Jewel & Mariano’s Contracts Now Available!

Two of our largest contracts are printed and Union Reps have begun distributing at all Jewel and Mariano’s stores.

Your contract specifies in writing the precise terms of your employment as it relates to pay raises, promotions, scheduling, vacations, holiday pay, seniority rights, transfers, and more. Your contract affects virtually every aspect of your job.

Please take time to study it, ask questions of your Union Representative if there is something you don’t understand, and speak up if you see your employer not following the rules outlined by your contract.

Didn’t get one? Contact your Union Representative.

Local 881 Members at Jewel ACCEPT the New Contract

Today members from Jewel Local 881 Bargaining Committee counted ALL ballots received. Several rank-and-file Jewel members were also attendance as observers and counters. We are pleased to report that the new three-year contract has been approved and accepted by a majority of the members of Jewel Foods Stores.

This has truly been a unique bargaining cycle; unlike any we have ever seen. When the first agreement was rejected by Jewel members in August, it was a wake-up call for your employer but also quite honestly, for the Union. We recognized during the first round, that there was a disconnect between the members and the truth about how the bargaining process works. As a result, your Union was committed to investing more time being present and available in the stores to talk and work through the concerns of the membership.

What has transpired over the last few months has been incredible. A new wave of Union activism and engagement on the part of Local 881 members has occurred. What started with apathy and frustration ended with productive conversations. There were members that were OPPOSED to the direction of the new contract and there were others that were in FAVOR. Whether for or against, we are so proud that Local 881 members spoke up, asked good questions, came to meetings, called the office, talked to their coworkers, pushed for a better agreement, and most of all took the time to be involved in this process.

Going back to the negotiation table was a huge risk! We could have faced concessions and takeaways. But the committee was emboldened by the incredibly clear and vocal direction from the membership about needing to get to a better offer!

After several bargaining sessions, the negotiating committee was able to achieve their two most important goals:       

    1. Improve the offer; and
    2. Protect ALL previously hard-won contractual benefits

Contract improvements include:

    • No Takeaways! Absolutely nothing was conceded or taken away from our previous contractual benefits, rights, and protections.
    • Larger Initial Increases for Top of Scale members.
    • Premium Pay Increases for Personnel, Scan Coordinators, and Receivers.
    • Retro Pay for new contractual wage increases will be retroactive to July 31, 2022.
    • Wellness Rates Protected Within Albertson’s, Local 881 is the only Union to maintain this program that helps lower your healthcare costs.
    • Guaranteed annual wage increases for ALL members.
    • Considerable wage increases for Top of Scale and Overscale members.
    • Controlled costs for out-of-pocket health care expenses and deductibles.
    • Healthcare benefit eligibility reduced from 5 years to 3 years for part-timers.
    • New treatments added to health care plan.
    • Expanded funeral leave.

We want to recognize the hard work of the negotiating committee members. Their time and input have been invaluable. It’s not easy to stand up to your employer, but these brave members did. We are grateful for their service and dedication to the Union and to their fellow Jewel coworkers.

Now that the contract is signed, our work is NOT over, it is only just beginning. The future is uncertain. The industry is changing rapidly. The looming merger recently announced will become our Union’s top priority in working to OPPOSE any corporate power grab that could potentially impact our members’ livelihoods. 

We understand and expect that some Jewel members will be unhappy with the new contract, and with the Union. We know that we have work to do in earning your trust. If you’re angry, let’s talk about it. Come to a meeting, get involved, speak with your Union Rep, speak with President Powell, we are available and open to constructive criticism. With your passion, activism, and involvement we will only be stronger.

You might be upset with the Union, and you might not love or agree with everything we do, but the reality is we will always have your back. Your employer is busy trying to make every buck they can and would love nothing more than to see division within our ranks. We need to use ALL our collective strength for what is coming! We have been proud to represent Jewel workers for decades and we have never wavered from our commitment to protecting and fighting on your behalf.

It is our privilege to be at your service. Should you have any questions, please contact your Union Representative at 847-294-5064 to discuss any concerns you have.

Workers at Mariano’s Ratify New Four-Year Contract

Congratulations to the Local 881 members at Mariano’s who voted to ratify their new four-year contract.

Over the years, Mariano’s members have been very outspoken about their frustration with the current leveling system. The Bargaining Committee was proud to negotiate a new contract that both increased wages AND provided a complete transformation of old leveling system with a more flexible wage progression scale allowing for larger increases over time. In the old contract, you could be stuck at a certain level and only see minimal increases over time. The new contract allows for more significant wage increases over the life of the contract.

