UFCW 3000 Podcast Episode 6: Honey, Listen! …To the Rest of Kristina’s Story

Kristina was Michaela’s first interview here on the podcast, but they didn’t get to the full story of Kristina’s union journey. What happens when you become a full-time union rep? And what if it doesn’t work out like you planned? Kristina talks about her time as a union rep, why it was not actually a great fit for her, and how it impacted her returning to work as an even more educated and empowered shop steward.

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: Debby Gibby

Debby Gibby

Debby Gibby is a senior Lab Assistant, steward, and bargaining team member at LabCorp. Debby knows union member voices are crucial to creating better workplaces and better lives and she isn't afraid to use hers to make it happen!  Debby has lots of creative ideas that she shares with her coworkers and her union representatives, and is using these ideas as a member of her bargaining team to win substantial wage increases to recruit and retain staff.  When she's not fighting to improve the lives of workers, she spends her time fighting for affordable housing.

Debby’s been a a strong advocate on affordable housing committees, especially in her First Hill neighborhood, as well as chairing a committee that stopped the removal of over 500 housing units from the Capitol Hill neighborhood in Seattle. Her archival research was rewarded with her work being on the cover of the First Hill's historical society's book.  Debby loves living in one of the oldest buildings on First Hill and works hard to keep her neighbors and her community safe and thriving.

Debby knows that the only solution to organized greed is organized people, on the job and off!

UFCW 3000 Member Story: Phil Gillette & Elizabeth Olson

Phil Gillette and Elizabeth Olson

Phil Gillette and Elizabeth Olson both work at the Bellingham Fred Meyer. But their true passion lies in the rabbit rescue that they started.

Bunanza Rabbit Rescue Ranch and Adoption Center got its start in 2015 when someone dumped a post-Easter bunny on Phil and Elizabeth's property in Lynden WA. Soon after they rescued another bunny running down the middle of a highway. Out of love for those first two rabbits in need, Bunanza has grown to include dozens of volunteers and has helped over 750 bunnies find permanent homes – all of them spayed or neutered, socialized, litter trained and vet verified to be healthy.

Phil and Elizabeth are vital members of their community, both at the grocery store and on the expanse of Bunanza Rabbit Resue Ranch!

UFCW 3000 Member Story: Allison Hanely

Allison Hanley and a canine Friend

It pays to know your rights! Your employer must follow the discipline and termination language in your union contract, and if you’re organizing your union or bargaining your first union contract, you still have federal labor rights to protect yourself from retaliation. When UFCW 3000 member Allison Hanley was terminated from the newly organized Downtown Dog Lounge, she felt sure it wasn’t fair and immediately called her union rep for support. After working together and looking at the facts, Allison ended up winning an $8,000 settlement in compensation from her employer! Congrats, Allison.

“The UFCW 3000 staff showed amazingly strong support for me in helping me fight for my rights, educating me about the settlement, and providing me the resources to get a new job at a unionized workplace!”—Allison Hanley

If you’re not sure what’s happening to you at work is fair, call us and ask to talk to your union rep, or to a union organizer if you’re not yet a member! UFCW 3000: 1-800-732-1188

UFCW 3000 Member Story: Nicole Hardin

Nicole Hardin ready for work at the Clinique Counter

Nicole Hardin has worked at the Alderwood Macy’s for nearly 16 years. Over the years she and her colleagues have fought for their wages, working conditions, and safety on the job (an increasingly important issue in retail). Nicole has been there for actions at her store, leaflets from leaflets to info pickets in front of the store.

As the attacks on working people have increased, Nicole has stepped up to become a shop steward, “I really enjoy being able to help colleagues clarify the [union] contract, and I enjoy being a person that colleagues can come to and address their concerns.”

When this year’s member bargaining committee was being formed, and the committee needed a beauty advisor from cosmetics on the team, Nicole jumped at the chance to represent her coworkers and department. “It’s been a great experience to see the inner workings of the union [member bargaining committee] and how hard they fight for us.”

And the fight is far from over. Negotiations have been going on since February, and Macy’s is still refusing to pay sustainable living wages to their workers and still needs to address store safety. The Bellingham, Alderwood, and Southcenter stores have all had strong-arm robberies and unruly customers getting physical with Macy’s workers during these negotiations.

Nicole and her coworkers are ready to do whatever it takes to win a fair contract. Info pickets have been scheduled for August 11th, and more actions are planned during what is a very Hot Labor Summer!

Info Picket Signs from the 2018 Macy’s Contract Campaign

UFCW 3000 Member Story: Jim O'Brien

Jim O’Brien

Union contracts often have provisions for overtime above what the law requires and additional premium pay for being assigned extra responsibilities and job duties. Unfortunately, employers don’t always pay what was agreed to in the Union contract, so it’s up to rank-and-file union workers and stewards to enforce the contract and hold the employer accountable.

