March 12, 2015

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day the Union Way!

Even if you’re not Irish, it’s always fun to celebrate St. Paddy’s Day by sporting some green, looking for lucky shamrocks, or just eating some great Irish food!

Union Plus gathered some great Irish recipes that you can make with UFCW-made ingredients! Scroll down to see a few!  The AFL-CIO has also compiled a great list of UFCW made whiskies you can toast with:

Whiskey

Baker’s

Basil Hayden’s

Blanton’s

Elijah Craig

Henry McKenna

Jim Beam

Knob Creek

Old Crow

Old Grand-Dad

 

Is beer more your thing? UFCW and our other union brothers and sisters from IAM, UAW, and the Teamsters make plenty:

Beer

Budweiser

Budweiser American Ale

Bud Light

Hamm’s

Henry Weinhard’s Private Reserve and Blue Board Pale Ale

Leinenkugel’s

Michelob

Miller Genuine Draft

Miller High Life

Miller Lite

Moosehead

Rolling Rock

Shock Top

Steelhead

 

Irish Eyes Cocktail Recipe via About.com

Ingredients:

• 1 ounce whiskey
• 1/4 ounce green crème de menthe
• 2 ounce cream
• Maraschino cherry for garnish

Directions:

• Pour the ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice cubes.
• Shake well.
• Strain into an old-fashioned glass.
• Garnish with the maraschino cherry.

Make it union! Great whiskey’s like Jim Beam and Knob Creek are made possible by UFCW members.

 

Corned beef and Cabbage via AllRecipes.com

Ingredients:

1 onion, cut into wedges	2 tablespoons sugar
4 potatoes, peeled and quartered	2 tablespoons cider vinegar
1 pound carrots, cut into large chunks	1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
3 cups water	1 (3 pound) corned beef brisket with spice packet, cut in half
3 cloves garlic, minced	1 small head cabbage, cut into wedges
1 bay leaf

Directions:

• Place all ingredients into slow cooker, vegetables first. Brisket and cabbage are added last. Cook for 8 to 9 hours (remove bay leaf)
• Make it union! Use Saag’s corned beef, and support the union members at UFCW.

Make it union! Use Saag’s corned beef, and support the union members at UFCW.

 

Irish Stew via AllRecipes.com

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons olive oil	2 cloves garlic, minced
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour	2 cups beef broth
2 pounds beef chuck, cut into 1 1/2-inch cubes	1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
1 pound carrots, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks	1 (12 fluid ounce) can or bottle Irish stout beer (e.g. Guinness®)
6 large potatoes, peeled and cut into large chunks	1 tablespoon cold water
1 white onion, cut into large chunks	1 tablespoon cornstarch

Directions:

• Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Toss beef cubes with flour to coat, then fry in the hot oil until browned.
• Place the carrots, potatoes, onion, garlic, meat, and vegetables in a large slow cooker. Place the meat on top of the vegetables.
• Mix together the beef broth and tomato paste and pour into the slow cooker along with the beer.
• Cook for 6-8 hours. During the last hour before serving,
• To thicken the stew, dissolve cornstarch in cold water and stir into the broth.

Make it union! Beef made by Hormel and Always Tender is made by members of UFCW.

 

Shepherd’s Pie via KraftRecipes.com

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. ground beef
• 2 cups hot mashed potatoes
• 4 oz. (1/2 of 8-oz. pkg.) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, cubed
• 1 cup KRAFT Shredded Cheddar Cheese, divided
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 4 cups frozen mixed vegetables (peas, carrots, corn and green beans), thawed
• 1 cup beef gravy

Directions:

• Heat oven to 375 degrees F.
• Brown meat in large skillet; drain.
• Mix potatoes, cream cheese, 1/2 cup shredded cheese and garlic until well blended.
• Combine meat, vegetables and gravy; spoon into 9-inch square baking dish.
• Cover with potato mixture and remaining shredded cheese. Bake 20 min. or until heated through.

Make it union! Use Tyson’s ground beef, brought to you by UFCW members. KRAFT also employs members of UFCW, IBT, IAMAW, and BCTGM members.

March 11, 2015

Women’s History Month: Honoring the Legacies of Mother Jones and Frances Perkins

Women’s History Month provides us with an opportunity to honor two extraordinary women who were born in the 19^th century and made significant contributions to the labor movement—labor activist Mother Jones and Frances Perkins, the first woman to hold a cabinet position as Secretary of Labor.

Mary Harris “Mother” Jones (1837-1930) was a prominent labor activist and cofounder of the Industrial Workers of the World.  As a young woman, she worked briefly as a teacher and dressmaker before marrying George Jones, an iron worker and union organizer in Tennessee.  The couple had four children, but her husband and children died from the yellow fever epidemic of 1867.  After the loss of her family, she moved back to Chicago to work as dressmaker, but tragedy struck again and she lost her shop in the Chicago fire in 1871.

