Petco Workers Organize In Seattle
A Petco location in Seattle, WA is looking to join the national union wave of retail workforces determined to stand up for their labor rights.
The organizers tweeted out the union announcement via Twitter on Friday, August 5, attaching a copy of the letter they delivered to ownership informing them of their intent to unionize.
The letter advises ownership that their union Petco Workers United has filed with the NLRB to initiate the process whereby ownership is formally mandated to recognize the group as a collective bargaining unit. Petco Workers United affiliated with UFCW 3000 (United Food and Commercial Workers Local 3000).
The letter offers ownership the opportunity to voluntarily recognize the union. If the workers at the Seattle location already have strong majority support for the union, it can be beneficial for ownership to get ahead of the situation, recognize the union, and proactively engage in good faith negotiations for a better workplace.
On the other hand, corporate leadership at national retail chains has not demonstrated the most forward thinking during the recent union wave at large businesses like Amazon, Apple, REI, Starbucks, Trader Joe’s, Chipotle and more. Even smaller businesses who might have more contact and empathy with employees, like Boston’s local City Feed, can drag their heels.
If Petco ownership declines to voluntarily recognize Petco Workers United, the filings and paperwork with NLRB will follow its normal course. Typically, signed petitions indicating a desire to unionize from at least 30% of the workforce must be submitted to the NLRB. If this initial hurdle is cleared, the NLRB will conduct an election determining whether or not the union will be recognized as the collective bargaining unit of the workforce. With a majority of yes votes among the voting wirkers, Petco Workers United can clear the final hurdle and consider themselves official.
Every workforce is different and every union is different. The needs of Petco workers are particular to their day-to-day operations, but fair compensation and a safe workplace always top the list of union concerns. The Stranger reported Petco union concerns Friday,
Sources at the Aurora Village Petco in Shoreline tell me they’re filing paperwork today for a union election. They say: “Petco Workers United is in protest over management failing to meet the needs of workers after countless efforts to attain basic accommodations and fair compensation.” The store’s 16 employees are underpaid, often don’t know their hours until the day of, have worked through heat waves with no AC for years, and are routinely asked to skip meal and rest breaks. One employee has been at the store for nearly three years getting bitten by fleas in the dog-grooming section, and received only a 70-cent raise as inflation took off this year. Want to help? Stop by their store at 1241 N 205th Street in Shoreline to show your support.
If you’re in the neighborhood, you can stop by the store and show your support in person. If you’re not, connect with their Twitter and Tik Tok for Petco Workers United’s latest news.
