A week before our one-year union election victory anniversary, Downtown Dog Lounge workers overwhelmingly voted in our first union contract!
Benefits include:
One additional paid holiday
Across the board wage increases
A grievance process
A Labor/Management Committee (LMC)
that will meet quarterly to discuss issues at work
$15 more toward employer healthcare coverage
Make sure you have completed your membership application! join.ufcw.org/join/3000
On Friday April 19, UFCW Local 3000 members working at Franz Bakery Outlets voted unanimously to reject the Employer’s offer and to authorize a strike. Our Union Negotiating Committee now heads into federal mediation next week with a clear mandate to demand more from Franz. It should now be evident to Management that their offer is insufficient, and they must increase it to align more closely with the wages of bakery clerks at neighboring Union grocery stores.
We will resume negotiations with the employer and a federal mediator on Tuesday, April 30. Further updates will follow.
After eight months of negotiations, our union Bargaining Team fully recommends a “YES” vote on our tentative agreement! Drop in to view the proposal and vote to have your voice heard.
South Lake Union
Friday, April 26 @ 2pm—5pm
1011 Mercer St, Seattle, WA 98102
Ballard
Friday, April 26 @ 8am—12pm
824 NW 46th St, Seattle, 98107
Macy’s
Tukwila Minimum Wage Increase Grievance
Our union is filing a grievance against Macy’s for their failure to pay workers what they fought for and won earlier this year. Macy’s workers in Tukwila reported that they did not see their wages increase to what they should have above the city’s minimum wage. We gave Macy’s the chance to fix this problem on their own, but they refused. Our union will continue to enforce our contract through the grievance procedure.
If you have any questions, your pay has been fixed, or another economic piece of our new contract isn’t being followed, please reach out to Union Rep Tae Abraham @ 206-436-6631.
After 8 long months of bargaining with Downtown Dog Lounge, we have finally reached a tentative agreement fully recommend by our union worker bargaining team!
Bargaining began in September 2023 and your bargaining team has been working hard and focusing on our core issues: safety for dogs and humans, a livable wage, and regular maintenance to the facilities. While it has been a fight, DDL workers have remained strong knowing that winning this first contract is the first step in changing standards in the animal care industry.
This tentative agreement includes:
Additional holiday with pay
Grievance procedure
Just cause language
And much more…
Details will be sent out soon on voting times and locations. If you have any questions, contact your bargaining team or Union Representative.
Bargaining team includes: Maribeth Fletcher, Ayla Gersdorf-Duncan, Judy Coy, and Elsie Hedberg.
After workers came together to discuss a broken PTO system, we came to an agreement with Card Kingdom that benefited both the Employer and union members. There has not been the same movement on our grievance against the Employer’s current practice of giving only one raise a year. We’ve provided numerous opportunities for Card Kingdom to fulfill the raises they agreed to during negotiations, but unfortunately, they have decided to maintain their position contrary to the contract.
Contracts that have two raises a year are standard in many of the industries our union represents. Workers on these scales earn a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) and receive a raise on their anniversary date until they reach the top of the scale. This is the wage scale we fought for and gained at the table. Our contract must be followed as negotiated.
During the Union’s most recent conversation with the Employer’s legal counsel, they denied any wrongdoing, falsely accused the union of deception, and indicated they had no interest in a reasonable settlement short of an arbitrator’s order.
We cannot rely on arbitration to be the only mechanism to ensure our contract is followed. Becoming a shop steward is a great way to help build union power and as we head towards arbitration, we will be holding regular union meetings to discuss how to help enforce our union contract.
After months of bargaining, our Bargaining Team has reached a new tentative settlement agreement with BDA. The outstanding result of the final agreement reflects everyone’s hard work and commitment. Our union is driven by members coming together to fight for better working conditions and here are some of the things in our tentative agreement:
*NEW* Ratification Bonus of $125
Retroactive pay for workers making under $21/hr and for Keyholder premiums starting September 25, 2023
Increased base wage for all workers and guaranteed retention bonus
ORCA and parking benefits
Workplace protections including just cause for disciplines
Meals provided at every game
Improvement on merch options for members
Increased tuition assistance
And more!
Members will be able to review the full collective bargaining agreement (CBA) and cast a vote on whether to approve it at our vote meeting.
Workers may only vote during the designated vote window and must attend in person. Complete a union application, review the agreement, ask questions, and cast your ballot!
Tuesday, April 9 @ 3pm—5pm
Climate Pledge Arena - Kraken Team Store, 334 1st Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109
Questions? Contact Union Rep Dominick Ojeda @ 206-436-6586.
