Macy's Workers Launch ULP Strike on Martin Luther King Jr. Day
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Early yesterday morning, Macy’s workers at the Alderwood Mall location began an Unfair Labor Practice strike. Despite frigid temperatures, we took to the picket lines this MLK Day to stand up for ourselves, our colleagues, our families and our customers in the face of management’s blatant disrespect.
As you know, we have been in negotiations with Macy’s for close to a year now. Instead of coming to the bargaining table with thoughtful proposals that honor our contribution to this company’s success, Macy’s continues to undermine the process by repeatedly committing unfair labor practices, including bargaining in bad faith, changing working conditions unilaterally, and engaging in direct dealing while misleading workers about the most recent contract offer.
As of right now we plan to stay off the job indefinitely, picketing every day during Macy’snormalbusiness hours. We hope Macy’s will come back to the bargaining table to begin working on an agreement that isn’t riddled with takeaways and concessions. Macy’s workers deserve an agreement that protects us when we are at work, respects our time with the company and is something we can be proud of.
Macy’s most recent Last Best and Final offer just isn’t enough, offering:
The elimination of our personal day in honor of MLK day, reducing our amount of paid time off and disrespecting an important holiday.
Eliminating our hard-won wage scale—and without any guarantee that experienced workers will be paid above what new hires receive.
A rejection of our proposed safety language that would protect workers from discipline if we call mall security or the police in response to a violent situation.
Just $0.50 per year in General Wage Increases (GWI) to current workers, with low ratification bonuses of $300 for part-time workers and $600 for full-time workers.
This insulting offer was made by a company that has recorded more than a billion-dollar annual profit margin. A company made profitable off the work of the people now walking the strike line.
We must continue to be prepared to go on strike at the other Macy’s locations, Bellis Fair Mall, Southcenter Mall and the Alderwood and Tukwila Furniture Galleries. Workers could strike any day at any of these locations, joining workers at Alderwood ON STRIKE!
In anticipation of a longer strike, our rank-and-file worker-led Executive Board approved more comprehensive strike benefits of:
$500/week for striking members who work 20 hours on the strike line.
$800/week for striking members who work 32+ hours on the strike.
$200/week Respect the Line Benefit for striking members who cannot join their coworkers on the strike line but respect the strike line and do not cross (for a maximum of 4 weeks).
To receive your strike benefit, sign in and out of your shift on the strike line, or if you are respecting the line, please email strike@UFCW3000.org to notify our union that you will be respecting the line but not walking the line. All members receiving any type of Strike Benefit must have a completed W9 on file. If you haven’t already done so, please sign a W9 here >>
Join our next All Macy’s Member Call this Wednesday, January 17 at 5pm
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88212637000 to discuss the strike and next steps.
Check out the Strike FAQ for some basic information >>
See you on the strike line soon, stay warm!
