a government ID to check into the building. Bargaining begins at 9:00 AM.

>> Observe our next bargaining session with PCC!

UFCW 3000 Member Story: Allison Smith

Allison Smith at the Issaquah PCC during the recent contract vote meetings. It’s pretty clear where she stands on the offer that was voted down.

Allison Smith has worked for PCC as a meat cutter since 2013, and is currently home-stored at the Issaquah store, which has been great for her as it is close to home.

During Allison’s time at PCC, she has stepped up to become a leader, including currently serving on the bargaining team for the new PCC contract. She knows that to win a fair contract, bargaining team members not only have to represent coworkers in negotiation sessions with management but also have to be organizing on the shop floor. Allison not only keeps her Issaquah meat and grocery coworkers informed and ready to take action, she also reaches out to other meat departments in the area to make sure that PCC management knows it isn’t just the bargaining committee at the table, it is all PCC workers collectively fighting together!

Petitions, fliering customers outside the store, and info picket lines aren’t done by activists. It is the rank-and-file union members standing together in solidarity that advance a contract campaign. Recently PCC members voted to reject their employer’s latest contract offer, and held info pickets just ahead of the Holidays. There will be more actions to come unless PCC offers a fair union contract to its workers, and it will be shop stewards like Allison leading the way.

Organizing to fight for better working conditions, wages, and safety is as much of a full-time job as the job that our employers hired us for. Allison’s coworkers are lucky to have such a dedicated activist representing them at the PCC bargaining table!

PCC Preparing to be Strike Ready

PCC workers are preparing for a possible strike if we are unable to reach a tentative agreement during our next bargaining session on January 23 and 24. If we do not reach an agreement that is recommended by our Bargaining Committee on January 23 and 24, then we plan to hold a strike authorization vote on January 26. At this vote workers will be able to review PCC’s most recent offer, vote to accept or reject the offer, as well as vote on whether to authorize a strike or not.

As part of our preparation for a possible strike PCC workers met last Thursday at 6pm virtually, including members of our bargaining team, to discuss how we can best prepare for a possible strike. We discussed what a strike could be like, the importance of having Strike Picket Captain trainings at our next round of Contract Action Team (CAT) meetings, strike benefits and more. Our Bargaining Committee plans to hold regular Thursday virtual open meetings at 6pm going forward. Feel free to drop by and ask any questions or share any ideas you have about the bargain, the contract and strike authorization votes and more.

Next Steps:

• Join our drop-in Q&A meeting every Thursday at 6pm

• Contract Action Team (CAT) meetings next week: January 8-12 attend a CAT meeting, where we will be going over the Strike Picket Captain training. The training will help PCC workers get more prepared for a strike and allow for time to go over any questions you may have.

• Next Bargaining dates are January 23 and 24. At the Federal mediation and Consolatory Service office located at 2001 6th Ave #2500, Seattle, WA 98121. If you plan to attend bargaining you must RSVP by January 15 to make sure you are on the list and can attend as an observer. You will need to RSVP with your name as it appears on your government ID and supply a good email address. When arriving you must have a government ID to check into the building.

Preparándonos para la Huelga 

Los trabajadores de PCC estamos preparándonos para una huelga posible si no podemos lograr un acuerdo tentativo durante la próxima sesión de negociaciones del 23 y 24 de enero. Si no logramos el acuerdo recomendado por el comité de negociaciones, tenemos planeado una votación de autorización de huelga el día 26 de enero en donde los trabajadores podrán revisar la oferta más reciente de PCC, votar por aceptar o rechazar la oferta, y además votar por hacer huelga o no. Como parte de la preparación para la posible huelga, los trabajadores de PCC, incluidos los miembros de nuestro comité de negociaciones, nos reunimos virtualmente el jueves pasado a las 6pm para hablar de la mejor manera de prepararnos para la posible huelga. Hablamos de cómo podría ser la huelga, de la importancia de realizar capacitaciones de Capitanes de Piquete de Huelga durante la próxima ronda de reuniones del Equipo de Acción por el Contrato (CAT por sus siglas en inglés), de las prestaciones en caso de huelga, y de otros temas más. Nuestro comité de negociaciones tiene planeado realizar de aquí en adelante reuniones abiertas por medio virtual todos los jueves a las 6pm. Se les invita asistir a las reuniones y hacer cualquier pregunta o compartir cualquier idea que tengan acerca de las negociaciones, el contrato, el voto de autorización de huelga y más. 

