Celebrating 57 years as a union member, Lillian started before UFCW 367 even gained its current name. Listen to her story as she talks to UFCW 367 President Michael Hines about her career from 1969 to now.

TACOMA, WA (Aug 28, 2026) - For years, the Fred Meyer in the James Center commercial area has served as a critical anchor for the local micro-economy. Surrounding small businesses depend on the regular foot traffic generated by the grocery store. Its shuttering threatens to turn West Tacoma into an immediate food desert — where affordable, healthy grocery options are economically out of reach for local residents, leaving communities reliant on convenience stores and fast-food outlets. The planned closure directly impacts 100 dedicated, unionized retail employees and threatens to cut off thousands of residents — particularly seniors, low-income households, and transit-dependent families — from affordable fresh food, pharmacy services, and essential goods. UFCW 367 emphasizes that the strength of this store has always been driven by the workers themselves. "Workers drive the profits of Fred Meyer and are indisputably the most important part of this company," Michael Hines said. "This decision doesn't reward their years of hard work; it just adds to the immense stress of trying to survive in this current economic environment. Our primary focus now is to ensure our members are looked after during this process. Transfers must be made accessible without forcing unrealistic commutes on workers and wages and accrued benefits must be protected. Corporations must be reminded that a neighborhood's access to food and fair jobs is non-negotiable." This last July, the Washington State Labor Council and UFCW 367 passed a resolution addressing food deserts (PDF). This closure stands as another unfortunate example of the need for legislation to protect and expand equitable grocery access. UFCW 367 will be bargaining over the impact this decision will have on its members and will support them throughout this process.

TACOMA, WA (Sept 2, 2026) - On Friday, August 28, Kroger told UFCW 367 and our members they were closing the James Center Fred Meyer due to a rent increase. Today, the property management firm publicly denied Kroger’s claim that it attempted to raise rent (The News Tribune). Negotiations between Kroger and Rosen Harbottle Commercial Real Estate were private, conducted without our involvement. UFCW 367 has now submitted an information request with Kroger Corporate to conduct our own independent investigation. Whatever the true reasons for the closure, it does not change what is happening to our members and this community. We are focused on protecting the people affected, and we won't waver in our cause. UFCW 367 will bargain over the impact this decision will have on our members and support them throughout this process.

President April Sims, Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO The member-led UFCW 367 delegate committee and staff represented at the 2026 WSLC Constitutional Convention in Wenatchee this week. Today, delegates from across Washington's labor movement voted to adopt Resolution 2026.31, addressing food deserts and expanding equitable grocery access statewide. UFCW 367 Executive Board Member, Jason Van Hoy Food deserts do not happen because communities cannot support grocery stores. They happen because corporate consolidation and greed pull full-service stores out of working-class neighborhoods, disproportionately leaving seniors, people with disabilities, and communities of color without reliable access to fresh food. With Resolution 2026.31 adopted, WSLC will advocate for public policy that incentivizes full-service grocery stores in underserved communities and prioritizes high-quality union jobs in the process. Grocery access and good union jobs aren't separate fights. They're the same fight. Our future is built the same way UFCW 367 runs now: member-driven & worker-decided. UFCW 367 members and staff

