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

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.

UFCW 3000 Member Story: Indy Mendoza

Indy Mendoza at work

Meet Indy Mendoza, who works as a meatcutting apprentice at PCC Community Markets. Indy has completed his first year of his apprenticeship and loves working at PCC where he has worked since 2020. Prior to that, he worked as a chef in the restaurant industry. When the pandemic hit, he decided he wanted something more stable than restaurant work could provide.

He didn’t start immediately in the Meat Department, but he was interested early on:

“I started as a Night Crew worker and during that time I got to know the people working in the Meat Department. I talked with them a lot and got to hear what they liked about their job and it felt like a good fit for me because of my previous experience as a chef and personal love of food. I also liked that it was a trade that I could get trained in and work towards making a long-term career.”

Indy’s participation in the Puget Sound Meat Cutter Apprenticeship program has helped him gain the skills to not only be a proficient meatcutter but to also assist customers with the protein center of their plates:

“…My people skills have been able to shine. In my previous work, and in my starting position as night crew, I didn’t get to interact with customers as much. Being in the Meat Department and talking to customers and giving recommendations has become my favorite part of the job!”

Indy also likes to pass on information about the benefits of the union contract to his coworkers to help build the Union:

“I really enjoy when the Union reps come to visit because they explain things in a way I can understand and then I can better pass that understanding on to my coworkers. I’m grateful to be in a Union because I feel like my voice can be heard.”

Indy’s story is a great example of how the meatcutting apprenticeship helps recruit and train workers for a great career! If you are interested in finding out more about becoming a meatcutter, you should consider enrolling in the WeTrain Meatcutting Pre-Apprenticeship Program.

UFCW 3000 Member Story: Marc Tabisula & Meat Apprenticeship Values

Marc Tabisula HOLDS UP A fLYER FOR THE mEAT cUTTER aPRENTICESHIP pROGRAM

Marc Tabisula started with QFC in 2022, as Meat Service Counter Clerk. He attended the Meat Cutter Pre-Apprenticeship Program and credits it for getting him a meat apprenticeship with QFC. The Pre-Apprenticeship Program helps interested workers find out what it means to have a career as a meat cutter and gives them the knowledge that employers are looking for when hiring apprentices.

UFCW 3000 partners with WeTrain Washington and grocery employers with unionized meat departments to connect graduates with potential employers. At a recent Pre-Apprenticeship graduation attended by employer representatives, 3 graduates were hired at the graduation as meat cutter apprentices and will be attending Puget Sound and Seattle Meat Cutter Apprentice classes in September in addition to their training on the job.

The Meat Cutter Apprenticeship Program gives cutters a leg up over those who don’t have an apprenticeship program, making them more likely for promotion. Marc himself has recently been promoted to Meat Manager as he continues to work on his apprenticeship and education. He is always engaged and working on learning his contract for himself and to share with coworkers. Way to go Marc, for advancing your career and always learning, union strong!