Posts Categorized: Negotiations

On June 27, more than 13,000 members of UFCW Local 3000 who work at Kroger and Albertsons brand stores across King, Snohomish and Kitsap counties in Washington ratified a strong, new contract.

Key provisions in the two-year contract include:

•           Highest-ever Average Annual Wage Increase: $2.70 over two years.

•           Protected health care plan with the employer contribution of an additional 55 cents per hour, while maintaining high quality, low-cost member benefits.

•           GM Pay Equity: Fred Meyer and QFC General Merchandise workers finally catch up.

•           Staffing Solutions: First-ever enforceable staffing language to fill more shifts in the store and new options to pick up extra hours.

•           Doubled the funding for an expansion of our workforce training program.

“Strong wage increases, fully funded health care, and a major breakthrough on staffing—this is a great contract that sets us up for bigger and better contracts in the future,” said Sam Dancy, a UFCW 3000 grocery store member at Kroger-owned QFC.

Kyle Doherty, a UFCW 3000 meat department member at Albertsons-owned Haggen added, “We’re fired up to return to the table sooner than ever—and this time with thousands more workers with us.”

Over 100 members of UFCW Local 27 who work at Vireo Health International Inc.’s MaryMed LLC facilities in Maryland ratified a new contract on June 12. The contract, which was ratified by an overwhelming margin of the workers after months of bargaining, covers MaryMed LLC dispensaries in Frederick and Baltimore, as well as cultivation workers in Massey Mills and packaging and processing workers in Hurlock. 

The three-year contract includes across-the-board pay raises of 3.5 percent, 3.25 percent and 3 percent respectively, including retroactive pay, and significant increases to the minimum pay rate for every classification listed in the contract. The contract increases pensions, and improves bereavement benefits, severance benefits, and protected workers’ tips. The contract also includes new union leave language and increases mentor/preceptor pay. Additionally, the company agreed to the maintenance of benefits for the life of the agreement.

“For over six months, Vireo/MaryMed LLC workers fought hard at the bargaining table for the wages and respect they deserve,” said UFCW Local 27 President Jason Chorpenning. “They emerge victorious with a contract that they can be proud of. These courageous workers proved that when we fight, we win.”

“The bargaining committee couldn’t have reached this agreement without the full support of our members,” said Vice President and Executive Assistant to the President Nelson Hill, who also served as the lead negotiator. “Over the last six months, our members utilized our collective power and refused to back down until we won the respect we deserved. With this agreement, we are moving forward to becoming more united and powerful than ever before.”