Members participated in a IN-PERSON vote at their stores. Union Representatives were on hand to help explain the new wage scales and answer questions. Ballots were then counted at the Des Plaines office by rank-and-file members with other Mariano’s workers present as observers.

Additional improvements to the contract included:

      • Guaranteed annual wage increases for ALL members over the life of the contract.
      • Transformation of leveling system to a more flexible wage progression allowing for larger increases over time. Eliminates requirement for extensive training and testing to achieve increases and removes obstacles to full-time status.
      • Cake Decorators and Pharmacy Techs will be recognized as unique classifications.
      • Starbucks/Vero/Stan’s Employees will receive a $1/hr premium.
      • New schedule variation for Full-time workers.
      • New parameters for vacation payout upon discharge or separation.
      • Protected weekly minimum hours for ALL members and current Level 2 notes/waivers on file will continue to be honored.
      • New annual measurement period for benefit eligibility and status will provide more stability, eliminating fluctuations in benefit coverage and costs.
      • Gender neutral language will now be used throughout the contract to better reflect our diverse membership.

If you are not sure where you fall in the proposed wage scale or how you will be impacted throughout the contract, please contact your Union Representative at 847-294-5064 for clarification. Reps are available to personally walk you through the information.

NEW Tentative Agreement Reached

After additional bargaining sessions, we were able to reach a NEW Tentative Contract Agreement Offer on behalf of the membership at Jewel Foods.

As of today, the NEW offer is being printed and prepared for mailing.  

What’s in this NEW offer?

We believe two important goals were achieved.

    1. The NEW Agreement is an improvement over the previous offer.
    2. The NEW Agreement successfully protects and defends all the previously hard-won contractual benefits you currently enjoy.

The NEW agreement has been RECOMMENDED by your fellow coworkers on the bargaining committee.

We anticipate voting ballots to be in member mailboxes at the end of next week.

We encourage every eligible member to participate in the ratification process and cast a vote. The members alone will decide the outcome. Ballots must be returned to Local 881 Office by Noon on October 20, 2022. Only the ballots returned by the deadline can be counted.

What happens if you don’t vote?

There are many false rumors that fly around the stores during negotiations. The most dangerous rumor is that not voting somehow counts as a yes vote. This is ludicrous. The reality is: Nothing happens if you DON’T vote. Only the ballots that are returned to the office will be counted. The only way for your vote to be counted is if you participate and return the ballot! If you want your voice to be heard, you must return your ballot to the Local 881 Office by noon on October 20th.

The Entire Contract is being voted on!

Although the document you review during ratification only includes the changes to the current contract, you are being asked to vote to accept or reject the ENTIRE CONTRACT! In addition to wages, there are numerous provisions and protections throughout your Union contract that impact your job. Things like Health Insurance Benefits (including the 1993 waiver), Minimum Hours, Disability Benefits, Premium Pay, Vacations/Holidays/Personal Holidays, and the Grievance Procedure. Each time we sit down at the table to negotiate the ENTIRE contract is always at risk! And we all know there are so many things the Company would love to get rid of or change.

Talk to your Rep with any concerns you have!

Emotions and expectations are running high because a lot is at stake. Don’t make up your mind before reading the NEW Tentative Agreement Offer carefully. Don’t base your vote on information that may be inaccurate. Ask your Union Representative to explain how the NEW Tentative Agreement will impact you.

Should you have any questions we continue to be at your service and invite you to contact your Union Representative at 847-294-5064 to discuss any concerns you have.

Back to the Bargaining Table

This week your Local 881 Negotiation Committee returns to the bargaining table to fight for improvements to the previous offer. Because there is a lot of misinformation being circulated in the stores and on social media, we would like to provide some KEY FACTS as negotiations move forward. Please keep the following in mind:

    • Negotiations are not being done behind closed doors. Instead,13 of your Jewel coworkers, who work side-by-side with you in the stores, are present and actively participating in the process. Local 881’s Negotiating Committee has many years of experience in dealing with the Company and are fighting on your behalf.
    • If an agreement can be reached, Local 881 members will be asked to review and vote again as quickly as possible. All offers will be presented to the membership for a vote, even if the Company chooses NOT to make significant improvements.
    • We all know there are MANY contract provisions the Company would like to get rid of, yet the agreement that was rejected had zero concessions. However, when we return to the table THE ENTIRE CONTRACT IS OPEN FOR NEGOTIATION. In addition to wages, your Health Insurance (including the 1993 waiver), Minimum Hours, Disability Benefits, Premium Pay, Vacations/Holidays/Personal Holidays, and the Grievance Procedure are all at stake.