The votes have been counted and UFCW Local 3000 members at Swains General Store have voted to ratify our new 3-year contract! Our new contract includes:
$1.30/hr wage increase paid retroactively back to January 1, 2024
Significantly reduces the number of hours required to attain Journey status
Maintains our FREE quality healthcare through throughout the term of our 3-year contract
A new personal day, and much more
If you have any questions please reach out to a workplace steward or Union Rep Naomi Oligario @ 360-662-1989.
Our union came into 2023 with some great successes, like winning a "best in a generation" contract for 25,000 Western Washington grocery store workers, but we also faced some huge challenges. Health care workers continued to be crushed by severe staffing shortages at hospitals that threatened both patient and caregiver safety alike, and at the same time, we had just learned of a proposed mega-merger between Kroger and Albertsons that threatened layoffs, store closures, and higher prices. 2023 was shaping up to be a big year.
UFCW 3000 members working in health care, grocery stores, food processing plants, retail businesses, and many other industries are fundamentally linked to the communities we work and live in. We are the essential workers that our communities depend on every day. That is why the challenges we face, like ferocious corporate greed that under-staffs us to make huge record profits, or the extreme and growing inequality between the wealthiest one percent and everyday working people are not just a problem for our workplaces —they are problems for our entire community. Greed and inequality are also underlying and insidious drivers of systemic racism and sexism —pitting us against each other, while an economic appetite of extraction and churn threatens the future of humanity itself. These toxic realities of greed and inequity also threaten our most cherished aspirations of democracy, freedom, and a better life for the next generation.
If together, as organized workers and communities, we want to fight back and build a better future, we are going to have to face these challenges head-on. While we recognize we still have a lot of problems and a lot of work to do to make things better in 2024, we also think it is important to celebrate the fact that we have been a leader in our region and around the nation —attacking these problems, making an impact, and being part of the movement to turn things around for the better.
Here’s a snapshot of some of our accomplishments from 2023, our wins as a collective union of workers in action.
We won important reforms at our UFCW International Convention and began the much-needed campaign for greater reforms in the future. Learn more about our local's fight to bring democracy to the UFCW >>
We joined the 'year of strikes' when thousands of UFCW 3000 members voted to authorize ULP strikes: The nurses at Providence Everett and workers at Macy’s in Southcenter, Alderwood, and Bellingham went on strike in 2023. Both strikes were joined by hundreds of community supporters while thousands signed petitions in support of these striking workers.
Providence strike recap video >>
Macy's strike recap video >>
We passed a Safer Staffing Law! Working in a first of its kind in the region, a coalition with SEIU Healthcare1199NW, WSNA and UFCW 3000 worked to pass the historic ESSB 5236 Safe Staffing legislation that will take steps towards ensuring safer hospital staffing levels across WA. Learn more about the Safe Staffing legislation >>
We opened a new Union Hall in Des Moines! After completing the sale of our flagship office of over 20 years in Seattle to the Seattle Labor Temple, we held an open house in our brand new union hall in Des Moines. This new location will save money, be more accessible to members (it is located on the new Light Rail route), and be a gathering space for members. Learn more about UFCW 3000 office locations >>
Our elected Executive Board made of rank-and-file members adopted a powerful new 5-year strategic plan to guide our union and prioritize our work until 2028. Learn more about the Strategic Five Year Plan >>
Our Executive Board also helped begin a national call from labor unions for a ceasefire in Gaza. Learn more about the petition for peace >>
Had fun! Thousands of members and their families attended UFCW 3000’s summer events at Wild Waves in Federal Way, WA, and Silverwood in Idaho. Save the date for the next Summer Picnics at the Park: Silverwood is August 6 and Wild Waves is August 8.
Union member bargaining teams won 8 first-time contracts and ratified 30 new contracts with higher wages, improved benefits and better working conditions.
Held off the grocery store mega-merger by being instrumental in building a national coalition of unions that includes UFCW locals 5, 7, 324, 400, 770, 1564 and 3000 and community groups including 55 from our own region to oppose the Kroger and Albertsons mega-merger. We have successfully lobbied —through data, testimony, and evidence to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) who has recently ruled in our favor and decided to reject this proposed mega-merger! Learn more about efforts to stop the mega-merger >>
In 2023 we organized hundreds of new members! New organizing wins from determined organizing committees both big and small resulted in hundreds of new members joining our union. Welcome Ferry County, Downtown Dog Lounge, REI Bellingham, MultiCare Auburn Pros, and Fred Meyer Port Orchard General Merchandise, and our first Cannabis producer contract at Mfused, who won a standard-setting contract in the cannabis industry.
