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News and Updates
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July 23, 2014
National Hot Dog Day
You might not know about it, but you definitely will love it – today’s National Hot Dog Day! Today people all over the nation are grilling up and chowing down on the all-American staple of summer.
Whether you’re celebrating Hot Dog Day today or sticking to your veggies, you’ll probably indulge in the franks quite often, be it at a baseball game or home with your family. At the UFCW, we think you should couple this American tradition with another one: supporting American companies who treat their union workers right.
Next time you get a craving for hot dogs, buy American-made and buy union-made: Oscar Meyer, Hormel, Foster Farms, Nathan’s, for a start. Your hot dogs will taste ten times better served up with a side of justice for working people.
If you want to learn more about our members who make the hot dogs you love, go to our UFCW Fairness for Food Workers page.
July 8, 2014
Local 400 Joins Community, Other Labor Groups at AFL-CIO Citizenship Clinic to Help Those with Greencards Become Citizens
Rosa, a Local 400 organizer, helps a green card holder apply for citizenship.
On Saturday, June 28th, Local 400 joined other labor and immigration groups and community organizers such as DC Labor and Working America at the AFL-CIO’s international headquarters in Washington, D.C. to put on a workshop that assisted green card-holders in applying for citizenship.
The workshop was designed for workers who are legal permanent residents eligible for citizenship as well as young undocumented immigrants who came to the U.S. as kids who want to apply for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals policy, or DACA. Attendees were given information on how to apply and volunteers and lawyers assisted them as they filled out the correct paperwork.
The event was put on as part of an ongoing effort to move immigration reform forward–legislation for which has been stalled in the House ever since passing in the Senate over a year ago.
Some green card holders don’t apply for citizenship when they become eligible, and may eventually face deportation. But for many, becoming a citizen means that they can more actively participate in their communities, their union, and their democracy. Citizenship enables immigrants to have a stronger voice, whether its through voting, speaking out for workplace rights, or being able to stand up for a living wage.
The AFL-CIO’s executive vice president Tefere Gebre, a naturalized citizen himself, said the group hopes to educate immigrants about the benefits of being citizens.
June 19, 2014
“The White House Summit on Working Families Needs to Hear Worker Voices”–A Guest Blog by OUR Walmart Member Bene’t Holmes
As a 25-year old single mother I know the realities of trying to survive on low wages. I live with my five-year old son in Chicago and I work for Walmart, the world’s largest private employer and a company that made over $16 billion in profits last year. In the nine short months I have worked for the giant retailer, my heartbreaking experiences have driven me to take action and stand up for pregnant and working mothers.
I work hard every day in hopes of a better life for me and my family. Achieving the American dream, while working at Walmart is nearly impossible. I have four family members who either still work or have worked for Walmart and all of us have been left wanting jobs with an employer that values our work, respects our voice, and provides real opportunity to earn a living. I have firsthand knowledge of how difficult it is being stuck in a cycle of low wages and unstable schedules that prevent me and other workers from getting ahead and being independent.
I struggle to take care of my family on the poverty wages I earn working for Walmart. I work full-time and make under $9 an hour, which comes out to only about $15,000 a year. Because of my low wages, I cannot afford a home for my family and must rely on others to survive. Despite my best efforts to be financially independent, I recently had to apply for food stamps. And that is just of the tip of the iceberg when it comes to my struggles working for Walmart.
In February of this year, I suffered one of the most devastating losses of my life. I was four months pregnant when I asked my manager for job duties that were less physically demanding. I knew that the work I was performing was putting excessive strain on my body. Even though a doctor said I needed to work light duty, my manager denied my request and the next day I had a miscarriage while at work.
I asked for a leave of absence after the miscarriage to recover and was denied that request as well. To add insult to injury, my managers attempted to discipline me for my absences. Besides feeling betrayed by Walmart I questioned how a company that champions family could be so cold and heartless when one of its own employees is dealing with a tragedy.
I had to act—no woman should ever be put in that position again. I used my story to speak out and empower other women. I found out about the associate-led Organization United for at Respect (OUR) Walmart and fought to have my leave approved. Working with OUR Walmart, my request was eventually granted and all disciplinary actions against me were dropped. Building on that momentum, I became involved with the “Respect the Bump” campaign to ensure that all pregnant women at Walmart are able to get light duty when they need it.
