WALMART WORKERS HOLD HISTORIC NATIONAL ORGANIZING MEETING

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WALMART WORKERS HOLD HISTORIC NATIONAL ORGANIZING MEETING
Nearly 100 Workers From Across Country Meet With Congressional Leaders

Washington, DC Walmart workers from across the nation are converging today on Capitol Hill for a National Organizing Meeting to brief Senators about wages, benefits and the Employee Free Choice Act. Nearly 100 Walmart workers from 17 states are participating in the event. As part of their campaign for a union voice on the job, they will urge lawmakers to level the playing field for working people by supporting the Employee Free Choice Act.

I made the trip into Washington DC to stand with my fellow Walmart workers and to urge my Senators to pass the Employee Free Choice Act, said Dominique Sloan a Dallas, Texas, Walmart worker. We need change in this country. All you have to do is look at how all the money goes to CEOs. But when it comes to workers, its always the same, no health care or health care thats too expensive and low wages. We need to change that.

The National Organizing Committee is made up of Walmart workers from Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin.

Despite Walmarts well-documented history of anti-working family activities, workers say they are excited by the election of Barack Obama, excited that the President says its not too much to ask Walmart to pay decent wages and provide good health care, and excited that the Employee Free Choice Act can help bring the change that helps workers and makes Walmart live up to its responsibilities.

I have three boys, and I had to get Florida Kids Care to cover their medical, says Cheryl Guzman, a Walmart worker from Miami. Its either you eat, or you have medical coverage, thats not right. Thats why Im part of Walmart Workers for Change.

Ten workers recently shared their stories in a new video, released earlier this week. Workers from the National Organizing Committee will be available to the press today after a Capitol Hill briefing at 10 a.m., in 328 Russell Senate Office Building.

Walmart Workers for Change is a new campaign made up of thousands of Walmart workers joining together to form a union and negotiate better benefits, higher wages, and more opportunity for a better future. The campaign is a project of the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW). The UFCW represents 1.3 million workers nationwide, with nearly one million working in the supermarket industry. Many of UFCW members also work at national retail stores such as Bloomingdales, Macys, H&M, Modells Sporting Goods, Saks Fifth Avenue, RiteAid, CVS, and Syms.

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News from UFCW Local 1500

Download the Press Release

Grocery Unions Rally at Harlem Pathmark to Protest A&P CEO Eric Claus Appearance on Good Morning America; Union Files Federal Charges Filed Against A&P

United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 1500 will be joined by other UFCW Locals in front of the Harlem Pathmark in New York City on Friday morning, April 17th to protest A&P CEO Eric Claus's appearance on Good Morning America.

CEO Claus is scheduled to film a segment for GMA on how to feed a family of four in today's economy, while his company proceeds to lay off Pathmark workers. UFCW Local 1500 recently filed charges against A&P/Pathmark with the New York State Department of Labor for violating NY State labor law in relation to A&P/Pathmark closing the West Hempstead, Long Island Pathmark. New Federal charges were also filed by UFCW Local 1500 today charging A&P/Pathmark with violating the National Labor Relations Act.

WHO: Representatives of United Food and Commercial Workers Union International, UFCW Local 1500, 464a, 342, 1262, 371, 1360, 152, 1776,1245 and UFCW/RWDSU 338

Download the Flyer here.

WHAT: Rally protesting A&P CEO Eric Claus' Appearance on Good Morning America.

WHERE: Pathmark 160 E 125th St, New York, NY 10035

WHEN: Friday April 17th, 8:45 AM-10:00 AM

WHY: UFCW Local 1500 has filed charges with both New York State and Federal agencies against A&P/Pathmark for various violations of law. The Union is also protesting the layoff of dozens of workers at A&P/Pathmark's due to the West Hempstead Pathmark store closing.

"A&P/Pathmark needs to answer this question: How does a family feed themselves after A&P/Pathmark lays them off," stated UFCW Local 1500 President Bruce W. Both. "For this company to give advice on how to feed families during these difficult times while needlessly adding people to the unemployment line is the height of hypocrisy. Good Morning America should not be a party to this charade," Both concluded.

Download the Press Release

Download the Flyer here

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Local 1500 files Complaint against A&P/Pathmark

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For Immediate Release Contact: Pat Purcell

April 15th, 2009

Grocery Workers Union Files Complaint against A&P/Pathmark Supermarkets with New York State Department of Labor; Unions Seeks Enforcement of State W.A.R.N. Act

United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 1500, New York State’s largest Local Union representing grocery workers, is responding quickly and aggressively to A&P Supermarkets attempt to avoid compliance with New York State labor laws. A&P Supermarkets is refusing to comply with the New York State W.A.R.N. act which requires employers to pay workers wages for 90 days after announcing the closing of a facility. A&P recently announced the closing of the Pathmark Supermarket in West Hempstead, Long Island. A&P is the parent corporation of Pathmark Supermarkets.

“We are extremely concerned about our members who work in that store and will do everything within our power to minimize the affect this store closing has on our members and their families,” United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 1500 President Bruce W. Both stated. “Additionally, I am outraged, though not surprised, that A&P would take such a callous position in regards to how they are treating our members and their families. The legal fees this company will incur battling our Union could easily be used to pay these workers according to the State law,” Both continued. “With this complaint we are putting A&P on notice that this Union will be relentless in protecting the rights of our members,” Both concluded. The Union is also looking at possible violations of Federal law.

UFCW Local 1500 also announced that they will be launching a campaign to alert consumers, shareholders, elected leaders and community organizations of A&P’s new corporate practice of treating workers as insignificant and minor contributors to A&P’s success.” The new A&P is taking a page from the text books of companies like Wal-Mart when it comes to how they are treating their employees,” President Both claimed. “Profits first wihout regard to the affect layoffs, schedule changes and other personnel changes have on workers and their families is how A&P is running their company. However, unlike Wal-Mart workers, A&P/Pathmark workers have a Union that will not sit by quietly and watch management treat workers this way,” Both declared. “Profits first, employees last is not only a failed business model, it is immoral and goes against the family values of New Yorkers.”

United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 1500, based out of Queens Village, represents over 23,000 grocery workers in New York City, Long Island, Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess Counties. Members of Local 1500 are employed by Pathmark, King Kullen, Stop and Shop, Gristedes, Fairway, D’Agostino, Dairy Barn, Key Food and Shop Rite.

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