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March 31, 2015

UFCW Statement on Veto of Legislation Blocking NLRB Election Rule

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) today released the following statement after President Obama vetoed legislation that would have blocked the National Labor Relations Board’s (NLRB) rule to streamline union elections.

“As we have said from the very beginning, the NLRB’s modest rule to modernize and streamline union elections is a step in the right direction and should be implemented without delay. Make no mistake, those attempting to block this rule want to make it harder for workers to have a voice on the job. Shortening the period between the filing of a petition and the election means less time for anti-worker employers to intimidate, harass, and fire pro-union employees. This rule creates a fairer process and we look forward to seeing it in action. We commend President Obama for vetoing this ill-advised legislation.”

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Join the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) online at www.ufcw.org

We are 1.3 million families standing together to build an economy that every hard-working family deserves.

 www.facebook.com/UFCWinternational    @UFCW

March 31, 2015

UFCW President Perrone in Response to Governor Pence: Fully Repeal Indiana’s Discriminatory Law

16770_752833021496094_6582326965493961549_nWASHINGTON, D.C.Marc Perrone, International President of the 1.3 million member United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW), called for a full repeal of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act in response to Indiana Governor Mike Pence’s press conference where he offered to fix the law without providing specifics.

“This law is not about freedom, it purposely legislates discrimination and division. It is anti-American, anti-family, and anti-worker. It is a law that cruelly targets men and women, and their families, simply because of who they are. It is fundamentally wrong, it does not belong in Indiana or any state in America, and it must be repealed.

To be clear, as we decide where to take our future business—from annual conferences to the UFCW 2018 International Convention—we will not consider Indiana unless it fully repeals this discriminatory law. We urge every union, every American, and every business and employer, large and small, to join with the millions of Americans who have already spoken out against this needless and terrible law.

For the better America we all believe in, this law must be scrapped.”

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Join the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) online at www.ufcw.org

We are 1.3 million families standing together to build an economy that every hard-working family deserves.

 www.facebook.com/UFCWinternational    @UFCW

March 31, 2015

Celebrate Spring Holidays the Union-Made Way!

Shopped-Union-Got-Best-BasketWith the help of the AFL-CIO and Union Plus, we’ve compiled a UFCW-made shopping list and some UFCW-made recipes so that you can enjoy whichever Spring holidays you celebrate–whether it be Easter, Passover, or just celebrating the nice weather, while supporting your union brothers and sisters at the same time!

If you’re looking for some sweet treats from the Easter bunny, all of the following candies are made by members of the UFCW family:

  • Cadbury Eggs
  • Jelly Bellies
  • Laffy Taffy
  • Necco Wafers
  • Mike and Ikes
  • Thin Mints
  • Tootsie Rolls

For Passover, the following UFCW-made items are just what you need:

Passover-MealsMatzo Products, Crackers and Farfel

  • Manischewitz

Meats

  • Empire Kosher

Wine and Grape Juice

  • Arbor Mist (UFCW)
  • C.K. Mondavi (UFW, UFCW)
  • Turning Leaf (UFCW)
  • Minute Maid Grape Juice (UFCW)
  • Welch’s Grape Juice (UFCW)

See more union-made wine and beverages here.

 

And for the chefs in the family, the following recipes are sure to make any family gathering a special one:

 

Apricot Glazed Ham via Farmland Foods

Ingredients

  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 (about 5 pounds) Farmland® Boneless Smoked Ham – Old Fashioned Pit Ham
  • 1 cup apricot preserves
  • 1 cup apricot nectar
  • 1/4 cup orange marmalade
  • 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

Directions

  1. Heat oven to 325°F. Place ham and apricot nectar in roasting pan.
  2. In small bowl, combine remaining ingredients. Spread preserves mixture over surface of ham. Loosely cover and bake for 1 1/4 hours or until internal temperature reaches 140°F., basting ham with pan juices every 20 minutes.
  3. Slice ham and place on serving platter. Spoon pan juices over ham.

Ham-It-UpMake it union: Tyson Ham, Hormel Honey Roasted Ham, Cook’s Ham, Appleton Farms Ham, Black Forest Ham, and Butterball Ham are all made possible by UFCW members.

