Bargaining Update 1/31/23 & 2/1/23 Hadley, MA

We just wrapped two days of negotiations in Hadley, MA. It was our most productive bargaining session yet.

We presented our first economic proposals, developed during hours of Zoom meetings where crew from unionized stores discussed some of the issues that matter most to us: wages, benefits, and paid time off.

Wages: We are joining workers across the country in asking for a starting wage of $30/hr, (plus adjustments for seniority, annual cost-of-living increases, and annual progression increases). 

Health care: We are done watching our coworkers lose their health benefits or struggle to afford care. We are asking for every crew member and merchant to be eligible for our employer’s best health care plan. No premiums, no hours requirements, no high deductibles.

Paid Time Off: It’s time for real paid time off. We are asking for increased Absence Reserve to cover vacation and personal days, plus (for the first time) dedicated sick days and bereavement time. 

Retirement: It’s time for crew and merchants to receive guaranteed annual retirement contributions again. We deserve to be able to plan for the future.

Our employer dismissed our proposals out of hand. They acknowledged that the company could afford these changes–they just weren’t interested in making them.

We did have movement, and came to an agreement with our employer on a few issues such as jury duty leave. But we could not agree on one crucial thing–that these agreements apply to all unionized stores.