Los Próximos Pasos:  

Asista a nuestra próxima reunión de Preguntas y Respuestas (Q&A) este jueves, 4 de enero a las 6pm

La próxima semana, del 8 al 12 de enero se le invita asistir a las reuniones del Equipo de Acción por el Contrato (CAT) donde vamos a repasar la capacitación de Capitanes de Piquete de Huelga. Este taller ayudará a los trabajadores de PCC a estar mejor preparados para la huelga y permitirá tiempo para repasar todas las preguntas que puedan tener. 

Las próximas fechas de Negociación son el 23 y 24 de enero en la oficina del Servicio Federal de Mediación y Conciliación ubicada en el 2001 6th Ave #2500, Seattle, WA 98121. Si piensa asistir a estas negociaciones tiene que confirmar su asistencia para el 15 de enero en el. Para garantizar que esté en la lista y que pueda asistir como observador tiene que confirmar su asistencia (RSVP) con el nombre que aparece en su credencial de identificación emitida por el gobierno y tiene que incluir una dirección válida de correo electrónico. Cuando llega debe presentar su Identificación emitida por el gobierno para registrar su entrada al edificio. 

PCC January Contract Action Team Meetings

Tuesday, January 9, 6:00pm – 7:00pm @ Kingsgate Library 12315 NE 143rd St, Kirkland, WA 98034

Tuesday, January 9, 4:00pm – 5:00pm @ Bellevue Library 1111 110th Ave NE, Bellevue, WA 98004

Wednesday, January 10, 2:00pm – 3:00pm @ Seattle Library: Columbia City Branch 4721 Rainier Ave S, Seattle, WA 98118

Thursday, January 11, 9:00am – 10:00am @ Lynnwood Library 19200 44th Ave W, Lynnwood, WA 98036

Thursday, January 11, 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM @ Seattle Library: University Branch 5009 Roosevelt Way NE Seattle, WA 98105

Join Zoom Meeting >> Meeting ID: 871 1956 3836 Passcode: 095974

This is a recurring meeting at the same times as the in person meetings listed.

UFCW 3000 Member Stories: Sheila Sloan-Evans

SHeila SLoan-Evans in the deli

Here is Sheila Sloan-Evans’s story in her own words:

Prior to the pandemic, I was a job coach with Northwest Center in a high school transition program. I so enjoyed training a client in his new grocery job that I realized grocery might be a fit for me too! I have been a PCC member for many years, but during COVID, the Redmond PCC was my go-to store, always a safe and welcoming place with quality products.

I began work at PCC on October 4th, 2022. I take customer service and food safety seriously but also have fun in the process. I enjoy helping people in both French and English--and attempting to learn Spanish from my coworkers!

In late May of this year, Sheila became injured off the job and had to apply for a leave of absence. It was here that her story took a troubling turn:

I provided Redmond PCC and HR a return-to-work letter for July 7th, 2023; Redmond staff and managers were very supportive. PCC human resources called me en route to surgery to terminate me as ineligible for the 6 weeks off and inform me that my insurance coverage would end the next day as well. It was devasting.

Sheila reached out to her rep and the Member Resource Center, who filed a grievance for her termination. After some meetings with PCC, they agreed to restore her employment and bring her back to work!

I truly love this job. I say that every day and am genuinely surprised by that, as it is an unexpected joy to work with these great people in grocery who have so much to teach me. The support of the union was essential. Having strong union advocates really helped me focus on healing and getting back to work. Thank you!!

PCC Bargaining Update

On Tuesday, December 19, PCC workers participated in informational pickets at six different locations. Despite the grey skies and rain, workers made their voices heard, demonstrating to PCC management that their last offer was insufficient.

Bargaining dates with a mediator are scheduled for January 23 and 24. If a tentative agreement is not reached, we will hold strike authorization votes on January 26. The locations and times for the strike vote will be announced in early January.

In the meantime, our focus will be on training strike captains and circulating strike schedule sign-up sheets in all our stores.

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CAT meetings are planned for the week of January 7 – 14. Attend these meetings to learn how to manage a strike line and to ask questions about what to expect during a strike.

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>> RSVP for our next CAT meeting via Zoom on Thursday, December 28, at 6:00 PM

>> Contact the bargaining team!