 

Roasted Leg of Lamb with Rosemary via AllRecipes.com

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 2 tablespoons prepared Dijon-style mustard
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh rosemary
  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon lemon zest
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 5 pounds whole leg of lamb
  • 1 teaspoon coarse sea salt

Directions

  1. In a small bowl, combine the honey, mustard, rosemary, ground black pepper, lemon zest and garlic. Mix well and apply to the lamb. Cover and marinate in the refrigerator overnight.
  2. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).
  3. Place lamb on a rack in a roasting pan and sprinkle with salt to taste.
  4.  Bake at 450 degrees F (230 degrees C) for 20 minutes, then reduce heat to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C) and roast for 55 to 60 more minutes for medium rare. The internal temperature should be at least 145 degrees F (63 degrees C) when taken with a meat thermometer. Let the roast rest for about 10 minutes before carving.

Make it union: Chiapetti Lamb and Fischer Meats Lamb are union-made by UFCW members.

 

Scalloped Potatoes via CookingChanneltv.com

Ingredients

  • 4 cups heavy cream
  • 2 cups smooth goat cheese
  • 1/2 cup chives, finely chopped
  • 2 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes, finely sliced
  • 2 large onions, thinly sliced
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons butter, cubed
  • Salt and pepper

Directions

  1. In a bowl, mix together the goat cheese with the cream. Season with salt and pepper. Add in the chives. Keep aside.
  2. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Slice the potatoes into 1/8-inch thick slices by using a mandoline or a very sharp knife. Rinse and keep in cold water.
  3. In a large skillet, saute the onions with garlic for about 10 minutes in olive oil. Season with salt and pepper.
  4. Drain and pat dry the potatoes. In an ovenproof dish, nicely layer the potato slices. Cover with some caramelized onions, and 1/4 of the goat cheese mixture. Repeat the layers and finish with the goat cheese mixture. Season each layer with salt and pepper. Pour the rest of the cream mixture over the potatoes and the butter. Cook in the oven for 1 hour until golden brown.

Make it union: Country Fresh, Blue Bonnet, and Horizon dairy products (butter and heavy cream) are union-made by UFCW members.

 

Bacon Cheddar Deviled Eggs via AllRecipes.com

Ingredients

  • 12 eggs
  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 4 slices bacon
  • 2 tablespoons finely shredded Cheddar cheese
  • 1 tablespoon mustard

Directions

  1. Place eggs in a saucepan, and cover with cold water. Bring water to a boil and immediately remove from heat. Cover, and let eggs stand in hot water for 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from hot water, and cool. To cool more quickly, rinse eggs under cold running water.
  2. Meanwhile, place bacon in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium-high heat until evenly brown. Alternatively, wrap bacon in paper towels and cook in the microwave for about 1 minute per slice. Crumble and set aside.
  3. Peel the hard-cooked eggs, and cut in half lengthwise. Remove yolks to a small bowl. Mash egg yolks with mayonnaise, crumbled bacon and cheese. Stir in mustard. Fill egg white halves with the yolk mixture and refrigerate until serving.

Make it union: Alta Dena, Horizon Organic, and President’s Choice eggs are union-made by UFCW members.

 

Ambrosia via FoodNetwork.com (recipe courtesy ofAlton Brown)

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 4 ounces sour cream
  • 6 ounces homemade mini marshmallows, approximately 3 cups
  • 1 cup clementine orange segments, approximately 6 clementines
  • 1 cup chopped fresh pineapple
  • 1 cup freshly grated coconut
  • 1 cup toasted, chopped pecans
  • 1/2 cup drained maraschino cherries

Directions

  1. Place the cream and sugar into the bowl of a stand mixer with the whisk attachment and whip until stiff peaks are formed.
  2. Add the sour cream and whisk to combine. Add the marshmallows, orange, pineapple, coconut, pecans and cherries and stir to combine. Transfer to a glass serving bowl, cover and place in the refrigerator for 2 hours before serving.

Make it union: Domino Sugar, as well as Country Fresh, Blue Bonnet, and Horizon dairy products (heavy cream and sour cream), are union-made by UFCW members.

March 25, 2015

Perrone: House GOP Budget Would Make Life Harder for Tens of Millions of Hard-Working American Families

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 passage of the House Republican budget.

“Budgets are more than just numbers; they are a statement of values. House Republicans talk a lot about family values, but this budget cruelly and needlessly hurts families and children. It will make life harder for tens of millions of hard-working American families all to serve an ideological agenda. At a time of stagnant wages and rising income inequality, the House Republican budget is more of the same—cutting nutrition assistance, health care, job training, and college aid—all while giving another tax break to the wealthiest few. Instead of further dividing this country, Republican leaders and Congress must go back to the drawing board and pass a budget that invests in the future of working and middle class families. Make no mistake, we strongly oppose this proposal and urge the President to make clear he will veto it and any other extreme budget that hurts America’s families.”Marc-Perrone-2008

March 25, 2015

Nursing Assistants Unionize at Allegro Nursing Home

Vote Overwhelmingly to Join UFCW Local 1625

10982598_10150710991049945_4629064203368727338_oSt. Petersburg, Fla. — Last night, Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA) at the Allegro Nursing Home in St. Petersburg, Fla., voted ‘Union Yes’ to join the 7,000 members of the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Union Local 1625. Thirty CNAs on staff came together to form a union in order to improve working conditions at Allegro.

