Company proposes Comprehensive Offer

Investing in Wages while Preserving Healthcare and Pension

On April 17, the Company’s bargaining committee presented its Comprehensive Proposal on wages, healthcare, and pension as a part of bargaining with UFCW Local 3000 for contracts for the Puget Sound area associates.

Healthcare

As part of the opening proposal, the company shared updates to your healthcare plan aimed at protecting your access to reliable, affordable, and high-quality benefits.

• You and the company both contribute to your coverage, with the company currently paying up to 95%— or $5.25 per hour. This is a significant investment in your well-being, and one that many non-union competitors don’t offer.
• Company and Union leaders have worked hard to keep costs stable through proactive management.
• In fact, your weekly contributions haven’t changed since 2011, despite rising health care costs. However, this year, expenses have outpaced the Trust’s projections—creating a funding crisis.

To maintain the quality of your benefits, the employers and the Union—who jointly oversee the Fund—must work together to find a sustainable path forward.

Funding Affordable Healthcare

Even with this offer, associates will continue to pay less in weekly contributions compared to what others pay in the state of Washington and across the country. We know this is a complex proposal for us to make, but it will help to preserve affordable and high-quality healthcare for you and your family.

• Because of significantly increasing health care costs, no benefit improvements proposed through the life of the agreement.
• Additional proposals address cost saving measures such as billing audits for accuracy.
• Proposal modifies weekly contributions.
  • 1^st Year: No weekly contribution changes to the PPO Plan. Align Kaiser Plan weekly contributions to the PPO Plan contribution rates.
  • 2^nd Year: Modest $2 increase, if needed.
  • 3^rd Year: Modest $2 increase, if needed.

Investing in Wages

• Top-rate Journeyperson rates increase by 3.82% – 4.14% at ratification and 7.65% – 8.28% over the life of the agreements, based on role and classification.
• Increase Night Premium to $.65/hr for working hours from 11 pm to 7 am.
• Premiums for Certified Pharmacy Technicians who vaccinate

Improving Funding for Your Retirement

• Continue to fund your pension to preserve retirement savings so it’s there when you need it.
• Maintain funding of 2.8% of wages worked

Our goal is to ensure a balanced agreement that supports you, our customers, and the communities we serve, putting more money in your pockets and providing industry-leading healthcare and retirement for your future while keeping groceries affordable.

Thank you for your continued uplifting service to our customers and communities.