The union representing 25,000 grocery workers is in the midst of some difficult bargaining with Safeway, QFC, Fred Meyer and Albertson's. So they're organizing a "Working Moms" action on Mother's Day to highlight the advance scheduling and benefits that families need.
The grocery stores' contract with United Food and Commercial Workers Local 21 expired April 30, but UFCW agreed to extend to June 1.
"To date, the proposals made by the employers have pretty much been around cutting pay and cutting benefits," says union spokesperson Tom Geiger. Focusing on moms, he says, calls attention to their need "for a schedule they can depend on and wages, health care and a pension that allows them a decent life and the ability to raise their kids."
Mothers from the union are talking about their working conditions outside the Lower Queen Anne Safeway, 516 First Avenue West near Mercer Street at 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 9.