On Tuesday December 14, our member-led executive board discussed and unanimously approved a Merger Agreement between our Union, UFCW 21 and the members of UFCW 1439! The same day the board members of UFCW local 1439 also approved the merger. This is exciting news and both boards feel strongly that together we will increase our ability to continue the fight for improved wages, working conditions and benefits as well as improve our staffing, schedules and workplace safety. Members will have the opportunity to vote to approve this powerful merger during our upcoming in-person Winter General Membership Meetings in February 2022. A formal notice for the meetings with times and locations will be sent to all members in advance of the meetings once we have locations confirmed.
“When we are united, with thousands more worker voices across the state coming together as one, we have more resources to win better contracts and enforce those contracts. The new local will have over 33 million dollars in the strike and defense fund and over 110 staff to bargain and enforce our contracts.”
Kyong Barry, Front End Supervisor, Albertsons, South Auburn, E-Board Member
Derek Roybal, Cardiac Cath-Lab Technologist, Providence Sacred Heart, Spokane, E-Board Member
“This is huge! This merger unites over 50,000 workers in health care, grocery stores, food packing and processing plants, along with many other industries in Idaho, Washington and Oregon. This will help us all win higher wages, better benefits and safer workplaces.”
Cindy Kirkpatrick-Cockett, Pharmacy Technician, Kaiser-Permanente, Tacoma South Medical, E-Board Member
Jeff Smith, Home Clerk, Fred Meyer, Snohomish, E-Board Member
Advantages of joining our Locals together
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Together our locals will form UFCW 3000, the largest UFCW local in the country!
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Members’ dues will not increase as a result of this merger.
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When we unite, we win. It’s that simple. Building power across industries like grocery stores, meat-cutters, retail, health care, packing and processing, and others—helps us win better contracts and organize more workplaces where workers want a union but don’t yet have one.
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Both our unions represent thousands of workers in Eastern Washington— this will double the size of our collective membership in Eastern and Central Washington Counties.
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UFCW health care members and retail grocery store members acting together in counties in western Washington have already made great strides together— in places like Kitsap and Snohomish counties. The merger will expand that kind of solidarity to Spokane, Tri-Cities, Wenatchee and many other areas in the central and eastern parts of the state.
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Our newly united union will have an expanded Member Resource Center, where members can call to get quick answers to questions including on weekends and late-night hours. We will also have a new Member Education Department and invest in Workforce Development and Training.