>> Visit the PCC contract page & read the PCC Strike FAQ

 

Informe sobre las Negociaciones con PCC

El martes 19 de diciembre, los trabajadores de PCC participaron en piquetes informativos en seis locales distintos. A pesar de los cielos nublados y la lluvia, los trabajadores se hicieron escuchar, manifestando ante la gerencia de PCC que su última oferta fue insuficiente.

Las fechas de negociación con el mediador están fijadas para el 23 y 24 de enero. Si no se logra un acuerdo tentativo, vamos a votar por autorizar una huelga el 26 de enero. Se anunciarán los lugares y las horas de la votación de huelga a principios de enero.

Por mientras, nuestro enfoque será la capacitación de los capitanes de huelga y pasar las hojas para apuntarse para un horario de huelga en todas nuestras tiendas.

Tenemos planificadas reuniones de CAT para la semana del 7 a 14 de enero. Asista a estas juntas para informarse sobre cómo manejar una línea de huelga y para hacer sus preguntas acerca de lo que pueden esperar de la huelga.

>> Súmase a nuestra próxima junta de CAT por Zoom el jueves, 28 de diciembre a las 6:00 PM

>> ¡Comuníquese con el equipo de negociaciones!

>> Visite la página del contrato de PCC y lea las preguntas frecuentes sobre la Huelga de PCC

PCC Update - Take Action! Info Pickets on Tuesday!

In our last session, your union bargaining team put forward a proposal. It included, among other improvements, the following demands.

• To maintain the best of our healthcare plan!

• To give us industry leading wages and a shortened path to Journey!

• To develop lasting worker representation in the governance of PCC as well as a path to a worker ownership that would give us a share of future PCC success!

Unfortunately, despite our efforts to come up with creative ways to achieve a good contract, PCC was unwilling to offer a response to our proposal. As a result, we have requested to go to mediation for our next bargaining sessions. PCC has agreed to this option.

With months of bargaining behind us, where PCC has been unwilling to offer wages that even match what others in the industry achieved years ago, it is time that we show PCC how serious we are about securing a great contract!

To demonstrate strength of our solidarity, we want every available worker to join us on December 19 from 1:00pm – 3:00pm at the various locations where we are holding Informational Pickets:

• Columbia City 3610 S Edmunds St, Seattle, WA 98118

• Issaquah 1810 12th Ave NW, Issaquah, WA 98027

• Green Lake Village 450 NE 71st St, Seattle, WA 98115

• Edmonds 9803 Edmonds Way, Edmonds, WA 98020

• Redmond 11435 Avondale Rd NE Suite 101, Redmond, WA 98052

• Central District 2230 E Union St, Seattle, WA 98122

PCC Bargaining Update

Our PCC Bargaining Team met to strategize and discuss next steps after our successful NO vote on PCC’s last proposal that took place in November. With wage proposals that hardly account for inflation and still no pathway for workers to be permanently on the Board of Trustees, we still find ourselves apart. New bargaining dates have been set for December 11 and 14, we are hoping to come to an agreement at these sessions but if we are unsuccessful we will hold actions at various PCC locations!

Save the date! Tuesday, December 19 from 1pm—3pm

• Columbia City PCC 3610 S Edmunds St, Seattle, WA 98118

• Issaquah PCC 1810 12th Ave NW, Issaquah, WA 98027

• Green Lake Village PCC 450 NE 71st St, Seattle, WA 98115

• Edmonds PCC 9803 Edmonds Way, Edmonds, WA 98020

• Redmond PCC 11435 Avondale Rd NE Suite 101, Redmond, WA 98052

• Central District PCC 2230 E Union St, Seattle, WA 98122

Join your coworkers and be heard, even if we come to a deal!

Observe open bargaining on Dec. 11 & 14. RSVP here >>

Stay informed! Visit the PCC Contract page here >>

PCC workers overwhelmingly voted NO on PCC’s latest offer

Yesterday, November 9, PCC workers overwhelmingly voted NO on PCC’s latest offer, with over 92% rejecting the contract. Our bargaining committee will be seeking more bargaining dates with PCC and continue fighting for the best contract possible. In the meantime, if we are unable to reach a deal that benefits all workers at PCC, we need to get ready to take action. Upcoming Contract Action Team (CAT) meetings are being scheduled and information will be sent out as soon as possible. It’s important to attend one of those meetings, as we will be prepping for informational pickets at various locations. 

