Meet the 2022 Grocery Store Workers Negotiations Team: Wil Peterson

Wil Peterson, Fred Meyer CCK and UFCW 3000 Grocery Negotiations Team Member — Photo by KEVIN CLARK, THE Everett Herald

As we negotiate the 2022 Grocery Store Workers contract with the employers, let’s get to know your fellow grocery store workers who are part of our member-led bargaining team!

Wil Peterson started working at Fred Meyer in August of 2003 — first in the Home department and later transitioning into the Central Checkout (CCK) department. In his words:

“My favorite part of the job is interacting with customers and my colleagues. Over the years, I've formed tight bonds with many longtime shoppers. I've seen their children transition from infants to young adults, and I've provided moral support to these regulars during numerous challenges and triumphs. The same applies to my coworkers, many of whom feel like virtual-family members. We toil ‘in the trenches’ under often-difficult conditions, so a strong support network is important, now more than ever.”

Wil got involved with the union when, some years into his time at Fred Meyer, he successfully fought an unwarranted suspension with the help of his Rep. Since then, Wil has become more and more involved as a leader in his workplace and in the union. Wil joined the bargaining committee in 2019 and says that he learned many hard lessons about how to stand up to employers when they make insulting offers and about the importance of solidarity.

“We need higher, more-equitable pay for all workers, consistently safe workplace conditions, and opportunities for improved work-life balance. I hope that employers will finally recognize how essential their workforce is and compensate us accordingly. It shouldn't take a pandemic to underscore the vital role that we constantly play in our respective communities.”

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.”

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What Juneteenth 2020 Means to Us

Today is Juneteenth, a holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. This year, members have a lot to say about what this holiday means to us and what we’re thinking about on Juneteenth 2020. 

Thank you to UFCW 21 Shop Steward and Executive Vice President Wil Peterson for reaching out to fellow union leaders for their stories! 

Hearing about Juneteenth for the first time? You can learn more about Juneteenth at juneteenth.com, nmaahc.si.edu/events/juneteenth, or blkfreedom.org. 

Want to get involved in our union’s fight for racial equity and an antiracist labor movement? Sign up here. 

State of Race: Outrage, pain and tentative hope

UFCW 21 member Wil Peterson

Driving while Black. Walking while Black... 

In the wake of Minneapolis resident George Floyd’s tragic murder, a Rainbow Coalition of people are full of anguish, rage, despair, frustration and myriad other soul-wrenching emotions. Seemingly countless other African-Americans have perished at the hands of police officers and self-appointed community “enforcers” — Ahmaud Arbrey, Trayvon Martin, Eric Gardner, Breonna Taylor, Michael Brown, Charleena Lyles, Freddie Gray... and on... and on... — but something about Floyd’s death resonates on an arguably unprecedented level and has created an escalating outcry and numerous protests across the nation.  

Shopping while Black. Working while Black... 

Perhaps it was the widely circulated footage of his final moments on earth: handcuffed from behind and helplessly pinned down by Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin’s unrelenting knee that forcefully applied pressure on his neck until he died while repeatedly whispering the heartbreaking words, “I can’t breathe” and, finally, “Mama.” Or was it the collective anger over the fact that Chauvin was quickly fired but initially wasn’t charged with anything? Or the forceful and tyrannical police and military actions that the current White House occupant ordered against protesters who stood in the way of his Bible-gripping photo-op this week? 

Regardless of the reason(s) for this widespread rebellion, a firestorm is raging, literally and figuratively. And while I’ve never experienced anything remotely close to the terrifying circumstances mentioned here, I’m all too familiar with daily concerns about what might happen during a routine traffic stop, a neighborhood walk or a work-related interaction. 

Existing while Black...   

As a North Carolina transplant who relocated here in 2003, I naively expected to leave all traces of racial conflict behind in the South. Back there, it wasn’t uncommon to casually be called the N-word, to be excluded from social gatherings or to be held to different standards at work. I grew up accustomed to that culture, even if it confused, saddened and angered me. As an adult, I rebelled against it by learning to speak up for myself and rising above uncomfortable, racially offensive situations. I was stronger, but I was also weary of having to constantly remain on guard and high alert.  

Moving to Washington offered me a fresh start and clean slate. I figured the prevailing mindset here would be infinitely better and different on the race-relations front. And, for the most part, it was. But there’ve been disturbing reminders that people are people, regardless of their geographical location. Not long after starting my job as a Fred Meyer clerk, I was: 

• Called the N-word twice by a white woman who was suspected of shoplifting. Instead of being ordered to leave the store, she was allowed to make a purchase and leisurely stroll out the door. 

• Told by a white customer I was assisting that he didn’t want to buy the wrong product and “N-word it up.” He actually looked confused when I immediately excused myself and angrily walked away. 

• Forcefully ordered by another white woman to sell her an item at the price she wanted to pay, not what it actually cost. When I called my manager for a price check, she mistakenly and inexplicably assumed I was contacting the police. “If they come here, of course they will believe me over you,” she said.  

• Blocked by a driver who was talking to a policeman in the store parking lot after my late-night shift ended. I thought about getting out of my car and politely asking him to move, but I didn’t want to risk possibly angering the officer, who — after all — had a gun. So I waited until their conversation ended and then drove off... frustrated and angry, but still alive. 

