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News and Updates
September 11, 2017
Local 23 Giant Eagle Workers Rally for Better Wages
On August 28, members of UFCW Local 23 who work at Giant Eagle rallied for better wages in Pittsburgh. The workers were joined by Pittsburgh United and the United Electrical Workers.
The workers rallied in front of the store location on the south side of Pittsburgh to tell Giant Eagle to stop paying poverty wages and retaliating against employees who are simply trying to earn a living wage and provide for their families. The workers marched and chanted and stood together to tell the company to be the good corporate citizen they claim to be by valuing hard work with fair pay.
September 11, 2017
RWDSU/UFCW Local 875 Sodexo Workers Ratify New Contract
Sodexo workers in Attleboro, Mass., who are members of RWDSU/UFCW Local 875, recently ratified a new contract. The Sodexo workers work at Attleboro High School.
The three-year contract includes big pay increases of 15 to 22 percent over the course of the agreement. Workers will also receive an extra half day of paid time off for Christmas Eve, an allowance for safety shoes and uniforms, and a fourth week of vacation earned in less time. An important win was moving workers into the RWDSU/UFCW health plan, which New England Joint Board President Tina Buonaugurio said,“saves workers significantly, giving them even more of a raise.”
“Sodexo is well known for their anti-union tactics, but workers stood together and won big,” Buonaugurio added.
September 11, 2017
Local 7 Safeway Pharmacy Technicians Ratify First Union Contract
Safeway pharmacy technicians in Loveland, Colo., who are members of UFCW Local 7, ratified their first union contract in June.
The three-year contract includes a health care plan that provides much better coverage than the company’s plan at a fraction of the cost, and wage increases. In addition, these workers will now have a grievance procedure, a defined pension plan, and all pharmacy technicians will have the opportunity to reach the certified pharmacy technician level and pay. With this new contract, the Safeway store in Loveland is now wall to wall union.
September 8, 2017
UFCW Women’s Network Holds Lobby Day in Washington, D.C.
On September 7, fifteen members of the UFCW Women’s Network from 11 different states visited with members of Congress to discuss issues that impact hard-working families. One member flew in from as far as California, and Valencia, a member from Florida, made the trip despite all the chaos of Hurricane Irma.
Women make up nearly half of the workforce, and many families need two incomes to make ends meet. With the responsibilities of taking care of kids or helping sick family members, having all the support women can get is critical to helping them and their families build the better lives they’ve earned and deserve.
The Women’s Network discussed the FAMILY Act, The Schedules That Work Act, and the importance of affordable health care with members of Congress.
The FAMILY Act would provide paid family leave to all Americans and will make sure that hard-working people are able to take care of themselves and their loved ones no matter where they live, what job they have, or who they work for.
The Schedule That Work Act provides retail, food service and cleaning workers with two weeks advanced notice of their schedules and guarantees minimum pay when they’re sent home from work before completing their entire shift.
It’s essential for women to have affordable health care options. High health care costs are an especially large burden for lower-income women who regularly need health services, but who struggle to pay premiums and out-of-pocket costs. Making sure that all women have access to quality, affordable care will strengthen millions of American families.
Having women’s voices at the table is critical to building a better workforce that works for all.
Valencia, from Local 1625 in Florida, explained the power of showing up to speak face-to-face with members of Congress. “I’m a mother of three, and I understand that twelve weeks of unpaid leave is unreasonable for a single-income household. That’s why I’m here to talk to my Congressmember. It’s important to speak out about these issues and for them to hear directly from us.”
September 6, 2017
UFCW Helps Members Impacted by Hurricane Harvey
Local UFCW unions and the International have launched a fundraising drive to aid UFCW Local 455 in providing vital financial assistance to over 15,000 UFCW members who have been impacted by Hurricane Harvey. These hard-working men and women are in urgent need of temporary shelter, clothes, fresh food, and other daily essentials, and UFCW Local 455’s Membership Assistance Fund will provide vital financial assistance to help them through this critical time.
You can donate to UFCW Local 455’s Membership Assistance Fund by filling out the donation form here.
If you are a UFCW member affected by Hurricane Harvey and need assistance, please click here.
You can read a heartfelt message from UFCW Local 455 President Bill Hopkins here.
September 5, 2017
SBM Management Services Workers Join ICWUC/UFCW Local 94C
Recently, 28 workers at SBM Management Services in Elkton, Va., voted to join ICWUC/UFCW Local 94C by an overwhelming margin. SBM Management Services is a subcontractor at the Merck plant in the area, and the workers clean many parts of the facility, as well as the laboratory glassware.
The SBM Management Services workers wanted a voice in the workplace, as well as an end to “at will” employment. They also wanted the benefits and protections that ICWUC/UFCW Local 94C can offer. ICWUC/UFCW Local 94C Vice President Matt Dean and President Ricky Breeden were instrumental in this victory for these workers, with the support of Council Vice President Gerry Setley.
September 5, 2017
UFCW Condemns White House Decision to End DACA
On Sept. 5, UFCW International President Marc Perrone issued a statement regarding the Trump Administration’s termination of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), a program protecting hundreds of thousands of young immigrants who were brought into the country illegally as children.
The statement reads as follows:
“President Trump’s decision to end DACA is cold-hearted, cruel, and a betrayal of what America stands for.
“Hundreds of thousands of young, hard-working men and women who love America will now be needlessly punished for childhood circumstances. These young people have grown up in this country, passed background checks, pay taxes, go to school, and have worked hard to build a better America. They have earned and deserve fair treatment, but instead their lives are being thrown into chaos with this announcement.
