March 13, 2015

The Right to Live in a Better, Fairer, and Just America

UFCW President Perrone had the following op-ed about “right to work” published in Medium.

This week, America witnessed the 25th statewide example of irresponsibility when Gov. Scott Walker of Wisconsin signed anti-family and anti-worker legislation known as “right-to-work.”

In an ideal world, the American people would have the right to expect their elected leaders to implement policies that make the lives of the hard-working men and women they represent better, fairer, and more just. After all, these amazing men and women in our factories, supermarkets, retail stores, car washes, meat packing plants, and countless other industries all across this nation work hard and sacrifice every day not just for themselves, but also for their families.

Regardless of their background, what they believe, where they are from, or whom they love, these millions of workers want what every one of us deserves — which is to have a chance for something much more for themselves and their families than a life defined by fear and the bare minimums. Unfortunately, fear and minimums, whether measured in terms of wages, benefits or rights, is what we have witnessed in America for too long.

Gov. Walker, like those before him, argues that right- to-work legislation is about creating greater wealth and opportunity for the economy by stopping unions. But we know his true motivation.

Higher wages, better benefits, equal pay for equal work, and protection from injustice and exploitation are the true rights unions fight for and Gov. Walker wants to take away these rights from men and women not just in Wisconsin, but all across America.

Instead of a better life, hard-working men and women in right-to-work states will earn lower wages in jobs with fewer benefits. Rather than a more promising future, these workers will have less job and retirement security. Without the protection of a strong union contract, women will face more struggles as they endure the painful and costly discrimination of greater unequal pay. LGBT workers will face greater fear and threats of being fired. And immigrant workers, whose fears are already fed by our broken immigration system, will face greater exploitation and mistreatment.

This is the brutal economic and societal thunder dome that America’s workers and families in right-to-work states now face and which, if he were to become president, Gov. Walker would seek to impose on the rest of this nation.

Right-to-work is not about creating wealth. Rather, it is about weakening the one institution — unions — that have done more to help all hard-working families have a better life. The International Monetary Fund recently released a report tying rising inequality to the decline in labor unions. By lowering standards and wages, right-to-work legislation will infect our economy like a virus and widen the gap between the rich and poor. It will worsen the daily struggles of all families whether they are union or not.

Rather than watching our elected leaders, regardless of party, fight for the right we all have to live in a better America, we are again witness to another politician who is determined to destroy what has helped make America the land of opportunity.

As a proud union of 1.3 million hard-working members, we believe that every man and woman who helps build, feed, and move this nation has the right to good pay, decent benefits, retirement security, justice in the workplace, and the opportunity to provide a good future for their family.

As we look ahead to 2016, the fight over what kind of America we want to live in is much more than about one radical governor from Wisconsin who wants to be president. This fight is about whether every worker has the right to a better, fairer and more just America. And, it is that vision of America which the UFCW and all of labor will fight for every single day.

March 12, 2015

Unions to Fight Trade Pact by Freezing Donations

UFCW stands in solidarity with the AFL-CIO as we fight to stop fast track trade deals that put downward pressure upon American wages.

The following article ran in the Wall Street Journal on March 10, 2015:

Unions to Fight Trade Pact by Freezing Donations

Dozens of major labor unions plan to freeze campaign contributions to members of Congress to pressure them to oppose fast-track trade legislation sought by President Barack Obama, according to labor officials.

The move is part of the unions’ campaign against the Trans-Pacific Partnership, or TPP, which the Obama administration is negotiating with 11 nations around the Pacific Ocean. The unions worry the trade agreement could send more jobs to low-wage countries, including Vietnam and Malaysia.

Unions have opposed the TPP through demonstrations, letters to lawmakers and political ads, but withholding political contributions is a more forceful way of flexing their muscle. In the 2014 midterm elections, unions—the lifeblood of the Democratic Party—contributed about $65 million from their political-action committee, or PACs, to candidates, nearly all Democrats.

