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News and Updates
January 30, 2015
UFCW Intl President Marc Perrone on Safeway Albertsons Merger
(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – Marc Perrone, International President of the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW), today released the following statement in response to Safeway’s merger with Albertsons:
“More than 250,000 Safeway and Albertsons workers are members of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW). UFCW members also work for several other Cerberus Capital Management-operated supermarkets across the country, including Albertsons, Acme, Jewel-Osco and Shaw’s.
“UFCW members have a history of negotiating union contracts with Safeway, Albertsons and Cerberus Capital Management. Together in their union, these workers have been able to ensure that union grocery jobs are the best jobs in the industry with fair pay, decent benefits, and job security – all the while ensuring that their companies are able to be profitable and successful.
“UFCW members in California stores that were divested by Albertsons are pleased to learn that the grocery store chain Haggen will acquire many Albertsons stores in California. Haggen workers in the Pacific Northwest are also members of the UFCW. UFCW members across the country are looking forward to working with Safeway, Cerberus, and Haggen on issues that pertain to the members and industry. Our members plan to continue to serve their customers and their communities with pride.”
January 30, 2015
Make Your Super Bowl Celebration Union-Made!
Originally posted by the AFL-CIO
On Super Bowl Sunday next week, some of our larger and faster union brothers—members of the NFL Players Association (NFLPA)—will be battling it out in Glendale, Ariz., at Super Bowl XLIX (49 for those of us who are shaky on Roman numerals). While the Super Bowl carries a union label, from players to broadcast crews to stadium workers—your Super Bowl party spread can too, with union-made in America food and drinks.
Check out these union-made Super Bowl party products, compiled by our friends at Labor 411, the union business directory from the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor. Food and drinks are brought to you by the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers (BCTGM), the UAW, Machinists (IAM), the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) and the Teamsters (IBT).
Beer
Beck’s, Budweiser, Busch. Goose Island, Hoegaarden, Land Shark Lager, Leffe Blond, Michelob, Natural, O’Doul’s (non alcoholic), Shock Top, Stella Artois, Iron City, Rolling Rock, Red Stripe, Kirin, Labatt Blue, Stegmaier, Lionshead, Steelhead, Butte Creek, Red Tail Ale, Blue Moon, Henry Weinhard’s, Killian’s, Mickey’s, Molson Canadian, Olde English 800,
Steel Reserve, Miller, Keystone Light, 1845 Pils, Bass Pale Ale, Moosehead, Schlitz, Pabst,
Sam Adams, Hamm’s and Kingfisher Premium Lager.
Meat
Alexander & Hornung, Always Tender, Ball Park, Banquet, Butterball, Dearborn Sausage Co., Farmer John, Farmland, Hebrew National, Hormel, Omaha Steaks, Oscar Meyer, Thumann’s and Tyson.
Snack Food
Act II Popcorn, Bagel Bites, Lay’s, Cheetos, Cheez-It, Chex Mix, Chips Ahoy, Doritos, Fig Newtons, Fritos, Rice Krispies Treats, Rold Gold Pretzels, Ruffle, Triscuit and Wheat Thins.
Chips and Salsa
Mission Chips, Old El Paso Chips, Dips and Salsa, Pace Salsa, Stacy’s Pita Chips, Sun Chips
Tostitos Chips and Salsa.
January 28, 2015
UFCW Local 540 Hosts Immigration Workshop
On January 23-25, UFCW Local 540 hosted an immigration workshop and informational session with more than 50 attendees as part of the UFCW’s Union Citizenship Action Network (UCAN). During the workshop, participants discussed President Obama’s recent executive action on immigration known as Deferred Action for Parents (DAP), along with learning about the naturalization process and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). The session was run by UFCW Executive Vice President and Director of the Civil Rights and Community Action Department Esther López.
In November, the President put the DAP program in place to remove the threat of deportation for parents of U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents. Many UFCW local unions are hosting similar forums to help members determine whether they qualify, gather necessary documentation, prescreen their applications, and answer important legal questions.
The naturalization and citizenship part of the training provided participants with the platform to learn about the critical skills and tools needed to assist eligible UFCW members and their families to go through the naturalization process to become U.S. citizens. In addition to learning about the naturalization process, participants were also trained to provide assistance to workers or their family members who qualify for immigration benefits under the Obama Administration’s June 2012 memorandum on DACA.
For more information about DAP, visit www.ufcw.org/immigrationaction. If you are interested in sample documents that can help in this process, please contact Amy Gray atagray@ufcw.org. In addition, DAP flyers in English and Spanish are available on the UFCW Political Toolkit at www.ufcwtoolkit.com.