Jim O’Brien works at the Pacific Campus for Providence Regional Medical Center in Everett. Recently Jim and other nurses have been assigned up to 5 nursing students to train (in nursing it is known as “clincal precepting” and nurse trainers are known as “preceptors”) while still carrying full patient loads. Jim and his fellow nurses had concerns about caring for patients while training 5 nursing students at the same time, and while reviewing the RN contract for Providence Everett he discovered that there was a premium clinical precepting that the Employer was not paying.

Jim and his union rep contacted his manager to request the premium for all the nurses in Jim’s unit. Management quickly agreed to pay the premium going forward and is conducting an audit with the Union to make all the nurses whole for the missed pay.

Way to go Jim! When everyone makes sure to enforce our union contract, we all benefit.

UFCW 3000 Member Story: Craig Kistler

Craig Kistler

Craig Kistler is a former Marine Deputy who now serves his community at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center as a Mental Health Counselor.

He joined the union about a year ago. He was happy to join because he saw the union addressing the needs of him and his coworkers. Craig and a co-worker talked about the benefits of the union and that the union started with the members at the work site, which is why he became interested in being more involved in helping build the power of the union.

He is happy to be a shop steward and is excited to be part of the bargaining team for the upcoming contract negotiations.

UFCW 3000 Member Story: Kelly Shaffer

Kelly Shaffer

Kelly Shaffer knows that being part of a union means having a collective voice on the job that the boss just can’t match, “Without our labor a business can’t operate, we effectively are the store.” Her sense of solidarity comes from how she was raised:

I'm from a working-class family, and my siblings are in unions too (shout out to the electrical workers and the teamsters!), and it's a genuine joy to be able to give back in my own workplace and look out for my fellow grocery workers.

So much of labor history is forgotten, and a lot of people don't realize that their basic rights as workers, the 8-hour day, their breaks, and weekends, are things that were literally fought for. It's important to me to honor that sacrifice and protect the things we might otherwise take for granted.

When Kelly is at work and organizing her coworkers she enjoys painting, drawing, video gaming, and tending to her vegetable garden. Sounds like a well-rounded life and a great shop steward!

UFCW 3000 Member Story: Alison DeBoise

Alison DeBoise recording a solidarity video for California Planned Parenthood workers fighting for a union

Alison DeBoise (she/they pronouns) works as an Insurance Biller for Planned Parenthood in Seattle and is an active shop steward at her work location. They talk about how they got involve in being a steward:

After college, I knew I wanted to work for Planned Parenthood because I'm passionate about access to reproductive healthcare for all. I began working at the Bellevue location in the Refill Center mailing patients their medication and became interested in the union after getting to know my coworkers better, attending general membership meetings, and our contract expiring not long after the pandemic started. Other stewards in my workplace inspired me to become a steward because I wanted to be a helpful resource to my coworkers.

Alison is now serving on the bargaining committee for the Planned Parenthood contract during negotiations this year, and has also stepped up to offer solidarity with Southern California Planned Parenthood workers fighting to organize a union with UFCW Local 324 by recording a video to offer those workers solidarity:

Being a part of a union with my coworkers has given us greater power to ask for and get what we need. Better wages, better working conditions, better work-life balance, and better time-off benefits.

We couldn’t agree more with Alison!

UFCW 3000 Member Story: Jenny Johnson De-Escalates A Dangerous Situation

Jenny Johnson

Unfortunately, grocery and retail workers are dealing with more violence in their workplaces, and it too often involves firearms. Since these workers are in public-facing businesses there is little between them and the world’s problems.

Jenny Johnson works at the Twin Lakes Fred Meyer and was at work recently when a shooting took place. She approached one of the victims who was at one of the front doors wounded. She noticed that he was holding a gun and so she stopped and said she would help as long as he put the gun aside. Once the gun was out of the situation Jenny and a coworker walked the victim over to the customer-service desk and applied towels to the wounds. When the paramedics arrived Jenny was able to keep the victim calm and encouraged him to answer all questions of the first responders at the scene.

But now Jenny is concerned because of the lack of an emergency door near the customer service area. Her coworkers upfront brought up that the Tacoma and Puyallup locations have emergency doors nearby to allow for quick and safe evacuation. We agree that this is a reasonable request of Fred Meyer to keep these workers safe!

Education and Safety Resources are available through our Union!

You and your co-workers are the key to building a strong union that advocates for safety in every workplace >>

UFCW 3000 Member Story: August Silva

August SIlva

August Silva (she/they), is a Patient Access Center Representative and Shop Steward at Planned Parenthood Tacoma. As a trans woman, she has faced a lot of challenges at her previous jobs, many of them coming behind the boss’s door:

I knew I wanted to work for Planned Parenthood because when I started transitioning in the Fall of 2021 and I couldn't think of a place that'd be more accepting of trans people like me than the place I get my hormone replacement care. My previous employer felt like I was taking "too much time off for frankly unnecessary office visits" and I applied the very next day! I love working with transgender patients.