The White House Summit on Working Families needs to hear our voices. Millions of workers, especially working women, have stories similar to mine. They are trapped in a cycle of low wage jobs with unpredictable hours that make it difficult to raise a family. My hope is this event will help elevate the ongoing national conversation about making today’s workplaces better for everyone, including working mothers like me.
I believe the work I am doing through OUR Walmart will bring about needed change at my company. Obviously, more can be done to better the lives and circumstances of working women and their families. The White House Summit on Working Families is the perfect place to highlight and advance this effort.
Bene’t is traveling to Washington, D.C., to attend the White House Summit on Working Families. The Summit will be held on June 23 and is hosted by the Center for American Progress, partnered with the White House, and the U.S. Department of Labor.
June 11, 2014
Union Plus Offering Free Webinar for Union Families About Making College More Affordable
Eager to learn more about how to make college more affordable?
Union Plus is inviting union members and union leaders to register for a free, upcoming webinar covering how to make college more affordable.
During the webinar, they’ll be announcing some exciting new grants and a sweepstakes to help union members and participants in Union Plus programs get student loan debt relief.
Join them for the 1-hour FREE Union Plus webinar on June 17 to learn about special benefits for union families.
You’ll learn more about:
- Tips & strategies for making college more affordable
- College counseling discounts
- College test prep discounts
- Textbook discounts
- Free student loan counseling
- Union Plus Scholarship
- COMING in JUNE: $500 Student Debt Eraser
- COMING in JUNE: $20K Student Loan Giveaway
- Q&A session
- And more!
Sign up for free today for the Learn Your Way to Earning Your Way Webinar on:
- Tuesday, June 17, 2014
- 1:00 pm EST
Can’t attend the webinar live? Register to receive a free recording.
Keep an eye out for more information by checking out Union Plus on Twitter and Facebook.
June 10, 2014
Support the DeLauro Amendment to Stop Reckless USDA Poultry Rule
The USDA is set to publish a rule that would put workers in poultry plants at further risk of injury while slashing oversight and exposing consumers to harmful contaminants.
It is up to us to stop it.
The poultry industry wants to double the speed at which birds are processed, despite a recent study by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health showing that 42 percent of workers have evidence of carpal tunnel syndrome at current line speeds. And it’s not just poultry workers who will be hurt by this industry-backed measure. Under the new rule, poultry companies will be largely responsible for their own inspections, a change food safety advocates say would unnecessarily endanger consumers.
We cannot let the USDA sacrifice the safety of workers and consumers for the sake of the poultry industry’s profits. That is why we support Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro’s amendment to the Agriculture Appropriations bill that would prevent funds being used for this purpose.
Working conditions in poultry plants are already dangerous, and speeding up lines without proper staffing levels would make matters worse.
Again, please urge your member of Congress to protect workers by supporting the DeLauro amendment.
May 13, 2014
New York UFCW Members Lobby Their State Legislators
UFCW locals representing workers across New York traveled to the State Capitol in Albany today to lobby on issues important to working families. Members and staff from UFCW Locals 1, 1500, and 2013, along with RWDSU Locals 338 and 1102 were in attendance.
A major focus of the lobby day was to push back against efforts to gut the Wage Theft Prevention Act, which took effect in April of 2011. The law requires that employers give workers written notice of wage rates once a year, a provision some Senate Republicans are targeting for repeal. UFCW members made it clear that wage theft is a serious problem and all workers have the right to know if they are being cheated out of money. They called for the Wage Theft Prevention Act to be strengthened, not weakened by repealing the written notice requirement.
Members also discussed the need to raise the minimum wage and pass paid sick leave legislation. For decades, workers’ wages have stagnated while corporate profits and CEO pay have risen to record heights. If the minimum wage had kept pace with inflation, it would be over $10 an hour today, but instead it sits at only $8.00 in New York. Members demanded that the minimum wage be raised so it is a living wage.
Members lobbied for statewide paid sick leave, building on the momentum of legislation passed in New York City. They stressed that no worker should be forced to risk their job and their livelihood just because they get sick. Workers without paid sick leave are 1.5 times more likely to go to work sick and contagious than those who have paid sick days. Members said providing paid sick leave would make every workplace more healthy and productive.
Finally, members told their legislators it was long past time to pass the Farmworker Fair Labor Practices Act, which would include farmworkers under state labor law. This would guarantee that New York’s farmworkers have the right to organize and bargain collectively for the wages and benefits that they deserve. UFCW members understand that all workers must be afforded their fundamental rights.
The lobby day was a great success and members who took part spoke about the importance of meeting directly with their legislators.
