Peninsula Market workers to vote on union rights

Decision expected Friday could unite grocery employees

GEORGE LE MASURIER

of the Gateway

Workers at the Peninsula Market grocery stores in Key Center and Lake Kathryn will decide Friday whether or not to unionize.

The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union began an organizing drive of the two Key Peninsula markets earlier this spring. That effort resulted in enough workers signing union cards to require a certification vote.

Gary Lyle, organizing director for the UFCW Local 367 of Tacoma, said his union began the organizing campaign because workers at the two stores expressed interest.

Lyle would not discuss why workers approached the union or identify the key issues before Friday’s vote.

And Peninsula Market owner Don Stolz also would not discuss the situation for fear of violating any labor relations restrictions on employers.

Stolz owns the two stores and two other grocery stores in Tacoma and Vashon Island under the name Stolz Northwest.

However, in letters obtained by The Gateway that were sent to employees of the two stores, both the union and Stolz talk about wages and retirement benefits.

In a June 18 letter to employees Stolz said, “The union’s request came as a complete surprise to me.”

Stolz said in the letter that he had no idea some of his employees were discontent.

“I and our management staff do not feel a union is necessary in our small operations at this time and we will certainly oppose it,” Stolz wrote.

Meanwhile, Lyle wrote a June 23 letter to employees telling them that, while fuel, food and utility costs continue to rise, their wages seem stuck.

“You continue to fall further and further behind,” Lyle said.

Union fliers have also claimed that workers get no retirement benefits from Stolz Northwest after six years of service, while other CFCW workers do.

But an employee of the stores said the company has been giving annual cost-of-living wage increases and does have a retirement program.

Employees will vote to certify or not from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Key Center store on Friday, and from 1 to 2 p.m. at the Lake Kathryn store.

Representatives of the National Labor Relations Board will supervise and count the vote. Certification requires a vote of 50 percent plus one of the employees.

Reach Publisher George Le Masurier at 253-853-9248 or by e-mail at publisher@gateline.com.