“President Trump’s decision will not make America great again; rather, it will tear families apart, damage communities, and further fuel a terrible divide that is already hurting the nation we all love.
“On behalf of the 1.3 million members of our union family, we urge all Members of Congress to immediately do what is right and protect these Dreamers.”
On Sept. 6, the UFCW distributed a memo to UFCW Locals regarding the status of DACA.
The memo reads as follows:
TO: ALL UNITED FOOD AND COMMERCIAL WORKERS LOCAL UNIONS
As many of you know, on September 5, 2017, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced a phased ending to Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
The following outlines important details and information for our locals to discuss with affected members.
What will end immediately?
No new DACA applications will be accepted as of September 5, 2017.
No new applications for employment authorization will be accepted after September 5, 2017.
There will be no approval of advance parole, which allows temporary leave from the U.S. and lawful reentry into U.S., for DACA recipients as of September 5, 2017.
What about DACA will continue to be processed?
Initial DACA applications and employment authorization requests that are already filed as of September 5, 2017 will be processed.
Applications for renewal of DACA and work authorization for current beneficiaries whose status expire between September 5, 2017 and March 5, 2018 will be processed if they are received by DHS within the next 30 days by October 5, 2017. If granted, the recipient will remain in status for the validity period which typically has been two years.
Applications for DACA renewal and work authorization filed after October 5, 2017 shall be rejected.
What is the status of current DACA recipients?
Current DACA recipients and Employment Authorization Document holders will continue in the DACA status with work authorization for the duration of the two-year validity periods.
DACA recipients with currently approved advance parole will be allowed to temporarily leave for the validity period granted. However, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) still retains discretion to deny reentry at the border.
What is the current status of enforcement when DACA expires?
DACA information provided to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to process DACA applications will not be proactively shared with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or CBP.
For more information, contact the UFCW Legal Department at (202) 466-1593 or rbowser@ufcw.org.
September 5, 2017
UFCW Attends Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions Delegate Conference
On August 25 to 27, UFCW International President Marc Perrone and 123 delegates from UFCW Locals 7, 21, 27, 135, 324, 400, 555, 770, 1428 and 1996 attended the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions Delegate Conference in Portland, Ore. The purpose of the conference was to build solidarity and strength among the coalition with the end goal of negotiating strong contracts with Kaiser Permanente.
The Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions, AFL-CIO, is a federation of 29 locals from the UFCW and 10 other international unions that represent 120,000 union members. The UFCW represents 11,600 Kaiser Permanente employees, most of whom are professional or technical workers. UFCW Locals 1167 and 1442 also represent Kaiser Permanente workers, but were not able to attend the conference.
President Perrone spoke at the conference, and emphasized the importance of working together to secure strong contracts and improve health care for our members at Kaiser Permanente and those they care for.
“If there is ever a doubt about how important this coalition is or of the value our members offer every single day, let us never forget this: You are the ones that give hope, where too often there is none. You provide comfort and care at our most vulnerable times,” Perrone said.
“It is not politicians or policymakers who make a difference in the lives of others who are suffering from the pains and ills that imperil so many millions. It is us. It is this coalition. It is this diverse union family. We are the ones who have accepted the responsibility to stand together. To work together. To believe in each other, and to unite together to better the lives of those whom we care for, and all our Kaiser members – across every one of our unions. The responsibility of caring for others and for our members is not a responsibility that is borne by one union, any union leader, or even Kaiser itself. It is a responsibility that must be shared and respected.”
September 5, 2017
Our Union Family Celebrates Labor Day
This Labor Day, UFCW Locals across the country partnered with other unions, allies, and community members to pay tribute to America’s workers.
Below are some of the parades and other holiday events that took place:
August 28, 2017
UFCW and ICWUC Hold Chemical Emergency Response Training for Locals
Representatives from UFCW Locals 7, 1167 and 1428 attended a chemical emergency response training sponsored by the UFCW Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Office and the International Chemical Workers Union Council (ICWUC) of the UFCW during the week of August 7. The training took place at UFCW Local 324’s office in Buena Park, Calif.
The class was designed to teach union staff how to identify and respond to chemical hazards. Class participants learned about hazardous chemicals, respiratory protection, personal protective equipment, toxicology, and OSHA regulations. Class participants also took part in a simulated hazardous chemical release and containment exercise, donning a self-contained breathing apparatus and other personal protective equipment, and putting into practice what they learned in the classroom.
This training is part of a long-standing partnership between the UFCW OSH Office and ICWUC. UFCW local union representatives and stewards throughout the country are recruited to attend chemical emergency response trainings, which are usually held at ICWUC’s training center in Cincinnati, Ohio. The program is funded with grants, which pay for participants’ travel and lodging. The UFCW OSH offi
ce coordinates the program, which has provided training for hundreds of members and UFCW staff over the past 20 years.
A key feature of this program is the collaboration of eight unions, universities and worker organizations. During this particular week, UFCW representatives were in class with members of the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists, American Federation of Government Employees, and ICWUC.
“I think the chemical emergency response course that I attended was very interesting and informative,” said Phillip Meza, a union representative for UFCW Local 1428. “I plan on taking the information I’ve learned and tools I was given to do better site visits with our membership to ensure their safety when dealing with chemicals. It has also given me the ability to identify potential hazards that I can warn members about. For organizing purposes, I feel the information we learned will also help us to mobilize workers who are working under unsafe conditions and not being provided proper personal protection equipment.”
The program is ongoing throughout the year. If your local is interested in attending a training, contact Fernando Tapia, safety and health program coordinator, UFCW OSH Office, at ftapia@ufcw.org.