“Every single union in the AFL-CIO has agreed to join together to send Congress a message that if you mess with one of us you mess with all of us,” Harold Schaitberger,president of the International Association of Fire Fighters, said Monday at the union’s legislative conference in Washington. “We need to cut the spigot off.”

The firefighters spearheaded the effort by challenging other union presidents to follow suit at an AFL-CIO executive council meeting in Atlanta last month. The union said it took the lead because fast track would create job losses, which would hurt communities’ tax bases and their ability to fund public services.

After the meeting, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka explained the freeze in confidential memos to members of his executive council, which consists of dozens of union presidents and other labor officials whose organizations are AFL-CIO members.

In one memo viewed by The Wall Street Journal, Mr. Trumka recapped part of the meeting, saying, “we have also agreed to freeze our PACs until after Fast Track has been decided to conserve our resources and underscore the importance of this fight for working people.” An AFL-CIO spokeswoman confirmed the memos.

Fast-track legislation, known formally as trade promotion authority, is seen as helping seal a TPP deal because the legislation would give the president the ability to complete trade agreements with the understanding that they would be presented to Congress for an up-or-down vote, without amendments or procedural hurdles. Proponents say it is needed to get an acceptable final deal from other countries in the talks, because many wouldn’t want to commit themselves if Congress could insist on amending a deal.

Economists say the TPP could weigh on some less competitive manufacturing industries, including light manufacturing andpossibly car makers, depending on the pact’s terms. Backers of Mr. Obama’s trade policy argue U.S. tariffs already are so low that the deal likely won’t cause a broad shift in the labor force. Most U.S. business groups and the farm lobby support Mr. Obama’s trade policy.

While it is still early in the 2016 campaign cycle, a pause now in contributions to lawmakers would signal that their votes on the fast-track bill could determine whether they get financial backing from labor for the elections. Proponents of the fast-track legislation are hoping to bring it to the House and Senate in coming months.

A spokesman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee declined to comment.

Many Democrats publicly oppose the fast-track legislation. Still, the unions plan to temporarily cut off contributions to all members of Congress. “The reasoning is that this will put pressure on some of the Democrats who support the position of labor to put pressure on those who don’t,” said Thomas Buffenbarger, president of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers union.

Mr. Buffenbarger said the freeze is supposed to last until Congress votes on fast track, which he expects could happen as soon as next month. After that, the executive council planned to reassess its strategy, said labor officials

The action is part of a heightened push on fast track by labor in recent weeks. More than 50 labor unions asserted in a March 2 letter to Congress that fast track is “undemocratic” and will lead to fewer jobs, lower wages and harm to the middle class.

“If you stand for higher wages, more jobs, and greater opportunities for America’s hardworking families, you must oppose fast track,” the labor leaders said, calling for “a new version” of trade negotiating authority “that brings the process out from behind closed doors.”

The labor leaders criticized fast track as a tool that has been used since the Nixon administration to promote deals such as Nafta that are “written largely” by large corporations to “make it easier for firms to invest offshore.”

Not every union that endorsed the letter is participating in the contribution freeze, according to at least one union that said it isn’t, but the vast majority are, said labor officials.

In the 2014 elections, labor unions spent nearly $235 million on political donations and other campaign spending, according to the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics, including about $65 million given directly to candidates via union PACs and roughly $170 million for television ads, mailings and other political activities on behalf of candidates. About 96% of it went to Democratic candidates.

By comparison, Wall Street spent about $195 million on the 2014 elections, but that money was much more evenly split between the two political parties, with Republicans receiving a majority.

A spokesman for the firefighters union said its ads bought through super PACs will be shut down. Other unions’ ad spending also could be affected.

On Capitol Hill, talks among committee leaders on the fast-track legislation have stalled over procedural issues in the bill.

U.S. officials are working on the TPP this week in Hawaii and say an agreement is possible in coming months. Backers of the trade pact want to finish the Pacific agreement this year before the coming election year could sour the politics. Fast-track legislation, if passed, would likely extend to the next president and apply to future international deals as well.

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

###

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.”