Aaron Streepy is your newly elected Secretary-Treasurer for Local 1439. He has lived in Washington his entire life and grew up in a Union family. Aaron graduated from Whitworth College with a degree in Political Science and a minor in History. He received his J.D. from Gonzaga University School of Law. As legal councel, Aaron conducts arbitrations for the Local.

Ron Banka started as a meat cutter while a senior in high school in Sandpoint, Idaho. He moved to Alaska and became a member of the Retail Clerks Union in Anchorage, Alaska in 1975. He moved back to the Northwest and joined the Amalgamated Meat Cutters Union in 1976. He went to work for Safeway as a meat-cutter/manager 1976-1994. In June 1994, he was hired by our local as a Union Representative. He has volunteered for union contract negotiations meetings since 1984. He was a executive board officer as a Recorder for three terms. Since 1994, he has been a Health and Welfare Trustee, Pension Trustee, and currently is our Executive Assistant.

Eric Renner is your Union Representative for a portion of Spokane area, Moscow/Pullman,and Lewiston/Clarkston areas. Eric has been a member of Local 1439 for 17 years. Fourteen of those years he worked for Albertsons. Eric reduced his hours at Albertsons to attain his degree at Eastern Washington University before coming on staff at the Local. Eric brings fresh ideas and a vision that is appreciated through the Local.

Keith Reed has worked as the Marketing Assistant (a SWS position) with the Local since August 2008. Keith is a graduate of Gonzaga University with a degree in Philosophy. In the past, Keith has designed and produced advertisements, videos, and flyers for the Local during our contract campaigns. As a Union Representative for the Tri-Cities and northeastern Oregon, Keith brings with him energy, a strong background in labor philosophy and the ability to communicate effectively. He looks forward to representing and assisting our members, as well as raising public awareness for the Union.

Peggy Gill is our Union Representative for the upper Central Washington area. Peggy has been a local 1439 member since 1988. Fifteen of those years was at Top Foods in East Wenatchee. In 1999, Peggy became a shop steward and not long after that she was elected to our executive board. She is involved in the Wenatchee community as a board member of the Work Force Development Council as well as the Citizens Alliance of Wenatchee. She is also working with the Center of Occupational Health and Education pilot project.

Steve Crabb-I am thrilled to be the new Business Representative for the Yakima and Eastern Oregon area. It’s very exciting to be part of a great team of people who are working hard for its members.

I would like to tell you a little about myself, what I’ve done and where I have come from. I grew up in Southwest Washington in Pomeroy, on a wheat farm, on the breaks of the Snake River. I worked in the local grocery store as a box boy in the winter and on the farm in the summer. I went to college at Spokane Community College in 1972 (seems like a long time ago). I also played as a professional musician for several years (musicians union). Started cutting meat for the store in Pomeroy for three years, then moved to Clarkston Washington, where I worked in a custom cutting and retail meat shop in Clarkston Heights.

I moved to Spokane and went to work for Albertsons as a journeyman meat cutter at the Sprague and Pines store where I managed my own shop for four years. I have been a second man for the company for twenty years. (Twenty eight years total)

Rick Chase has been a member of our Local since 1978. All of those years are with one employer, Albertsons. Prior to 1978, Rick was a member of UFCW in California. His long standing career in the grocery industry along with his involvement in our Spokane community will bring to our Local a wealth of connections and experiences in the Spokane Labor movement.

Tony Flores has joined our staff as the new Washington Beef Representative.

Amy Cowin is currently our Administrative Assistant to our Executive Officers and Representatives.  She has worked in our Membership Services for the past two years.  She is seeking her higher education as well as working for the Union.  She has proven to be a valuable asset to our organization.  We are happy to have Amy on our team!!

Karen Gude is a member of our office staff. Karen’s union affiliation began in the early 1980’s when she was an employee for Pay Less Drug Stores. Karen was involved in the Pay Less strike and was permanently replaced due to her union activity. Without the union wages and benefits she would have really struggled trying to make ends meet while attending Eastern Washington University. After a career in sales and marketing, Karen later became connected with Local 1439 and now serves our members with workers’ comp issues, medical and pension questions as well as membership services.

Dan Joy has joined our membership services department. He has been a member of Local 1439 for eighteen years. Dan was born and raised in Spokane, Washington. He has been involved in the Spokane Labor movement for most of those years. His knowledge and experience of union activities will be a valuable asset to our office staff.