As the company tries to outsource the work, the teams fight and win
(SEATTLE) – Teamsters who deliver groceries for Safeway.com throughout the Puget Sound area have unanimously ratified a new three-year firm contract, successfully defeating an effort by the company to outsource its entire grocery delivery business of third parties. The life-changing new contract will resolve many of the previous challenges for the more than 120 members in Teamsters Locals 174, 162 and 313 who are covered by the agreement.
In addition to major improvements in the economy and workplace protections, the new contract secures Teamster labor against an exploitative independent contractor model.
“When Safeway.com management first came to the negotiating table, their goal was to bail us out entirely by using DoorDash and other third-party gig workers to deliver groceries, but we stopped them at their way,” said Rick Hicks, Teamsters. Local 174 Secretary-Treasurer. “They came with a strong position to completely eliminate our Teamster members, at one point even offering up to 52 weeks of severance pay. Once management realized they weren’t going to be successful in their mission, they stepped up and worked with us to offer this incredible new contract that protects our members on the job while rewarding them for the hard work they’ve done throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.”
Another major development in the contract is new language regarding tips, which will now be allowed and encouraged by the company. Safeway.com executives were previously prohibited from accepting any tips. This big change has the potential to dramatically improve the hourly wages workers take home. The new contract also includes strong pay and pension increases, stronger seniority provisions in route selection, dramatic improvements in safety and the additional MLK Day holiday.
“This contract is a testament to the power of solidarity,” said Nick Lansdale, Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Local 313. “Our members stood together with members of Local 174, Local 162 and Teamsters International and spoke loudly with one voice telling Safeway.com that we would not allow them to outsource our work. Thankfully the company listened and the result is a strong contract that our members were proud to unanimously ratify.”
“We are proud of our members for standing strong and having faith in their bargaining committee, which led to this strong contract that will benefit them for many years to come. We also thank IBT Warehouse Division Director Tom Erickson and Teamsters Local 162 Secretary-Treasurer Bob Sleight, who have supported us 100 percent in this fight,” added Hicks. “We were in constant contact with them throughout this process and received tremendous support.”
Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.2 million working men and women throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Visit www.teamster.org for more information. Follow us on Twitter @Teamsters and “Like” us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/teamsters.