Over the next few years, she became active in the labor movement and traveled to numerous strike sites, including rail strike of 1877 in Pittsburgh and the coal fields of Pennsylvania in 1899.  It was during that period that she became known as “Mother Jones.” She was also passionate about children’s rights and led a “children’s crusade” in 1903 to protest the working conditions for children in textile mills.  She helped to establish the Industrial Workers of the World in 1905; visited rebel Mexico in 1911; was arrested at the Homestead steel strike in 1919; and worked with dressmakers in Chicago in 1924.

In 1902, a district attorney in West Virginia called Mother Jones “the most dangerous woman in America” for her success in organizing mine workers.  Although she has been dead for over 80 years, her name is synonymous with the labor movement.  The magazine, Mother Jones, is named for her.

Frances Perkins (1880-1965) graduated from Mount Holyoke in 1902 and earned a Master’s Degree in sociology from Columbia University in 1910.  After graduate school, she worked as a social worker and became involved in labor reform efforts after witnessing workers trying to escape from the cramped floors of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory in 1911.

She served as the first woman Industrial Commissioner under New York Governor Franklin Roosevelt, and held other important labor-related jobs in New York state government under Governors Roosevelt and Al Smith. In 1933, President Roosevelt appointed her as his Secretary of Labor—making her the first woman to hold a U.S. Cabinet position.

As Secretary of Labor, Frances Perkins championed many aspects of the New Deal, including unemployment insurance, child labor laws, and the adoption of the federal minimum wage. She was largely responsible for the creation of the Social Security system through her role on the President’s Committee on Economic Security.  Following her service as Secretary of Labor, she was asked by President Truman to serve on the U.S. Civil Service Commission. She resigned from public service in 1952 shortly after the death of her husband, Paul Caldwell Wilson.

Following her government service career, she continued to be active as a teacher and lecturer until her death. The Frances Perkins Building that serves as the headquarters of the U.S. Department of Labor was named in her honor in 1980.

March 9, 2015

UFCW President Perrone Statement on Adoption of Right to Work in Wisconsin

“By standing against hard-working families,
Governor Walker should be ashamed, but we know he is not.”

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Marc Perrone, International President of the 1.3 million member United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW), today released the following statement in response to the adoption of right to work in Wisconsin.

“Every elected leader has a sacred responsibility to stand up for America’s hard-working families and to help them achieve a better life. Higher wages, better benefits, equal pay for equal work, protection from discrimination and exploitation; those are the rights that unions offer and which we fight for every single day. These are the true rights that Governor Scott Walker wants to take away from the union men and women who work hard, sacrifice, and help make Wisconsin and America a better place.

The truth is by standing against hard-working families, Governor Scott Walker should be ashamed, but we know he is not. He has chosen to pursue a radical agenda that willingly ignores that this law will devastate countless workers and their families. Make no mistake, this law gives irresponsible corporations, let alone politicians, the right to exploit and mistreat countless men and women all across Wisconsin.

Let me be clear, this fight is not over. We will stand up and fight for the right to protect our hard-working union family and the rights of countless families in Wisconsin and all across America who earn and deserve a better life.”

****

Key Facts: Value of Union Membership for Hard-Working Men and Women

• Union workers vs non-union workers earn higher wages, receive better benefits, and have more job security than non-union workers. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Union Members – 2014”, January 2015, Table 2. Available at:http://www.bls.gov/news.release/union2.nr0.htm

• Women are more likely to get equal pay for equal work by being a union member. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Union Members – 2014”, January 2015, Table 2. Available at:http://www.bls.gov/news.release/union2.nr0.htm

• LGBT workers are less likely to be fired based on their sexual orientation or gender identity as a union member.  Source: Frank, Miriam. “Out in the Union: A Labor History of Queer America”, Temple University Press, 2014.

• Immigrant workers have far more protections as a union member. Source: Center for Economic and Policy Research “Unions and Upward Mobility for Immigrant Workers” Available at: http://www.cepr.net/documents/publications/unions-immigrants-2010-03.pdf

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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.

March 3, 2015

UFCW Celebrates Women’s History Month

The month of March marks Women’s History Month and provides us with an opportunity to honor women in the labor movement. Women’s History Month also provides us with an opportunity to examine how labor unions have benefited women, and the social and economic issues that affect women in the workplace, including the need for affordable, high quality child care and paid maternity and sick leave.

Throughout this month, the UFCW will pay tribute to women who defied convention and fought for workers’ rights and highlight women who continue to fight for the right to stick together for decent wages and benefits and respect in the workplace.

March 2, 2015

UFCW Proud to be Recoginized by Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

Today, our partners at the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) have recognized the UFCW in a full-page “thank you” ad in USA Today.