“Lobbying is an important way to remind these elected officials who they work for,” said UFCW Local 1500 member John Kubinski, who works at ShopRite in Staten Island. “If we don’t tell them what we want then they cannot properly represent us.”
Local 1500 member Jeff Guardado, who works at Stop & Shop in West Islip, talked about power in numbers. “We’re all fighting for the same cause,” he said. “We stand up for the little people. The little people are many. The powerful are few.”
Local 1500 member Georgette Wilson, who works at Stop & Shop in Hempstead, agreed. “We are here to speak out for those who don’t have the opportunity to have their voice heard.”
Local 1500 member Keith Jefferson, who works at Pathmark in Coney Island, summed up the day. “Too often these elected officials look at papers and they don’t see faces. They need to see faces. I like when my union does this. We fill up the whole bus and all of us come here.”
Members said they will be boarding the bus again next year for the 2015 New York Lobby Day.
May 6, 2014
UFCW Members Join Other Unions for Leadership Workshops and Trainings at Kaiser Conference
UFCW members attended workshop trainings at the annual Union Delegate Conference for Kaiser Permanente workers.
Members from UFCW Locals 7, 27, 135, 324, 400, 555, 770, 1428, and 1996 attended the annual Union Delegate Conference for Kaiser Permanente workers in San Jose, Calif. The theme of the conference, which took place April 13-15, was “Walk, Talk, Lead Change.” There, UFCW members attended workshops on leadership roles in the workplace.
UFCW members are part of the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions, which includes nearly 100,000 members from 30 different unions. The coalition was formed in 1997 as a way to transform the relationship between workers and managers. The partnership involves workers, managers, and physicians in a joint decision-making and problem-solving process that is based on common interests from all parties. Workers covered by the partnership include registered nurses, pharmacists, maintenance and service workers, technicians, psychologists, lab scientists, and many others.
The Union Delegate Conference is also an opportunity for UFCW members to participate in collective bargaining with other unions who are part of the coalition. The entire coalition bargains together as a whole for their contract. Next year, the Union Delegate Conference will focus on collective bargaining and negotiations for their new contract since the current one is set to expire in July 2015.
May 1, 2014
Progressive Groups Supporting Seattle Mayor’s $15/hr Proposal
SEATTLE–Seattle’s progressive leaders say they strongly support Mayor Murray’s $15/hour minimum wage plan as a big win for 100,000 people working for low wages in Seattle, all while boosting the local economy and giving smaller employers time to phase in higher wages.
“We will no longer wait for CEOs or Congress to take action to address the income inequality and economic malaise that particularly plagues working women and people of color,” said Pramila Jayapal, former Executive Director of One America, an immigrant rights organization. “Seattle, and other cities across the country, are taking the lead to raise wages to match the rising cost of living, helping all families trying to achieve the American dream.” Jayapal served as member of the Mayor’s Income Inequality Advisory Committee (IIAC) and supports the Mayor’s plan.
Supported by a wide range of progressive organizations and small businesses, the Mayor’s plan would provide an immediate boost for 102,000 low wage workers in Seattle. The majority of low wage workers in Seattle would see their minimum wages rise to $15/hour in 2017 or 2018, and then progress towards $18.13/hour (based on projected Consumer Price Index adjustments) at different rates, depending on the size of their employers.
“What matters most to me is my 4-year old daughter, Canaela. My dream is to give her the same opportunities as other children. For starters, I want to provide a stable home for her and I want to give her a space to call her own,” said Julia DePape, a McDonald’s worker and leader of Working Washington, which led Seattle’s fast food worker strikes. “I dream of taking her to the zoo for the first time because I can only imagine how her face would light up! With $15, I have a chance at that.”
According to the 15 For Seattle statement signed by more than 100 progressive groups, including Seattle NAACP, Lifelong Aids Alliance and Moms Rising: “Today, more than 100,000 Seattle residents earn less than $15 an hour, half of them are older than 30 and a third of them are parents.”
“By 2017, workers in Seattle will have $100 million more to spend than if minimum wage paced with inflation alone,” explained Nicole Vallestro Keenan, Policy Director at Puget Sound Sage and a member of the IIAC supporting the Mayor’s plan.
The 15 For Seattle statement also says: “The cost of living in Seattle has out-paced wage growth, and this has had a disproportionate impact on women and people of color.”
