-
News and Updates
January 22, 2014
What’s the State of Your Union?
President Obama will be making his fifth State of the Union address this Tuesday, January 8th.
The past few years have shown progress, but too many Americans have yet to see the economic recovery that they deserve.
Working class families are being attacked from all sides. Increasing levels of income inequality are threatening their economic mobility. No rights at work laws are weakening the basic right of workers to stick together. Cuts to jobless benefits and food stamp programs are forcing people who were already struggling to somehow live on even less.
President Obama is expected to touch on these issues and more in his State of the Union address – as he should.
There is a growing realization in America that the income gap has grown to unacceptable proportions. This did not happen overnight. For decades, groups like the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) have carried water for large corporations and special interests by promoting and passing bills that oppose minimum wage standards and anti-poverty programs.
Working people across the country are tired of being denied their fair share and they’re fighting back. Legislation and referendums seeking to raise the minimum wage have been promoted and passed in multiple states.
There is also hope within both sides of the U.S. Congress that the Harkin-Miller bill, a piece of federal legislation which would raise the minimum wage to $10.10 per hour and index it to inflation, will be considered in the coming year.
Along with policies to help reverse the rising tide of economic disparity, President Obama is expected to renew the push for common sense immigration reform with a pathway to citizenship. A majority of Americans continue to agree that the time is now for comprehensive immigration reform – may 2014 be the year both chambers listen.
What would you like to see discussed in the State of the Union Address? What issues are affecting the state of your union?
Let us know by posting on our facebook page or filling out this online form with the hashtag #MySOTU.
We’ll read your responses and post them on the blog next week before the President’s State of the Union Address. We’ll also tweet some of your responses at President Obama to remind him what working people are saying.
January 22, 2014
UFCW Launches GOLD Internship
Across the country, many young UFCW members have expressed interest in becoming more active within the labor movement.
These are members who believe in the power of sticking together and want to improve workplace conditions beyond their own store or plant. UFCW has created the GOLD internship program with these members in mind.
The GOLD internship program will provide participants with the opportunity to learn and develop new talents.
They will be assigned a project within one of five areas: Legislative and Political Action, Organizing, Collective Bargaining, Civil Rights, and Health and Safety.
The GOLD internship program will be substantive – participants will be involved with critical UFCW projects. The experience will leave GOLD internship graduates with the necessary skills to become future union leaders and activists.
Participants will be paid throughout the internship. Housing and travel costs will also be provided.
Are you interested in being a part of GOLD?
• Rank and file members only
• 40 interns will be accepted in the first year
• All members are committed to the one week education (Phase I) portion of the program. Depending on evaluation, each member could then be invited to participate in a four week (Phase II) action project.
• Local President and Region Director approval is required
• Must apply online by April 1, 2014
• A short essay is required
For more information please visit: www.goldufcw.org
January 22, 2014
UFCW Launches GOLD Internship
Across the country, many young UFCW members have expressed interest in becoming more active within the labor movement.
These are members who believe in the power of sticking together and want to improve workplace conditions beyond their own store or plant. UFCW has created the GOLD internship program with these members in mind.
The GOLD internship program will provide participants with the opportunity to learn and develop new talents.
They will be assigned a project within one of five areas: Legislative and Political Action, Organizing, Collective Bargaining, Civil Rights, and Health and Safety.
The GOLD internship program will be substantive – participants will be involved with critical UFCW projects. The experience will leave GOLD internship graduates with the necessary skills to become future union leaders and activists.
Applicants must be able to participate in a five-week summer program.
Participants will be paid throughout the internship. Housing and travel costs will also be provided.
Are you interested in being a part of GOLD?
• Rank and file members only
• 40 interns will be accepted in the first year
• All members are committed to the one week education (Phase I) portion of the program.
• Local President and Region Director approval is required
• Must apply online by April 1, 2014
• A short essay is required
For more information or to apply please visit: www.goldufcw.org
January 15, 2014
Walmart Illegally Retaliated Against Workers Speaking Out For Higher Wages, Against Income Inequality
Sweeping decision by labor board is largest ever complaint against employer
WASHINGTON —The National Labor Relations Board issued the largest-ever complaint against Walmart today for breaking federal labor law by violating workers’ rights. The complaint alleges Walmart illegally fired and disciplined more than 117 workers, including those who went on strike last June to speak out for better jobs.
The NLRB asserts illegal activities in 14 states at 34 stores and shows that company executives conceived—and oversaw implementation—of an unlawful retaliation policy for store managers to execute. The complaint—the largest ever against Walmart in both size and scale—names 63 individual store managers and company spokesperson and vice president of communication David Tovar’s illegal threats made to employees.
