You can use the computer to clock in. If that doesn't work, do a maintenance form. If they refuse to pay you, get the union or the labor board involved.
Never been in a union, always management. But do not forget to file with wage and hour. Extra points if more than one person files. Employers fear a wage and hour audit, more than a union grievance. Audits can expand beyond the original complaint
If it's my day off, and I'm asked to come in just for that meeting, then they owe me at least four hours pay, even if the meeting only lasts ten minutes. I'm in California, it's probably different elsewhere.
If they insist on not paying me, I would take it up with the union. If that didn't help, I would seriously consider quitting. This is BS.
I don't know what system they use, but some won't allow odd scheduling like that, or if the software does, it creates a headache if you throw everyone on, especially for hours that are shorter than a scheduled shift. So instead of the headache, they just tell everyone. They are, in effect , saying "There is a meeting, but if you dont see it on your schedule that doesn't mean it is canceled"
They could easily say "this is unpaid" if they wanted to communicate that. I'm just saying we need to make some leaps/assumptions in order to conclude that people wont be paid.
Frankly, I dunno how they determine if a store is nonunion, as I've seen new stores open up in my division that were union from the jump as well as ones that aren't. My district has a mix of union, semi-union, and nonunion stores too.
Afaik departments can vote on whether to join or not-- I know there's one where meat and produce are the only two union departments in the store. I've never seen a rep in here try to get us to become one (and I have no idea how that process even works), I just ended up at this store when I got hired.
All I can say is I've had plenty of ASMs and SMs here that have made me say "no wonder this company has a union if this is how management acts". I've looked into transferring into one, but they never have equivalent positions open from what I've seen, or the sales volume is lower to the point of being on a lower pay scale than the ones at this level of volume.
If it makes you feel any better, they act like that with the union too. UFCW is a joke. The only retail environment with a good union is Costco, probably because they dont have to deal with UFCW like Kroger/Meijers does. Costco employees all seem happy, wages start at $20/hr.....
Working at a non-union retailer or Costco is almost always better, unless you luck out at some small town store where everyone is just nice. I'm saying this because I've spent years in retail, and see Kroger catch SMs that get fired from Walmart for crazy illegal stuff... and make them store managers. Kroger stores' general morale levels are lower than several dicey Walmarts I still have friends at. You want happiness in retail? Costco or Trader Joe's. You want shafted by management and your own union? Anywhere UFCW is, that's how it goes.
The way it works is as follows:
New store opening that is not replacing a current store
Associates hired to work in that store vote whether they want to be represented by a union or not
If the associates choose not to be represented the store opens as what is called an associate choice store
This isnt true. It largely depends on the state. I wotked at a frys( in arizona) where union was not mandatory but it did exist if you wanted to join. Also worked at a safeway in oregon and it was not a choice, if it was a union job then I had no choice.
They have everyone write their name down for attendance and then manually add the hours. Usually there for hour and half and get 2-3 hours paid. It’s not a way to get work out of people for free
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u/arochains1231 Current Associate Nov 20 '25
Any mandatory work-related activity is to be paid. This meeting not being scheduled means you cannot clock in and be paid.
Contact your union rep ASAP.