During these challenging times we must remain united. Our only hope to winning a strong contract is to stand together. We will continue to update you with developments. We encourage you to talk with your Union Representative with any questions you have about the negotiations process.

Bargaining Dates

(Revised on 9/16/2022)

The Company has agreed to meet with the Local 881 Negotiation Committee for several bargaining sessions including:

    • Wednesday, September 14
    • Thursday, September 22
    • Friday, September 23
    • Tuesday, September 27

 

Meeting Dates Submitted to Company

The Local 881 Negotiation Committee is eager to get back to the table.

At this time, Local 881 has submitted multiple dates to the Company for Negotiation Meetings. We are waiting for the Company to respond and confirm their availability.

Local 881 UFCW Members Reject Proposed Jewel Contract Offer

The Jewel rank and file committee counting returned ballots.

Members of Local 881 UFCW voted to reject a proposed three-year contract with Jewel Food Stores. The contract covers more than 18,000 workers throughout 181 grocery stores in Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana.

Mailed-in ballots were counted at the Local 881 office in Des Plaines on August 30, 2022. Several rank-and file Jewel members counted the ballots with other Jewel members present to observe the process.

A majority of the voting members voted to reject the proposed contract offer. Members also voted to authorize a strike if a new agreement cannot be reached through continued negotiations.

Local 881 President Steve Powell said after the vote count, “Local 881 and the Negotiating Committee will return to the table, and this time with authorization to call a strike, if necessary, in the event Jewel does not make a better contract offer.”

We currently have a signed extension agreement, which keeps in force current contract provisions. Either party can revoke the extension with 30 days’ notice. The Negotiating Committee is preparing to resume negotiations with the Company as early as next week.

Local 881 is fighting for the hardworking members of our Union. It is imperative that we stick together and stand united through this process. Should you have any questions please contact your Union Representative.

Tentative Agreement for Jewel Members to be Mailed Soon!

After thorough and careful review, Local 881 has sent the Tentative Agreement Offer for your Union contract to be printed and mailed.

We anticipate voting ballots to be in member mailboxes by mid-August.

Every eligible Jewel member will be mailed the document and have the opportunity to consider the Tentative Agreement Offer and then cast a vote. The members alone will decide the outcome.

Why does the process take so long?

We know you are eager to review the proposed wage increases and improvements. We believe this is a process that should never be rushed! Your Local Union is committed to making sure the voting process is administered in the most efficient, democratic, and equitable manner possible.

The contract is a legal and binding document where each and every word matters. The current Jewel contract has more than 30,000 words and over 1,000 unique wage increments. Even a small mistake can have huge consequences. The preparation of these complex voting documents absolutely has to be correct and that takes time.

I heard we are getting…

Rumors can spread like wild fire. Don’t make a decision based on information that may be false or inaccurate. Wait to see the Tentative Agreement and read for yourself. Then cast your vote!

Should you have any questions we continue to be at your service and invite you to contact your Union Representative at 847-294-5064 to discuss any concerns you have.

Tentative Agreement Reached for Local 881 Members at Jewel

June 29, 2022

A Fair Contract Proposal to Consider

The Local 881 Negotiating Committee, which is comprised of your Union leadership and YOUR FELLOW COWORKERS, have spent countless hours meeting with the Company. Both sides were committed and motivated to reaching an agreement in advance of the July 30th expiration of the current contract. We are grateful for the hard work of the Negotiating Committee members. They know first hand what it’s like to work at Jewel, and because of their knowledge and experience they were instrumental to getting to this fair agreement.

We went into the process strongly committed to reaching an agreement that would raise pay, treat long-term members with the respect they deserve, protect and improve health care benefits, and keep our members safe at work. Many ideas for improvements to the current contract were discussed and considered. We believe the agreement that has been reached is more than fair and meets many of the negotiation goals we had.

The Next Step is Ratification

Ratification is where you the Local 881 members decide to ACCEPT or REJECT this agreement. Very soon you will be mailed a copy of ALL the proposed changes to the current contract. ONLY the membership gets to vote and determine the future contract. If you
have moved recently, please contact your Union Representative immediately to ensure we have your correct address on file.

Should you have any questions we continue to be at your service and invite you to contact your Union Representative at 847-294-5064 to discuss any concerns you have.

Local 881 negotiation committee rank-n-file members reviewing terms of the Tentative Agreement.