Walmart workers, part of the national organization OUR Walmart, have been taking the country’s income inequality head on by standing up for better wages at the country’s largest employer. While the majority of Walmart associates are paid less than $25,000 a year, Walmart makes $17 billion in annual profits and the Waltons—the richest family in the country—have a combined wealth of $144.7 billion.
“Walmart thinks it can scare us with attacks to keep us from having a real conversation about the poverty wages we’re paid,” said Barbara Collins a fired Walmart worker from Placerville, CA, who is one of the 117 workers named in the complaint. “But too much is at stake—the strength of our economy and the security of our families—to stay silent about why Walmart needs to improve jobs. Now the federal government is confirming what we already know: we have the right to speak out, and Walmart fired me and my coworkers illegally. With a new CEO taking over in a few weeks, we hope that Walmart will take a new direction in listening to associates and the country in the growing calls to improve jobs.”
The complaint details the Board’s decision to prosecute the company for its illegal firings and disciplinary actions against workers standing up for better jobs.
The Board’s action will provide additional protection for Walmart’s 1.3 million employees when they are calling for Walmart to publicly commit to paying workers a minimum of $25,000 a year for full-time work. The complaint addresses threats by managers and the company’s national spokesperson for discouraging workers from striking and for taking illegal disciplinary actions against workers who were on legally protected strikes.
If Walmart is found liable, workers could be awarded back pay, reinstatement and the reversal of disciplinary actions through the decision; and Walmart could be required to inform and educate all employees of their legally protected rights. While historic, the complaint alone is not enough to stop Walmart from violating the law. Since the start of the year, Walmart has continued to retaliate against workers who speak out for better jobs.
“Shoppers, workers and activists all stand with Walmart workers calling for a decent day’s pay so they can support their families and contribute to the economy. We’ve never seen a complaint against Walmart of this size or scope, and we’re glad the NLRB is taking action. Walmart’s attacks on its own employees and cannot go unchecked,” said Sarita Gupta, executive director of Jobs With Justice. “We are proud to stand with workers calling for respect from Walmart.”
“Walmart workers are bravely leading the national movement to end low wage work,” said Bill Fletcher Jr., chairman of the Retail Justice Alliance. “Walmart is a major driver of the widening income inequality gap with its low wages that set the standard for retail jobs. We cannot get our economy moving again when the largest employer breaks federal law in an effort to keep wages down. Walmart needs to start following the law and improve jobs by paying workers a living wage.”
Today’s complaint addresses charges filed one year ago in advance of Black Friday 2012, when Walmart managers escalated their efforts to threaten and discourage workers from going on legally protected strikes. David Tovar, spokesperson for the company, even went so far as to threaten workers on national television, saying “there would be consequences” for workers who did not come in for scheduled shifts on Black Friday.
“Walmart workers like me are calling for better jobs for all Americans,” said Colby Harris, a fired worker from Lancaster, TX. “It’s not right that so many of us are struggling to get by on less than $25,000 a year while the Waltons have more wealth than 42% of American families combined. Today the federal government confirmed that Walmart is not above the law, will be held accountable, and I have rights.”
Additionally, the complaint covers the illegal firings and disciplinary actions that occurred after 100 striking Walmart workers took their concerns to the company’s June shareholder meeting in Bentonville. Support from investors, Walmart workers and the general public continued to grow after tens of thousands of shareholders heard from workers who are OUR Walmart members at the company’s annual shareholder meeting.
When these workers returned to work, Walmart systematically fired and disciplined them despite their legally recognized, protected absences. This included disciplinary action against at least 43 workers and the firing of at least another 23 worker-leaders.
Prior to the extended strike in June, American Rights at Work/Jobs with Justice released a white paper documenting Walmart’s extensive and systematic efforts to silence associates. At that time, there were more than 150 incidents in stores across the country, with few signs that Walmart would soon stop targeting those who speak out and act collectively.
In other labor charges against Walmart, workers have been winning. In California alone, the National Labor Relations Board recently decided to prosecute Walmart for 11 violations of federal labor law from some threats made around Black Friday in 2012.
In Kentucky, one settlement was reached between Walmart and Aaron Lawson in which Walmart fired Lawson after he distributed flyers and spoke out against the company’s attempts to silence those who called for better wages and consistent hours. As part of the settlement, Walmart agreed to rehire Lawson and provide full back wages for the time that he was out of work.