“I am so proud of my team today. We stood up to management’s efforts to intimidate and divide us, and together, we won,” said Eleanor Mitchell, CNA, who has worked for Allegro for 25 years. “With a union, we now have the power to shape a better future at Allegro.”

An election overseen by the National Labor Relations Board showed strong support for a union, with more than 90 percent of votes returned in favor of the union.

“The courage shown by these workers is extraordinary. These Certified Nursing Assistants are standing up for the dignity of all workers in the caretaking professions,” said Ed Chambers, President of UFCW Local 1625 headquartered in Lakeland, Fla.

The 30 CNAs were able to form a unit made up of a single job classification following a 2011 decision by the National Labor Relations Board in Specialty Healthcare and Rehabilitation of Mobile. This decision permitted CNAs to form union bargaining units by ruling that CNAs as “readily identifiable as a group” and as sharing a “community of interest.”

The workers will now begin negotiating with Allegro for their first union contract and seek to establish a more fair and transparent schedule for raises and better working conditions.

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Join the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) online at www.ufcw.org

We are 1.3 million families standing together to build an economy that every hard-working family deserves.

March 25, 2015

UFCW International President Marc Perrone Releases Statement on Kraft Heinz Merger

UFCW Local 538 members and Kraft workers Gloria Jenkins and Mark Grimes

UFCW Local 538 members and Kraft workers Gloria Jenkins and Mark Grimes

(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 the merger of Kraft and Heinz:

“We have a profound responsibility to provide our hard-working families the opportunity for a better life. It is why we have a proud history of negotiating union contracts, with both Heinz and Kraft, that provides these incredible men and women better pay, benefits and job security. By working together we have not only met our responsibility to our people, but have proved that companies that choose to be responsible can be profitable and successful. We will continue to work with Heinz and Kraft to ensure they do what is right and responsible and that ‘streamlining’ and ‘cost-cutting’ measures don’t hurt the workers, their families, who have helped make these companies a success.”

The UFCW represents approximately 1342 workers at Heinz locations in Fremont, Ohio; Holland, Michigan; Muscatine, Iowa; and  Massillon, Ohio. Approximately 2870 Kraft workers in Coshocton, Ohio; Davenport, Iowa; Dover, Delaware; Jacksonville, Florida; Madison, Wisconsin; and Walton, New York are also UFCW members.

March 25, 2015

Perrone: House GOP Budget Would Make Life Harder for Tens of Millions of Hard-Working American Families

AMPStatement

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 passage of the House Republican budget.

“Budgets are more than just numbers; they are a statement of values. House Republicans talk a lot about family values, but this budget cruelly and needlessly hurts families and children. It will make life harder for tens of millions of hard-working American families all to serve an ideological agenda. At a time of stagnant wages and rising income inequality, the House Republican budget is more of the same—cutting nutrition assistance, health care, job training, and college aid—all while giving another tax break to the wealthiest few. Instead of further dividing this country, Republican leaders and Congress must go back to the drawing board and pass a budget that invests in the future of working and middle class families. Make no mistake, we strongly oppose this proposal and urge the President to make clear he will veto it and any other extreme budget that hurts America’s families.”

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Join the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) online at www.ufcw.org

We are 1.3 million families standing together to build an economy that every hard-working family deserves.

March 24, 2015

UFCW Members Help Defeat Right-to-Work in New Mexico

NM RTW PostcardThe 2015 New Mexico legislative session ended on Saturday without passage of right-to-work, a major victory for UFCW members and their families. Members of UFCW Local 1564 have been speaking out against the legislation for months. On February 12, nearly 100 members of Local 1564 traveled to the New Mexico State Capitol in Santa Fe to lobby their legislators. UFCW Local 1564 members also delivered hundreds of postcards to their elected officials in opposition to right-to-work. Governor Susana Martinez said she will not call a special session to address right-to-work and it would take a three-fifths vote of each house for the legislature to go into special session, which is highly unlikely.