Workers at The Herbal Gardens (THG) made the decision to form a union with UFCW Local 367 because they wanted a voice on the job and the opportunity to negotiate a fair contract. They believed that by standing together, they could improve their workplace for themselves and for future employees. Months later, they're still waiting. Despite numerous bargaining sessions, THG management has made little to no meaningful progress toward reaching a fair first contract. Workers continue to push for improvements that would make a real difference in their daily lives, including fair wages, better scheduling, workplace protections, and respect on the job. Instead of making meaningful progress, negotiations have remained largely stalled. Every worker deserves a workplace where they are treated with dignity and where their concerns are taken seriously. A first contract is about more than wages; it's about creating clear standards, protecting workers' rights, and ensuring employees have a voice in the decisions that affect their jobs. That's why THG workers are asking the community for support. Here's How You Can Help THG Workers One of the most powerful ways to support these workers is by signing the community petition. When community members, customers, labor allies, and supporters add their names, it sends a clear message to THG management: Tacoma stands with workers. Your signature shows that our community believes workers deserve: A fair first contract Respect at the bargaining table Good-faith negotiations Fair wages and working conditions A workplace where employees have a real voice Every signature helps demonstrate that these workers are not standing alone. Why Community Support Matters When workers organize, they aren't just fighting for themselves; they're helping raise standards throughout the industry. Strong contracts lead to better workplaces, stronger communities, and more stable local jobs. THG workers have shown tremendous courage by standing together throughout this process. Now they're asking the community to stand with them. Sign the Petition Today If you believe workers deserve a fair contract and a fair chance at the bargaining table, we encourage you to sign the petition today. ✍️ Sign the petition here:https://form.jotform.com/261675461644059 Then help spread the word by sharing the petition with your friends, family, coworkers, and community. Together, we can send a powerful message: Respect workers. Bargain fairly. Settle a fair contract. Work in the Cannabis Industry? If you're a cannabis worker facing low pay, inconsistent scheduling, or a lack of respect on the job, you don't have to face it alone. UFCW Local 367 represents cannabis workers across the South Sound and is helping workers build stronger, safer workplaces through collective action. Interested in organizing your workplace? Contact a UFCW 367 organizer for a confidential conversation and learn how to get started.

The Herbal Gardens bargaining committee submitted another comprehensive proposal today and received a response from the Employer. A crack in the brick wall of rejections and refusals opened up, allowing some small steps to be made. We're back at the bargaining table next Thursday, June 25. More to come.

Jay Oak-Schiller, a longtime UFCW Local 367 member and shop steward from Fred Meyer Stevens, was invited to speak at the biennial Labor Notes Conference, the largest gathering of grassroots union activists and organizers in North America. This year's conference brought together over 4,500 union members, organizers, and labor activists from across the continent. Jay participated in the panel "Unions, Climate, and the Fight for Affordability," which explored the connections between climate justice, economic justice, and the role unions can play in addressing both. During the discussion, Jay highlighted Local 367's involvement in winning some of the strongest tenant protections in the country through Tacoma's Tenants' Bill of Rights. He spoke on how rising housing costs and economic insecurity affect working people, and how unions can build power not only in the workplace but also in the broader community. His presentation showcased how UFCW 367 members have worked alongside tenants, community organizations, and other allies to advance policies that improve the lives of working families. Jay's presentation put Local 367's member-driven model on the national stage: concrete proof of what is possible when workers organize together to take on the challenges they face on and off the job.

The staff at Nexus Legal Counsel have joined UFCW 367, and we're proud to welcome them into our union family. What makes this moment especially worth celebrating is how it happened. The law firm chose to voluntarily recognize the staff's overwhelming choice to unionize. There were no delays, no resistance, no drawn-out fight. Here's a leader who understands something too many employers miss: unions are good for business. Organized workplaces have lower turnover, higher productivity, and stronger employee trust. When workers have a seat at the table, everyone benefits — including the employer. Workers don't always organize because the system is broken. Sometimes they organize because they know what they have is worth protecting. Now the process will start with open hands instead of closed fists holding picket signs. We look forward to getting to the bargaining table and building something good together. Welcome, siblings. You deserve this.

Six sessions in and the most substantial thing their employer (The Herbal Gardens) has managed to agree to? The Union Board. Sometimes all you can do is laugh. Elizabeth and Brendan have a question for their employer ...and some notes.

The Tacoma Longshoremen Credit Union bargaining committee wrapped up contract bargaining on June 2nd, reaching a tentative agreement with their employer in just two sessions. The bargaining committee secured 5–6% year over year wage increases, clarified scheduling language, and protected the benefits that make their credit union an industry-leading employer. With entirely employer-paid medical premiums and 6% employer pension contributions, the TLCU contract sets the standard for the industry in the region. Complete member participation on the committee, paired with an employer willing to engage in good faith, made for an efficient process. The ratification vote will be scheduled soon. Congratulations to the TLCU bargaining committee!