August completed her first steward training this spring, and sees her work at Planned Parenthood and organizing her coworkers as being two sides of the same coin:

I want to do whatever sort of work I can for employees and patients to make sure there are equitable practices for everyone within the organization, and I think being a part of UFCW [3000] gives me the safety to be a voice for transgender employees in states that aren't unionized.

Outside of work, August enjoys listening to Jazz and helping provide mutual aid to unhoused people with Serve The People Tacoma. August is a great example of solidarity in action.

UFCW 3000 Member Stories: Joey Kagan

Joey Kagan sits in his breakroom at Safeway.

Meet Joey Kagen who works as a courtesy clerk at the Enumclaw Safeway and is an athelete in Special Olympics Washington. Joey is a swimmer competing at state in the 25 meter freestyle. He loves putting himself out there to share his passions and experiences as a man with autism.

Joey will be competing next week, and would love UFCW 3000 members to consider supporting, volunteering, and even joining Special Olympics. Competition begins at 9am June 10th at the King Country Federal Way Aquatics Center. He recommends coming a little early for socializing and opening ceremonies.

Joey is an important part of his store, community, and union!

Meet Naomi Oligario, UFCW 3000 Delegate to the 2023 UFCW International Convention

Naomi Oligario, one of your UFCW 3000 delegates to the 2023 UFCW International Convention

Every 5 years, the UFCW International Union holds a convention where union leaders from across the country meet to discuss the future of our union and help set its direction for growth. The 2023 UFCW International Convention will be held in Las Vegas, beginning today, Monday, April 24, 2023 and concluding Friday, April 28, 2023, or until all business is completed and the Convention is adjourned.

Naomi Oligario is an elected delegate to this convention and believes the UFCW International Union must be accountable to its membership and build real power for workers in all essential industries, including grocery, retail, cannabis, packing and processing, and healthcare. The purpose of any union is to build collective worker power to improve safety, wages, and working conditions, and amplify the voices of workers in their workplaces and communities. As a rank-&-file member, she knows how important this fight is.

Naomi Oligario has worked at Port Orchard Safeway for over 37 years! She started as a courtesy clerk before working her way up to produce & front end. Throughout the years, she has trained countless other grocery store workers, all while getting to know customers as they’ve grown up and built families of their own. Naomi is a respected workplace leader, which is why she ran on a slate of candidates from our local committed to fighting for a better UFCW!

UFCW International has decreased spending on critical organizing campaigns and discouraged coordination on our most important bargaining campaigns. This, combined with a large amount of investment in the stock market has been one of the factors that have contributed to the shrinking number of members in the UFCW year after year. This is why our delegation is proposing a set of reforms to invest in organizing, coordinating bargaining with national employers, and modernizing strike authorization so that bureaucracy doesn’t prevent workers from holding their employers accountable at the bargaining table.

Our delegation believes the UFCW must change in five fundamental ways: 

1. UFCW members must have a democratic voice in their International Union.

2. UFCW must be a powerhouse union that fights for all essential workers. 

3. UFCW must prioritize new organizing and invest in organizing campaigns, organizers, and new winning strategies.

4. UFCW must commit to coordinated bargaining across the USA and Canada.

5. UFCW must engage in strategic planning to counter corporate power and meet the challenges that face our movement and our democracy.

“We believe that union leadership should be accountable to the membership – the only way for that to happen is to have leadership be democratically elected from members themselves. We do this as a local union and our democratically elected executive board of over 40 members who work in our diverse industries is part of what makes us strong. We believe that the same should be the case for the UFCW International. The International should be held to the same democratic standard as we are at the local.” – Naomi Oligario, Port Orchard, Safeway, and Ana Alverez, Grandview, Washington Beef

UFCW 3000 Member Stories: Dalton Adams

Dalton was one of many grocry members participating in the stop the merger actions across the country recently.

Dalton Adams is a shop steward at the Downtown Bellevue QFC store and is active in many parts of our union. In January of this year, he went to Olympia to talk with Washington State Legislators about the increasing safety issues he and his coworkers face around organized retail theft and strongarm robberies. The political pressure forced Kroger and other employers to come to the table and work with our union on how to best protect workers.

Safety on the job is a big issue for Dalton and other shop stewards, last fall they came together with workplace leaders from 3 states at a Safety Summit to share stories, learn, and organize to make sure that workers are safer on the job.

Dalton and other stewards are also very concerned about what would happen to their jobs and communities if the Kroger/Albertsons mega-merger was allowed to go through. He and other grocery store workers took recently action recently across the country to inform customers of the perils of this monopoly-creating merger. Dalton asked customers and send a letter to the FTC via the No Grocery Merger Website, telling them to stop this merger from moving forward.

Dalton knows when workers organize, take action, and show solidarity with each other, what we can accomplish together is greater than what we could do alone.