“We’ve already raised our workers’ salaries to $15 an hour,” said Estela Ortega, Executive Director of El Centro de la Raza, a non-profit service provider and social justice organization. “Higher wages give our workers a reason to stay at their jobs and the ability to spend more money, putting more tax dollars into the economy. When our constituents make more money at their jobs, they are better able to take care of themselves and their families.”
Many of the coalition’s 100+ progressive members have already endorsed the Mayor’s plan, including SEIU, One America, Main Street Alliance, UFCW 21, Working Washington, King County Central Labor Council, Washington Community Action Network, Puget Sound Sage, Teamsters 117, and El Centro de la Raza. Other members of 15 For Seattle are taking the Mayor’s proposal back to their organizations for review and approval.
“We’re all better off when we’re all better off and this agreement pushes up the hourly wages of all lower paid workers over time to $15 and then beyond. This is a groundbreaking,” said Sarah Cherin, Policy and Political Director for UFCW 21 and a member of the IIAC supporting the Mayor’s plan. UFCW 21 represents workers in grocery stores, health care, retail and other industries.
As a transition measure, the Mayor’s proposal allows consideration of health care and tips during phase in of higher wages for smaller businesses and non-profits. The plan establishes a temporary “Minimum Compensation” responsibility above a set minimum wage. Employers can choose to phase in minimum wage increases at a slower pace only if they provide a minimum level of additional compensation through health care contributions (or tips, for smaller businesses).
“Mayor Murray has put forward a smart, responsible plan to raise the minimum wage, boost our local economy, and support small business success at the same time,” said Jody Hall, owner of Cupcake Royale and a leader in the Main Street Alliance of Washington. “The Mayor listened to small businesses who sought common ground because we know our economy is built from the bottom up, not the top down. Mayor Murray’s plan recognizes that our local economy is stronger when low and middle class families have greater economic security and more money to spend, and provides small businesses time to reap the benefits of increasing consumer demand while transitioning to a $15 wage.”
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April 2, 2014
UFCW Decries Supreme Court Campaign Finance Ruling
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) today released the following statement in response to the Supreme Court ruling in McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission which removed limits on the total amount a person can donate to political campaigns in an election season.
“The Supreme Court has once again struck a blow to our democracy. This decision is a gift to billionaires like the Koch brothers that want to unduly influence public policy and an affront to working families who are having their voices drowned out by a monsoon of big money. Elections should not be like auctions—for sale to the highest bidder. Yet this decision combined with Citizens United has created a wild west of campaign finance that allows a few superrich Americans to disproportionately impact the outcome of elections. It is long past time to fix our political system by correcting these harmful decisions and moving toward public financing of campaigns.”
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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.
April 2, 2014
UFCW Members in Ohio Lobby Against Right to Work
Over 100 UFCW members from Locals 1059, 75, 17A, and RWDSU traveled to Columbus today to lobby their state legislators against possible right to work legislation.
“I’m here because I’m afraid that they’re going to pass right to work and take so much away from me,” said Anne Bauer, a 7-year UFCW member from Local 75 who works at the Anderson Township Kroger. “The lower wages, the lack of safety, having no voice on the job – it’s horrible. I have to be here to fight for my coworkers, my friends, and my family.”
Many members spoke about the importance of ensuring the people they elected followed through on campaign promises.
“We have to be here to hold politicians accountable,” said Terry Payne, a Local 1059 member who has been at Kroger for 10 years. “We elect them and by being here we’re able to ensure that they’re supporting us. The legislators I’ve talked with have been very receptive. I was encouraged.”
One of the most important reasons for members to lobby is to share their personal stories with legislators which always make a more lasting impact. Roberta Greaver, a UFCW Local 75 member who has worked at Kroger for 35 years, told the legislators she spoke with about her experience visiting a Kroger store in the right to work state of Tennessee.
“These legislators don’t fully understand right to work and I’m happy to be here explaining it to them. I’ve seen what this law has done in Tennessee – there is a tremendous difference between their stores and ours here in Ohio. Their benefits are about half and their pay scale is less. After visiting Tennessee I was so happy to be in Ohio. The Ohio legislature has to understand how much right to work will hurt workers.”
David Becker, a Local 1059 member who has worked at Meijer in Toledo for five years, said the lobby day him to become more involved in his union and politics.
“This is my first time lobbying and I can’t wait to do it again. When it comes to right to work, everyone should be here. We’re squeezed enough trying to buy food and pay our rent – legislators have to understand that right to work will only make that more difficult. I plan on coming to lobby days as often as I can.”