Solidarity is key as we try to secure a contract that we hope will put us ahead of other union grocers in the region. You can stay updated by visiting our news & updates section on our website, reaching out to your union rep, or attending an open bargaining session when they resume.

It is important to get informed and stay informed during this process, It is your right to talk about these negotiations on the shop floor. You can always send a message to our PCC union bargaining team here >>

PCC Contract Votes Scheduled

Bargaining Team Recommends a NO Vote on Management’s Latest Contract Offer

After months of negotiations, PCC Management has put forth their latest offer, and our Bargaining Team wants all union members to see for themselves if this offer is really good enough. While many tentative agreements have been reached throughout negotiations, there is still division on key issues, including across-the-board wage increases, Board of Trustees language, and more. We believe PCC can do better, that is why our Bargaining Team is recommending a NO VOTE on this offer. 

Vote meetings have been scheduled on Thursday, November 9 for all PCC workers in good standing to review the offer from Management, ask our union member Bargaining Team questions, and vote on whether to accept or reject the offer.

Contract Votes for Thursday, November 9:

9:00am — 12:00pm

West Seattle PCC: 2749 California Ave SW. Seattle, WA 98116
Burien PCC: 15840 1st Ave. South, Burien, WA 98148
Green Lake Village PCC: 450 NE 71st St. Seattle, WA 98115
Bothell PCC: 22621 Bothell Everett Highway, Bothell, WA 98021
Fremont PCC: 600 North 34th St. Seattle, WA 98103
Bellevue PCC:  11615 NE 4th St. Bellevue, WA 98004
Ballard PCC: 1451 NW 46th St. Seattle, WA 98107
View Ridge PCC: 6514 40th Ave NE. Seattle, WA 98115

2:00pm — 5:00pm

Columbia City PCC: 3610 South Edmunds St. Seattle, WA 98118
Central District PCC: 2230 E Union St. Seattle, WA 98122
Downtown PCC: 1320 4th Ave. Seattle, WA 98101
Redmond PCC: 11435 Avondale Rd NE. Redmond, WA 98052
Edmonds PCC: 9803 Edmonds Wy. Edmonds, WA 98020
Issaquah PCC: 1810 12th Ave NW. Issaquah, WA 98027
Kirkland PCC: 430 Kirkland Wy. Kirkland, WA 98033
Greenlake PCC: 7504 Aurora Avenue N. Seattle, WA 98103

UFCW 3000 Member Story: Amber Wise

Amber Wise ready to go to work to break down a side of pork!

Amber Wise is truly one of the busiest UFCW 3000 members we have featured here in our Member Stories. Amber is an apprentice meatcutter at PCC Redmond, a mother of two children with her husband Daniel, is serving on the UFCW 3000 Racial Justice Advisory Board and on our Climate Justice Advisory Board, and to top it all off, she is running for public office this November!

Amber moved to Western Washington 10 years ago and began working as a preschool teacher at Harborview Hospital while going to school to get a degree in Childhood Development. It was at Harborview that she learned about the importance of health care workers to the community and the stresses and challenges they face every day. She left work at Harborview in 2020 shortly before the birth of her second child, and delivered the baby at Evergreen Hospital. Amber made connections with the health care workers there during an extended stay, reinforcing what she had learned at Harborview.

It was at about that time that her husband started a small business and Amber knew she needed a job with flexible work hours that could provide health care benefits for her family. She got a job working as a deli clerk at the Redmond PCC which had what she needed. As Amber worked there she met two women in the meat department who recruited and mentored her to apply for a position as an apprentice meatcutter. She started attending classes with the Puget Sound Apprentice Meatcutting Program at the Sno-Isle TECH Skills Center (pictured above) to learn the tools and skills of her new trade. She has almost completed the 2-year program and will be graduating in January of 2024!

As she worked at PCC, she got more involved with her union. Amber’s union rep asked her if she would be interested in running for public office, specifically as a Commissioner for Public Hospital District 2, which covers Evergreen Hospital in Kirkland. Because of the commitment to advocacy and community that she had learned both from working at Harborview Hospital and the care she received from Evergreen Hospital staff, Amber said yes!