People powered politics in action: Our member-led endorsement committee interviewed 57 candidates for local office. 68 members participated in our Political Action Advisory Committee and were able to help win a new just cause standard for grocery store workers around retail theft. Learn more about our People-Powered Politics agenda >>
The Essential Workers Organizing Academy is up and running! The program was broken up into three distinct phases: training, internal organizing, and external organizing/preparing for strikes. Apprentice organizers supported on campaigns that included Macy’s, Bartell Drugs, Fred Meyer, PCC, Providence Everett, as well as political and community projects. Congratulation to the first EWOA graduating class of 2023! Learn more about EWOA >>
Enforced our rights: Together as members, stewards, and union Reps we work hard to ensure members’ rights are protected and that the process is transparent, and management is held accountable to our members, our contract, and the law. In 2023 we had to file 182 grievances against management that could not be resolved at the worksite level.
Got the training to empower ourselves: Over 300 members participated in a union training in 2023. These trainings included topics like Weingarten training and enforcement, Leaders in Action, New Member Meetings, Grievance Training, Retirement Seminars, and more. Learn more about upcoming union trainings >>
No union should be an island. We support others in their struggles and UFCW 3000 attended strikes, showed solidarity and gave other support for Starbucks Workers United in Washington and around the nation.
OLYMPIA, WA – This morning, Governor Inslee signed into law Senate Bill 6007, a bill intended to protect grocery store workers and communities from the negative impacts of corporate megamergers in the grocery industry. Drafted in response to the news that grocery giants Kroger (owner of Fred Meyer and QFC) and Albertsons/Safeway are threatening to merge into one huge company, ESSB 6007 saw enormous support from local Washington grocery store workers and community allies, who advocated throughout the legislative session for its passage.
“As I explained to legislators, we’ve already learned the hard way through past grocery chain mergers about the upheaval it causes for workers and shoppers when these chains merge and close or sell off neighborhood grocery stores,” said Yasmin Ashur, a UFCW 3000 member and checker at the Port Orchard Albertsons who testified in support of the bill and was on hand to see the governor sign it today. “We saw it in Port Orchard with the Albertsons/Safeway merger not that long ago. I am so proud to say I stood up with my fellow workers and helped pass legislation that will help protect our jobs.”
This new legislation puts in place basic guidelines for large grocery stores when they change hands, like in an acquisition or merger, to ensure that essential food workers’ lives and our communities’ access to food and household necessities are not thrown into chaos. It requires public notice of new ownership, a period of job protection or re-hire for eligible current employees, protection of current working conditions and collective bargaining agreements, and mandatory engagement with local government if a merger would cause the closure of a store in an existing food desert.
“The difference between unemployment caused by a pandemic and job loss caused by corporate buyouts is that the potential harm of a merger is foreseeable,” said Britt Leggett, a UFCW 3000 member and deli clerk at the Fred Meyer in the Ballard neighborhood of Seattle who also testified in support of the bill and attended the bill signing today. “That’s what this legislation seeks to remediate: to help workers keep their jobs and seniority when their stores changes owners. The law also ensures that constituents will be served by grocery workers who they know well, who have the skills to do their jobs, and follow the health rules to keep food safe.”
Hundreds of grocery store workers with UFCW 3000 across the state sent messages to lawmakers encouraging the passage of SB 6007, and some traveled to Olympia to meet lawmakers in person.
“It’s a big sacrifice for everyday working people to take time out of their busy lives to try and engage with the local political process,” said Joe Mizrahi, Secretary Treasurer of UFCW 3000. “But being in a union means we can share the load, work together, and make real change that impacts entire industries.”
REI workers from around the country joined together yesterday to show our power and unwavering solidarity to fight for a fair first contract, marching on REI headquarters to invite CEO Eric Artz to sit down with representatives from the worker bargaining team—in person, right in the parking lot. REI management was a no-show, so the group of green vests delivered a letter to the Employer's locked front door, surrounded by cheering friends and allies there in solidarity!
REI has unilaterally changed their longstanding past practice and took away merit raises and 2024 Summit Pay at union REIs. Our union has joined other REI union locals around the country to file an Unfair Labor Practice against REI for breaking labor law.
Hear directly from our coworker Sue about why yesterday was so important:
“REI has a list of values and one of them is the ‘co-op way’. One of them is that we start from a place of respect. We acknowledge and resolve our differences of opinion because it helps us tackle problems, learn faster, do better, and go further.”
