UFCW 3000 Member Story: Allison Smith

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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!

UFCW 3000 Podcast Episode 4: Apprenticeships—or, WeTrain You on How to Pick Your Steak and Advance Your Career

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How can your union further your career? What is a union apprenticeship? What's our union doing to create more high-paying and safer jobs in our industries? Michaela talks to fellow UFCW 3000 member Indy about his experience with the union meat cutting apprenticeship program, and then talks to Evan and Andy about the apprenticeship and the new WeTrain workforce development organization.

UFCW 3000 union shop steward Michaela is always ready to answer fellow members’ questions about their union. She’s also a devoted murder podcast listener. Put those interests together, and she decided to start a union podcast to get all her coworkers’ questions and her own questions answered, and to meet as many people as possible who could share what it means to be a part of UFCW 3000. (No murder on this podcast, only solidarity!)

*The information shared on this podcast is offered by rank and file union member leaders of UFCW 3000. There may be inaccuracies or misstatements shared, as members will be speaking from the lenses of their perspectives and life experiences. While members are doing their best to share good information, we can make no claims to 100% accuracy and this podcast should not be construed as legal advice.

Yakima The Markets Grocery Meat Contract Vote Scheduled!

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Yakima The Markets Grocery/Meat Contract Vote Scheduled!

Tuesday, August 1, 2023
10am — 11am and 5pm — 6pm
At Wapato International Market 512 W. 1st St. Wapato, WA 98951

Highlights include:

  • Affordable Healthcare

  • Retirement Security

If you have questions please reach out to our Union Rep: Raul Zaragoza at 509-340-7391

Uwajimaya Meat Contract Votes Scheduled!

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Drop by during the voting time to review the Tentative Agreement, have your questions answered, and then vote. These votes are open to all active members of UFCW 3000 Meat Workers at Uwajimaya.

Contract Vote: Thursday, July 13, 2023

Bellevue Store @ 9AM—10:30AM 699 120th Ave. NE (break room)

Renton Store @ 12PM—1:30PM 501 S Grady Way Renton (break room)

Seattle Store @ 2:30PM—4PM 519 6th Ave. S (break room)

UFCW 3000 Member Stories: Misti Senn

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Misti Senn in the Department at the Lynnwood Fred Meyer

Misti Senn a shop steward in the meat department at the Lynnwood Fred Meyer. Misti has worked as a meat wrapper since 1998 and before that in the service deli. She has seen a lot of changes in that time, including the merger with local grocery QFC, and then Fred Meyer being acquired by the mega-national chain Kroger.

Those changes have shown Misti that having a voice on the job with her union is the only way she and her coworkers have a voice on the job. In the contract negotiations in 2004, the Employers wanted to drastically change the health insurance that she was depending on as she raised her two daughters, and Misti and her coworkers got involved to push for a better contract. She has continued to stay involved from acting as a shop steward, to being on the Meat & Grocery Bargaining committee, to organizing her coworkers at her store to wear buttons, sign petitions, and walk on a number of info-picket lines.

Misti knows that organizing for collective action begins with workers connecting with each other on a personal level. Misti has always enjoyed passing around greeting cards for babies being born, balloons for birthdays, and making sure that the workers at her store are connected with each other to build solidarity.

UFCW 21 Member Story: Angel Stone, Meat Cutter Extraordinaire

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Angel Stone, meat cutter at QFC, poses for a photo in front of a case of fresh meat where she works. She is holding a sign that says "respect, protect, and pay essential grocery store workers." Angel is wearing a facemask.

Angel Stone, Meat Cutter, QFC #827

This week, our #MemberMonday spotlight is on Angel Stone, Meat Cutter at QFC #827!

When Angel decided to train to become a Meat Cutter, she was a newly single mom of two kids and was looking for an opportunity to provide for her family while doing something she genuinely felt good about.

Angel says that, while it was a challenge to learn a trade like meat cutting while going through a divorce, the classes made her feel like she was part of a community. Becoming a Meat Cutter helped Angel become a leader in her workplace, all while being able to provide for herself and her two kids. After her training was over, she was able to step quickly into the work and now has a skill that she is able to take with her wherever she goes!

In Angel’s words, becoming a Meat Cutter “gave me a sense of stability and assurance knowing that I would always be able to provide for my family.”

Angel — we are so glad that you are a Meat Cutter, a leader in your workplace, a proud member of UFCW 21, and provider for your family. Happy holidays!

If you’d like to learn more about the UFCW 21 Meat Cutters Apprenticeship Program, check out: https://www.ufcw21.org/meat

#UnionStrong #RespectProtectPay #EssentialWorkers #MeatCutter #UFCW

UFCW 21 Member Story: Ana Brings Smiles to PCC

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Ana Cuevas, UFCW 21 Member and Lead Position at Redmond PCC Meat Department, poses in front of a display case of freshly butchered meats on sale.

Ana Cuevas, Redmond PCC Meat Department

Ana Cuevas works at Redmond PCC! Ana started at PCC 14 years ago in the deli and was a cook for 9 years. To make more money to provide for her family, Ana spoke with management about transferring to the meat department. In fact, Ana’s father was a meat cutter in Mexico and owned a butcher shop there. She then started the meat apprenticeship program and has since moved up to the Lead Position (second to Meat Coordinator).

After she finished the meat apprenticeship program, Ana was able to buy a house. She became the first in her family to own a home after moving here from Mexico when she was 19 years old. In her time at PCC, Ana has been able to help her mom and her two sisters to move to America as well. Ana is always a bright and shining face in the meat department and helps to build one of the most vibrant and diverse meat departments in our stores.

Ana — we so appreciate all that you do to put a smile on your co-workers’ faces and are so glad you’ve been able to help take care of your family.

Safeway Meat Warehouse - Some Early Progress in Bargaining

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2021 0330 - Safeway Meat Warehouse Update.jpg

On Tuesday your Union bargaining committee met with Albertsons/Safeway management for the first time to bargain the new Union contract. We made early progress with getting tentative agreements to:

Add new language limiting the amount of time that the Employer has to discipline members (10 working days)

Changing Funeral Leave to Bereavement Leave, which allows people to mourn without having to go to the funeral. This is important when family members live far away, or there isn’t formal funeral services.

But we still have big issues, in fact the big issues, ahead of us. We need to stand together as we bargain over our wages, healthcare, and retirement program. 

“We made some early progress. But make no mistake, we all need to focus on the total economic package, especially our wages!” 

– Jimbo 

Make sure you and your coworkers stay updated, especially if we need to take action! Follow the link below to update any contact information to make sure you stay informed and ready.