SPOKANE COUNTY, Wash — Many grocery store workers represented by The United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW)’s Chapter 3000 “info-picketed” outside Kroger-owned Fred Meyer stores and Albertson/Safeway stores.
The union members are calling for better wages, increased staffing and safer working conditions.
The informational picketing in front of the grocery stores is designed to highlight efforts to achieve a fair contract with grocery store companies.
UFCW 3000 represents over 50,000 grocery store workers in Washington, Idaho and Oregon.
It’s the state’s largest private sector union, representing other industry sectors as well.
Contract negotiations began last November, but UFCW 3000’s current contract with the companies expired in mid-January.
There is an extension in place until either UFCW 3000 or employers terminate the contract with 10 days notice.
The worker-led contract bargaining committee is seeking a large wage increase. The union members say grocery workers in Western Washington are paid higher wages than in Eastern Washington.
However, the union members argue that the cost of living is almost as high in the east.
“…with inflation and everything, our wages are being eaten up. What we would like to have is…the west side got $4 in three years. We would like to have something like that…those type of wages…over here. Apparently the employer believes it’s not as expensive over here as it is over there,” Jeff Terpening, a UFCW 3000 member and employee at a Spokane Safeway store, said.
Terpening told NonStop Local that contract negotiations are not going as well as the union members and UFCW 3000 had hoped.
“Contract negotiations are not going as well as we would like. Right now, we got $2 over three years. That is not where we want to be,” Terpening said.
NonStop Local did contact Safeway, but did not hear back.
“We are currently in negotiations with UFCW Local 3000. We look forward to reaching an agreement with the union that provides a comprehensive compensation package of wages and benefits,” Tiffany Sanders, a spokesperson for Fred Meyer, said in a statement.
The main purpose of the informational pickets is to provide an opportunity for workers to connect directly with grocery store customers and inform them of the challenges they are facing in the workplace and through the contract negotiations.
The Schedule for the Info-Pickets:
Wednesday March 6th:
9 to 10 a.m. at Fred Meyer #214. Location: 12120 N Division, Spokane, WA 9920812 to 1 p.m. at Fred Meyer #351. Location: E. 15609 Sprague Ave., Veradale, WA 990373 to 4 p.m. at Albertsons #265. Location 6520 N Nevada St., Spokane WA 99208
Thursday March 7th:
10 to 11 a.m. at Safeway #1473. Location: 14020 E. Sprague, Spokane, WA 9922310 to 11 a.m. at Safeway #342. Location: 1616 W. Northwest Blvd, Spokane, WA 992052 to 3 p.m. at Safeway #1242. Location: 2509 E. 29th Ave., Spokane, WA 992232 to 3 p.m. at Safeway #1494. Location: W. 2507 Wellesley Ave., Spokane, WA. 99205