###
LEGAL DISCLAIMER: UFCW and OUR Walmart have the purpose of helping Wal-Mart employees as individuals or groups in their dealings with Wal-Mart over labor rights and standards and their efforts to have Wal-Mart publically commit to adhering to labor rights and standards. UFCW and OUR Walmart have no intent to have Walmart recognize or bargain with UFCW or OUR Walmart as the representative of Walmart employees.
January 15, 2014
UFCW Donations Help Rebuilding Projects Progress in Haiti
On January 12, 2010, a massive earthquake struck Haiti, causing catastrophic damage in and around the capital city of Port-au-Prince. Since that time, UFCW local unions from around the country have remained committed to helping the people of Haiti rebuild their communities.
The UFCW collected and distributed more than $450,000 to bring food, water and technology to Haitian children and their families by partnering with several local foundations to provide earthquake relief.
Generous donations from UFCW local unions to Hope for Haiti helped rebuild the computer lab and library at the St. Francois de Sales School. Donations helped purchase 34 computers outfitted with Microsoft Office software, along with tables, chairs, book shelves, and lockers for the library and computer lab. The school will provide education to more than 1,320 students in the kindergarten, primary, and secondary levels.
UFCW IVP Al Vincent (l) and UFCW Local 888 President Mark Bruny (r) attend the dedication ceremony for the new library and computer lab at the St. Francois de Sales School in Haiti.
UFCW International Vice President Al Vincent and UFCW Local 888 President Max Bruny represented the UFCW International and local unions when they led a delegation to Haiti for the dedication ceremony of the computer lab and library at the St. Francois de Sales School that UFCW donations funded.
“The children were so excited to have the new library and computer lab,” Bruny said. “Many children in Haiti aren’t able to attend school because of poverty and lack of access so these kids feel so proud and blessed. The generosity from the UFCW locals definitely improved the lives of these children and their community.”
Donations from UFCW unions have also gone to other foundations including Reviving Haiti, which funds clean water access to Haitian families, High Hopes for Haiti, which supports a project to build computer labs and a library at John Stine College in St. Marc, and God to Haiti, which provides hot meals for children and families.
A great deal of work remains to be done in Haiti—a country of origin for many UFCW members—and the UFCW remains committed to helping our Haitian brothers and sisters recover from this tragedy.
More information and updates on Hope for Haiti and the St. Francois de Sales School can be found at www.hopeforhaiti.com.
January 14, 2014
Member Spotlight: Gary Southall
Union Strong. What’s behind that saying? Easy–union members.
What makes a union strong, are the members: workers who stand together, are involved in their workplace and communities, and work to better the lives of all working people. This week we would like to shine a light on one of those members.
Gary Southall has worked at Kroger–as a head deli clerk, a head checker, a head frozen food clerk, and now as a cashier–in Jackson County West Virginia for 41 years. He has been a UFCW member for just as long. Coming from a union family, it seems to be in his blood: “My dad, my grampa, all the uncles–everybody union members for as long as I can remember.”
When he began working at Kroger at the age of 16, the union was already in place, however, Gary eventually got more involved with his union, and has become a true member activist over the years. Not only is Gary a Local 400 steward, but is an avid supporter of programs in his community that benefit working people and better living conditions for young people.
Local 400 member and steward Gary Southall
One such program is the Jackson County Anti-Drug Coalition, which works to reduce underage alcohol abuse and substance use among youth. He has helped garner $1500 in donations for the coalition, $500 of which is from UFCW Local 400. Gary is also a member of the Central Labor Council, and an officer with the AFL-CIO, and as part of the AFL’s national initiative, he strives to be very involved in his community, even if it doesn’t involve union members. “We just take care of each other,” Gary says of the work he does.
Gary also lobbies for the UFCW, and this week helped re-introduce a bill that will prevent the sale of alcohol through self-checkout machines. The bill’s intent is to curb the ease with which already intoxicated or underage consumers can purchase alcohol.
When talking to Gary, its clear that he really cares for the youth in his community, and wants them to have as much opportunity in life as possible. Gary, working with the West Virginia AFL-CIO, has helped promote an educational video called Labor in the Mountains, which tells the story of labor’s history in West Virginia and the coal-industry, as told by a grandfather who lived through much of it, as he answers his granddaughter’s questions. Seeing the importance of teaching students about Labor’s influence on the middle class, the group worked hard to ensure that, effective this year, the video will now be shown in all middle school and high school civics classes in Jackson County, and they are working to spread this to the curriculum of other counties as well. Similarly, Gary is also working with others to promote an award-winning book called Click, Clack, Moo Cows That Type in which some literate cows leave notes for their farmer, demanding better working conditions and eventually going on strike. They are hoping to get a copy of the book into all third grade classes in the county, as well as community libraries.