March 24, 2015

Massachusetts, Vermont and New York Co-op Workers Gather for First Ever Co-op Worker Summit

Workers meet to discuss future of co-ops and the food industry

DSC_0029Charlemont, Mass. – Dozens of co-op workers from three states and representing six both worker- and member-owned co-ops met Saturday at the first-ever regional co-op workers summit. The event, hosted by United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1459, was the first of its kind.

“Co-ops have a unique place in our economy,” said Dan Clifford, President of Local 1459. “They are businesses that have the higher purpose of serving the communities in which they operate. As the co-op movement grows, sometimes the voice of co-op workers get lost. This summit was an important step to ensure those voices are heard and that co-ops live up to their highest aspirations.”

Workers from co-ops in Western Massachusetts, New York and Vermont gathered for panels on the future of the co-op movement and their role in improving their workplaces, their communities and the food we all eat. They also heard from Frances Moore Lappé, best-selling author of Diet for a Small Planet, who spoke about the important role that co-ops and co-op workers can have in building a more sustainable global economy.

“It’s critically important that the co-op movement doesn’t leave the workers’ voice behind,” said John Cevasco, a grocery worker from Greenfield’s Market in Greenfield, Mass. and a UFCW Local 1459 member. “We found our voice at Greenfield’s by forming a union, and I know our co-op is stronger because of it.”

“Our communities need high quality, local food and good family-supporting jobs,” said Russell Ziemba, a worker from the Honest Weight Food Co-op in Albany, N.Y. “Co-ops can play a critical role in meeting those needs if they listen to the voice of their workers. That’s why I’m glad I had the opportunity to be here and learn from other co-op workers in my region.”

The co-op workers also issued a series of collective recommendations to the regional and state food system plans, re-envisioning how the food system could serve the needs of citizens even better. They hope by injecting the voice of ground level workers and co-ops into the plan that they can make the plans both more ecologically and economically more sustainable.

 

 

March 24, 2015

UFCW Local 555 Pushes For Paid Sick Leave in Oregon

Oregon Lobby DayMore than 50 UFCW Local 555 members went to the Capitol building in Salem last week to convince legislators to pass a paid sick leave law that will cover every worker in Oregon.

“I’m here to help pass a first day paid sick leave law that will benefit every worker in Oregon,” said Jane Killduff, a 17-year member of UFCW Local 555 who works at Albertsons. “It’s important to have paid sick leave on the first day – right now it doesn’t begin until you’ve been out for three days. It’s a major disconnect when the current paid sick leave policy makes it so hard for people who work around food all day to stay home when they’re sick.”

The push for paid sick leave resonates with UFCW members on a personal level. From the checkout lane to the deli, they want customers and the food they buy to be safe and healthy. The issue has inspired many UFCW Local 555 members to lobby for the first time.

“I can’t wait to tell all my coworkers what a blast I had today,” said Justin Dupuis, a five-year UFCW Local 555 member who works at the Safeway distribution center in Portland. “I learned about the legislative process and what it takes to pass good laws. Most of all I just felt like being here was making a difference. Passing paid sick leave for the entire state is going to make Oregon stronger and healthier.”

Over the past few years, members of UFCW Local 555 have helped Oregon’s two largest cities, Portland and Eugene, pass paid sick leave laws. These victories have created momentum. Local 555 members like Ricardo Morales, who works at Safeway in The Dalles, feel like paid sick leave can and should be adopted statewide.

“I’m at lobby day because I believe we can help pass better laws that will give workers better lives,” said Morales. “Our two largest cities have passed paid sick leave, why not the entire state?”

Members who work in Portland, the first place in Oregon to adopt paid sick leave, were excited to share their experience with legislators who were on the fence.

“I was inspired to be here today to help pass paid sick leave,” said UFCW Local 555 member Amber Hamilton who works at QFC. “I live in Portland where it already passed and it’s been great. I want every worker in the state to have it. People are a lot happier. When you get sick, it’s nice to know you have the time to recover. I wish more UFCW members would lobby. As the saying goes, the more the better.”

It was difficult to walk down a hallway in the Capitol without seeing a flash of gold. UFCW members quickly realized that their presence was having an impact both inside and outside of meetings.

“Just standing in the hall, people stop by and tell us ‘great gold shirts!” said Ellen Hudson, a UFCW Local 555 member who works at the Oregon City Fred Meyer. “It’s a great form of recognition. I wish every UFCW member would take time to lobby their elected representatives. I don’t feel you have the right to moan and groan and complain if you’re not willing to step out of your comfort zone and do something. I learned a long time ago that if you don’t speak up, you get rolled over. If we can find the courage to speak up, we’ll always be heard.”