If your local union is interested in hosting a training or taking advantage of upcoming immigration training opportunities, please contact Eduardo Peña at epena@ufcw.org.
January 27, 2015
Member Spotlight: Local 1500’s ‘Battling’ Barbara Balos
Originally posted on Labor Press
In her 25 years with UFCW Local 1500, Barbara Balos, 48, has helped run several major chain supermarkets throughout the city. For the last several years, the Long Island mom has been the non-foods manager at a bustling Bronx Pathmark, overseeing ordering, deliveries and more. Balos has a knack for getting things done – and that steady determination has not only helped her employers succeed, it’s also helped win better conditions for co-workers; raise a ton of money for numerous charitable organizations, and even change the way New York State protects its children.
“I have been a shop steward for Local 1500 for about 8 years, and have many wonderful opportunities with the union,” Balos says.
Many times, Balos is called upon to help correct unsafe working conditions like an overflowed grease pit or wonky loading dock – the kinds of things that could land an unlucky employee in the hospital.
Lately, however, Balos’ problem-solving skills have been tested trying to help co-workers reclaim lost hours guaranteed under their union contract, and securing new apartments for hard-pressed employees who’ve been reduced to part-time status as an unintended consequence of the Affordable Healthcare Act, and no longer able to make the rent.
One co-worker was forced to flee an abusive home environment and actually ended up on the street, while another had his Brooklyn apartment sold beneath his feet.
“Believe it or not, it happens a lot,” Balos says. “Unfortunately, a lot of the people I work with are part-timers. They’re getting 16-hours a week, and it’s tough to make ends meet. With the Obama care law, we’ve had problems with part-timers not getting enough hours, because they can’t go over that 30-hour threshold, so a lot of times, management will cut back on hours. But we help out our own.”
Over the course her union career, Balos has repeatedly met with members of the New York City Council, to make sure they understand just how important labor unions continue to be for workers like her.
“People are afraid to talk to management and stand up for their rights, or even to ask a question,” says Balos. “Many times, management will try to get away with things they shouldn’t.”
Just this past Christmas, Balos says the nicest present she received was a phone call from an older co-worker who faced the very real possibility of losing his job after arbitrarily being reassigned to a position he was not well-suited.
“I became a shop steward because I truly enjoy helping people and consider the other members as my family,” Balos says. “We rally around each other.”
Balos initially became politically active about 11 years ago, following a devastating incident which compelled her to try and convince the New York State Legislature to toughen the laws concerning convicted sex offenders.
“At the time, anyone who was a level 2 or 3 sex offender got off their probation period, and were off the sex offense registry,” Balos says. “There was talk from some senators about passing a bill to keep those offenders on the registry for life. So, I wrote to my local senator, told my story, and got a few thousand petitions signed to change the law.”
Not long after that, the Local 1500 shop steward was shocked to learn that her moving appeal would be heard on the floor of the New York State Senate.
“It was a great honor to help out,” Balos said. “We won that battle and got the laws changed. It was wonderful to know that I was a part of that.”
Balos continues to be passionate about activism, especially union activism.
“I think people are trying to cut corners and cut costs,” Balos says. “But our union can be tough. And management, no matter where they are, doesn’t want that.”
For the last few years, Balos’ daughter has been working at a non-union shop while attending college. For the Balos household, the enduring importance of organized labor is not some abstract ideological question to batted around endlessly by elites. Its efficacy is demonstrated daily in real life.
“When [my daughter] first started there, literally ever day, she should would come home saying, ‘I’m going to get fired. My boss is going to fire me because I asked for this day off. He just fired another person for no reason,’” Balos says. “There have been a lot of things that she goes through where I tell her – if you were union, that would not happen.”
January 21, 2015
UFCW Members in New Mexico Ready to Stop “Right to Work”
Last week, UFCW Local 1564 led a right to work training session for more than 100 New Mexico union members. At the training, members learned how much harm right to work would bring to workers in New Mexico.
For the first time since 1952, New Mexico’s State House is controlled by Republicans. One of the State House’s priorities going into the 2015 legislative session is to dismantle the rights of workers and pass an unfair right to work law.
“I currently work at Albertson’s and have been a UFCW member for over 40 years,” said UFCW Local 1564 member Eddie Burns. “I’m very concerned about the possibility of right to work in New Mexico. This will hurt our ability to stick together and bargain for the fair wages and benefits that we deserve. It just seems like a completely unfair law to both working and middle class families.”
To some UFCW Local 1564 members, right to work was not new to them. Paul Bolton, a meat cutter at Smith’s in Albuquerque, recalled how much worse his job was when he worked in Texas, a right to work state.