On top of helping to promote labor education for kids, Gary is also involved with a program called Reconnecting McDowell, which works to help kids living in poverty in this neighboring Appalachain county, by improving education, providing food, and helping kids find safe spaces, among many other things.
Now in his fourth year at the Leadership Academy, hosted by the AFL-CIO and the West Virginia University institute of labor studies and researches, Gary has emerged as a true leader, helping others to see why unions are so important.
Gary has been through two strikes at Kroger, earlier on in his career. It was during those times when he saw how important the union difference was: “At that time I was working part-time, and I wasn’t making very much money–but when I went back to work after the strike, I was making double that money, which was fantastic for a young guy still in school.”
“But the point [of the union] in general, for me and for everybody, if they know it, is that you have a voice–you’re not out there by yourself, and you have someone to help you if you need help. You know your union steward–I’m a union steward and I have been for 15 or 20 years. No one can come out here and single you out, or say ‘If I don’t like ya, we’ll fire ya’ or that kind of thing.” He says that the union creates better work practices, and prevents unsafe working conditions: “you’ve got someone to say, ‘you know you can’t do that’ and if someone says ‘you need to do this or we’ll fire you’ well, no, we aren’t gonna do it if it’s not safe.”
“We’ve got welfare benefits, like pretty good insurance and I’ve got six weeks of vacation now. Industry-wide, at least my area here in West Virginia, no one else in the grocery business makes the kind of money that we make.”
But one story Gary likes to tell, to show what solidarity can do, doesn’t have anything to do with wages or benefits. “It may sound kind of silly but, I have a son who will be 36 in April. When he was 6 weeks old, Kroger came in one day, and some of us fellas had started growing beards–and I don’t remember what the reason was, but we had decided to grow beards. Anyway they came in and they told us we couldn’t grow a beard on company time, that if we wanted to grow one, we had to grow it on our own time, and shave it off for company time.” Gary says that this mandate didn’t sit too well them. “Of the people still there, and there are four in my workplace that were there when this happened–we still have that beard that we couldn’t grow 35 years ago. That was the last day I was clean-shaven, and I haven’t shaved from that day on, 35 years ago.” Gary and his coworkers stood together, in doing something as simple as not shaving off their beards, and Kroger backed off. Recently, one of Gary’s close friends and co-workers was asked to shave. His response was, “I’ll tell you what–the day that Gary Southall shaves, I’ll do it too.”
Gary is a true example of what unions can do when members are active and involved, and how they benefit the people in their communities. Stories like his inspire us to stay strong and continue sticking together in solidarity for the middle class, and all working people!
If you know a UFCW member who inspires you, or has a story worth telling, please contact Mia Perry at mperry@ufcw.org
January 13, 2014
UFCW President Hansen Statement on the Retirement of George Miller
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Joe Hansen, International President of the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW), today released the following statement after Congressman George Miller (D-CA) announced his intention to retire at the end of the 113th Congress.
“Today is a sad day for the labor movement and the entire nation. George Miller will go down as one of the single greatest champions of working men and women in the history of Congress. For four decades, Congressman Miller has led the fight on organizing rights, fair pay, workplace safety, and corporate accountability. He has been an unwavering friend to me and the entire UFCW, giving our members a voice in the halls of power. When it was apparent the Affordable Care Act would cause problems for workers in union health plans, it was Congressman Miller who stepped up and tried to find a solution, an effort he continues to this day. It is simply undeniable that workers are better off because of his service. Many will seek to carry on Congressman Miller’s good work, but no one can ever replace him.”
###
The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) represents more than 1.3 million workers, primarily in the retail and meatpacking, food processing and poultry industries. The UFCW protects the rights of workers and strengthens America’s middle class by fighting for health care reform, living wages, retirement security, safe working conditions and the right to unionize so that working men and women and their families can realize the American Dream. For more information about the UFCW’s effort to protect workers’ rights and strengthen America’s middle class, visit www.ufcw.org, or join our online community at www.facebook.com/UFCWinternational and www.twitter.com/ufcw.
January 13, 2014
UFCW President Hansen Statement on the Retirement of George Miller
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Joe Hansen, International President of the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW), today released the following statement after Congressman George Miller (D-CA) announced his intention to retire at the end of the 113th Congress.