Even everyday activities that are taken for granted by most folks can suddenly become intimidating. Once, during an evening walk to the grocery store in my predominately white neighborhood, I saw two white police officers with a police dog far in the distance. As I slowly and cautiously approached them, I silently prayed that nothing would go sideways. When one of them ordered me to stop moving because the dog was searching for someone, I immediately complied. After what felt like an eternity, he allowed me to proceed. I did so, grateful that this trip would otherwise be uneventful. Still, I couldn’t help but wonder, what about the next one? 

Coping while Black... 

Incidents such as what I’ve described — while certainly nothing compared to the literal life-and-death situations that have claimed scores of precious and irreplaceable lives — are examples of what happens here on the West Coast, back on the East Coast and at all points in between. This undoubtedly is an uncomfortable topic for many of those who have never experienced, and hopefully never will experience, similar concerns and treatment. But for far too many of us, it’s a daily reality. 

Hoping while Black... 

Fortunately, the vast majority of my encounters with others — especially my treasured Fred Meyer coworkers and customers, as well as fellow UFCW 21 members, colleagues and friends — are positive, uplifting and rewarding. It’s this much-needed virtual safety net that offers a support network from which to draw strength. And this Union’s passionate commitment to achieving racial equity and empowerment to people of color, and fair treatment for everyone, provides a sense of hope that didn’t exist during my decades in North Carolina. 

But, despite all of that, I still can’t help but worry — if only a bit — just about each time I leave my home. Will this trip be uneventful? Will I make it back here alive? 

By UFCW 21 member Wil Peterson 

Read UFCW 21’s statement on the killing of George Floyd, our nation’s history of racism, and our union’s commitment to solidarity over white supremacy 

Speak up about how racism has affected you and how you want our union to work on racial equity going forward using the form below. You can also sign on to the statement at the link above and sign up to be part of our work on this issue going forward. 

Grocery Store Stories from the Front Lines

As UFCW 21 retail grocery members are increasingly deemed essential workers during the coronavirus pandemic, some of their stores have provided supportive environments that can help ensure safety and efficiency – both for them and their customers. Here are a few examples: 

As collected by UFCW 21 Member Wil Peterson

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Pam Harmon, a cashier and Person In Charge (PIC) at Food Pavilion in Lynden, is committed to doing all she can to protect the people she serves. Thanks to the efforts of store management, she also feels protected as the coronavirus threat affects everyone. During the past week and a half, safety measures have become a top priority at the store.  

“I like it,” Pam said. “I think it’s important, and it’s better than what a lot of other businesses are doing.” 

Food Pavilion employees are required to have their temperatures checked prior to clocking in for shifts. If a fever is detected, they are sent home. Once cleared for duty, they must wear gloves while performing duties. 

Designated sanitation areas are set up for employees and customers. Sanitizing wipes are stocked at all checkstands, and belts are regularly wiped down. “We used to do it every hour,” Pam said, adding that the process now takes place every 15 minutes or so. “Everybody's conforming to the guidelines that our employers have sent out, which is really good.” 

Meanwhile, employees are being offered as many hours as they want to help meet the enormous traffic flow. “Business has escalated. It's at an all-time high,” Pam said. “But customers are patient.” 

“Safety first” could be a motto at the bustling Town & Country in Ballard. As employees deal with an explosion in business – “It's like Thanksgiving shopping everyday,” said Wine, Beer and Spirits Manager J'Nee DeLancey – they do so under conditions designed to help prevent any exposure to the coronavirus. 

Resuable bags are no longer allowed in the store. Shopping carts and baskets that were previously cleaned out back, J'Nee said, are now regularly sanitized in the front area for higher visibility. The hot-food and salad bar station is sanitized between uses, and customers are required to wear gloves when selecting items. Cashiers clean checkstand belts and self-checkout touch screens between transactions. In J'Nee's department, liquor-cabinet handles and other fixtures are cleaned at least once every hour. 

J'Nee, who just lost a friend to the COVID-19 virus, appreciates her store's commitment to employee and customer safety. That prevailing attitude has created an atmosphere of teamwork and camaraderie that crosses department lines. “Sometimes when I come in, I just take my coat off and start bagging,” she said.  

Holly Dodd, front-end supervisor at The Market in Anacortes, has nothing but praise for the protective measures implemented at her store since the coronavirus crisis emerged. “I think I am extremely fortunate where I work. We have tremendous support from management,” she said. “It’s not just lip service. From the beginning when this happened, the primary focus has been to keep us safe.” 

That support includes routine body temperature checks when employees report for shifts, ample supplies of protective gloves and hand sanitizer, and wipes for shopping carts. “And just constant education of what we can do to stay safe – what the virus is, what the symptoms are,” Holly said. “Every day it seems like we're getting more information.” 

Additional protective steps range from banners reminding customers to remain six feet apart, to laminated signs at each checkstand that urge customers to wash their hands and cover coughs. Prominently displayed restrooms signs emphasize the importance of thorough hand-washing activity. Purell dispensers are available throughout the store. 

Meanwhile, customer complaints about shortages have been minimal, Holly said. And fortunately, she added, positive comments about employees' service during this turbulent period is overwhelmingly positive. “That’s one of the things that keeps us going—them thanking us for being on the front lines.”