“When I worked in Texas I had the same job as I do now in New Mexico only I had less pay, fewer benefits and absolutely no job security,” he said. “The health care was even worse – when I had my child I was forced to pay an enormous amount out of pocket. It was hard to afford. If that happened while I was working here in New Mexico it would not have been so stressful.”
Workers left the training ready to stop right to work by lobbying their legislators at the Capitol in Santa Fe.
“I’m looking forward to lobbying in Santa Fe,” said Maria Ana Griego, a UFCW Local 1564 member who works at Smith’s. “Legislators from New Mexico should help people from New Mexico and they need to hear that from workers like us. Right to work just gives more to outside corporations. It’s workers who need more – not corporations.”
January 20, 2015
President Obama Urges Strengthening of Unions in His 6th State of the Union Address
Last night, UFCW members gathered around televisions, logged on to their computers, or followed along on their tablets and smart phones as President Obama delivered his State of the Union Address.
President Obama unveiled a number of proposals aimed at strengthening working and middle class Americans. They included:
- Strengthening unions and building more worker protections, such as maternity leave and seven days of sick leave for all.
- Two free years of community college.
- A call for affordable high-speed internet access.
- A plan that would provide tax breaks to working and middle class families, paid for by closing loopholes and deductions commonly used by the wealthiest Americans.
- Providing affordable, high quality childcare for working parents.
As they consumed the speech, UFCW members reacted through texts and social media to what they were hearing, and what else they hoped to see the President mention:
“Raise the minimum wage. Give more tax breaks to households making under 100K a year.” –UFCW Local 8 member
“It’s important for everyone to have the freedom to bargain collectively!” –Pat Preston, Local 400 Member
“The backbone of a strong economy is the working families of the middle class.” –Donovan Jurss
“‘Right to work’ laws lower our standard of living.” –Andrew Meyers
“It’s time for working families to stop carrying the 1% on their backs! The wealthy and big business must pay their fair share!” –Shirley Bennet, Local 75
“Cap CEO salaries.” –Margaret Wolf, Local 75
“We need flexible schedules without penalty of pay loss.” –Maria Rose
“Why do working families need to work 2 to 3 jobs to survive? What happened to the ‘full-time’ job?” –Todd Walters
The economy has improved in six years, but UFCW members are still not feeling the full effects. Worker pay is not growing fast enough, income inequality is rampant, and a college education remains difficult to afford. These issues and more need to be addressed on Capitol Hill and inside State Houses before the state of our union can be considered truly strong.
January 20, 2015
Member Spotlight: Rob Robertson
For our first member spotlight of 2015, we chatted with Local 464-A member Rob Robertson. Rob has been a UFCW member for six years now, starting at Food Town and now working in the Food Service Department at Shoprite in Cliffwood, New Jersey.
Rob says he’s thankful to be a union member, because the benefits he receives at his UFCW shop enable him “to afford my own place and plan a future with my fiance.”
Those union benefits also helped him during a time when he was really in need. A while back, Rob was in a car accident, which left him with injuries, and his car totaled. But thanks to the medical insurance his UFCW job provided, 80% of his bills were covered, even as a part-time employee. Rob also notes that he wouldn’t be able to afford his two prescription medications at a non-union job.
Rob also says that he appreciates the stability and security that his union job provides him. “Food service is my career, and I’ve worked all over the place in the industry,” he says, “but at a restaurant or places like that, a manager can simply tell you to go home during your shift, and that’s that–you get no say or opinion in the matter. But when you have a union job, your manager or supervisor has to consider you, and treat you with respect. I wish that every business would treat the people who work for them with the respect that our union enables them.”
That respect doesn’t just come from management, Rob notes, but coworkers as well. He values the UFCW stewards in his workplace, who he says are there to answer questions and help fellow union members whenever they can.
For those considering working at a UFCW workplace, adds Rob, think about where you see yourself in a few years. “If you want to move up in your career, then join a union–they ensure you can do that,” concludes Rob.
If you want to share your UFCW story with us, visit http://www.ufcw.org/resources/members/share-your-story/
You can also send us a photo of yourself at work, wearing your UFCW gear, or just at home, with your name, store, local, and a quick quote about why you love being a UFCW member, to Submissions@ufcw.org and we may feature you on Instagram! Follow us at @ufcw_international to keep tabs on what else is happening around the union.
January 13, 2015
Bonnie Ladin Union Skills Training Program Provides Great Opportunity for Union Leaders and Staff, Community Activists
Adapted from the AFL-CIO
photo from AFL-CIO
The AFL-CIO Bonnie Ladin Union Skills Training Program (BLUS) 2015 classes are now open for registration.
