IN THE NEWS ONON TT NNGG HIHI SS AA EE OF OF W W TT AA TT HEHE S S NN T T II ket mar per u otects s w pr New la s ker r wo ez-Santos ernando Ramír By H ashington Governor Jay Inslee signed into law Protection of current working conditions and collective Senate Bill 6007, a bill intended to protect grocery bargaining agreements. store workers and communities from the negative impacts of corporate megamergers in the grocery Mandatory engagement with local government if a merger Windustry. would result in the closure of a store in an existing food desert. In a press release, UFCW 3000 Union reported that Governor “That’s what this legislation seeks to remediate: to Inslee signed the new law on Friday, March 15. help workers keep their jobs and seniority when their Drafted in response to the news that grocery giants Kroger stores change owners.” (owner of Fred Meyer and QFC) and Albertsons/Safeway are planning to merge into one mega-company, ESSB 6007 found 吀栀at statement was given by Britt Leggett, a UFCW 3000 enormous support from local Washington grocery store member and worker in the deli meat section at the Fred Meyer workers and community allies, who advocated throughout in Seattle's Ballard neighborhood of Ballard. the legislative session for its passage. Hundreds of UFCW 3000 supermarket workers from across Washington state sent messages to legislators encouraging “As I explained to legislators, we’ve already learned the hard passage of H.R. 6007, and some traveled to Olympia to meet way through past grocery chain mergers about the upheaval with legislators in person. it causes for workers and shoppers when these chains merge and close or sell o昀昀 neighborhood grocery stores,” said Yasmin “It’s a big sacri昀椀ce for everyday working people to take Ashur, a UFCW 3000 member and checker at the Port Orchard time out of their busy lives to try and engage with the local Albertsons who testi昀椀ed in support of the bill and was on hand political process,” said Joe Mizrahi, Secretary-Treasurer of to see the governor sign it. UFCW 3000. “But being in a union means we can share the load, work together, and make real change that impacts entire THE NEW LAW industries.” The new law requires public notification of new ownership. A period of job protection or rehire for current eligible employees. 2222 MMAAYY//JJUUNNE E 2 200224 4 AABBAASSTTO O..CCOOMM