In the ad, the LLS thanked each of its Light the Night partners who raised over $250,000 in 2014. Thanks to the work and generous donations from UFCW members, staff, and other groups, we are all impacting the lives of blood cancer patients. Together with the LLS, we are moving toward a world without blood cancers.

To see the full ad, click here.

 

February 27, 2015

UFCW Members Rally Against Right to Work in Wisconsin

With protesters both inside and outside the Capitol, the Wisconsin State Senate rammed through “right to work” legislation last week under special rules that limited debate and public input. UFCW members were among the thousands in Madison who rallied, met with state senators, and gave testimony to the committee considering the bill.

Miguel Perez, a UFCW Local 1473 member who works at Klements Sausage in Milwaukee, felt that passing “right to work” would move Wisconsin the wrong direction.

“I don’t want to see this law passed because it will make life more difficult,” said Perez. “We work hard to earn fair wages and benefits and this law just makes it harder to achieve that.”

Many UFCW members were inspired by the strong display of solidarity throughout the Capitol.

“The scene today has been indescribable to me,” said UFCW Local 1473 member Lori Wood who works at Pick ‘n Save in Kenosha. “The camaraderie between so many Wisconsinites has been great. I don’t feel like people should be able to come into the workplace, not pay their fair share, and enjoy the same protections, wages, and benefits that we fight so hard for. It’s inherently unfair. I want to see the legislature create good jobs and this law just brings bad ones.”

Joseph Mikich, a UFCW Local 1473 member who works at Wisconsin Vision, felt personally attacked.

“This is a direct attack on my wages and benefits,” said Mikich. “I’ve worked at a number of non-union stores. My current union job blows all of those out of the water. I make more, I get raises, I have better benefits, and I’m trained so that I can climb up the ladder. I’m scared all these opportunities I’ve enjoyed are going to be taken away.”

For many, the climb back up from the depths of the Great Recession has been slow and hard. There is widespread worry that “right to work” would push people back down.

“What concerns me most about right to work is our economy,” said UFCW Local 1473 member Valerie Truman who works at Birds Eye. “If people can’t be paid what they deserve I don’t see how our state can stay strong. We want a brighter future. The rally today was so loving and supportive because everyone here is being honest about their concerns. It’s a necessity that this bill doesn’t pass. We deserve good laws, not laws that will hurt us.”

One of the major highlights of the day was seeing 5-year UFCW Local 1473 member Tyrone Sutton, who works at Fair Oaks Farms in Kenosha, address the crowd from the Capitol steps.

“This law directly attacks working people all across Wisconsin,” he said. “These politicians are stripping us of our stability. It’s like kicking a chair under our feet. The benefits we have earned by sticking together shouldn’t be taken away. The stakes are too high. We will not back down.”

February 27, 2015

UFCW Members Fight Right to Work in West Virginia

Last Wednesday, more than 100 members from UFCW Locals 23 and 400 met with state senators and delegates from both parties to explain how devastating a right to work law would be to West Virginia’s working families. Like too many other states, West Virginia is considering unfair right to work legislation.

“We are lobbying today to put a stop to this anti-worker legislation,” said Richard Ruth, a UFCW Local 23 member who works at Kroger in Weirton, West Virginia. “I explained to every legislator I spoke with that this law will hurt workers, including myself. Thanks in large part to being part of a union, I’ve earned a decent living my entire career and this law will just take away everything I’ve gained over the years. I wish they would focus on creating good paying jobs. This law just attracts low-wage, minimum wage jobs. We want and deserve better than that.”

Tim Cyrus, a UFCW Local 400 member who works at Kroger in Hinton, West Virginia, was frustrated that state legislators were not spending time on more important issues.

“It’s insulting that they only meet for 60 days and they choose to pursue a law that has been proven to lower wages,” he said. “Just look next door at Virginia; people there are making less money for the same work we do. That’s not fair. I would like to see them pass laws to help our struggling schools. This right to work bill is just a complete waste of time.”

Tami Faulknier, a UFCW Local 400 member who has worked at Kroger in Dunbar, West Virginia, for 30 years, spoke to legislators about the stability that comes to working families when they have the security of a union.

“I’m concerned that we’re going to pass right to work and take our state backwards,” said Faulknier. “Right to work will erode our bargaining power and make it harder to earn the raises and benefits that we deserve. Sticking together has helped so many workers in West Virginia; it’s wrong to attack them. Working people deserve better, and right to work would only leave them worse off.”

UFCW members left the Capitol feeling proud of the impact they made.

“Being here today was important because we, the working families, are the backbone of the middle class,” said Alesia Brogdon, a UFCW Local 23 member who works at Kroger in Weirton, West Virginia. “West Virginia can’t be strong unless we’re strong too. What needs to happen is simple; businesses need to provide a living wage with fair benefits. Right to work makes it more difficult to earn a living wage. It’s a completely unfair law that does nothing to help the average person.”