“Today is a sad day for the labor movement and the entire nation. George Miller will go down as one of the single greatest champions of working men and women in the history of Congress. For four decades, Congressman Miller has led the fight on organizing rights, fair pay, workplace safety, and corporate accountability. He has been an unwavering friend to me and the entire UFCW, giving our members a voice in the halls of power. When it was apparent the Affordable Care Act would cause problems for workers in union health plans, it was Congressman Miller who stepped up and tried to find a solution, an effort he continues to this day. It is simply undeniable that workers are better off because of his service. Many will seek to carry on Congressman Miller’s good work, but no one can ever replace him.”
###
The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) represents more than 1.3 million workers, primarily in the retail and meatpacking, food processing and poultry industries. The UFCW protects the rights of workers and strengthens America’s middle class by fighting for health care reform, living wages, retirement security, safe working conditions and the right to unionize so that working men and women and their families can realize the American Dream. For more information about the UFCW’s effort to protect workers’ rights and strengthen America’s middle class, visit www.ufcw.org, or join our online community at www.facebook.com/UFCWinternational and www.twitter.com/ufcw.
January 7, 2014
Tell Congress: Extend Unemployment Benefits Now!
Shortly before the new year, Congress failed to extend unemployment insurance benefits for those who lost their jobs through no fault of their own. 1.3 million Americans immediately had their assistance dropped and even more will be affected if Congress does not act. The UFCW is calling for an extension of unemployment insurance.
A patch through number has been created so that Members of Congress can be easily contacted (877-318-0483).
From the White House:
January 7, 2014
Anthony Brown and Ken Ulman endorsed by UFCW Locals 400, 27 and 1994
UPPER MARLBORO, MD – Today, United Food and Commercial Workers’ Local 400, Local 27, and Local 1994 endorsed Lt. Governor Anthony G. Brown and County Executive Ken Ulman in their race for Governor and Lt. Governor of Maryland. The organizations, which together represent thousands of Maryland workers, backed Brown due to his leadership in the fight to raise Maryland’s minimum wage, as well as his work maintaining record funding for Maryland schools and strong support for middle class families.
“The workers of UFCW represent the best of what Maryland has to offer, and when UFCW is strong, Maryland’s middle class is strong,” said Lt. Governor Anthony G. Brown. “We’ve made great progress over the past seven years as we’ve built the most highly skilled and talented workforce in the country and maintained record education funding. But there is much more to be done, and Ken Ulman and I are eager to partner with UFCW in office to continue strengthening Maryland’s middle class families — an effort that starts now by raising our minimum wage.”
“UFCW has been a force in advancing social and economic justice for all Marylanders, and Anthony and I are energized by their support,” said County Executive Ken Ulman. “Now we’re ready to get to work to raise our minimum wage, expand access to a high-quality Pre-K education to all Maryland children, and foster a strong business climate for job growth. I know that UFCW will be right alongside us as we achieve results for middle class families.”
“Anthony Brown is a proven leader for Maryland’s working families, and UFCW Local 400 is ready to go to elect him and Ken Ulman,” said Mark Federici, President of United Food and Commercial Workers’ Local 400. “Anthony is leading the charge to increase Maryland’s minimum wage and he’s stood up for vital collective bargaining rights for Maryland workers. He’s been a friend to us for nearly 15 years, and we know that we can count on him to continue strengthening Maryland’s middle class as Governor.”
“Throughout his tenure as Lt. Governor and state Delegate, Anthony Brown has made sticking up for Maryland’s middle class his top priority, which is why UFCW Local 27 is now sticking up for him,” said George Murphy Jr., President of United Food and Commercial Workers’ Local 27. “We know that, as Governor, Anthony will get results for working families. We’ll be right alongside him helping to make his priorities of raising the minimum wage, creating universal, voluntary, and high-quality Pre-K, and creating jobs a reality.”
“UFCW Local 1994 is proud to be endorsing Anthony Brown because he’s the best choice to advocate for our members all over the state,” said Gino Renne, President of United Food and Commercial Workers’ Local 1994. “As Governor, he’ll work to create a strong climate for job growth — and he has a lengthy record of fighting to expand access to healthcare and educational opportunity. Our 9,000 members will be mobilizing to deliver Maryland for Anthony and Ken Ulman in this election.”
Together, UFCW Locals 400, 27, and 1994 MCGEO represent thousands of workers in Maryland. Their members work in the retail food, retail, health care, law enforcement, food processing, service, and other industries, and will add to the Brown-Ulman team’s strong grassroots support as they work to elect Anthony Brown and Ken Ulman.
###