Has REI lived up to the co-op way? Union workers yesterday went to HQ to say NO! and to demand REI stop union-busting and negotiate with union workers in good faith. The way we win a fair contract is by being engaged and being ready to exercise our right to fight for it! Reach out to anyone on your bargaining team to get more involved in negotiations and upcoming actions.
Feel free to reach out to your union rep Dominick Ojeda at (206) 436-6586.
You can find more about the national campaign here: ourrei.com
View more from the action yesterday at the REI Union Twitter
Our Downtown Dog Lounge worker union Team met with Elise and her legal counsel on February 28 for another session. More back and forth on core issues such as application of seniority, protection from unjust layoffs to name a few.
Our Team also delivered our petition with super majority support, demanding quicker movement at the bargaining table. We look forward to meeting with Management again in March now that they’ve been reminded that we expect a fair contract!
As always the best place for information on the bargaining processes, contract information or anything union in general is our union Bargaining Team.
After two ULP strikes and months of fighting Macy’s proposed takeaways, we won a historic contract that protected MLK day as a paid day off, set the foundation for wage scales to not be eaten up by minimum wage, won the largest ratification bonus this cycle for Macy's workers, and secured stronger safety language in our contract!
Macy’s should not drag their feet on paying us the money we won! In past contract cycles it has taken Macy’s months to finally pay workers what we won in our contract. Last week Macy’s confirmed that our pay should be reflected on your next check dated March 1, 2024. Make sure to check your check and confirm that you are getting your back pay, bonus and new pay rate. If you don't see it after Friday’s check, please contact the Member Resource Center at 1-866-210-3000 so they can add your name to the grievance we filed against Macy's last week for not paying us the money we won in a timely manner.
Because of this, our union filed a grievance today against Macy’s to get workers their raises, ratification bonus, and backpay. We will keep Macy's workers updated on the progress of the grievance and aim to resolve this as soon as possible. Make sure you communicate with a union rep immediately if other contractual wins are not met by Macy’s so our union can investigate and seek a timely remedy.
If you have any questions, please call: Rep. Dominick Ojeda 206-436-6586
Today was a half day of negotiations- and we moved forward important discussions on our priorities: a competitive wage scale, improved commission structure, PTO, and a safe work environment.
Over the last couple of weeks, we have spoken with other workers at studios in our area and have been diligently comparing wages, commission, and employee discounts. Our team made new proposals on wages that included recognition of our experience at Deep Roots and within the Retail Piercing Industry at large.
Regarding Paid and unpaid time off work, our proposals lead with compassion and the recognition that life happens and there are times we need to step away from work for our own mental health. We are re-focusing our energy on increasing overall PTO that may be utilized for bereavement, holidays the studios are closed, and for personal days off.
Our Bargaining Team returns to the bargaining table on February 23. Please keep wearing the Threaded Together stickers in solidarity and reach out to the bargaining team or Union Rep Dominic Ojeda, 206-436-6586, if you have questions or would like to get more involved.
“Unionizing through UFCW 3000 has given us hope for a better future. The impact of our unionization will not stop within Deep Roots studios. We hope that through unionizing, we can create a ripple of change within the industry as a whole and make workers at other studios consider how they are being treated. If there are others who feel as we do–that they are overlooked, disrespected, considered replaceable, and underpaid–we encourage them to contact a local Union. We are all stronger when threaded together.” – Our Union Bargaining Team, Jude Manning and Lexi Otway
Our Union was recently informed that many members were being underpaid per our union contract. Our contract stipulates that union Hudson News workers will be paid above minimum wage. In January, the minimum wage in SeaTac went up, so our minimum wage escalator scale in our contract for 2024 is:
0-1 Years at Hudson: $19.87/hour
2-3 Years at Hudson: $19.97/hour
4+ Years at Hudson: $20.40/hour
On April 1, 2024, workers with 4+ years will be moved to $21.40/hour. Our union met with the Employer to discuss workers’ issues with being paid under the contract minimum, and we received an agreement that Hudson will correct the mistake, with back-pay, by the end of February. If you work at the Hudson Warehouse, your wage rates have not been affected by minimum wage and will not change until our negotiations in 2025.
Our contract had an error regarding workers’ sick time carryover from year to year. Workers should receive 80 hours of sick time carryover, not 40 hours. We are working on resolving that issue with the Employer.
If you have questions about sick time carryover or if you are you being paid less than what the contract requires, Call union representative Dominick Ojeda at 206-436-6586 with any questions.
Make sure to review the contract regularly, enforcing our contract is an important aspect of union activity, and so that you know the other benefits our union contract guarantees ▸
Card Kingdom
FORCED PTO MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING VOTE
Our union filed a grievance regarding disciplines that Card Kingdom issued after workers were forced to use PTO for missed time. Our Labor Management Committee has come to a fully recommended tentative agreement with Card Kingdom to amend the make-up time language.
This better aligns with the previous practice and addresses the issues our union originally filed the grievance about.
These changes should help workers retain more PTO to use when desired and help workers have greater peace of mind about their commute to and from work.
Our Labor Management Committee recommends a YES vote on the MOU.
All members in good standing are encouraged to vote.
Join your coworkers and vote on the new agreement!
Friday, February 16 @ 11am — 5pm
Card Kingdom 5105 Leary Ave NW, Seattle, WA 98107
If you have any questions, please call
Dominick Ojeda @ 206-436-6586
“The most powerful part of negotiations was sharing our experiences as retail workers- and the reality that many of us are living paycheck to paycheck and depend on our commission rates to help pay the rent and supplement our income. Our stories are what thread us together- and what will help us to fight at the table for the improvements we need to stay in the industry we love. Why do you love working in the piercing industry? How would having a higher wage and greater opportunities for commission change your life? Please share with us, and continue to wear your stickers at work!” — Our Union Bargaining Team, Cy Manning and Lexi Otway
On Monday we received our first economic proposal from Deep Roots which included a wage scale and the current practices around commission, Co-Lead pay, tips, and gratuity.
They also proposed new Holidays where employees would receive time and one half for working and paid days off on Christmas and Thanksgiving. Other big discussion topics of the day included industry standards, workplace safety, commuter stipends, and employee discounts.
We have waited a long time to have these important discussions around pay, time off, and benefits. Our team spent most of the day evaluating their proposals and thinking through strategies to reach an agreement that addresses our priorities. We return to the bargaining table on February 13 and 23.
Please reach out to our Union Rep Dominick Ojeda at 206-436-6586, if you have questions or need support.
Kamila Aburkis works in the deli at the Kirkland Metropolitan Market and enjoys her work, both preparing delicious food and serving her customers, “Maintaining strong customer relationships is important to me. My goal is to be a friendly face to our customers, so they keep coming back.”
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Our Agreement Contains Hard Fought Wins After Historic 9-Day ULP Strike and Consumer Boycott Campaign that followed a historic 3 day ULP strike over Black Friday Weekend.
Macy’s worker sent a strong message: We are united and fighting for better jobs for all retail workers
The Newly ratified agreement with Macy’s ends our second ULP strike and consumer boycott campaign. Together, we won the largest ratification bonus in the nation for Macy’s workers. This agreement sets a new gold standard for retail workers across the country, both in the fight and in the outcome.
Azia Domingo who has worked at Macy’s Southcenter Mall store for 21 years said: “We’re on our feet for 8, 10, sometimes 12 hours a day making the store and our products shine and helping our customers. Pay is low, and understaffing has left us at higher risk when confronted with health and safety threats. Our union member workers told Macy’s, enough is enough. We were prepared to strike and support a consumer boycott as long as it took to get Macy’s to address our serious concerns. This tentative agreement shows Macy’s management is ready to recognize that we are essential to making Macy’s a profitable business.”
The agreement approved today by a vote of Macy’s UFCW 3000 members, will provide workers covered by the contract with:
The largest ratification bonus in the country, 20% higher than before the strike.
Increased safety protections, including the right for workers to bring up safety issues without fear of retaliation, one of the key unfair labor practices that caused workers to strike.
A new and improved wage scale for new hires. Increases in minimum wage escalators to .35 for workers after one year and .50 for workers after two years.
Protection of a prized worker benefit, Martin Luther King Jr Day flex paid time off for current employees, that Macy’s had threatened to take away.
Union Reps and Stewards will have copies of the “red-lined” contract in stores and new contract booklets as soon as possible.
This strike has reset the balance of power between workers and Macy’s. Let’s keep the pressure on by enforcing our contract, getting involved in our safety committees, joining steward trainings, and getting our coworkers and community ready for the next fight!
We are the Union. The members of UFCW 3000 are over 50,000 members working in grocery, retail, health care, meat packing, cannabis, & other industries across Washington state, north-east Oregon, and northern Idaho. UFCW 3000 is a chartered member of UFCW International with over 1.4 million workers in North America.
To build a powerful Union that fights for economic, political and social justice in our workplaces and in our communities.
