Sept 3, 2013

NW13-025

To: NW Council Representatives

From: Joel Funfar (NW VP), Dave Baine (A-40), Orlando De Los Santos (R-50), Gordon Yip (P-1), Theryl Johnson (P-5), Brent McFarlane (E-22), Mahliek Barnes (E-13) Tony Hickerson (K-2), Ron Mathes (D-6), Judy Mogan (A-10), Janet Covarrubias (E-2), Sandy Hastings (E-18), Suzanne Kamiya (E-60), Charles Tatel (R-20), Roger Aisaka (X-10)

Subject: Pre-Submitted New Business: Support of UFCW Locals 21 & 367, Teamsters Local 38 In Negotiations With Assorted Grocery Chains and Independent Stores.

Background

SPEEA was supported by UFCW (United Food and Commercial Workers) & Teamsters during our strike in 2000. Currently, approximately 30,000 Puget Sound grocery store workers from 3 unions ( UFCW Locals 21 & 367, Teamsters local 38 Snohomish county), are standing together in contract negotiations for the respect and dignity of an honest wage every day, reliable hours every week. They have been in contract negotiations since March.

They are facing cuts to Pay, Eliminating Health Care and no paid sick days outside of Seattle. The Store owners/CEO’s want to eliminate health care for workers working below 30 hours a week. Note the stores set the work hours for each worker. The CEO’s & store owners want to cut holiday pay, and eliminate the guarantee that all employees will be paid at least 10 cents an hour above the minimum wage. Also the CEO’s and owners want to deny paid sick days to all workers outside Seattle.

The unions would like to Protect Health care in quality and affordability for the union workers. They would like to raise pay to a 25 cent an hour guarantee above minimum wage from the current 10 cents an hour. They would like all grocery store workers to earn the same sick leave as those inside the city of Seattle.

Grocery store workers are negotiating a union contract with many national chains and local union grocery stores.

Union Grocery Stores:

Albertsons, QFC, Safeway, Fred Meyer, Haggen/TOP Food and Drug, Camano Plaza, Cost Cutter, Everybody’s Market, Food Pavilion, Gordon’s Select Market, Kens Corner, Matthews at Lakemont, Metropolitan Markets, PCC Natural Markets, Rogers Market Place, Saar’s Markets, Summit Tukwila Trading Company, Swanson’s, The Markets LLC, Town & Country/Central/Ballard Markets, Red Apple (Alberts, Berts, Bridle Trails, Garguile’s, Hilltop and Promenade, Poulsbo, Shelton), Thriftway (Allen Creek, Bayview, Forks, Front Street Market, Boulevard Parkway, Pick Rite, Ralph’s, Stadium, Vashon and West Seattle)

For more information: www.ufcw21.org , http://www.ufcw367.org/ , http://www.teamsters38.org/

http://www.ufcw21.org/connect/grocery-workers

http://www.ufcw21.org/content/add-your-name-2013-grocery-store-workers-bill-rights-0

The Actions:

Actions happened August 28 and more will come in the future.

Motion

It is moved that the NW SPEEA Council supports UFCW local 21 and associated unions in their struggle in negotiations with the union grocery stores. The NW Council requests the Executive Board provide Staff with direction to take steps in informing our members about this issue via our publications and information networks and urge our members to shop at union grocery stores and support the union workers during negotiations and if they go out on strike.

It is further moved that the Northwest Council supports giving up to $5000.00 out of the annually budgeted labor support fund, should a strike happen and support is needed by UFCW locals 21, 367 or Teamsters Local 38.

The NW council requests the SPEEA Executive Board to contact the local union leadership if a strike occurs and help is needed, to work with the UFCW on how to send the support.