Amber then attended the Washington State Labor Council’s Path to Power conference where rank-and-file union workers learn how to run for and win public office. She filed to be a candidate for Public Hospital District 2, and now ballots for the November 7 election have begun arriving around the area! She is hoping to win and become a strong advocate for the patients and workers at Evergreen Hospital and to bring mental health resources to the area.

Want to know which other pro-worker candidates are on the ballot this year? Find our union’s endorsements for the November 7 election here. If you want to hear more about how inspiring Amber is, check out the 9th episode of the UFCW 3000 Podcast, where podcast host and union shop steward Michaela interviews Amber about her journey!

PCC Bargaining Team unanimously recommends a NO Vote!

After months of negotiations, we find ourselves at a crossroads with PCC. We entered these discussions with the goal of securing a fair and competitive contract. A contract that would provide living wages, across the board wage increases that keep pace with inflation and with no cuts or takeaways from our healthcare.

Collectively we have won several TA’s (Tentative Agreements) to improve our work life, but still find ourselves far apart from PCC on wages, board of trustees and a few other items. Our bargaining team believes we shouldn’t be punished for PCC’s financial decisions, and we expect to see a wage increase that rewards our labor as essential workers. 
 
Now is the time to stand together and vote NO on this contract to send a strong message to PCC and bring them back to the bargaining table with the knowledge that this current offer is unacceptable! 
 
We will be voting on the current proposal in the next few weeks and will be notifying all members as soon as the dates are set.

Make sure your personal contact information is up-to-date with the Union >>

UFCW 3000 Member Story: Marlene Padilla

Marlene Padilla in the Meat Department at PCC Bothell

Marlene Padilla has worked in the grocery industry since 1999, starting at the Foodland stores in Hawaii. “Being a single parent and working close to home with great hours helped me with my decision to work in the grocery industry,” she says. At Foodland, she was promoted to meat wrapper, and when she moved to Seattle she started working for Safeway. After nine years, when one of Marlene’s meat managers left to work at PCC and suggested she come work there, too, she decided to go for it. She respected him because, as she puts it, he “gave me a lot of respect as a female, not just a fixture.”

When Marlene started at PCC in 2014, she knew that it was a risk starting with a new employer and a new group of coworkers: “I had to work harder to prove I had it in me, not because I knew someone. I’m still working in a man's world.” She showed her coworkers how dependable and trustworthy she was and has been working there ever since. She wants coworkers to know: “I always got your back.”

Away from work, Marlene enjoys reading, being a single mother, a grandparent, a Seattle Seahawks fan, and hanging out with her cat Shadow. “My three children and two grandchildren keep me grounded,” she says, “as well as all the meat department guys I work with.”

Negotiations with PCC for a new contract this year have required more workplace actions from PCC workers than ever before. As Marlene and her coworkers have discussed the bargain and taken action, she reminds coworkers about all the important parts of a union contract—the bargain can’t be about “the payscale and nothing else,” she says. Her top priority? ”Maintaining good health benefits.”

Marlene has taken an interest in attending PCC negotiations as an observer. “It’s important for us as members to see how the language in our contract is fought for!” Marlene is a strong woman and union member; her coworkers are lucky to have her standing with them in this bargain. Mahalo, Marlene!

PCC October Contract Action Team Meetings

Join your coworkers to prepare for upcoming negotiations and how to win a fair contract! If you have any questions, call 1-866-210-3000 and ask to speak to your Union Rep.

In Person Meetings:

Tuesday, October 17: 5:00pm—6:00pm Seattle Library: University Branch 5009 Roosevelt Way NE. Seattle, WA. 98105

Tuesday, October 17: 3:15pm—4:15 pm Lynnwood Library: 19200 44th Ave W, Lynnwood, WA 98036

Tuesday, October 17: 4:00pm—5:00pm Bellevue Library: 1111 110th Ave NE, Bellevue, WA 98004

Wednesday, October 18: 2:00pm—3:00pm Seattle Library: Columbia City Branch 4721 Rainier Ave S, Seattle, WA 98118

Wednesday, October 18: 4:00pm—5:00pm Kingsgate Library Meeting Room 12315 NE 143rd St. Kirkland, WA. 98034

Online Meetings:

Monday, October 16: Online Zoom Meeting 10:00am—11:00am & 7:00pm—8:00pm

Friday, October 20: Online Zoom Meeting 10:00am – 11:00am & 6:00pm – 7:00pm