The program is designed for union leaders, staff and community activists and offers intensive hands-on training around the areas of collective bargaining; organizing; arbitration and grievance handling; leadership for new union officers; strategic campaigns for contracts; teaching techniques; and best financial practices.
Taught by a group of experienced instructors, the BLUS program brings together rising union activists and community allies with the end goal of helping participants to better serve their unions and communities.
The classes cover many aspects of union training, such as writing contract language, arbitration, and organizing.
Most classes are held at the MITAGS training center in Linthicum, MD. MITAGS is close to BWI Airport, Amtrak, and I-95. Free shuttle service is offered to and from the airport and train station.
For more information, visit aflcio.org/union-skills.
This is a great opportunity for UFCW Locals and members to get more involved in their union, workplace, and community.
January 12, 2015
UFCW Mourns the Loss of International Vice President Chad Young
Chad Young, International Vice President of the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) passed away at home on January 11, 2015. He was 57.
As a young man growing up in Austin, Minnesota, Chad was inspired by his father, Roger, who was an active union member and organizer in the United Packinghouse Workers of America, a predecessor union to the UFCW. Chad was an accomplished Golden Gloves boxer in his youth, and he carried that fighting spirit with him throughout his life as he fought for workers and their union.
His life was driven completely by two words: union and family. And for Chad, those two values were interlocked. The day he first clocked in to work at Hormel Foods in Austin, Minnesota in 1981, he joined UFCW Local 9 and began his lifelong career as a fighter for his union family. He stepped forward to lead as a union steward at Hormel in 1983 and again, later, as a volunteer union organizer where he worked on a number of campaigns in Iowa and Minnesota during a time of great change in the meatpacking industry. Chad was also part of a team of UFCW organizers who inspired nurses in Washington State to join together in his union.
Chad joined the staff of the UFCW International Union in 1988 and brought his fighting spirit and warm heart to worker campaigns across the country. He played a key role in the early efforts to win a union voice for workers at Smithfield Foods in Tar Heel, North Carolina, serving as a key leader during an election there in 1997.
In 1999, he was promoted to the UFCW International Office as Executive Assistant to the Packing House Director in Washington D.C. In 2005, Chad was named Director of Region 5 – South-central, and was elected as an International Vice President in 2006. He was reelected in August 2013 at the UFCW International Convention in Chicago, Illinois.
Chad was a true warrior of the labor movement. He loved being a part of the UFCW. He was proud to wake up every morning and fight for working men and women. He was loved by many for his sense of humor, hearty laugh and passion for the union and its members.
Chad is survived by his wife, Lynn Young, his mother Esther Young, daughters Heather Young, Ashley Young, Jamie Colbert and Kelly Colbert, sisters Mona Young and Patti Jo Corey and granddaughters Maya and Cameryn. He is preceded in death by his father Roger Young.
The viewing will take place on Wednesday, January 14, 2015 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Lucas Funeral Home, 700 West Wall Street, Grapevine, TX 76051. A memorial service will be held on Thursday, January 15, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. at First United Methodist Church, 422 Church Street, Grapevine, TX 76051.
January 9, 2015
Inspiring Messages from Policymakers, Union Leaders, Workers at Summit on Raising Wages
This past Wednesday, the AFL-CIO sponsored a national Summit on Raising Wages. The summit featured a wide range of speakers, including Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Labor Secretary Thomas Perez and actress Piper Perabo, and was attended by the UFCW and many others who expressed the importance of higher wages for working Americans.
Senator Elizabeth Warren was a commanding presence during the event, speaking about how raising the minimum wage is imperative to decreasing inequality. “Trickle-down economics was nothing more than helping the rich and powerful get more rich and powerful,” she said.
Labor Secretary Tom Perez echoed Warren’s statements, and talked about how working together will lead to success in creating a fair system for all: “You shouldn’t have to win the geographic lottery to get a good wage.”
OUR Walmart member Colby Harris was also among the panelists, and addressed the crowd about his first hand experience living on less than liveable wages at Walmart, as well as being retaliated against by his employers when advocating for better pay.
International AFL-CIO president Richard Trumka also spoke, urging that raising wages “is not a hobby. It’s our mission. It’s a beginning, not an ending.”
He also talked about the labor federation’s plans to immediately launch #RaiseTheWage campaigns and summits in additional cities. Part of these campaigns, he also added, is the fight for state and local paid sick days and equal pay for men and women, as well as people of all races.
You can watch the entire live-stream of the event here: