Members’ Weingarten Rights

One of the most important rights union leaders can teach their co-workers about is their Weingarten Rights – the right of union workers to have a steward present if they find themselves in a situation where they might be disciplined. Because we are Union, none of us needs to stand alone. If you are interested in attending a Weingarten training you can Sign up here!

Weingarten rights were won in a 1975 Supreme Court decision covering private sector union members; non-union workers do not qualify. In 2010 the State of Washington extended these rights to public employees in our state as well.

• Ask you Rep. for this handy Weingarten Rights handout including 5 languages.

• Ask management to explain the nature of the investigation before the meeting begins.

• Exercise your right to speak privately to the employee before the questioning begins.

• Act as a witness in this meeting, not necessarily as a defense attorney.

• Take notes for future reference. Your notes can be invaluable.

• Ask clarifying questions to make sure the employee understands what is being asked, or if you think management didn't understand the answer.

• Ask for a break if the employee is emotionally distressed.

• Ask management to stop if they are badgering the employee.

• Object to improper questioning by management.

Union Dues

UFCW 3000 is a large, diverse union made up of workers in various job classifications and industries. Our dues structure is partly based on a long history of smaller unions coming together to form UFCW 3000. It was last updated, restructured, voted on and approved by the membership in fall 2023.

UFCW 3000 dues may be calculated in one of two ways, depending on your contract and the bylaws of the union: a fixed dues rate (ie, a flat rate) or a percentage of salary. Dues are based on industry and job classification. A minimum dues rate is set by the UFCW International Constitution.

Union dues are a main way workers share resources with each other. When everyone pays in a small amount, we can pool our money to afford the resources we need to maintain a strong union, negotiate good contracts, enforce our rights, organize new workers into our union, and support strong communities where we live and work. Many employers have big budgets to hire lawyers, implement new technology, support anti-worker legislation, fight unionization, and more. We come together to make sure working people have a fighting chance in a rigged system. Every UFCW 3000 member pays into our Strike & Defense Fund as part of our dues, one of our most powerful assets. A healthy Strike & Defense Fund helps defend our rights.

At our quarterly General Membership Meetings, members can review our union’s finances, and the UFCW 3000 Executive Board, made up of members from across the union, guides major financial decisions. Because our board values an active and engaged membership, members at these General Membership Meetings get a credit of 2/3 of a month’s dues for attending. New members may get a credit toward their initiation fee for attending a New Member Meeting in person, online, or one-on-one with their Union Rep. You can download and print a helpful dues guide by clicking here.

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